Utah Auto Insurance

Utah insurance companies cannot use your personal credit history alone to accept or reject applicants and set insurance rates.  They may use your credit score in conjunction with other information to determine your risk factors. The other factors which are used to determine your rates are the age of the drivers on the policy, the car you drive, driving records, where you live and your marital status.  Likewise, insurance companies cannot use your personal credit history to cancel or deny renewal of an existing insurance policy. 

Since Utah is a no fault state, each individual involved in an accident is responsible for their own injuries and property damages.  For this reason, insurance companies advise policy holders to buy more than the minimum liability auto insurance.  The average insurance premium in Iowa as of 2006 is approximately $702.00 and the state is ranked as the 31st most expensive for insurance premiums in the nation.

The state of Utah requires all insurance companies to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance to all their policy holders.  Uninsured and underinsured coverage provides protections against drivers who do not carry the mandatory liability auto insurance demanded by the state.  Underinsured and uninsured coverage is not mandatory in the state of Utah but it is recommended.  If you decide to forego this option, the insurance company is required to provide a signed declaration page stating that you chose not to take the underinsured and uninsured coverage.

You or your insurance company may exclude members of your household from coverage on your insurance policy.  If the individual is not listed on your policy, the insurance company does not have to provide coverage for that person.  Any exclusions will be listed in the exclusion section of your policy with all of the other circumstances which the insurance company is allowed to refuse a claim for.  If your policy lapses or cancels you can be cited for driving without the required insurance so you must pay the premium to reinstate the policy.  If the policy is cancelled, then you must find a new auto insurance policy right away.  The insurance company will notify the DMV of any cancelled of lapsed policies.

There are 22 officially accepted insurance companies listed in Utah.  They include Allstate Fire & Casualty Insurance Company, Allstate Indemnity Company, Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate Property & Casualty, American Family Mutual Insurance Company, American National Property & Casualty Company, Bear River Mutual Insurance Company, Farm Bureau Insurance Company, Farmers Insurance Exchange, GEICO General Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Metropolitan Group Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Mid Century Insurance Company, Progressive Classic Insurance Company, Progressive Direct Insurance Company, State Farm Fire & Casualty Company, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, United States Auto Association, USAA Casualty Insurance Company, and Western United Insurance Company.

One of the methods you can use to reduce the cost of your auto insurance premiums is to purchase more than one type of insurance policy with the same company.  You will also get discounts for a clean driving record and possibly for renewing you policy with the same company repeatedly.  Making sure your insurance never lapses will sometimes reduce your premiums as well as belonging to a particular professional group such as engineers, teachers, or doctors.  Younger drivers can get discounts for maintaining good grades, and completing a driver safety course approved by the state.  Insuring multiple vehicles will also reduce your premiums.  Anti theft devices and safety mechanisms such as airbags and seat belts will contribute to the reduction of your auto insurance premiums.  It may also be useful to know which cars are frequently targeted by thieves.  The list of the top ten most often stolen cars in the state of Utah are listed below.

1. 1997 Honda Civic
2. 1991 Honda Accord
3. 1990 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
4. 1994 Nissan Sentra
5. 1989 Toyota Camry
6. 1991 Ford Explorer
7. 1996 Ford Taurus
8. 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
9. 1991 Chevrolet Blazer
10. 1992 Saturn SL