Utah Driving Privilege Card

Utah's Driving Privilege Card (DPC) is not a substitute for a valid government ID or a REAL ID card. It is a restricted driving document for Utah residents who can't establish lawful presence in the United States. The DPC allows its holder to drive a regular passenger vehicle (Class D); it does not cover a commercial vehicle or a motorcycle, and it may not be used as identification by any Utah government entity. DPC holders are not eligible for a commercial driver license or a Utah identification card. It is also not accepted as federal ID, so it can't be used to board a plane.

Who the Driving Privilege Card Is For

The DPC is specifically for Utah residents who:

• Can't establish lawful presence under REAL ID rules
• Are not eligible for a Social Security number and have obtained an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the IRS
• Are at least 16 years old (applicants under 18 need a parent or guardian to sign for financial responsibility and follow teen driver restrictions)

DPC Application Requirements

Once you've determined you qualify, gather the documents the Driver License Division (DLD) lists for applicants who are not U.S. citizens:

• Proof of identity, such as a foreign birth certificate or an unexpired foreign passport (with a certified translation if not in English); secondary documents such as a Utah-issued matricula consular may also be listed
• Proof of the ITIN, such as the IRS letter assigning or verifying the number
• Two documents showing your name and Utah address, dated within 90 days, such as a bank statement, rental contract or utility bill
• A fingerprint card and photograph taken by an approved fingerprint vendor or law enforcement agency

If you currently hold a driver license from another state or country, bring it as well. By law, DLD sends the fingerprints to the Bureau of Criminal Identification, which checks criminal records databases. Utah Code 53-10-202 also directs the bureau to keep a separate fingerprint file for DPC applicants and cardholders and to inform U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the cases that section describes; a licensed attorney can explain what this means for an individual case.

Tests, Validity and Renewal

At the appointment, applicants take an eye test and a knowledge test, which DLD gives in English only: a 50-question, closed-book test for people never licensed before, or a 25-question, open-book test for those previously licensed. First-time drivers must also pass a skills (road) test, given by DLD or an approved third-party tester.

The DPC is not simply valid for one year from the date of application. It expires on your birthday in the first year after the card is issued, so the first card may last less than 12 months. Renewal can't be done online: holders book an appointment at a Driver License office, bring the current DPC, and bring two new address documents if they have moved. A renewal knowledge test may be required, for example when the card has been expired more than six months.

DLD charges separate fingerprint, licensing and renewal fees, and amounts change. At the time of writing they are listed on the DPC Original and DPC Renewal pages, so check dld.utah.gov before your appointment. The practical takeaway: get the ITIN first, collect two recent address documents, get fingerprinted, and plan to renew every year.