All Roll Calls
Yes: 210 • No: 1
UtahH.B. 572026 General SessionHouseWALLET
Motor Vehicle Division Amendments
Sponsored By: Kay J. Christofferson (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Motor Fuel and Special Fuel TaxesState Tax CommissionRevenue and TaxationLicense PlatesMotor VehiclesTransportationVehicle RegistrationMotor Vehicle Size LimitsTransportation FundDivision of Motor VehiclesTransportation FundingTransportation Related Fees
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
26 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 6 costs, 12 mixed.
More sales tax to roads, water, transit
Beginning July 1, 2026, set shares of state sales and use tax flow to major funds. For example, 26.24% goes to the Transportation Investment Fund, 0.44% to Cottonwood Canyons, and 1% each to commuter rail and outdoor infrastructure. The law also sends fixed dollars each year, including $45 million to the Active Transportation Investment Fund and multi‑million amounts to water, wildlife, and emergency food programs. In housing and transit reinvestment and other zones, part of the sales tax increment (often 15% or 50%, with timing rules) goes to local transit or infrastructure projects.
Construction material sales tied to zones
Starting July 1, 2026, sellers who set up a delivery outlet in a qualified development zone and report sales to that outlet (not on a simplified return) trigger a distribution equal to sales price × the zone’s percentage. For some convention center zones, the percentage is 50%.
Half fees for certain work trucks
Trucks used only to pump cement, drill wells, or do crane work get 50% off the usual registration fees. Crane trucks must have at least a five‑ton lift capacity to qualify. The truck must be used exclusively for these services.
0.15% sales tax funds Medicaid ACA
Beginning July 1, 2026, the state transfers revenue from a 0.15% sales and use tax rate each year into the Medicaid ACA Fund. This creates a steady funding stream for Medicaid‑related costs. The total depends on the taxed sales base.
Part‑year tax on property kept in Utah
Beginning May 6, 2026, taxable transitory personal property is taxed for the time it is in Utah, but not less than 25% of a full‑year assessment. Owners must file a personal property report when they bring property into the state. If you do not file, the penalty is 50% of the tax finally due. Registered motor vehicles at 27,000 lbs or less and other listed items are exempt. If you remove the property before December, you may claim a rebate by December 10.
New 8‑hour training for auto dealers
Beginning May 6, 2026, the Motor Vehicle Division will not issue new dealer or direct‑sale manufacturer licenses unless the applicant completes an 8‑hour approved orientation class. Partners, officers, bond indemnitors, and managers must also complete it. The applicant pays the approved cost. The curriculum covers ethics, title and registration, insurance and public safety rules, federal rules, and disclosure forms.
New paperwork and license rules for dealers
Starting May 6, 2026, dealers must send title and registration documents to the state within 45 days when a temp permit is issued, or give the title within 48 hours if no temp permit (21 days if selling to a dealer or dismantler). A sale notice is due within 45 days. Dealer and similar plates have stricter use limits, including no use on leased or rented vehicles for pay and no use on loaded commercial vehicles over 26,000 lb GVWR without a special permit. Each additional business location needs its own supplemental license. A new‑car dealer must have a franchise to sell new cars, and transporter licenses require proof of insurance. Salespersons may work for only one dealer at a time, except they may work for more than one wholesale auction dealer.
New residents must register in 60 days
Beginning May 6, 2026, if you move to Utah, you must register your vehicle within 60 days unless it is exempt. If the Tax Commission finds noncompliance, it charges $150 and gives you 60 days to fix it. If you still do not comply, the penalty is the larger of the underpayment penalty or $500. The commission may waive or reduce penalties if you show reasonable cause.
Tighter rules for salvage auctions and buyers
Starting May 6, 2026, only licensed salvage buyers can bid on or buy most salvage or nonrepairable vehicles at Utah auctions. Limited exceptions allow sales to out‑of‑state authorized buyers, crushers, and up to five sales per year to an in‑state unlicensed buyer tied to one Utah sales tax license. A vehicle sold to an out‑of‑state buyer cannot be registered in Utah until it is certified out‑of‑state. Auctions must store sold salvage vehicles securely until claimed, may charge daily storage, and must verify ID before release. They must report buyers to the Motor Vehicle Division within two business days, keep records five years, and follow NMVTIS reporting; the division will link to NMVTIS online.
New rules and fees for heavy/commercial vehicles
From May 6, 2026, heavy vehicles over 14,000 lbs must display the registered weight on both sides, and it is an infraction to operate over the registered combined weight. You pay a $6 motor carrier fee per vehicle or combination at registration or renewal ($12 for 24‑month registrations). State temporary permits last up to 96 hours and cost $25 (single unit) or $50 (multiple units); nonresidents at 26,000 lbs or less are exempt. The state may use $5 or $10 from each permit for electronic credentialing. Part‑year registrations for vehicles over 14,000 lbs cost 30%, 60%, 90%, or 100% of the annual fee, based on months. Rental car businesses can get a 12‑month conditional registration while waiting for title; it is revoked if no Utah title within 10 months.
