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Buying a Car From a Dealer in Utah
As in other states, dealers in Utah will take care of the title and registration when you purchase a vehicle from them. They will figure out what paperwork is necessary, and they will also fill out most of the paperwork. All you will have to do is sign the relevant forms and pay the applicable fees. Keep in mind that you will have to pay an additional fee to the dealer for taking care of the paperwork. Once you have completed the paperwork and finished the purchase process, the dealer will submit the paperwork to the Utah DMV for you.
It will take two weeks or so for your vehicle’s permanent Utah plate to arrive in the mail. The dealer will give you a temporary plate that allows you to legally drive your vehicle in the meantime. If you paid cash for your car, you will receive the title at about the same time as the permanent plate. If you financed the vehicle, the bank will keep the title until you have paid off the loan. If you leased the vehicle, the dealership will keep the title, as they still own the vehicle.
Buying a Car From a Private Citizen in Utah
If you purchase a vehicle from a private citizen in Utah, you will have to get the title and registration yourself. Thankfully, this isn’t too difficult. The most important part of getting a title and registration for a vehicle that you have purchased from a private seller in Utah is getting the correct paperwork from the seller at the time of the sale. You will need to get the following documents from the seller:
- Title that has been signed over to you
- Bill of sale
- Current registration
- Current safety certificate
- Current emissions certificate
The bill of sale is one of the most important documents that you need to get from the seller. The bill of sale should include the following information:
- Sale price
- Seller’s name and signature
- Your name and signature
- Date of sale
- Vehicle information (year, make, model, VIN)
- Seller’s address
Completing a Utah Title
- Seller’s name and signature
- Vehicle’s mileage
- Vehicle’s information
- Buyer’s name and signature
- Seller’s address
- Buyer’s address
- Sale price
- Sale date
Note that this information is almost identical to the information required for the bill of sale. Once you have collected the information for one document, you should be able to quickly fill out the other.
Obtaining a Vehicle Registration in Utah
Utah makes it very easy to get a registration when you purchase a vehicle. All you will need to do is take the documents you have collected from the seller and proof of insurance to a Utah DMV location. You will then need to present valid ID and pay the applicable fees.
Fees & Payment for Utah Registration & Title
The title fee in Utah is only $6, which is much cheaper than most states. The registration fee ranges from $10 to $150, depending on the age of the vehicle. Newer vehicles are more expensive. Fees can be paid with cash, checks, money orders, cashier’s checks, credit cards, or debit cards. Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted