HOME About Us Driver License Registration License Plates Business Forms Offices New Resident Guide On This Page Residency Requirements Items Needed for Typical Transfers Get Organized/At The DMV Driving Tests Teen Driving Vehicle Registration Fees Tax Relief License Plates & Disabled Parking Motorcycles, Mopeds & Off-Road Boats & Manufactured Housing What's Related Print-Friendly Tip Sheets HTML Northern Nevada (PDF) Southern Nevada (PDF) Nevada Traffic Laws Nevada Motor Vehicle Laws Vehicles in Business Fleet Registration (10 or more vehicles) Motor Carrier (Apportioned Registration) WING - Links to local government MyNevada - Links to local government New Nevada residents must obtain their driver license within 30 days and vehicle registration within 60 days. The fine for failing to register your vehicle is $250-$500. You must have Acrobat Reader software to view and print PDF forms. It's free and easy to install. See Forms Help or Download Reader.
Residency Requirements You must be a Nevada resident and provide a Nevada street address to obtain a driver license. Active duty military members, their dependents and others living temporarily in Nevada are not required to transfer their license and registration. If you obtain non-military employment, however, you become a Nevada resident and must obtain a Nevada license and registration. Licenses are not issued to visitors, out-of-state students or foreign exchange students. Other foreign nationals may or may not be eligible for a license depending on their specific immigration status. E-Mail or call for details and see Beginning Drivers 18 & Older. Nevada Revised Statutes 483.141 Resident defined. 1. Resident includes, but is not limited to, a person: (a) Whose legal residence is in the State of Nevada. (b) Who engages in intrastate business and operates in such a business any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, or any person maintaining such vehicles in this state, as the home state of such vehicles. (c) Who physically resides in this state and engages in a trade, profession, occupation or accepts gainful employment in this state. (d) Who declares himself to be a resident of this state to obtain privileges not ordinarily extended to nonresidents of this state. 2. The term does not include a person who is an actual tourist, an out-of-state student, a foreign exchange student, a border state employee or a seasonal resident. Items Needed for Typical Transfers DRIVER LICENSE Forms Help Your Valid, State-Issued Driver License or ID Card This must contain your name and date of birth. You must surrender this and it will be returned to your previous state for cancellation. You must also provide additional proof of identity as listed below. If your license is expired, revoked or suspended, see Driving Tests. If you have never been licensed in the U.S., see Beginning Drivers 18 & Older or Nevada Teen Driving. Nevada requires special endorsements for Class C license holders to tow multiple trailers or trailers in excess of 10,000 pounds. Additional testing is required. Proof of Your Social Security Number If your social security number is not printed on your driver license, you will need to bring your social security card. If you do not have a card, alternative documents include a state license or ID with the number listed, a U.S. Military Identification Card, an original DD-214 Military Separation Form or Social Security Administration documentation that you are receiving Social Security benefits. Additional Proof of Identity We do not accept other states licenses, instruction permits or ID cards as proof of identity. Please bring one of the documents listed in addition to your license, permit or ID card. All documents must be originals. We do not accept photocopies. Proof of Identity Documents Certified U.S. Issued Birth Certificate or Certified Abstract (hospital copies are not accepted) U.S. Passport U.S. Military Identification or Military Report of Separation Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood Consular Report of Birth Abroad Permanent or Temporary Resident Card Resident Alien Card or I-551 Receipt
Valid Foreign Passport stamped Processed for I-551 Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) with Visa or Passport Permit to Reenter the U.S. Refugee Travel Documents Maiden Names/Name Changes - You must present documentation of any name change if you will be presenting a proof of identity document that does not contain your current legal name. For example, if your birth certificate lists your maiden name, you must also present a Marriage Certificate. See Name Changes. Residents of all U.S. territories and foreign countries must meet the Proof of Identity requirements and take vision, knowledge and skills tests. If you cannot meet these requirements, E-Mail or call your local DMV office before applying for a license, permit or ID.
VEHICLE REGISTRATION Nevada Vehicle Liability Insurance Be sure the name(s) on your insurance match the names(s) on your registration exactly. Insurance must be issued by a Nevada-licensed carrier. Out of state insurance is not accepted. Nevada insurance is necessary to comply with our Insurance Verification Program. Minimum liability insurance requirement is $15,000/$30,000/$10,000. You must keep a Nevada Evidence of Insurance card in your vehicle at all times and present it to law enforcement upon request. Nevada Emissions Vehicle Inspection Report (if needed) Smog checks are required on gasoline and diesel powered cars and trucks, 1968 and newer, based in and around Las Vegas and Reno. New vehicles are exempt on their first and second registration. Diesel vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight are also exempt. You must have a Nevada smog check even if your vehicle was recently tested in another state. See Emissions. Your Current Registration(s) and License Plates New residents must surrender their out-of-state plates. If you do not have the registration slip, we will teletype your home state for verification. Expired registrations are subject to late fees. Most trailers must be registered and titled if used on any public street. If your home state does not register and/or title trailers, call or e-mail for an explanation of requirements. Title(s), Unless Held By Lienholder You have the option of retaining your out-of-state title. However, we strongly suggest getting a Nevada title if your vehicle is paid for. This will minimize problems when you sell your vehicle. Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Inspections Any vehicle or trailer which has never been registered or titled in Nevada must be inspected. This is done at DMV offices. At larger offices, drive to the VIN inspection station outside the main DMV building first. Residents of the Minden area should visit an Authorized Inspection Station. VIN inspections may also be completed by law enforcement officers using the Vehicle Inspection Certificate RD-15. Fees DMV accepts cash, checks, money orders for the exact amount due, electronic checks, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. Out-of-state checks are accepted with the approval of a DMV supervisor. Have your VIN ready and use our Online Fee Estimate for estimates of vehicle registration fees. (Estimate only - total fees will be slightly higher.) Nevada charges basic registration fees and taxes based on the value of your vehicle. We do not give credits or refunds of other states' fees. Driver Licenses cost $21.25, $16.25 for those 65 and older. Get Organized/At The DMV Be Prepared - Minimize your time at the DMV by being prepared before you come in. Print out a New Resident Tip Sheet and gather all of the required documentation: HTML Northern Nevada (PDF) Southern Nevada (PDF) Get your Vehicle Identification Number(s) ready and use our Online Registration Fee Estimates. (Estimate only - total fees will be slightly higher.) Visit our License Plates pages if you are interested in personalized or specialty plates. We
encourage you to order custom plates by mail if you can place the order approximately 60 days before you register your vehicles. E-Mail or call with any further questions. If you are out-of-state, call 1-877-368-7828 or (775) 684-4368 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time. Smog Check - Nevada smog check stations are privately owned and decentralized. Look for a station near your new home. You must obtain liability insurance from a Nevada-licensed carrier in the exact name(s) which will be on the registration and title. Coverage is verified electronically with your insurance company. Motorists who do not maintain Nevada liability insurance are subject to a registration suspension and $250 reinstatement fee. Out-of-state insurance is not accepted. You must keep a Nevada Evidence of Insurance card in your vehicle at all times and present it to any law enforcement officer upon request. At the time of registration, the registered owner may sign a declaration that Nevada insurance will be maintained for the entire time the vehicle is registered in Nevada. Find the office nearest your new home - Most new residents should visit a DMV Full-Service Office. County Assessors in certain rural areas offer vehicle registration services. Additionally, certain rural areas are served by DMV travel teams for driver license transactions. If possible, come to the DMV in mid-morning or early afternoon weekdays to minimize your wait. Offices are usually slow the day before a holiday and busy the day after. VIN Checks - All out-of-state vehicles and trailers must have their vehicle identification number checked at a DMV office (or by law enforcement). Larger offices have Inspection Stations outside the main building, and you should drive there first to complete the VIN check. At rural offices, come inside first. If you will be using the Minden DMV office, you should have the VIN check completed at an Authorized Inspection Stations. If you have multiple vehicles, you can have them inspected one at a time and then return to complete all of the registrations at once. License Plates - Out-of-state license plates must be surrendered. Plates are usually removed at the DMV office. Be sure to bring your own tools. Inside the Office - Larger DMV offices have an Information Counter. Bring all of your documentation to Information first. We will review the documentation, answer any questions and issue any required applications or forms. DMV technicians handle both driver license and registration transactions at the same time, with only one payment required for all fees. Typically, the driver license photo is the last step of the process. Driver licenses and non-custom license plates are not mailed; they are issued at the DMV office when you complete the transactions. Driving Tests Forms Help Nevada requires only a vision test for license transfers if the driver has a valid license, proof of social security number and meets all of the following requirements: Age 25 or older. Applying for the same class of license. Has no more than 2 moving violations and no suspensions, revocations, cancellations or denials in the past 4 years. Has no DUI conviction within the past 7 years. Has no special restrictions or impairments. CDL drivers must have their most current DOT physical form. If you do not meet these requirements, you will have to take a written test and possibly a skills test. All applications are checked through the national Problem Driver Pointer System. If your license is suspended, revoked or cancelled in another state, see Driver License Suspensions. Commercial drivers who meet the above requirements can obtain their Nevada license at any Full Service DMV Office. Those who require testing must visit a CDL Office.