New rules for direct car makers
Beginning May 6, 2026, a licensed manufacturer may construct or assemble vehicles, remanufacture them, and under rules may issue and install VINs; it may franchise and appoint dealers by notifying the state. A direct‑sale manufacturer must have an authorized service center and a principal place of business. An authorized service center repairs only one line‑make, is approved for warranty work, and operates from an enclosed Utah facility. A direct‑sale manufacturer is a U.S.‑domiciled maker‑dealer that is an EV maker or a low‑volume maker, is not a franchise holder, and is directed from a U.S. location. An EV maker sells only its own new non‑fossil‑fuel vehicles up to 14,000 lb GVWR; a low‑volume maker builds no more than 325 new vehicles in any 12‑month period. The law also defines who counts as a franchise holder, with specific ownership and date‑based exceptions. A direct‑sale manufacturer salesperson may not also hold a standard salesperson license.
Tighter rules for salvage auctions and buyers
Beginning May 6, 2026, running a motor vehicle auction requires a state license. Only licensed dealers, dismantlers, or body shops may get a salvage buyer license, and no business may hold more than two. Certain buyers are capped at five salvage or nonrepairable purchases in 12 months and may sell no more than two salvage‑certificate vehicles to unlicensed buyers in 12 months. If an in‑state unlicensed buyer wins a salvage vehicle, the auction operator must apply for the salvage title (within seven days until the GenTax system, then electronically), and when required must provide proof of sales tax payment, ID inspection, and the odometer disclosure. Auctions must give buyers a separate salvage warning form; the Motor Vehicle Division posts the form link. The commission may charge up to $10 for non‑licensed visitors to view salvage vehicles. People convicted of motor‑vehicle fraud cannot get licenses or buy salvage/nonrepairable vehicles until restitution is fully paid, and sellers may not sell to buyers the division has told them are prohibited.
Tighter tire and mudflap rules
Beginning May 6, 2026, drivers cannot use tires with less than 2/32 inch tread. Sellers also cannot sell unsafe tires for highway use. Trucks (GVWR 10,500+ lb) and many trailers (shipping weight 750+ lb) must have rear mudguards or flaps; violations are infractions. Metal tires are banned on highways. Tungsten-carbide studs are only allowed Oct 15–Dec 31 and Jan 1–Mar 31, may stick out no more than 0.050 inches, and are not allowed on vehicles over 9,000 lb GVWR unless the vehicle is an emergency vehicle or school bus. Solid rubber tires must have at least one inch of rubber over the traction surface. The law also clarifies how to measure frame height and wheel track so everyone measures the same way.
Clearer lemon‑law terms for buybacks
The law defines a buyback vehicle and what counts as a nonconformity. A nonconformity is a warranty defect that hurts the car’s use, safety, or value. Problems caused by accidents, abuse, neglect, or unauthorized changes do not count. These clearer terms help owners understand when repurchase or replacement rules apply.
Insurance and emissions breaks for special vehicles
Beginning May 6, 2026, some off‑highway vehicles, electric‑assist bikes, motor‑assisted scooters, and electric personal assistive mobility devices do not need owner’s or operator’s insurance. Custom or collector‑style vehicles (generally 25 years old or replicas) are exempt from emissions testing if the owner signs the collector‑use statement; they still must meet safety, registration, insurance, and tax rules. A street‑legal ATV pays the fees listed in the ATV section and does not owe an extra registration fee under the other rule.
More funding for motorcycle safety
Beginning May 6, 2026, $2.50 from each motorcycle endorsement goes to the motorcycle safety program. The program also gets a set portion of registration fees. These funds do not expire at year‑end and are generally not used for lobbying.
Optional vehicle ID for invisible conditions
Beginning May 6, 2026, you can add an invisible‑condition symbol to your vehicle record at no cost. You must submit the state form, a note from a licensed health care professional, and a liability waiver. The state issues a removable decal and shares a short description with law enforcement systems. You can ask to remove the symbol, and the division removes it within 30 days. This does not create parking or other legal rights.
Minimum $200 fine for certain violation
A violation listed in state law carries an infraction fine of at least $200. This is a set minimum amount for that violation.
Rules to register foreign‑made small vehicles
From May 6, 2026, to register a vehicle under 6,000 lbs that was not made for U.S. sale, you must certify it meets U.S. safety and emissions rules. If ownership papers are not in English, you must provide certified translations. The division may issue a temporary permit for up to 120 days while you bring the vehicle into compliance.
