Driving Tests

Utah Driving Privilege Card: Who Qualifies and How to Apply

informational·how to guide·Published July 17, 2026

Can I drive in Utah without legal status? What is a Driving Privilege Card?

Yes, with a Driving Privilege Card (DPC). Utah issues this Class D card to Utah residents who cannot show lawful presence under the REAL ID rules. You must be at least 16, bring 6 documents from 4 categories, pass the tests in English, and pay a $30 fingerprint fee plus a $32 card fee. The DPC is for driving only; it is not ID.

Where these Utah DPC rules come from

This guide follows the Utah Driver License Division (DLD) pages on how to get an original DPC and the required DPC documents, and Utah Code 53-3-207. It also uses the DLD fees page, the 2026 Utah Driver Handbook and Utah Code 53-3-105, 53-3-205, 53-3-205.5 and 53-3-206. All amounts are in U.S. dollars, as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Utah Driver License Division (dld.utah.gov) before you drive.

What a Utah Driving Privilege Card lets you do

A DPC is a Class D license, so it lets you drive a car in Utah. It does not cover a commercial vehicle or a motorcycle. Unless the law says otherwise, the same rules, fees, restrictions and penalties apply as for a regular Class D license.
The front of the card carries a phrase such as "For driving privileges only, not valid for identification." No Utah government entity may accept it as ID or as proof of age. A person who meets the DPC conditions cannot get a Utah ID card or a commercial driver license (CDL).

Who qualifies for a Utah DPC

You live in Utah.
You cannot show lawful presence under the REAL ID rules. The Driver Handbook names parolees, people with another legal status that is not eligible for REAL ID, and undocumented immigrants.
You are at least 16. If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must sign for financial responsibility. If that adult later withdraws the signature, the card becomes invalid, and you must wait until 18 to apply again, with a new license fee and written test. At 16 and 17, the Utah teen driver limits also apply.
If you are under 19 and have never held a license in another state or country, you need proof of a finished driver education course before your first DPC. The learner permit does not need this proof.
If you cannot get a Social Security number, you need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the IRS.

The 6 documents for a Utah DPC, by category

The 6 documents for a Utah DPC, by category
Category	What to bring
1. Identity and date of birth	A foreign birth certificate, an unexpired foreign passport, or an unexpired Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Plus one secondary document, such as a matricular consular card issued in Utah, school records, church records or an employee ID
2. Social Security number or ITIN	A signed Social Security card (or a W-2, SSA-1099 or pay stub with your full number), or an ITIN issued by the IRS (or an IRS letter that verifies it)
3. Utah address	Two documents with your name and Utah address, dated within 90 days, such as a bank statement, utility bill or rental contract. A minor may use mail sent to a parent or legal guardian
4. Fingerprints and photo	Fingerprints and a photo taken by an approved vendor or a law enforcement agency. Bring the fingerprint card and photo to the appointment

Fingerprints, photo and translations for a Utah DPC

For an original DPC, you submit fingerprints and a photo with your application. An approved fingerprint vendor, a law enforcement agency or the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) takes them. By law, they go to the DLD in a sealed envelope from one of these places.
Each foreign document, such as a birth certificate or a passport, must be translated into English by a certified translator.

How to apply for a Utah Driving Privilege Card

1
Collect your documents
Get the 6 documents in the table above. Order a certified English translation for each foreign document.
2
Get fingerprints and a photo
Visit an approved fingerprint vendor or a law enforcement agency. Keep the fingerprint card and photo for your appointment.
3
Get a learner permit first if you were never licensed
If you have never held a license anywhere, apply for a learner permit and finish its requirements. The Utah learner permit rules cover the permit.
4
Book a DLD appointment
Schedule an appointment at a Driver License office. There you have your photo taken, show your documents, take an eye test and pay. The DLD accepts cash, checks, money orders and credit cards.
5
Pass the tests
Licensed in another state or country: take the 25-question open-book test at the appointment; the DLD may also ask for a skills test. Never licensed: after the learner permit stage, pass the online Traffic Safety and Trends Exam and the driving skills test, then come back for a license appointment.
6
Wait for the card by mail
After you pass all required tests, you get a paper receipt. The DPC comes by mail in about 4 to 6 weeks.

