I'm a new resident in Nevada: what do I do with my license?

Compare with the state you moved from

Choose the state you came from to see the main differences from Nevada. Every value comes from that state's official manual (with the page number) or from its license guide. Where a manual does not state a rule, we say so instead of guessing.

Key rules in Nevada

Each rule comes from the Nevada driver manual or from the license guide, with its source.

Licensing and paperwork

• Deadline to switch your license

  30 days after becoming a resident

  What the manual says

  • Drivers moving into Nevada from another state must apply for a license within 30 days after becoming a resident.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 6

• Tests when you transfer a license

  Age 21+ with a US or Canadian license: vision test; other tests may be waived if criteria apply

  What the manual says

  • Tests if you hold a license from another state

    If you are 21 or older and currently licensed in the U.S., a U.S. territory or Canada, you take the vision test. The DMV’s New Resident Guide says these license holders may be exempt from the knowledge and skills tests if none of the conditions below apply; this exemption is only for applicants 21 or older. The New Resident Guide says you must take the knowledge test if:

    • your license was expired or surrendered for more than 1 year (and the skills test too if it was more than 4 years);
    • you have had 3 or more moving violations in the past 4 years;
    • your license was suspended, revoked, canceled or disqualified in the past 4 years;
    • you have a DUI conviction within the past 7 years;
    • you have license restrictions that require reevaluation; or
    • you are applying for a different license class.
  • Your vision will be tested when you apply for your Nevada driver's license; other tests may be waived if certain criteria apply.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 7

  Source: [1] [2]

• Liability insurance

  All registered vehicles need liability insurance: injury minimums $25,000 one person, $50,000 two or more per crash

  What the manual says

  • Nevada requires that all registered motor vehicles be covered by liability insurance.
  • The minimum coverage is $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in any one crash.
  • Nevada's minimum coverage is $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more persons in any one crash.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 75

• Change of address

  Within 30 days of any address or name change

  What the manual says

  • Under Nevada law, you are required to notify the DMV of any address or name change within 30 days.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 19

• How long the license lasts

  Most drivers under 65: 8 years; drivers 65 and older: 4 years

  What the manual says

  • How long a license lasts

    Most drivers under 65 and ID card holders get an eight-year card, and it expires on the birthday. Drivers 65 and older receive a four-year license. If U.S. immigration documents prove identity, the card expires on the departure date shown on those documents and is marked "Limited Term"; if the document says "D/S", the card expires one year from issuance.

  • Driver licenses for individuals aged 65 and older are valid for four years.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 6

  Source: [3] [4]

Road rules

• Teen driving hours

  No driving 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. until age 18 (exceptions apply)

  What the manual says

  • A minor shall not operate a motor vehicle between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., except as the curfew rule allows.
  • The curfew remains in effect until the driver turns 18, regardless of when the driver license was issued.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 15

• Passengers for teen drivers

  First 6 months, drivers licensed at 16 or 17 may not carry passengers under 18, except immediate family

  What the manual says

  • Drivers who are 16 or 17 when licensed cannot carry passengers under 18 (except immediate family members) for the first 6 months they drive.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 15

• Alcohol limit under 21

  Under 21: .02% to under .08% brings an administrative penalty and 185 days of lost license

  What the manual says

  • A driver under 21 whose chemical test shows an alcohol concentration of .02%, but less than .08%, is subject to an administrative penalty.
  • A test showing at least 0.02% but less than 0.08% alcohol costs a young driver the license for 185 days.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 79, 13

• Refusing a chemical test

  Refusing tests revokes your privilege: ineligible 1 year; 3 years if previously revoked for refusal within 7 years

  What the manual says

  • Failing to submit to the tests revokes your driving privilege and makes you ineligible for one year for a first offense.
  • The period is three years if your driving privilege has been revoked in the prior seven years for failure to submit to the tests.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 79

• Seat belts

  Driver and passengers age 6 and older must wear belts if equipped; younger children need child restraints

  What the manual says

  • The driver and any passengers age six and older must wear safety belts if the vehicle has them.
  • Children under age six must be in an approved child restraint system, as must those under 57 inches tall.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 25

• Child safety seats

  Approved restraint required under age 6 or under 57 inches; under 2 rear-facing in the back seat

  What the manual says

  • Children under age six must be in an approved child restraint system, as must those under 57 inches tall.
  • Children under two must be secured in a rear-facing child restraint system in the back seat of the vehicle.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 25

• Phone use while driving

  Hand-held voice calls banned unless hands-free; texting, reading or searching the internet by hand banned

  What the manual says

  • Using a handheld wireless device for voice communications is prohibited unless the device is used with a hands-free accessory.
  • Using a handheld wireless device to manually send, read, search the Internet, or text or message is prohibited.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 43

• School buses

  Stop for school buses loading or unloading with flashing red; on divided highways only if traveling same direction

  What the manual says

  • You are required to stop for school buses that are loading or unloading students and displaying a flashing red signal.
  • On divided highways, you are only required to stop when you are traveling in the same direction as the school bus.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 64

• Move Over law

  Near stopped emergency vehicles: slow below limit, proceed cautiously, be ready to stop, use non-adjacent lane if possible

  What the manual says

  • Drivers must decrease speed to a speed that is reasonable and proper and less than the posted speed limit.
  • Drivers must proceed with caution and be prepared to stop.
  • If possible, drive in a lane that is not adjacent to the lane in which the emergency vehicle is stopped, unless conditions make it unsafe or impossible.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 61

