The Best and the Cheapest Car Insurance in Utah [2024]

Are you looking for the most affordable car insurance Utah residents can buy? Or a reliable company that won’t let you down when you make a claim? If yes, you are in the right place.

We reviewed no fewer than 24 auto insurers, big and small, and rated them on the basis of their performance on important parameters, such as cost, customer service, and financial strength.

However, we didn’t stop at grading the top car insurance companies in Utah. We also studied its insurance laws and tested various tactics for saving money on car insurance. If you implement them, you can bring your premium down by as much as 60%, if not more

The Overall Winner: GEICO

You might have heard GEICO’s claim “15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance.” But does it really offer low-cost insurance?

Well, GEICO stays true to its promise in the Beehive State. At $125 a month, it provides the cheapest car insurance in Utah.

However, unmatchable premium rates are not the only reason to pick GEICO. The insurer also boasts an unsurpassable record in the financial health department. A.M. Best awarded it the best-possible rating of “A++.” Considering GEICO’s robust financial strength, you don’t have to worry about your safety net disappearing down the line if you pair up with it for car insurance.

Continuing with the positives, GEICO’s online tools are the best among all Utah auto insurance companies. Its website impresses you right off the bat while its mobile app has a lot more to offer than standard features. Whether you want to locate the cheapest gas station near you, request road assistance, or modify the coverage, its mobile app lets you take the desired action in two winks.

However, its performance in customer service is not the most impressive among car insurance companies in Utah. With three stars and an eight overall rank among 13 insurers in J.D. Power US study for the Utah region, GEICO’s customer service record can be only termed as mediocre.

That said, for most of us, auto insurance primarily comes down to cost, and affordable premium rates is GEICO’s forte. As is financial health and online tools.

For these reasons, GEICO remains the best auto insurance company in Utah, despite its lacklustre show in customer service.

Choose GEICO for its cheapest premiums and outstanding financial strength.

Look elsewhere if you want top-shelf customer service.

The Best for Customer Service: State Farm

If customer service, not cost, is the primary factor for buying car insurance for you, State Farm might just be the one for you. It recently earned a perfect score in overall satisfaction in J.D. Power study for the Utah region. This goes to show State Farm is one Utah auto insurance provider that won’t shy away from going the extra mile to serve you better.

What else does the insurer have to offer?

A lot, actually. If an insurer’s financial standing is important to you, you can’t go wrong with State Farm. It earned the best rating of “A++” from A.M. Best, just like GEICO.

In addition to this, State Farm offers a wide variety of coverage options. Whether you need sports car insurance, classic car insurance, or rental car insurance in Utah, it has got you covered.

However, State Farm is the most expensive option in Utah, even with its impressive selection of discounts. Nevertheless, it remains a great option for all those who want top-notch customer service and are ready to pay extra for it.

Choose State Form for its top-rated customer service and robust financial health.

Look elsewhere if you are looking for a cheap auto insurance Utah provider.

Best for High-Risk Drivers: Progressive

Are you a new driver looking for coverage that does not cost you an arm and a leg? Or perhaps you are an experienced driver but have just recently piled up a few citations and now can’t seem to get an affordable quote?

In either case, start your search with Progressive, which offers reasonably-priced car insurance Utah quotes to high-risk drivers.

That said, Progressive is not just a niche player. With an average rate of $126 a month, it is a great option for all drivers on a tight budget. Its financial standing is also robust, which is an added plus. A.M. Best awarded Progress the second-highest rating of “A+.”

Furthermore, Progressive offers a number of interesting features, such as Name Your Price Tool. Thanks to it, you no longer need to hunt for discounts and crunch up numbers to find the cheapest insurance in Utah. Just name the price you want to pay, and the AI will find the perfect coverage for you. Cool, eh?

However, Progressive has one glaring weakness. Its customer service record is spotty, as indicated by its two-star rating in the 2018 J.D. Power study for the Utah region. But if you can live with that, Progressive is definitely an appealing option, especially if you are looking for low-cost car insurance.

Choose Progressive if you are a high-risk driver or looking for cheap car insurance in Utah.

Look Elsewhere if you want nothing but the best customer service.

Best for Optional Coverages and Discounts: Allstate

Allstate, the fourth largest insurer in the US by market share, offers a range of discounts to drivers from all walks of life. It is especially generous to safe drivers, for whom it has multiple discount programs running, such as Allstate’s vanishing deductible, Safe Driving Bonus Check, and Allstate Rewards program.

When it comes to customer service, Allstate has a better track record than most insurance companies in Utah, which its fourth rank in the J.D. Power regional study confirms.

Allstate provides all the regular options, as well as several additional coverages, such as sound system and roadside coverage. It is also in good shape financially, earning an impressive “A+” rating from A.M. Best.

Furthermore, unlike most auto insurers, Allstate offers a claim satisfaction guarantee. This basically means that you will get a six-month credit on your auto insurance premium if you are not satisfied with the way Allstate settled your claim.

