ST. GEORGE — The state of Utah reached a significant milestone earlier this month: For the first time ever, Utahns renewed more than 2,000,000 vehicle registrations online instead of going into a Department of Motor Vehicles office, according to a press release issued Friday by the Utah State Tax Commission.
Currently, 74% of vehicles are renewed outside a DMV office in Utah – among the highest rates in the United States.
Eliminating 2 million trips to DMV offices has generated multiple benefits for Utahns. Using standard vehicle fuel efficiency and emissions measurements, the state has calculated that its Renewal Express and On the Spot services have saved 2 million gallons of gas this year – which put $6 million back in the pockets of Utahns.
It has also cut 18 metric tons of carbon dioxide from going into Utah’s air, which is equal to pulling 3,900 cars off the road for an entire year, the news release states. Finally, every Utahn who renewed a vehicle online avoided an average of 30 minutes spent commuting and being served at a DMV office, which equals 1 million hours that the state’s busy residents saved in 2021.
“Utah leads the way in delivering digital government services that make a positive impact, and this is yet another example of how we are deploying technology to save time and money for Utahns,” Gov. Spencer Cox said in the news release. “Every transaction processed through Utah.gov benefits our state by helping to save time and money while reducing vehicle traffic and pollutants in our air.”
Monte Roberts, director of Utah’s DMV, said they strive to serve citizens by providing vehicle renewal options wherever they are.
“The online Renewal Express and the On the Spot vehicle renewal programs offer Utahns two convenient vehicle registration options that make life easier,” he said in the release.
Utah’s vehicle registration renewal services are available on this website. To receive registration renewal reminders by email, sign up at this link.