Temporary Permits for Private or Commercial Vehicles in Utah

Utah issues temporary permits through the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of the Utah State Tax Commission, which administers credentials for private vehicles, and through the Motor Carrier Division of the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), which administers credentials for interstate commercial operations.

What Is a Temporary Vehicle Permit in Utah?

Under the temporary permit provisions of Utah Code Section 41-1a-211, the Motor Vehicle Division may grant a temporary permit to operate a vehicle for which an application for registration has been made, or that has been newly purchased and is not yet registered. The DMV may issue permits for passenger vehicles, watercraft, motorcycles, trailers, motor homes, and off-highway vehicles to allow time to obtain the required documentation for titling and registration, including proof of ownership, safety inspection certificates, and emissions certificates. All required fees and taxes for titling and registering the vehicle are due when the permit is issued, along with the permit fee. The issuing DMV office determines the period of validity based on the circumstances of each case.

Temporary permits take several forms in Utah, each with its own validity period:

General temporary permits, issued at DMV field offices while title or registration documentation is assembled
96-hour in-transit permits, issued under Utah Code Ann. §41-3-305 to move an unregistered vehicle from one point to another within Utah or to another state
30-day inspection permits, obtained through the Renewal Express online service or participating On the Spot renewal stations to complete required safety and emissions inspections
Dealer-issued 45-day permits, provided by licensed dealers to purchasers while registration and license plates are obtained
Commercial temporary credentials, including 96-hour temporary registration and temporary fuel permits, and oversize and overweight movement permits

Who May Need a Temporary Permit

A temporary permit may be required in the following situations:

A vehicle has been purchased directly from a previous owner, and the title or registration documentation is incomplete
An out-of-state title or registration is being transferred, and additional documents, such as an emissions inspection, remain outstanding
A vehicle registration has expired or will expire, and extra time is needed to complete the required inspections
An unregistered vehicle must be moved within Utah or to another state
A commercial vehicle subject to the International Registration Plan (IRP) or the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) enters Utah without apportioned credentials
A vehicle or load exceeds Utah's legal size or weight limits

Private Vehicle Temporary Tags in Utah

For private vehicles, the DMV issues temporary permits that allow the vehicle to be operated while ownership documentation, titles, and inspection certificates are completed. An owner may apply for a permit using Utah's Motor Vehicle Portal (MVP), including through the Utah Person to Person (UPP) online title transfer process, which allows the applicant to obtain and print a temporary permit once the title and registration application is started. The original certificate of title or a bill of sale from the previous owner is sufficient to begin the process and obtain a permit.

A 96-hour in-transit permit is available for moving an unregistered vehicle within Utah or to another state. Proof of ownership and insurance is required, and Utah residents obtaining this permit must provide proof of insurance. The fee is $2.50 for motor vehicles and trailers, and the permit authorizes the use of Utah's roads for up to 96 hours.

Dealer-issued permits are valid for 45 days from the date of issue. Licensed dealers obtain permits from the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division (MVED) and issue them to purchasers, allowing the dealer 45 days to complete registration and obtain license plates from the Motor Vehicle Division. The original permit must be displayed in the rear license plate area or rear window of the vehicle, legible from a distance of 30 feet, with the expiration date written in figures at least three-quarters of an inch high.

Commercial Vehicle Temporary Permits in Utah

Commercial vehicles operating in Utah without apportioned credentials must obtain temporary authority before entering the state. Under the apportioned registration requirements of Utah Code Section 41-1a-301, a qualified motor vehicle — generally a vehicle or combination with a gross weight exceeding 26,000 pounds — based in another IRP jurisdiction must display Utah on its IRP cab card or obtain a valid 96-hour Utah Temporary Registration. Vehicles that are not apportioned for Utah must have both a 96-hour temporary registration permit and a temporary fuel permit.

Utah recognizes the following temporary commercial credentials:

96-hour temporary registration permit, issued in lieu of apportioned registration fees
96-hour temporary fuel permit, issued under Utah Code Section 59-13-303 in lieu of fuel tax licensing
Oversize and overweight permits, issued on a single trip, semi-annual, or annual basis for vehicles or loads exceeding legal dimensions and weight limits

Oversize and overweight permits are governed by Utah Administrative Rule R909-2-8 and the general provisions of UDOT's Oversize and Overweight Permitting program. A permit must be obtained and carried in the vehicle for inspection by law enforcement before a vehicle or load exceeding legal dimensions is moved. Vehicles exceeding 17 feet 6 inches in height, 17 feet in width, or 300,000 pounds require additional processing and may take up to 14 days for approval.