• Headlights

  Half hour after sunset to half hour before sunrise, and when not clearly visible at 1,000 feet

  What the manual says

  • Nevada requires headlights from a half hour after sunset until a half hour before sunrise.
  • Headlights are required whenever persons or vehicles cannot be clearly seen at a distance of 1,000 feet.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 56

• Right turn on red

  Right turn allowed after a full stop unless a sign, arrow signal or officer prohibits it

  What the manual says

  • Where signs do not prohibit it, a right turn may be made on a red light after coming to a complete stop.
  • Drivers may make these turns unless a sign, arrow signal or police officer directs them not to turn.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 30

• Speed limits

  Handbook examples: 25 mph business and residential; 65 mph urban freeways and rural highways; 70+ mph rural interstates

  What the manual says

  • The examples of speed limits in Nevada list 25 mph for business and residential areas.
  • The examples of speed limits in Nevada list 65 mph for urban freeways and rural highways.
  • The examples of speed limits in Nevada list 70+ mph for rural interstate freeways.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 35

• Left lane and keeping right

  Slower traffic keeps right; staying in the far left lane below the limit while being overtaken is illegal

  What the manual says

  • When there are two or more lanes moving the same way, slower traffic must move to the right and allow other drivers to pass.
  • It is illegal to travel in the far left lane below the posted speed limit while being overtaken from the rear by a faster vehicle.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 35, 47

• Points and suspension

  12+ demerit points in any 12 months suspends your license; major offenses like DUI bring revocation, with no points

  What the manual says

  • If you receive 12 or more points in any 12-month period, your license will be suspended.
  • A conviction of a major offense will result in license revocation, and these offenses are not assigned demerit points.

  Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (March 2024 (DMV 700)), page 77

Official steps for moving to Nevada

• How soon

  The Nevada Driver’s Handbook says drivers moving into Nevada must apply for a license within 30 days after becoming a resident.

  Source: [3]

• Who counts as a resident

  The DMV says you are considered a Nevada resident if you declare Nevada as your legal residence, live and work (or run a business) in Nevada, use Nevada as the home state for your vehicle or vehicles, or claim Nevada residency to access state-specific benefits. To get a Nevada driver license, you must live at a Nevada street address (no P.O. boxes).

  Source: [2]

• Who does not have to transfer a license

  The DMV lists these people as not required to transfer a license: an active duty military member, spouse or dependent; people living in Nevada temporarily; and out-of-state students. The handbook says an active-duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces does not need a Nevada license if they have a valid license from their home state.

  Source: [3] [2]

• One license only

  A resident of Nevada may hold only one driver license or ID card. If you have a license or ID card from another jurisdiction, you must surrender it to get a Nevada license or ID card. The DMV punches it "VOID" and returns it to you.

  Source: [3] [5]

• Tests if you hold a license from another state

  If you are 21 or older and currently licensed in the U.S., a U.S. territory or Canada, you take the vision test. The DMV’s New Resident Guide says these license holders may be exempt from the knowledge and skills tests if none of the conditions below apply; this exemption is only for applicants 21 or older. The New Resident Guide says you must take the knowledge test if:

  • your license was expired or surrendered for more than 1 year (and the skills test too if it was more than 4 years);
  • you have had 3 or more moving violations in the past 4 years;
  • your license was suspended, revoked, canceled or disqualified in the past 4 years;
  • you have a DUI conviction within the past 7 years;
  • you have license restrictions that require reevaluation; or
  • you are applying for a different license class.

  Source: [1] [2]

• Tests if you have never been licensed or hold a foreign license

  If you have never been licensed, you take the knowledge and skills tests. A person licensed in a foreign country other than Canada takes the vision, knowledge and skills tests; a skills test waiver may be granted to Taiwan nationals. If you are currently licensed in the U.S., a U.S. territory or Canada but have misplaced the actual license, you take the vision and knowledge tests.

  Source: [1] [2]

• Taiwan driver license

  Applicants who are 21 or older, hold a valid Class B Taiwan driver license, present a Verification Certificate of Driver’s License from a Taiwan Consulate Office (translated if it is not in English) and complete the Drive Test Waiver for Taiwan Nationals (DMV 015) may qualify for a drive-test waiver. They must still pass the vision and knowledge tests and provide proof of identity and Nevada residency.

  Source: [1] [6]

• What to bring

  A transfer needs proof of identity, proof of all name changes if applicable, proof of Social Security number, two proofs of Nevada residential address, your existing state-issued license, permit or ID card, and DMV-approved translations for any non-English documents. The Documents to bring section explains each one.

  Source: [2]

• Checks

  The DMV checks all applications through the Problem Driver Pointer System. If your driving privilege is suspended, revoked, canceled or denied in another state, you will not be allowed a Nevada license until the out-of-state issue is resolved.

  Source: [3] [2]

• License and registration in one visit

  Nevada DMV technicians process non-commercial driver license and registration transactions at the same time in a single visit. Out-of-state insurance is not accepted for the registration; Nevada evidence of insurance is required.

  Source: [2]

Sources

1. First Nevada License, ID or DAC (dmv.nv.gov) — Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles
2. New Resident Guide (dmv.nv.gov) — Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles
3. Nevada Driver’s Handbook (DMV 700, March 2024; printed page = PDF page) (dmv.nv.gov) — Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles
4. Renew Your License or ID Card (dmv.nv.gov) — Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles
5. Driver Authorization Cards (dmv.nv.gov) — Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles
6. New Adult Drivers (18+) Nevada Driver License (dmv.nv.gov) — Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles