Nevada
Vehicle Resource Center
Most people immediately think of Las Vegas when they consider Nevada, but residents live normal lives in the state, which includes regular driving. Nevada residents rely on vehicles all throughout the year, and they must meet legal requirements to drive.
Ownership and Maintenance
Maintaining a Nevada vehicle means keeping liability insurance on it, renewing its registration, and filing all the proper paperwork as it's needed. These things can feel overwhelming, but having quick access to the right information simplifies matters. Learn about regular vehicle maintenance in Nevada:
While all other counties in the state do not demand residents to have annual emissions inspections, both Clark and Washoe counties mandate emissions inspections annually. Vehicle owners who live in Reno, Las Vegas, and other urban areas should travel to emission stations once a year to have emissions tests completed.
The following vehicles are exempt from inspections:
For vehicle owners in Washoe and Clark counties, it's essential to get regular emissions tests to register the vehicles legally.
Nevada requires vehicle owners to cover the cost of damages caused by their vehicles if they get into an accident. Without liability insurance, the owner of the vehicle is liable to pay all the damages themselves. This is the reason the state legally requires all vehicles to be covered by liability insurance. This special insurance covers the cost of injuries and property damages caused by the vehicle in an accident. There is a minimum amount of insurance protection that must be added to each vehicle for it to be considered covered legally.
Minimum Liability Insurance Amount
Learn more about liability insurance requirements in the state of Nevada from the Nevada DMV website.
Nevada residents must renew their vehicle registration annually. If the registration is not renewed, the vehicle is illegal to drive. The registration renewal process is simple and can be completed in four different ways. Vehicles can be renewed online, in-person, at a kiosk, and through the mail.
Most residents opt to renew online via the easy renewal page here.
During the registration renewal process, vehicle owners must supply an odometer reading as well as the information listed below.
As long as the above information is provided, the registration should go through without any issues. If the registration cannot be renewed online, at a kiosk, or over the phone, the owner must travel to a nearby DMV location and renew in person. The fees are nearly the same no matter which option is used, which is why most people opt to renew online.
Learn more about registration renewal from the Nevada DMV.
Nevada residents must renew their driver's license every four to eight years. Residents over 65 years old are required to renew every four years, while residents over 25 and under 65 will enjoy an eight-year renewal term.
License expiration dates are set to the birthday of the resident to make it easy to remember when to renew. Every driver's license can be renewed at an office in person, but some are eligible for online renewal as well.
Drivers Cannot Renew Online for the Following Reasons:
When a license is renewed online, a temporary one is provided, and the final one is mailed out later. The license retains its original photo, and the photo is only updated when it's renewed in person.
Late Renewal Comes with a Fee
Any driver who renews a license more than 30 days past the expiration date must pay a $10 fee. Any driver who renews more than one year after the expiration must retake the written test. Drivers who renew four years or more after the expiration date must take the skills test again as well.
Learn more information about renewing a Nevada driver's license from the Nevada DMV license information page.
Emissions Testing
Emissions testing normally comes with a $20 fee.
Driver's License
An 8-year license renewal comes with a $42.25 fee, while a 4-year renewal for those 65 and older costs $18.25.
Registration
Passenger vehicles have an annual registration fee of $33, and they are subject to a service tax each year. The service tax is 4% of the depreciated value of the vehicle. The minimum service tax amount is $16.00, and it can be significantly higher than that value based on the age and original value of the vehicle.
Learn more about registration fees on this government website.
Buying & Selling
When buying or selling a vehicle, it's important to follow protocols developed by the state. There are specific papers to be filed and a process that keeps both the buyer and seller safer.
Return their License Plates
The original license plates cannot be used by the buyer when a vehicle is sold in Nevada. The seller must keep the license plates and can use them on a different vehicle or return them to the DMV for a partial registration refund.
Provide the Original Title
The buyer should not accept any purchase deal that does not include the original title for the vehicle. The title is necessary to register the vehicle with the DMV. The seller must obtain the original title and fill out the back with all the required information. The title must be completed and signed for the buyer to use it effectively.
Cancel Liability Insurance
Sellers should remember to cancel their liability insurance once the buyer takes the vehicle. This insurance coverage is no longer necessary after a buyer obtains the vehicle. The seller can save money by canceling their policy.
Obtain a History Check
First, every interested buyer should conduct a history check on the vehicle they're considering. Get a Vehicle History Report or License Plate Lookup from GoodCar for immediate information about the vehicle. The report includes open recalls, specifications, features for the vehicle, ownership history, accident history, title brands, odometer readings, and more.
Obtain A Completed Title
Buyers should never purchase a vehicle without an original title present. Without the title, the vehicle legally has not been purchased. Ensure the seller provides the original title and that the VIN matches what the title says. Get the seller to fill and sign the title to guarantee it works at the DMV when registering the vehicle.
Get a Driver's License Photo
While this isn't necessary, buyers are encouraged to capture a quick photo of the seller's driver's license when purchasing the vehicle. Not everyone will agree to this, but a driver's license photo serves as security by providing a way to show the identity of the previous owner.
Buy Liability Insurance
Purchased vehicles must be protected by liability insurance. The buyer must work with a licensed agent in Nevada to get the appropriate liability insurance coverage before titling and registering the new vehicle.
Have the Seller Complete a Bill of Sale
Print the Nevada Bill of Sale form before going to purchase the vehicle and get the seller to complete the form when making the purchase. This form serves as additional proof that the vehicle was purchased.
Register the Vehicle
Bring the vehicle to the DMV location, title it, and register it. To successfully complete this process, the buyer must bring proof of insurance, the completed title, identification, proof of residency, and money to pay the fees, including costly sales tax.
Title
A new Nevada title comes with a $28.25 fee.
Sales Tax
There is an 8.25% sales tax rate on vehicles sold in the state. This must be paid when registering the vehicle.
Registration
There is a flat $33 fee for passenger vehicles. There is also a service tax that's charged annually. This fee is $0.04 per dollar of the estimated vehicle value. The value of the vehicle is calculated by taking the MSRP of the vehicle and subtracting 5% depreciation for the first year and 10% depreciation for every year after to a minimum of 15% of the vehicle's original value. The minimum service tax is $16, which can be much higher.
Laws and Regulations
Nevada drivers and vehicle owners are governed by carefully designed laws. The laws are optimized to keep people safe and to help manage the roads and vehicles. Residents must know the automotive laws to avoid tickets, lawsuits, and avoidable accidents.
Nevada has secondary seat belt laws, which means that individuals who fail to follow the rules can only be ticketed if they get pulled over for another reason first. Everyone is expected to wear a seat belt while riding in a vehicle at all times, but children under 60 pounds or under seven must be secured by an appropriate car seat for their size.
Nevada Car Seat Regulations
Rear-Facing
Rear-facing car seats are recommended for all children under two and for many children who are under 20 or 30 pounds. Parents are encouraged to look at the weight and height recommendations on the seat and keep their child rear-facing until they outgrow the seat.
Forward-Facing Car Seat
Parents can graduate their child to a forward-facing car seat when it's taller or heavier than the requirements listed on the seat. The forward-facing seat should remain effective for a few years until the child again becomes too tall to use the seat effectively.
Booster Seat
Booster seats are designed for use by children until they reach 57 inches in height. This is 4'9". While children may be older than the required age to have to ride in a booster seat any longer, it's still best to keep them in the seat until they are taller than 4'9" to ensure their seat belt hits their chest in the right spot.
Learn all about car seat laws and fines imposed by the Nevada government with this legal page.
Nevada has strict DUI laws that prohibit drivers from operating vehicles under the effects of restricted drugs or alcohol. If drivers are caught breaking these regulations, they will be charged with a DUI and face an expensive fine, jail time, and a license suspension.
DUI Regulations
Adult drivers can be charged with a DUI if they complete a breathalyzer test and their breath registers a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of 0.08% or higher. For minors, the BAC only needs to be 0.02% or higher, which can be achieved by drinking a single drink.
Get more data about Nevada DUI charges at the government website.
Adding tint to windows is an excellent way to keep vehicles cool in Nevada while making a vehicle more private. Nevada regulates the type of tint vehicle owners can use, but the regulations are very relaxed. There are only regulations on what can be applied to the windshield and the front driver and passenger windows. The two-sided windows can be tinted as long as they allow 35% or more of visible light to be seen through them. Only the top few inches of the windshield may be tinted, and every other window on the vehicle can be tinted without any regulations.
Under the Nevada Lemon Law, car manufacturers are required to stand behind their products and repair any significant defects they have. The law applies to new private-use vehicles and requires the automaker to either repair the vehicle, replace it, or refund the money to the buyer.
Notifying the Company
If a vehicle suffers from a major defect, the buyer is responsible for notifying the manufacturer about the defect, preferably by using certified mail. Once notified, the automaker must repair the defect within four attempts. If the defect is not repaired in four attempts, or the vehicle is in for repairs for 30 or more days, it is a lemon, and the automaker is obliged to replace the vehicle or refund the money.
Useful Things to Know
Access the Nevada Driver Handbook
Prepare for the state's written driving exam and learn more about the state's road laws using the driver handbook. The Nevada driver's handbook is easily accessible online and can be viewed by anyone interested: Nevada Official Driver Handbook
Find a Nevada DMV: Access to a DMV is necessary for many Nevada residents when renewing licenses, registration, and more. Find the nearest DMV using this office location list: Nevada DMV Office Locations List
Find Local Nevada EV Charging Stations: There are far more electric vehicles in California than there are in Nevada, but the state is home to enough EVs that it has a respectable charging station infrastructure. Electric vehicle owners should learn how to locate public charging stations they can use while away from home. This search tool makes Nevada charging stations easy to locate: Nevada EV Charging Station Search Tool
Nevada Car Crash Statistics: While Nevada is not the most dangerous state in the country to drive in, hundreds of people die in car accidents within the state each year. According to the Nevada DOT, the number of people who are dying in car accidents within the state is increasing every year. Three hundred sixty fatal crashes were recorded in 2021, while only 298 occurred in 2018, and the number of accidents increased every year between. Get the full story with Nevada car crash statistics from GoodCar.
Get the Latest Nevada Vehicle Information with GoodCar
Nevada vehicle owners owe it to themselves to have the most up-to-date information about state laws, maintenance requirements, recalls, and more. Refer to this useful resource for residents looking for help and GoodCar's VIN and license plate lookup tools for help getting additional information about specific vehicles.