What Are Utah’s Car Inspection Laws?
Utah cares about the safety of the state’s residents and visitors, on the roads we drive and even in the air we breathe. Utah’s car inspection laws help to improve both. Despite the downward trend in states requiring inspections, some vehicles still require annual inspections. If you drive in Utah, you may need to know: Does my car need a safety or emissions inspection?
Utah’s Highway Patrol, states the following:
“As of January 1, 2018, a safety inspection is no longer required for most passenger vehicles to renew registration. However, all vehicles must still comply with state laws regarding equipment and safety standards while operating on Utah roads.”
Reach out to a Salt Lake City car accident attorney today.
Call (385) 404-6398.
What Types of Vehicles Still Require Annual Safety Inspections In Utah?
Utah’s government works to minimize air pollution and ensure that high-risk vehicles and those used for specialized transport operate safely. While average family vehicles like compact cars, sedans, small trucks, and SUVs, which typically weigh around 4,000 pounds, do not require inspections, the following Utah vehicles must undergo an annual safety inspection:
- Vehicles that weigh over $10,001 pounds
- All commercial vehicles, regardless of weight
- Interstate commercial vehicles that weigh over 10,001 pounds
- Buses and other passenger carriers, including school buses, airport shuttles, city buses, limousines, and private-hire buses and vans (rideshare vehicles like Uber and Lyft are exempt)
- Tow trucks
- Vehicles with three or more axles or that tow multi-axle trailers
- Street legal ATVs
A salvage vehicle that’s been restored after being declared a total loss in an accident requires a one-time inspection for registration.
In addition to required annual inspections for some types of vehicles in Utah, a handful of Utah counties require emissions testing.
Emissions Testing Requirements In Utah
Not every vehicle registered in Utah must undergo annual emissions testing, but some counties require emissions tests every two years for vehicles under 6 years old, and testing every year for vehicles 6 years or older.
If you have a vehicle registered in Cache, Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, or Utah County, you should know your county’s requirement for emissions testing. For instance, model years ending in even numbers are tested in even years, and odd model years in odd years.
Diesel vehicles are also subject to emissions testing in the above Utah counties.
Electric vehicles, motorcycles, farm vehicles, and vintage cars manufactured before 1967 are exempt from emissions testing requirements regardless of the county of registration. Brand new vehicles do not require emissions testing for the first two years after purchase.
How Does a Failed or Missed Vehicle Safety Inspection Affect My Car Accident Claim In Utah?
Utah is a fault-based car accident state under a modified comparative negligence law. If you were injured in a car accident caused by someone else in Utah, an experienced car accident lawyer will check the inspection records of the other vehicle involved in your car accident. If the vehicle failed an inspection, or the vehicle’s owner missed a required inspection, they may be held liable for your damages if the accident was caused by a mechanical failure such as a bald tire, brake system failure, or steering failure that would otherwise have been identified during the required inspection.
Your Salt Lake City injury lawyer can tell you more about how vehicle inspections impact your car accident claim.
Call our firm today at (385) 404-6398.