Vehicle lifts in Utah: a plate law that names carriers

A Utah family adding a scooter lift to the back of a car is usually worried about one thing: the license plate. Will a platform in front of it earn a ticket? Utah's plate law answers that question directly, and the answer comes with a condition you should know before choosing a lift.

Below is the statute in its own words, the lamp rule that sits beside it, and the Utah resources that can help with an evaluation or a loan.

Utah Code 41-1a-404 and wheelchair carriers

Utah Code 41-1a-404 sets the general rule. A license plate must at all times be securely fastened "in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which it is issued to prevent the plate from swinging," "at a height of not less than 12 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the plate," and "in a place and position to be clearly visible." It must also be kept "free from foreign materials or a tinted or translucent license plate cover" and "in a condition to be clearly legible."

Then comes the part that matters for mobility equipment. Subsection (3) says the visibility and legibility provisions "do not apply: (a) to a license plate that is obscured exclusively by one or more of the following devices or by the cargo the device is carrying, if the device is installed according to manufacturer specifications or generally accepted installation practices." The list includes "(i) a trailer hitch" and "(ii) a wheelchair lift or wheelchair carrier."

Three details are worth reading twice:

• "Exclusively." The exception covers a plate hidden only by the lift, or by the scooter or chair riding on it. A plate that is also dirty, bent or behind a tinted cover is not covered.
• The cargo counts. The words "or by the cargo the device is carrying" mean the scooter on the platform is part of the exception, not just the lift frame.
• Installed properly. The device must be "installed according to manufacturer specifications or generally accepted installation practices." Keep the maker's instructions with the car.

The exception does not change the mounting height in subsection (2)(a)(ii). Under subsection (4), "A violation of this section is an infraction."

The plate lamp

Lighting is a separate statute. Utah Code 41-6a-1604(2)(c) says "Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate." We found nothing in 41-1a-404 that waives the lamp rule for a carrier, so the cautious choice is to move the plate onto the lift with a light of its own.

Weather on Utah highways

NOAA's Utah climate summary records snowfall from less than 10 inches a year in parts of the south to more than 400 inches in the mountains, along with lake-effect snow near the Great Salt Lake. In summer, monsoon thunderstorms bring rain to the east and south, and the summary notes that "both heavy rainfall and snowmelt can result in severe flooding," though floods are rare. A scooter riding outside on a hitch lift meets road spray, grit and sun, so a fitted cover helps, and a hoist that brings the device inside avoids most of it.

Lifts to compare

A lift is matched to the car's hitch and to the device it carries. These four cover different situations.

• Harmar AL300-FULL. A powered hitch lift with three ways to hold a device (straps, a powerchair hold-down arm, and a scooter hold-down foot), useful if a scooter may later become a powerchair. Capacity is 350 lb, it needs a Class II or higher hitch, and a license plate mount comes with it, with a license plate riser available.
• Harmar AL560XL. An extra large automatic powerchair lift for rear, mid and front wheel drive chairs, rated for 350 lb, needing a Class III or greater hitch. A license plate mount is included.
• Bruno VSL-6900 Curb-Sider. A hoist that lifts, rotates and stows a scooter or powerchair inside an SUV, van or pickup, with a power telescoping head for extra reach and a load rating of up to 400 lbs. Bruno notes the device then uses cargo or seating space.
• ComfyGO GO Lift. A portable, battery-powered lift on casters for raising a wheelchair or scooter into a trunk, from 9.5 in to 32.8 in off the ground, for use on flat, non-slippery surfaces. Nothing mounts on the hitch, so the plate is untouched.

Evaluations and financing in Utah

The Utah Center for Assistive Technology, part of the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, says "UCAT offers free evaluations to anyone within the state of Utah." Its page describes help acquiring and using assistive technology; it does not list vehicle lifts by name, and we could not open a current state page on vehicle modification funding, so ask UCAT or a vocational rehabilitation counselor what applies to you.

For paying over time, the AT3 Center lists a financial loan program at the Utah Assistive Technology Program, which says it "offers reduced-interest loans and small grants" for equipment that helps Utahns stay independent.

Ordering and delivery to Utah

We ship to your state. Installation isn't available here yet; email us and we'll help you find a local installer. We ship to the lower 48 states and DC, with free shipping on orders over $500 ($15 under $500), and we cover the sales tax on every order. Most products are processed in 2-5 business days; some brands differ. Our Utah shipping page has more, and the vehicle lift fit check asks about your car, hitch and device.

Questions about vehicle lifts in Utah

Is it legal in Utah for a wheelchair carrier to block my plate?

Utah Code 41-1a-404(3) says the plate visibility and legibility rules do not apply to a plate obscured exclusively by a wheelchair lift or wheelchair carrier, or by the cargo it carries, if the device is installed according to manufacturer specifications or generally accepted installation practices. The 12-inch minimum mounting height still applies.

Does my Utah plate still need a light with a scooter lift?

Utah Code 41-6a-1604(2)(c) requires a tail lamp or separate lamp that lights the rear registration plate with white light. We found no exception for carriers in the plate statute, so moving the plate onto the lift with its own lamp is the cautious choice. Ask local law enforcement if you are unsure.

Where can I get a free assistive technology evaluation in Utah?

The Utah Center for Assistive Technology, part of the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, says it offers free evaluations to anyone within the state. Its page does not mention vehicle lifts by name, so ask whether an evaluation can cover your vehicle and device.

Are there low-interest loans for vehicle lifts in Utah?

The Utah Assistive Technology Program says it offers reduced-interest loans and small grants to help Utahns afford equipment that supports independence, and the AT3 Center lists a financial loan program there. Eligibility and terms are set by the program, so contact UATP before you order.

Browse the vehicle lift collection, run the fit check, or take the full assessment to plan the device and the lift together. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• Utah Code 41-1a-404, location, position and visibility of plates
• Utah Code 41-6a-1604, motor vehicle lamps
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: Utah (2022)
• Utah State Office of Rehabilitation: Utah Center for Assistive Technology
• AT3 Center: Utah
• Utah Assistive Technology Program: About UATP
• Harmar AL300-FULL product page, Harmar AL560XL product page, Bruno VSL-6900 product page, ComfyGO GO Lift product page