Handbooks (PDF Format) English Español Motorcycle Commercial Beginning Driver Training Guide English Español Online Sample Test Java Script Version Non-Java Version Teen Driving Driver License Resources Large RV and Trailer Licensing Non-Commercial A/B and J/R Study Guide Nevada Teen Driving Beginning Drivers Nevada Traffic Laws Drivers with an out-of-state instruction permit can drive in Nevada provided there is a licensed driver, 21 or older, with at least one year of driving experience seated next to the beginning driver at all times. Out-of-state permits must be surrendered to obtain a Nevada permit or license. Additional proof of identity is required as outlined above. You must be age 15½ and pass the vision and written tests to obtain a Nevada Instruction Permit. The minimum age to obtain a driver license is 16. Most teens must complete driver education and a log of the dates and times of 50 hours of behind-the-wheel experience. See Nevada Teen Driving for complete details. All drivers under 18 must obey a driving curfew. Teens are not allowed to drive between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless they are traveling to or from a scheduled event such as work or school. Vehicle Registration Fees The basic registration fee for vehicles under 6,000 pounds is $33. There is a graduated scale for higher weights. Trailers up to 1,000 pounds are $12; 1,000 or above are $24. Nevada charges $28.25 for first-time vehicle titles and small fees for items such as license plates. Nevada also charges taxes based on the value of the vehicle: Governmental Services Tax--helps fund local government and schools. Approximately 1.4% of the depreciated Manufacturers Retail Price Supplemental Governmental Services Tax--helps fund road improvements. 25% of Governmental Services Tax--Clark, Churchill and White Pine counties only. Sales Taxes on Purchases Rates vary by county. The full rate applies to dealer sales. Private party sales that occurred on or after January 1, 2006, are not subject to sales taxes. See the Nevada Department of Taxation Sales and Use Tax Publications for current tax rates. (Private sales that occurred in 2005 or earlier are subject to taxes at a rate that is 2% less than the full rate. Taxes on private party sales are calculated on depreciated MSRP or a DMV appraisal. Value as declared on a title or Bill of Sale is not accepted. (NRS 374.112)) Use our Online Registration Fee Estimates. (Vehicle Identification Number or MSRP is required.) Tax Relief Forms Help County Assessors can approve Governmental Services Tax relief for veterans with war time service, disabled veterans, surviving spouses and the blind. You must present a tax exemption statement from the assessor's office when registering your vehicle. No exemptions are age-based. These exemptions only apply to the Governmental Services Tax. Contact your County Assessor for specific requirements and see NRS Chapter 371. Veterans may designate all or part of their exemption for the Nevada Veterans Home Account. Active duty military members who are residents of another state but stationed in Nevada qualify for Governmental Services Tax exemptions. Complete the Governmental Services Tax Exemption Affidavit (RD-203) and mail it to us with your renewal notice, smog check if needed and a copy of your most current Leave and Earnings Statement.
Native American tribal members who reside on tribal lands also qualify for Governmental Services Tax exemptions. They must have the Application for Governmental Services Tax Exemption (RD-154) signed by the Tribal Chairperson. Sales tax is collected on dealer sales of vehicles in Nevada or vehicles recently purchased from an out-of-state dealer for the purpose of Nevada registration. See Registration Requirements. Sales tax exemptions can be granted for bona fide gifts and certain purchases by military members. See Registration Forms. Sales taxes are not charged on private party vehicle sales that occurred on or after January 1, 2006. License Plates & Disabled Parking Forms Help License Plates - Nevada requires two license plates on motorized vehicles except for motorcycles, unless the vehicle is not designed for a front plate and no front plate bracket is available from the manufacturer. Plates are issued to the owner and not the vehicle. Keep your Nevada plates if you sell a vehicle. Personalized plates in the standard design are limited to 7 letters and/or numbers. They cost $36 when ordered and $20 per year to renew. Specialty plates are available for Nevada universities, veterans, Purple Heart recipients, Ex-Prisoners of War, street rods and a number of charitable causes. Costs for specialty plates vary. You can order custom plates by mail in advance of your move. See License Plates. Disabled Parking - Nevada issues special plates and/or a placard which can be used on any vehicle. The disabled resident must have a Nevada DMV application signed by a licensed physician verifying that he or she has a permanent disability which restricts the ability to walk. Use the Application for Disabled Persons Plates/Placards SP-27. See Disabled Parking. Temporary placards are also available for those with short-term disabilities. Motorcycles, Mopeds & Off-Road Driver License: Nevada transfers most motorcycle endorsements from other states. If you take the skills test on a motorcycle under 90cc, your license will be restricted to that size or smaller. Registration: Mopeds 50cc or less, with less than 2 horsepower, do not have to be registered or insured and you do not need a Class M license. However, you must have a Class C or higher driver license to drive a moped on any public street. Mopeds over 50cc are considered motorcycles. Helmet Law: Motorcyclists are required to wear helmets at all times in Nevada. The only exception is for mopeds 50cc or less, capable of a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour. Off-Road Vehicles: ATV's, non-street-legal motorcycles, snowmobiles, etc. are not registered or titled in Nevada. There is no driver's license requirement or minimum age for operation. See Motorcycles, Mopeds & Bicycles for more information. Boats & Manufactured Housing Water vessels are registered and titled by the Nevada Division of Wildlife. Trailers are registered by DMV. Nearly all trailers must be registered with DMV to be driven on any public highway. You must complete a VIN inspection on trailers which have never been registered or titled in Nevada. Manufactured Homes are taxed by County Assessors and titled by the Nevada Department of Business and Industry. If you are moving a home into Nevada or buying one here, it is important to contact both agencies. See Manufactured Homes and Recreational Park Trailers.
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