Nevertheless, for all its advantages, Allstate is not a good fit for all those who are looking for cheap auto insurance in Utah. Despite its wide range of discounts, its premiums are among the most expensive in the state. But if its high premiums are not a deal-breaker, Allstate is worth considering, particularly if you are someone who wants excellent customer service and all the perks a top-ranking insurer offers.

Choose Allstate for its reliable customer service, a wide selection of discounts/coverages, and robust financial strength.

Look elsewhere if you want the best bang for your buck.

Best for Dividends: Amica Car Insurance

Amica is one of the best performing US mutual insurance companies. That’s why our list of best insurance companies in Utah would be incomplete if it didn’t include its name.

Although Amica’s rates were consistently on the higher side in Utah, the good part is that insurer returns a portion of money in the form of dividends, usually 5% to 20% of your annual premium. That said, remember a dividend policy may cost more upfront. If you want to pay a lower premium, a non-dividend (i.e., traditional) Utah automobile insurance may suit you better.

While Amica doesn’t appear in J.D. Power regional study for the Utah region, it did exceedingly well in the national survey, earning the first rank overall among 24 insurers. It is also in solid shape financially, as indicated by its “A+” A.M. Best rating.

To sum it up, even though Amica’s premium rates are above average, it is a good option for all those who value top-notch customer service and robust financial standing.

Choose Amica for dividends and superior customer service.

Look elsewhere if you want dirt-cheap premiums.

Cheap Auto Insurance in Utah (By City)

To find out auto insurance rates in major cities in Utah, we gathered a quote for a 40-year-old single male with a clean record from all major players. Our referenced vehicle was a 2018 Honda Accord, and our quote included full coverage limits.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city in the state of Utah. It has emerged as a major trade and transportation center in Utah and boasts of a diversified economy, covering industries like mining, tourism, agriculture, information technology, petroleum production, finance, and manufacturing.

Auto insurance in Salt Lake City is a tad on the expensive side, with the average monthly premium being $212. That said, our overall winner GEICO ($135/month) offers great value for money. Progressive is another viable option for budget buyers, but its customer service record is not great. If quality customer service is your priority and you don’t mind spending a little extra for it, consider State Farm, one of the top auto insurance providers in Utah.

West Valley City

A suburb of Salt Lake City, West Valley City is the second-largest city in Utah, with a population of over 129,000. In 2011, the city made public a plan to create a teeming downtown area over the next 10 years, which will have a civic center, a hotel, and a rapid transit line, among other things. In the meanwhile, West Valley City boasts of some amazing nearby destinations for skiing and hiking, as well as some of the most diverse culinary experience in the whole of Utah.

West Valley car insurance, on average, is $47 cheaper than Salt Lake City’s. Progressive is the most affordable option, followed by GEICO. However, Amica offers outstanding customer service and it may be worth the extra outlay.

Provo

Situated along the Wasatch Front, Provo is the third biggest city in Utah. It is known for Brigham Young University and its museums, including the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum. Forbes ranked Provo among the “Best Small and Medium-Sized Cities for Jobs” in 2015.

Auto insurance in Provo, Utah, is $47 costlier compared to Salt Lake City, which makes it the most expensive city in our study. Nevertheless, there are plenty of affordable options to choose from, including GEICO, Farmers, and Amica.

West Jordan

West Jordan, with a population of over 103,000, is the fourth most populous city in Utah and a rapidly growing suburb of Salt Lake City. Named after the Jordan River, the city is home to many important businesses, including Mountain America Credit Union, SME Steel, Cyprus Credit Union, and Lynco Sales & Services.

Auto insurance in West Jordan, Utah is the cheapest in the state, with the monthly average premium of $165 a month. Progressive is the most affordable option, followed by GEICO. While Progressive should definitely be on your list, you might want to place GEICO ahead of it on the count of its better customer service record. Liberty Manual, thanks to its reasonably-priced rates, also deserves your attention, as does Amica, one of the best car insurance companies in Utah.

Orem

Orem, located 45 miles south of South Lake City, is named for Walter C. Orem, builder of the Salt Lake and Utah Railroad. Voted as one of the best places to raise a family by Forbes in 2010, Orem is now regarded as the commercial center of Central Utah. While fewer than 100,000 people live in Orem, it has the highest population density in Utah.

If you’re looking for the cheapest car insurance Orem money can buy, you shouldn’t look further than Progressive. However, mind you, its customer service is nothing to shout about. State Farm, on the other hand, delivers top-notch customer service, but the downside is that its average monthly premium is on the expensive side. GEICO, in contrast, offers dependable car insurance at competitive rates, backed by reasonably good customer service, which makes it the best option in Orem.

Utah Car Insurance Laws

Utah Automobile Insurance Plan (UAIP)

Car insurance is mandatory in Utah, but that doesn’t mean every driver gets coverage in the voluntary market. If you are classified as a high-risk driver, you may well find your application getting rejected left and right. But all is not lost. Help is available, and it goes by the name of Utah Automobile Insurance Plan (UAIP).

