UtahUtah will check vehicle histories before issuing new state titles
Starting January 1, 2027, Utah's signed law requires national history checks for new Utah titles and keeps earlier damage or theft labels on rebuilt titles.
What it does
Starting January 1, 2027, Utah's Motor Vehicle Division must check national records before issuing new Utah titles. Records showing serious damage trigger the process for labeling the vehicle's history.
Starting January 1, 2027, vehicles with fire, flood, or hail damage may receive a rebuilt title once safe to drive. Rebuilt titles must still show the earlier damage or theft history.
Starting January 1, 2027, noncompliant vehicles made abroad for sale outside the U.S. may receive a compliant import label after meeting safety and emissions standards and passing a safety inspection.
Starting January 1, 2027, vehicle titles must carry a mileage warning when a written disclosure shows that the mileage counter does not match how far the vehicle actually traveled.
Argument forChecking national title records could help buyers spot damage histories that might otherwise disappear when vehicles receive Utah titles.
Argument againstKeeping the original damage label on rebuilt titles could make safely repaired vehicles harder for owners to sell.
More detail
The Motor Vehicle Division must check national vehicle title records before issuing a new Utah title. The check covers applications for new Utah titles, including vehicles with no title or a title from another state. If a contributing jurisdiction lists the title as salvage, a total loss, or damaged, the division must follow the process for issuing a title with a vehicle history label. The national records requirement takes effect on January 1, 2027.
The Motor Vehicle Division must label salvage vehicle titles with the applicable history when it can determine that history. Salvage titles receive labels at first registration or transfer of ownership. Fire, flood, and hail labels cover damage that led an insurer to declare a total loss. A vehicle with a fire, flood, or hail damage label, or one that qualifies for such a label, may receive a rebuilt and restored label if repairs make it safe to drive on a highway. Rebuilt titles must show the earlier history as Fire, Flood, Hail, or Stolen after the words Rebuilt and Restored. These title rules take effect on January 1, 2027.
An eligible imported vehicle may receive a compliant gray market label, showing that it meets the required U.S. standards. Gray market vehicles were made abroad, were not intended for U.S. sale, and fail federal or state safety or emissions standards. The vehicle must have, or qualify for, a gray market label. The compliant category requires changes to meet federal and state safety and emissions standards. The vehicle must also pass the safety inspection required by Section 53-8-205. The labeling rule takes effect on January 1, 2027.
The Motor Vehicle Division must mark the title with Odometer discrepancy when a vehicle meets the mileage mismatch definition. The warning identifies a mismatch between the vehicle's mileage counter and its actual travel. A written mileage disclosure statement must indicate that the mileage counter does not match the actual miles or kilometers driven. The warning requirement takes effect on January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 23Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 12House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 12House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 11House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 6Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 6Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 5House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ to House
- Mar 5Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 5Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionPassed Senate
- Mar 5Senate/ uncircled
- Mar 5Senate/ circled
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]Minor
- Feb 26Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 26Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]Minor
- Feb 26Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]Minor
- Feb 24Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]Minor
- Feb 23Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 20Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 20House/ to Senate
- Feb 20House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 20House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 13LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0228S02
- Feb 13LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0228S02
- Feb 12House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 12House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Revenue and Taxation Committee]
- Feb 12House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Revenue and Taxation Committee]Minor
- Feb 12House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Revenue and Taxation Committee]Major
- Feb 11LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0228S02
- Feb 11LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0228S02
- Feb 10House/ to standing committee [House Revenue and Taxation Committee]Minor
- Feb 10Bill Substituted by Sponsor in House Rules Comm [House Rules Committee]Major
- Feb 2LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0228S01
- Jan 29LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0228S01
- Jan 26LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0228S01
- Jan 26LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0228S01
- Jan 20House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 20House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 17LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0228
- Jan 17LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0228
- Jan 14House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 12LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0228
- Jan 12LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0228
- Jan 12Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 12Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
TransportationConsumer Protection