Stricter conduct rules for auto licensees
Beginning May 6, 2026, licensed dealers and other licensees may not run misleading ads, must identify themselves as the seller, and must follow all chapter rules. They must keep required bonds and a main business location, deliver plates to customers, issue temporary permits properly, and not sell at unlicensed locations.
New rules for license plates
Most vehicles get one plate; motorcycles, trailers, and semitrailers get a single plate, and campers get a single decal. A plate may transfer with a sold vehicle if the seller includes it and the buyer is eligible; personalized or special-group plates cannot transfer to ineligible buyers. All new plates must be fully reflective starting May 6, 2026; historical support plates may be partly reflective. The division must distribute plates from a central location by July 1, 2025, and may issue two-plate sets only until December 31, 2025. For specialty plates, “charitable purpose” now excludes paying for or encouraging abortions, and the law clarifies which plates count as state agency support plates.
Street‑legal ATVs allowed with safety gear
Starting July 1, 2026, you may drive some ATVs, off‑highway motorcycles, and qualifying novel vehicles on roads if they meet title, registration, driver license, insurance, and any county emissions rules. You may not use them on the interstate or on certain high‑speed county highways over 50 mph. Vehicles must have specific equipment like lights, reflectors, brakes that meet standards, horn, muffler, mirrors, speedometer lighting, and proper tires. Equipment needs vary by vehicle type.
Who must title and register
Starting May 6, 2026, a roadable aircraft and a street‑legal ATV count as motor vehicles. Off‑highway vehicles and motor assisted scooters do not. Some items do not need a state title, including special mobile equipment, federal vehicles, small trailers (750 lb or less, not for hire), and modular homes not built on a permanent chassis. If a vehicle with an automated driving system stays in Utah more than 30 straight days in a year, the owner is treated as a resident for registration and may need to register here.
Pay‑by‑mile option for EVs and hybrids
Beginning May 6, 2026, owners or lessees of alternative‑fuel vehicles can apply to pay a per‑mile road charge instead of some registration fees. From January 1, 2026, the rate is 1.25¢ per mile with annual caps of $180 (or $139 for six‑month periods). Rates and caps adjust each year by inflation. The program collects mileage data and can use penalties and registration holds if you do not comply.
Pick 6‑ or 24‑month registration; new county fee
Beginning May 6, 2026, you may choose a 6‑month registration for motorcycles and vehicles at 14,000 lbs or less. You may choose a 24‑month registration for trailers, electric vehicles, off‑highway vehicles, and street‑legal ATVs by paying exactly double the 12‑month taxes and fees. Starting July 1, 2026, some counties may add up to $3 per 12‑month registration (or $2.25 for 6‑month). Electric vehicles, apportioned commercial vehicles, and street‑legal ATVs are exempt from the county fee.
Clear timelines for vehicle consignment sales
Beginning May 6, 2026, a consignor may take back a consigned vehicle after written notice and paying agreed charges listed in the consignment paperwork. After a sale, the dealer must notify the owner within 7 days and pay the owner within 21 days of the sale or within 15 days of receiving full payment. The dealer must also notify the owner within 5 days if the sale is rescinded. Consigned vehicles must use dealer plates, and a written consignment agreement must be signed and kept before any driving.
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Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Kay J. Christofferson
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Wayne A. Harper
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/5/2026
House/ concurs with Senate amendment
Yes: 69 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/4/2026
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 23 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/4/2026
Senate/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/4/2026
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/3/2026
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/18/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd reading
Yes: 22 • No: 0
House vote • 2/9/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 5 • No: 0
House vote • 2/3/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 69 • No: 1
House vote • 2/3/2026
House/ floor amendment
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 1/23/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 11 • No: 0
House vote • 1/23/2026
House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 11 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/23/2026House/ to Governor
3/16/2026HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/16/2026HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/12/2026HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/12/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/6/2026Bill Received from House for Enrolling
3/6/2026House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
3/5/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/5/2026HouseSenate/ to House
3/5/2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
3/5/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
3/5/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/5/2026HouseHouse/ concurs with Senate amendment
3/5/2026HouseHouse/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
3/4/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/4/2026HouseSenate/ to House with amendments
3/4/2026SenateSenate/ passed 3rd reading
3/4/2026SenateSenate/ substituted
3/4/2026SenateSenate/ uncircled
3/4/2026SenateSenate/ circled
3/3/2026SenateSenate/ placed on 3rd Reading Calendar table
2/18/2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
2/18/2026SenateSenate/ passed 2nd reading
2/18/2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
2/18/2026Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/12/2026
Substitute #2
2/25/2026
Amended 2/4/2026 09:02:389
2/4/2026
Substitute #1
1/23/2026
Introduced
12/22/2025
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