Superseded 1/1/2027
871 words·~4 min read·
/ut/title-41/chapter-1a/1-11A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Effective 7/1/2026
Superseded 1/1/2027
41-1a-402. Standard license plates -- Required colors, numerals, and letters -- Expiration.
(a)Upon registering a vehicle, the division shall issue to the owner a standard license plate described in Subsection (1)(b) unless the division issues to the owner:
(i)a special group license plate in accordance with Section 41-1a-418 ; or
(ii)an apportioned vehicle license plate in accordance with Section 41-1a-301 .
(b)The division may offer up to four standard license plate options at one time, each with a different design as follows:
(i)two designs that incorporate one or more elements that represent the state's economy or geography;
(ii)one design that represents the state's values or culture; and
(iii)one design that commemorates a current event relevant to the state or a significant anniversary of a historic event relevant to the state.
(c)The division shall offer:
(i)each design described in Subsection (1)(b)(i) or
(ii)for at least a 10-year period; and
(ii)each design described in Subsection (1)(b)(iii) for no more than a five-year period.
(d)The division may not offer more than four standard license plate designs at any one time.
(a)The Governor's Office of Economic Development may:
(i)propose a design change to a standard license plate described in Subsection (1)(b) ; or
(ii)accept a proposal from the public to change the design of a standard license plate described in Subsection (1)(b) .
(b)As part of the proposal to change a standard license plate, the Governor's Office of Economic Development shall determine which license plate a proposed design change would replace.
(3)The Governor's Office of Economic Development shall submit the proposal described in Subsection
(2)to the design review board.
(4)If the design review board receives a proposal as described in Subsection
(3), the design review board shall:
(a)consult with the designer regarding compliance with license plate design and format standards described in Section 41-1a-1612 ;
(b)vote whether to approve or reject the proposed license plate design; and
(c)notify the commission and the division regarding the results of the vote to approve or reject the proposed license plate design.
(a)Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b) , the division may not order or produce a standard license plate that is discontinued under this section.
(b)The division may issue a discontinued standard license plate until the division exhausts the discontinued standard license plate's remaining stock.
(a)Each license plate shall have displayed on it:
(i)the registration number assigned to the vehicle for which the license plate is issued;
(ii)the name of the state; and
(iii)unless exempted by Section 41-1a-301 or 41-1a-407 , a registration decal showing the date of expiration displayed in accordance with Subsection
(9).
(b)A license plate:
(i)shall have an embossed edge around the perimeter of the plate; and
(ii)may not have embossed registration numbers or characters.
(7)If registration is extended by affixing a registration decal to the license plate, the expiration date of the registration decal governs the expiration date of the license plate.
(i)Except as provided under Subsection (8)(c), Subsection 41-1a-215(2) , Subsection 41-1a-215.5(2) , and Section 41-1a-216 , a license plate shall be renewed annually.
(A)The division shall issue the vehicle owner a month registration decal and a year registration decal upon the vehicle's first registration with the division.
(B)The division shall issue the vehicle owner only a year registration decal upon subsequent renewals of registration to validate registration renewal.
(b)The division shall issue one registration decal displaying both the month and year.
(c)For a vehicle registered for a 24-month period as provided in Section 41-1a-215.5 , the division may issue two 12-month decals for the 24-month registration period.
(a)Except as otherwise provided in Subsection (9)(b) and by rule:
(i)the month registration decal issued in accordance with Subsection
(8)shall be displayed on the license plate in the left position; and
(ii)the year registration decal issued in accordance with Subsection
(8)shall be displayed on the license plate in the right position.
(b)The registration decal shall be displayed on the upper right position.
(10)The current year registration decal issued in accordance with Subsection
(8)shall be placed over or in place of the previous year registration decal.
(11)If a license plate or registration decal is lost or destroyed, a replacement shall be issued upon application and payment of the fees required under Section 41-1a-1211 or 41-1a-1212 .
(a)A violation of this section is an infraction.
(b)A court shall waive a fine for a violation under this section if:
(i)the registration for the vehicle was current at the time of the citation; and
(ii)the person to whom the citation was issued provides, within 21 business days, evidence that the license plate and registration decal are properly displayed in compliance with this section.
(13)In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the division may make rules regarding the placement and positioning of registration decal on a license plate issued by the division.
Amended by Chapter 344 , 2026 General Session