Drivers in the Military in Utah

It's difficult to maintain your current driver license and vehicle registration when you are stationed outside your home state, so Utah, like most states, cuts active-duty military personnel some slack.

Driver License Renewal

Military personnel whose Utah driver license expires while they are stationed outside of Utah may continue to use that license until up to 90 days after they are discharged, by which time they will need to file for an extension or renewal.

However, their dependants will need to renew by coming back to the state or acquiring a driver's license from their current state of residence.

Military personnel from outside Utah who are temporarily stationed in Utah may use their valid out-of-state or out-of-country license to drive in Utah, and so may their dependents.

Vehicle Registration Renewal

Military personnel stationed outside Utah who have Utah-registered vehicles that they (not another family member or leasing company) own may be eligible for the following exemptions when it comes time to renew:

• Property tax exemption. Contact your local county assessor to find out what documentation the assessor needs to exempt you from this tax.

• Safety inspection exemption. Fill out section 1 of Form TC-810. If the vehicle is in a location listed in section 1A of the form, you should send the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) a copy of a safety inspection obtained in that location. If the vehicle's location isn't listed, you can have the vehicle inspected within 10 days of your return to Utah.

• Emissions inspection exemption. Fill out section 2 of Form TC-810. If your vehicle is temporarily located in a city, county, or state listed in section 2A of the form, you should provide the Utah DMV with a copy of an emissions test obtained in that location. If your vehicle's location isn't listed in section 2A, then you'll have 10 days upon your return to Utah to furnish proof of an emissions inspection.

Military personnel from another state who are stationed in Utah may retain their vehicle's out-of-state registration. However, if you buy a vehicle while in Utah and plan to use it here, you will pay the Utah sales and use tax even if you decide to register the vehicle in your home state.

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