Which tests a Utah DPC applicant takes

Which tests a Utah DPC applicant takes
Test	Who takes it	Pass mark or place
50-question closed-book written test	Applicants never licensed anywhere	80% or better (40 of 50), per the Driver Handbook
25-question open-book written test	Applicants licensed in another state or country	At the DPC appointment
Traffic Safety and Trends Exam	Applicants never licensed anywhere, after the 50-question test	Online; 100% to pass
Driving skills test	Never-licensed applicants; others only if the DLD asks	At the DLD or with a Third-Party Tester

Utah DPC tests are in English only

All DPC tests are in English only, and translation materials are strictly prohibited. Utah law lets the DLD give the Class D written test in other languages, but not for a DPC.
To practice in English, try a closed-book question about the 40-of-50 pass mark and a practice question about the Trends exam on our free question pages.

Utah DPC fees

Utah DPC fees
Fee	Amount (U.S. dollars, as of 2026)
Fingerprint fee, paid at the appointment (non-refundable)	$30
Original DPC license fee	$32
DPC renewal	$23

Can you drive while you wait for the DPC?

You passed your tests and hold the paper from the DLD

Do not drive. The paper is a receipt only. Utah law does not allow a temporary DPC, so wait until the plastic card arrives by mail.

You hold a Utah learner permit

Drive only as the learner permit rules allow. Utah law lets the DLD issue a learner permit to a DPC applicant; it is the only exception to the ban on temporary permits.

How long a Utah DPC is valid

A DPC expires on your birthday in the first year after the year it was issued or renewed. Example: a card issued in March 2026 to a person born in July expires on the July 2027 birthday.
The card covers Class D only. Driving a class of vehicle that you have no privilege for, such as a commercial vehicle, is an infraction.

Key takeaways

A Utah DPC is a driving-only Class D license for residents who cannot show REAL ID lawful presence. It is not ID.
You must be 16 or older. A parent or legal guardian signs if you are under 18, and under 19 you need driver education unless you held a license elsewhere.
Bring 6 documents from 4 categories, including fingerprints and a photo, and pay $30 plus $32 at the appointment.
Do not drive on the receipt. Wait for the plastic card, which arrives by mail in about 4 to 6 weeks.
Next step: practice for the written test on the free Utah Class D practice test, which is in English only.

Utah Driving Privilege Card: common questions

Can I get a Utah driving privilege card without a Social Security number?

Yes. If you cannot get a Social Security number, you must get an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the IRS. On the DPC document list, an ITIN issued by the IRS, or an IRS letter that verifies it, takes the place of the Social Security card.

Can I use my foreign license to apply for a Utah DPC?

Yes. A valid license from another country counts as proof of a driving privilege. You take the 25-question open-book test, and the DLD may also ask for a driving skills test. A license that is not in English needs a certified translation. A license from another U.S. state must be surrendered when you apply.

What ID do I need to get fingerprinted for a Utah DPC?

An approved fingerprint vendor must check a government-issued photo ID. By law, the vendor may accept a driver license or ID card from any state or country, a passport from any country, a border crossing card or a consulate card, among others.

Does the Utah DPC fingerprint check go to ICE?

The Bureau of Criminal Identification checks DPC fingerprints against state and regional criminal records. By law, it tells U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about any criminal history record or warrant information in local, state or regional databases.

Do I need new fingerprints to renew my Utah DPC?

Not if you gave them for your original card. The handbook says the fingerprint card and photo are only required for an original application. By law, a renewal applicant who never submitted them must send them in a sealed envelope from the Bureau of Criminal Identification or a law enforcement agency.