diff --git a/selfdrive/manager.py b/selfdrive/manager.py
index c3f65545d..517a01b96 100755
--- a/selfdrive/manager.py
+++ b/selfdrive/manager.py
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ def main():
     ("LongitudinalControl", "0"),
     ("LimitSetSpeed", "0"),
     ("LimitSetSpeedNeural", "0"),
-    ("LastUpdateTime", datetime.datetime.now().isoformat().encode('utf8')),
+    ("LastUpdateTime", datetime.datetime.utcnow().isoformat().encode('utf8')),
     ("OpenpilotEnabledToggle", "1"),
     ("LaneChangeEnabled", "1"),
   ]
diff --git a/selfdrive/thermald/thermald.py b/selfdrive/thermald/thermald.py
index f273a40b7..122cee722 100755
--- a/selfdrive/thermald/thermald.py
+++ b/selfdrive/thermald/thermald.py
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ def thermald_thread():
     # **** starting logic ****
 
     # Check for last update time and display alerts if needed
-    now = datetime.datetime.now()
+    now = datetime.datetime.utcnow()
 
     # show invalid date/time alert
     time_valid = now.year >= 2019
diff --git a/selfdrive/updated.py b/selfdrive/updated.py
index acc4603f9..2cac2e250 100755
--- a/selfdrive/updated.py
+++ b/selfdrive/updated.py
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ def set_consistent_flag():
 def set_update_available_params(new_version=False):
   params = Params()
 
-  t = datetime.datetime.now().isoformat()
+  t = datetime.datetime.utcnow().isoformat()
   params.put("LastUpdateTime", t.encode('utf8'))
 
   if new_version:
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ def main():
 
   while True:
     update_failed_count += 1
-    time_wrong = datetime.datetime.now().year < 2019
+    time_wrong = datetime.datetime.utcnow().year < 2019
     ping_failed = subprocess.call(["ping", "-W", "4", "-c", "1", "8.8.8.8"])
 
     # Wait until we have a valid datetime to initialize the overlay