License Plates & Placards in Utah

SUMMARY: Utah License Plates

To apply for license plates in Utah, you have to register you car with the DMV when you move to the state or get a new vehicle. Before your license plate decal expires, you must renew your registration to renew your license plates. Registration renewal is offered online, by mail, and in person. If your license plates are lost, stolen, or damaged, you can get replacement plates in person or by mail.

Read below for information about license plates and tags in Utah.

Interested in personalized or special plates? Find all the information you need on our pages about Types of Special Plates and Applying for Special Plates.

Get complete details about disabled parking plates, including the application process, by visiting our Disability Placards and Plates in Utah page.

Types of Utah License Plates

If you live in Utah, your vehicle must have license plates to be legally operated on public roads.

Most vehicles are required to have tags on the front and rear. However, some vehicles can have tags on the rear only.

When you apply for license plates, the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will issue the correct number of plates for your vehicle.

In addition to standard license plates, the UT DMV offers a large selection of specialty plates, including:

  • Personalized plates.
  • Organizational plates.
  • Military plates.

For more details, see our pages about types of specialty plates and applying for specialty plates.

Disabled parking plates are also available to those with qualifying disabilities. See our Disability Plates and Placards in Utah page for application details.

Temporary License Plates

Utah offers temporary plates so that you can operate your vehicle while waiting for your license plates to arrive.

If you buy a vehicle from a dealer, they'll provide the temporary permit.

If you buy from a private seller, you will get a temporary permit at the DMV when the seller signs over the title. The permit is valid until you receive your registration. The temporary permit costs $6.

Apply for License Plates

Applying for license plates is part of the vehicle registration process.

When you move to Utah, you have 60 days to register your vehicle with the UT DMV.

When you buy a vehicle:

  • Your dealer will submit your registration paperwork.
    OR
  • You'll register it at the DMV in person.

See our Utah Vehicle Registration page for complete details.

Renew Your Utah Plates

You will renew your license plate by renewing your vehicle registration once a year.

You should receive a renewal notice from the UT DMV before your license plate decal expires. You can renew online, by mail, or in person.

See our Registration Renewal page for more information, including renewal fees and how to renew.

Replace UT License Plates

If your license plates are lost, stolen, or damaged, you can request replacements either:

  • By mail.
    OR
  • In person.

To request replacement plates, you must submit:

  • One of the following:
    • Registration card.
    • License plate number.
      OR
    • Vehicle identification number (VIN).
  • A written request, if applying by mail.
  • Payment for the appropriate fee:
    • $15.50 for a standard license plate.
    • $5 for a decal.
    • $7.75 postage, if applying by mail.

Take your documents to your local Utah DMV branch office or mail them to:

Division of Motor Vehicles
Mail and Correspondence
P.O. Box 30412
Salt Lake City, UT 84130

NOTE: Send a check or money order payable to “Utah State Tax Commission (UTSC)" if you're applying by mail.

Transfer or Surrender Tags

Utah license plates stay with you, not your vehicle. Therefore, you need to remove your tags when you sell your car.

In some cases, you can transfer the tags to your new vehicle when you register it.

If you no longer need your license plates, you may be required to surrender or destroy them.

Contact the UT DMV at (800) 368-8824 (800 DMV-UTAH) to check if you can transfer your license plates or if you need to surrender them.

Fees for Utah License Plates

Utah license plate and renewal fees vary by vehicle weight and location. For a detailed explanation of fees, see our Vehicle Registration and Registration Renewal pages.

Replacement tags are:

  • $15.50 for a standard license plate.
  • $5 for a replacement decal.
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