Created in 1949, UAIP ensures every driver is able to obtain auto insurance in Utah, as long as the following criteria are met:

• You have been refused coverage in the last 60 days.
• You hold a valid driver’s license.
• Your car is registered in Utah.
• You don’t have any outstanding car insurance bills.

Hence, if you are eligible and you meet all the requirements (listed above), UAIP will randomly assign you an insurer; in fact, all auto insurance companies in Utah must participate in UAIP and share the financial burden of high-risk drivers in proportion to their market share. For instance, if GEICO has 10% of the car insurance market in Utah, it will be assigned up to 10% of drivers who come through UAIP.

Useful as UAIP is for drivers with poor driving records, coverage obtained through it is more expensive than standard insurance. Therefore, don’t go running to it before you have exhausted all other options.

Utah Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements

An Utah-licensed driver must have the following mandatory coverage:

• Bodily Injury Liability Insurance — $25,000 per person/$65,000 per accident. If you hurt someone in a road accident, this coverage pays for their medical expenses and lost income as a direct result of their injuries. 
• Property Damage Liability Insurance — $15,000 per accident. This coverage protects you if you are involved in an at-fault accident that causes damage to another person’s vehicle or property.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Insurance — $3,000 minimum. It pays for medical bills you incur due to a car accident.

SR22 Insurance in Utah

First things first, SR22 is not a type of insurance coverage. Instead, it is a form that your auto insurer needs to submit to the local DMV following the suspension or revocation of your driver’s license.

The SR22 certificate, also called the certificate of financial responsibility, serves as proof that you carry the minimum coverage mandated by the laws governing auto insurance in Utah. You’ll need an SR22 certificate after you have had a serious violation, such as drunk driving, or a number of moving violations, such as reckless driving.

You must maintain SR22 for three years, after which you will once again become eligible for regular auto insurance.

If you need the SR22 certificate along with the policy, expect to cough up a lot more than you would for standard coverage. Research shows auto insurers bump up rates by as much as 50% for problem motorists. That said, not all insurance companies are equally severe on high-risk drivers, so do shop around a little.

Utah Car Insurance for New Residents

According to AAA’s guideline on Utah’s driving laws, you don’t have to register a vehicle in Utah if you are not a resident of Utah and the vehicle is registered in another state.

However, if you have become a resident of Utah, you must register the vehicle within 60 days of establishing residency.

If you are an active member of the US military, you are free to retain vehicle registration in your home state.

Price Optimization in Utah

Do you shop around before renewing your car insurance Utah policy?

If not, you might be making a mistake.

Contrary to what many believe, loyalty is not always a good thing. This is especially true in the case of car insurance since insurers have started using non-underwriting data to calculate premium rates, a practice known as “price optimization.”

Since price optimization is legal in Utah, your insurer may well be using AI tools to find out the maximum rate you are willing to pay and then charging you that amount.

In other words, you may be getting penalized rather than rewarded for sticking with the same auto insurance Utah provider. Therefore, shop around every now and then — you’ll be letting your insurer know that they can’t take your business for granted. Knowing this, they’ll offer you the best rates to keep you within the fold.

Utah No-Fault Laws

Utah is one of a dozen or so US states that has some form of a “no-fault” car insurance system. That means in the event of an accident, your car insurance Utah provider will pay for medical treatment and other expenses incurred by you as a direct result of the accident, regardless of fault.

In Utah, you can’t sue the negligent driver for non-monetary losses, such as your pain and suffering, unless your injuries resulted in the medical expenditure of over $3,000 (the minimum PIP limit) or led to permanent disability, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment, or dismemberment.

How to Get Cheap Insurance in Utah?

Check Car Insurance Review

When hunting for your perfect car insurer, don’t just look at the overall rankings. Check also how different players perform on various individual factors relevant to you.

Since we have already crunched numbers and done all the legwork for you, all you have to do is look at our auto insurance reviews to find out your perfect insurer. We researched every important category, from cost and discounts to customer service and availability. Afterwards, we prepared a list of 24 top auto insurers in the US.

Compare car insurance quotes in Utah

Considering price optimization is not illegal in Utah, it makes sense to explore your options when the renewal comes. However, that is not the only reason why you should frequently compare auto insurance quotes.

It’s an open secret that insurance companies tweak their pricing policy depending on their market performance. That is to say, if a particular auto insurer starts to lose its customers, it may very well opt to lower its rates to win them back. Shopping around before getting an insurance renewal can reveal the cheapest car insurance in Utah and whether there’s merit in continuing with the current insurer or not.

See who provides the highest discount

Want to buy dirt-cheap car insurance? Then don’t forget to take full advantage of all the available discounts.

In the case of online quotes, the system automatically tracks all discounts that fit your profile. If you are speaking to an agent over the phone, request them to list all available discounts. That way you uncover the best possible insurance quote Utah providers have to offer.

At times, participating in programs that let the insurance company track your driving can prove cost-effective. If you can demonstrate safe driving behaviours, the savings can be massive, up to 30–40%.

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