When a Temporary Permit Is Required

A private vehicle may require a temporary permit in the following circumstances:

After purchase, when the title or registration process cannot be completed immediately, and the vehicle must be operated in the interim
When a vehicle is transferred without a title, and the seller must obtain a duplicate title, such as through Form TC-123, Application for Utah Duplicate Title
When a registration has expired within the last six months and additional time is needed to pass the required safety or emissions inspections
When an unregistered vehicle must be moved to another location or another state

New residents are allowed 60 days to transfer titles and registrations and may obtain a temporary permit while gathering additional documents, such as an emissions inspection.

A commercial vehicle may require a temporary permit when:

The vehicle is subject to IRP and is not apportioned for travel in Utah
The vehicle is subject to IFTA, and fuel tax licensing is not active in Utah
The movement involves a vehicle or load that exceeds Utah's legal size or weight limits

How to Get a Temporary Permit in Utah

Where To Apply

Private vehicle temporary permits may be obtained through several channels:

DMV field offices, where an appointment is recommended at the Taylorsville, South Valley, Provo, Farmington, Ogden, and Hurricane offices
Renewal Express, the DMV's online renewal service, which allows the applicant to request and print a 30-day temporary permit after paying all required fees
On the Spot renewal stations, which issue 30-day temporary permits at participating locations
The Motor Vehicle Portal, for person-to-person title transfers and associated permits
Licensed dealers, which issue 45-day temporary permits to purchasers

For commercial carriers, 96-hour temporary registration and fuel permits are obtained through UDOT's Motor Carrier online permitting system, and oversize and overweight permits are purchased online through the same system prior to operation within the state.

Documents Commonly Required

The documentation required to obtain a temporary permit varies with the transaction and may include:

Proof of ownership, such as the original certificate of title, an out-of-state title or registration, or a bill of sale
A completed Form TC-661, Certificate of Inspection, verifying the Vehicle Identification Number for vehicles titled or registered in Utah for the first time
Safety inspection certificates, where required
Emissions inspection certificates, where required by the county
An odometer disclosure statement for vehicles less than 20 years old
Proof of insurance, required for in-transit permits obtained by Utah residents
All applicable title and registration taxes and fees, due at the time the permit is issued

Temporary Permit Fees in Utah

The following table summarizes the principal permit and credential fees in Utah.

Permit or credential	Official fee
96-hour in-transit permit (motor vehicles and trailers)	$2.50
Temporary permit issued at a DMV office	$6.00
30-day inspection permit (Renewal Express or On the Spot)	$6.00 plus applicable renewal fees
Oversize permit, single trip	$30.00
Oversize permit, semi-annual	$75.00
Oversize permit, annual	$90.00
Escort or department accompaniment (when required)	$40.00, or the full cost of the department employee and vehicle, whichever is greater

Can a Utah Temporary Permit Be Used Across State Lines?

The 96-hour in-transit permit expressly authorizes movement of an unregistered vehicle from one point to another within Utah or to another state, subject to the laws of the destination state. A dealer may also issue a temporary permit to a nonresident who purchases a motor vehicle in Utah for registration in another state; the dealer must file the permit stub and the required fee with the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division within 45 days of the issue date.

Commercial temporary credentials have a more limited geographic scope. Utah's 96-hour temporary registration and fuel permits are valid only within Utah and become void upon leaving the state. A carrier based in Utah that travels in another IRP jurisdiction must either display IRP plates or obtain valid trip permits for the state or province in which it wishes to operate. Oversize and overweight permits authorize operation only over approved routes within Utah.

Penalties for Driving Without the Proper Temporary Permit

Utah imposes penalties for operating a vehicle without valid registration or the required temporary authority.

Under Utah Code Section 41-1a-704, a vehicle may not be operated upon a highway until the person entitled to possession applies for and obtains a valid registration or temporary permit. Operation without a certificate of title or registration is a Class C misdemeanor carrying a statutory minimum fine of $1,000, subject to reduction by the court upon presentation of evidence of current registration.
Under Utah Code Section 41-1a-215, registration fee adjustments apply to late registration: 25% of the regular registration fee when registration occurs not more than three months after the registration period ends, and 50% when the delay exceeds three months.
A dealer that issues a temporary permit without rescinding the sale is liable for the vehicle's registration fee, together with any applicable penalties, and must maintain written records of every permit issued in accordance with Utah Administrative Rule R873-22M.
MVED will not approve a request for an extension permit when a dealer has requested extensions for more than 6% of its temporary permits during the preceding three months, and a dealer that fails to file a nonresident permit stub and fee within 45 days is subject to a penalty equal to the nonresident permit fee.
Commercial vehicles operating without apportioned registration, a valid 96-hour temporary registration, a temporary fuel permit, or the required oversize or overweight permit are subject to enforcement action at Utah's ports of entry, including citations and denial of entry.

Contact Information

Utah State Tax Commission, Motor Vehicle Division
210 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84134
Phone: (801) 297-7780
Official Website: Utah Division of Motor Vehicles