Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A Utah driving privilege card (DPC) lets Utah residents who can’t prove lawful presence in the US drive a regular car legally. It is a driving credential only: it can’t be used as identification with any Utah government entity, and it must be renewed every year. This guide covers who it’s for, the documents and fingerprints the Driver License Division (DLD) asks for, the tests, the fees and the 2026 bill that tried to end the program but did not pass, as of November 2026.
Key facts
- What it allows: driving Class D vehicles (ordinary cars). It doesn’t cover commercial vehicles or motorcycles.
- Not ID: DLD says a Utah government entity may not accept a DPC as proof of identification.
- Short validity: a DPC expires on your birthday in the year after it is issued, so plan on renewing roughly every year.
- Fingerprints: required with your first application, taken by the Bureau of Criminal Identification, a participating law enforcement agency or an approved vendor.
- SSN or ITIN: you must show one. If you can’t get an SSN, DLD says to get an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the IRS.
- Program status: a 2026 bill (H.B. 287) proposed ending new DPCs from May 6, 2026, but it did not pass. Check current DLD guidance before you apply (see below).
Is the Utah driving privilege card still available in 2026?
H.B. 287, “Immigrant Driving Amendments”, was introduced in the 2026 General Session. As introduced, it would have repealed the program and barred DLD from issuing a driving privilege card on or after May 6, 2026. H.B. 287 did not pass the 2026 General Session. The Utah Legislature’s record shows the enacting clause was struck and the bill was filed as not passed on 6 March 2026, so it did not end the program. DLD’s DPC pages still describe how to apply. Call DLD or check its driving privilege card page before you book.
Documents for a Utah driving privilege card
DLD’s original DPC checklist covers these groups. Bring originals.
| What you prove | Examples DLD lists |
|---|---|
| Identity | One primary document, such as a foreign birth certificate or an unexpired foreign passport (with a certified English translation if it isn’t in English), plus one supporting document from DLD’s list, such as school records, an insurance card or an employee ID |
| Social Security number or ITIN | A document showing your full name and SSN, or your ITIN. An IRS letter verifying your ITIN is accepted |
| Utah residence | Two documents with your name and Utah address, dated within the last 90 days, such as a bank statement, lease, utility bill or vehicle title |
| Fingerprints and photo | Fingerprints taken by the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI), a participating law enforcement agency or an approved vendor, placed in a sealed envelope |
DLD’s exact accepted-document list is on its “DPC Original” page. Check the full list before your visit.
Do I count as a Utah resident?
Utah treats you as a resident if, for example, you set up your home in the state, stay more than six months in a calendar year, take a job in Utah, or register a vehicle here. DPC applicants must be Utah residents.
Tests for a Utah DPC
- Vision screening.
- Knowledge test: if you have never held a license, it is the 50-question closed-book test from the Utah Driver Handbook, with 80% (40 correct) to pass. DLD says applicants who have been licensed before may take a 25-question open-book test. See the Utah knowledge test and learner permit guide.
- Skills (road) test: required if you have never been licensed. A 2025 legislative briefing describes it as also applying when an out-of-state license has been expired more than five years. DLD may ask other applicants, including foreign license holders, to take one, so confirm when you book. See the Utah road test explained.
Teens and the DPC
A DPC is a Class D credential, so the normal Utah teen steps apply: learner permit, driver education, the 40-hour log and the provisional license limits. See Utah provisional license rules for teens. Ask DLD how the permit stage works for DPC applicants before your teen starts driver ed.
Fees and timing
- DPC fee: $32. The 2026 handbook lists the DPC renewal at $23.
- Fingerprint processing fee: $25 on DLD’s current page and a 2025 Legislature briefing. An older DLD page says $30, so confirm the amount.
- Delivery: DLD mails the card, which takes 4 to 6 weeks. Utah law does not allow a temporary paper license for a DPC, so you may not drive on it until the plastic card arrives.
- Renewal: fingerprints and other documents are only needed at the first application, unless you have moved and need to show new proof of address.
What the Utah DPC can’t be used for
- Identification with any Utah government entity.
- Federal purposes: it is not a REAL ID, so you can’t use it to board a domestic flight or enter secure federal buildings.
- Commercial vehicles or motorcycles.
- Some other states: Florida, for example, treats licenses issued without proof of lawful presence as invalid. Overview: driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status.
Common questions
How long is a Utah driving privilege card valid?
Until your birthday in the year after it is issued. Depending on when your birthday falls, that can be a little more or less than a year.
Do I need fingerprints every time I renew?
No. DLD says fingerprints are only needed with the original application, unless you have moved and need to provide new proof of address.
Can I get a DPC with an ITIN instead of an SSN?
Yes. DLD accepts an ITIN, and an IRS letter verifying it.
Did Utah end the driving privilege card?
H.B. 287 (2026) proposed ending it from May 6, 2026, but the bill did not pass: the Utah Legislature filed it as not passed on 6 March 2026. Check DLD’s current guidance before you apply.
Can I ride a motorcycle on a DPC?
No. The DPC is a Class D credential for motor vehicles other than commercial vehicles and motorcycles.
Moving to Utah with a license from another state?
If you have lawful status, you transfer to a regular Utah license instead. See moving to Utah.
Back to the full route: learning to drive in Utah.
Sources
- Utah Driver License Division, “What is a Driving Privilege Card”, “DPC Original” and “DPC Renewal” (dld.utah.gov)
- Utah Driver License Division, “Utah Driver Handbook” (2026) (dld.utah.gov)
- Utah Legislature, “Driving Privilege Cards (DPCs)” interim briefing (2025) (le.utah.gov)
- Utah Legislature, “H.B. 287 Immigrant Driving Amendments (2026 General Session)”, bill status: filed as not passed, 6 March 2026 (le.utah.gov)
- Florida Legislature, “Florida Statutes s. 322.033, Invalid out-of-state driver licenses” (leg.state.fl.us)