Best Car Insurance in Utah

No, you cannot insure a car with a salvage title in Utah. Salvage vehicles are cars that have been declared a total loss, meaning they're too damaged to be worth repairing and cannot be driven legally. As a result, no legitimate car insurance company writes policies for them.

Although insurance companies in Utah won't insure a car with a current salvage title, you can get coverage if you have the vehicle repaired and inspected by a state-certified mechanic. If it's declared safe to drive, the DMV will issue the car a rebuilt/restored title. Several insurance companies, including Allstate and Geico, sell policies to vehicles with a rebuilt/restored title.

Keep in mind that some insurers will only sell liability insurance for rebuilt/restored cars, meaning that they won't pay for any physical damage to the vehicle. Even if you are able to get collision and comprehensive insurance, your policy may not cover the full value of the car if it's totaled again.

Gap insurance in Utah works the same way as gap insurance in the rest of the U.S., by paying the balance remaining on a car loan or lease contract after a liability, comprehensive, or collision policy pays out the actual cash value of a totaled vehicle. The state of Utah doesn't require any driver to carry gap insurance. However, certain lenders in Utah may require customers to carry gap insurance – short for guaranteed asset (or auto) protection insurance – if they get a car loan or lease.

Dozens of companies, including banks and dealerships, offer gap insurance in Utah. While you should take your time deciding which one is right for you, you can also have confidence in the fact that gap insurance works the same way in Utah as in the rest of the country.

Best Gap Insurance Companies in Utah

• Esurance
• Nationwide
• The Hartford
• Progressive
• Allstate

It's worth noting that gap coverage is usually cheaper to purchase from an insurance company than a dealership. For more information, check out WalletHub's complete guide to gap insurance.

Insurance companies in Utah have 45 days to settle a claim after it is officially filed. Utah insurance companies also have specific timeframes in which they must acknowledge the claim and then decide whether or not to accept it, before paying out the final settlement.

Insurance Claim Timeline in Utah

• 15 days to acknowledge the claim and send the policyholder instructions and paperwork, including proof-of-loss forms, which serve as a sworn statement from the policyholder about the scope of the damage or injuries.
• 30 days to make a decision on the claim and submit final payment. This timeframe begins once the insurance company receives completed proof-of-loss forms.

There are several factors that can affect exactly how long it takes for an insurance company to settle a claim. For example, claims involving serious or multiple injuries take longer to settle. Additionally, poor communication between the driver, insurance company, and insurance adjuster can slow down the process.

Still, you are entitled to an efficient settlement. If you think that your insurance company is violating the law or operating unethically, you can file a “bad faith” lawsuit, which may award you the original settlement amount with added interest and penalties.

No, you do not need uninsured motorist property damage insurance in Utah – it is optional. Drivers can choose to purchase $3,500 in uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage per accident, or they can go without the coverage.

Even though it's not required, UMPD is a good investment for drivers who want to avoid paying out of pocket to fix their car after an accident caused by an uninsured motorist. But UMPD is similar to collision insurance, which pays to fix your car after any accident you're in. So, if you already have collision coverage, you do not need UMPD.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to uninsured motorist insurance.

You can get car insurance discounts in Utah based on how you drive, the car you own, and your relationship with your insurance company. In Utah, car insurance companies are allowed to consider factors like employment, residential, and marital status when setting premiums. That means there are also discounts available for being married, owning a home, or being affiliated with certain employers or educational institutions.

Almost anyone can get a discount on car insurance in Utah because most insurance companies make it easy to qualify for a variety of savings. Utah insurers typically offer discounts that fall into one of three categories—policy discounts, driver discounts, and vehicle discounts.

Policy discounts typically reward customer behavior that is desirable to the insurance company. For example, most Utah drivers can save by registering for paperless billing or getting both home and auto policies from the same company. Driver discounts are available to Utah residents who are lower-risk to insure, like those with clean driving records. And vehicle discounts help drivers save if their car has certain safety features or anti-theft systems.

Car Insurance Discounts in Utah

Remember, discounts vary among different insurance companies, so it's always best to contact the provider directly to determine which discounts you qualify for.