Does Utah require a front license plate?

No. Since January 1, 2025, passenger vehicles need only a rear plate.

What does a Utah plate number look like?

A letter, three numbers and two letters, like A12 3BC.

How long is a Utah temporary permit good for?

Up to 45 days from the date the dealer issues it.

What happens to my Utah plates when I sell my car?

Remove them unless you agree to include them in the sale. Within 20 days, return them to the DMV to be destroyed or have them assigned to another vehicle.

Can I get a VIN from an Utah license plate?

Yes. Enter the license plate number with Utah selected and the lookup returns the VIN of the vehicle it is registered to, with the year, make, model and trim.

Can I find the owner of an Utah license plate?

Not through a public lookup. Owner details in Utah vehicle records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act and released only for purposes the law allows, such as by court order or to an insurer handling a claim.

Utah License Plate Lookup

Enter an Utah plate number to get the vehicle’s VIN, year, make, model and trim.

Since January 1, 2025, Utah requires only a rear plate on passenger cars. Drivers choose between two standard Life Elevated designs, a skier or an arch, and the DMV is a division of the State Tax Commission.

Utah plate to VIN

An Utah platenumber points to one current registration, and the registration records the vehicle’s 17-character VIN. Enter the plate above to get the VIN with the year, make, model, trim, body and engine. It is the quickest way to get the VIN of a car you are not standing next to: one in a listing, one you are quoting a repair for, or your own when the title is in a drawer somewhere.

Utah license plate formats

Standard passenger plates use these formats. Personalized, specialty, commercial and motorcycle plates follow their own rules, and every format works in the lookup.

Format	What it is
A12 3BC	Six characters: a letter, three numbers and two letters, used on the Ski and Arches standard plates since 2007.
123 ABC	Three numbers and three letters, used on plates issued before 2007.

Utah issues one plate, for the rear of the vehicle.

Who issues plates in Utah

Plates and registrations in Utah come from the Utah State Tax Commission Division of Motor Vehicles, and people go in person to DMV offices. Plate Decoder is an independent service and is not affiliated with the Utah DMV or any other government agency.

Temporary tags in Utah

Utah dealers issue temporary permits valid for up to 45 days from the date of issue.

Personalized and specialty plates

Personalized plates can have up to seven characters on the standard skier and arch plates, and fewer on special group plates. You can apply online through the Motor Vehicle Portal and list up to three choices.

Plates can be part of the sale

A Utah seller can include the plates in the sale, and the buyer then applies to have them assigned to the new owner. Otherwise the seller removes them and, within 20 days, sends them to the DMV to be destroyed or moves them to another vehicle.

What an Utahplate lookup can and can’t show

You get the vehicle: VIN, year, make, model, trim, body and engine. You do not get the person. See what a plate lookup shows for the full list.

What we don’t show, and why

No owner names, addresses, phone numbers or photos. Owner details in DMV records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, and looking someone up out of curiosity is not a purpose it allows. Any site that promises the owner of a plate for a few dollars is either breaking that law or not going to deliver.

Who can get owner records, and what to do instead

FAQ

Utah plate lookup questions

Does Utah require a front license plate?: No. Since January 1, 2025, passenger vehicles need only a rear plate.
What does a Utah plate number look like?: A letter, three numbers and two letters, like A12 3BC.
How long is a Utah temporary permit good for?: Up to 45 days from the date the dealer issues it.
What happens to my Utah plates when I sell my car?: Remove them unless you agree to include them in the sale. Within 20 days, return them to the DMV to be destroyed or have them assigned to another vehicle.
Can I get a VIN from an Utah license plate?: Yes. Enter the license plate number with Utah selected and the lookup returns the VIN of the vehicle it is registered to, with the year, make, model and trim.
Can I find the owner of an Utah license plate?: Not through a public lookup. Owner details in Utah vehicle records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act and released only for purposes the law allows, such as by court order or to an insurer handling a claim.