Learning to Drive in Nevada: Permit to License

Photo: Noah Wulf, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In Nevada you can get an instruction permit at 15½, and a teen can get a driver’s license at 16 after holding the permit for 6 months, finishing driver education and logging 50 hours of supervised driving (10 at night). Curfew and passenger limits then apply until 18. This guide is for Nevada teens, their parents and new drivers of any age: it sets out the five DMV steps and the key Nevada rules from each chapter of the Nevada Driver’s Handbook (DMV 700, March 2024 edition), with links to the detailed Nevada guides.

Key facts (Nevada DMV, checked November 2026)

Instruction permit: from age 15½. The permit is valid for 1 year.
Knowledge test: 25 multiple-choice questions, 80% to pass (20 correct). You can take it online at home or at a DMV office.
Teen license: at least 16, permit held 6 months or more, driver education certificate, 50 hours of logged practice including 10 at night.
Under 18: no driving 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. (with exceptions), and no passengers under 18 except immediate family for the first 6 months.
Fees as of November 2026: $22.50 instruction permit, $25 testing fee (knowledge plus first skills test), $10 per retest.

The five steps to a Nevada teen driver’s license

Pass the written knowledge test. Study the handbook, try the DMV practice quiz, then test online through KnowTo Drive Nevada or in person. See the Nevada permit test and instruction permit guide.
Get your instruction permit. Bring proof of identity, Social Security number, two proofs of Nevada address and a Certification of Attendance (DMV 301) from your school. A parent or guardian co-signs.
Do driver education and 50 hours of practice. A 30-hour classroom course or an approved online course, plus a log on the RoadReady app or form DLD-130. See Nevada driver’s ed and the 50 hour log.
Take the road test. You must be 16, have held the permit for 6 months and have no at-fault crashes, moving violations or drug or alcohol convictions in the past 6 months. See the Nevada road test for teens.
Get your license. Return to the DMV, pay the $22.50 fee and get an interim paper license. The card arrives by mail within 10 business days. Teen rules then apply: see Nevada teen curfew and passenger rules.

Nevada license at a glance: teens vs adults

Requirement	Under 18	18 and over
Parent or guardian co-signs	Yes	No
DMV 301 school attendance form	Yes	No
Hold permit 6 months first	Yes	The 6-month rule is for under 18
Driver education	Yes (home-schooled students too)	The requirement is for under 18
Knowledge, vision and road tests	Yes	Yes, for first-time drivers
Curfew and passenger limits	Yes	No

Under 18, a co-signing parent shares liability for damage caused by the minor’s negligence or willful misconduct while driving, and can cancel the permit or license at any time before you turn 18 using form DP-38.

Nevada also issues restricted licenses in special cases to drivers aged 14 and 15 who show family hardship or need to drive to and from school. Ask a DMV office for details.

Nevada licensing fees (as of November 2026)

Item	Fee
Instruction permit	$22.50
Completion of instruction permit (getting the license)	$22.50
Original 8-year non-commercial license	$41.50
Driver Authorization Card or limited-term license (4 years)	$22.50
Initial knowledge and skills test	$25
Each retest	$10

The March 2024 handbook lists slightly lower figures. The DMV fees page is the current one, and fees are subject to change, so check it before your visit. A homeless youth fee waiver (form DMV 128) may apply to applicants under 25.

Chapter 1: getting your Nevada driver’s license

Who needs one: anyone who lives or works in Nevada and drives there. New residents must apply within 30 days. See moving to Nevada and the Driver Authorization Card.
Vision: at least 20/40 in one eye. Needing glasses or contacts adds Restriction B.
Real ID or standard: Real ID cards carry a gold Nevada outline with a star; standard cards say NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES. See REAL ID and your first license.
Driver Authorization Card (DAC): lets you drive without a Social Security number. It is not valid as ID.
Classes: Class C covers cars, vans and pickups and may tow 10,000 pounds or less. Class M covers motorcycles and mopeds.
Validity: a first license is valid for 8 years under age 65.
Changes: tell the DMV about a new address or name within 30 days.

Chapter 2: seat belts and children

The driver and every passenger aged 6 and older must wear a seat belt if one is fitted.
Children under 6 and under 57 inches tall must ride in an approved child restraint.
Children under 2 ride rear-facing in the back seat.
Never leave a child aged 7 or younger alone in a vehicle where conditions put them at significant risk, unless a person at least 12 years old is supervising within sight. Leaving a dog or cat in a vehicle in extreme heat or cold is also illegal.

More detail: seat belt and child car seat laws.

Chapter 3: Nevada rules of the road worth knowing for the test

Basic speed rule: drive at a reasonable and proper speed for traffic, weather, visibility and road surface, even below the limit. Example limits: 15 mph in school zones, 25 mph in business and residential areas, 65 mph on urban freeways and rural highways, 70 mph or more on rural interstates. See speed limits and the basic speed law.
Phones: no hand-held calls (hands-free accessory only) and no texting, messaging or internet use for any driver. Emergency calls are allowed when stopping would be unsafe.
Passing cyclists: move to the left lane if there is one and it is safe; otherwise leave at least 3 feet. Driving in a marked bike lane is prohibited.
Parking: wheels within 18 inches of the curb, facing the direction of traffic. Curb colors: white for a short passenger or mail stop, green for limited-time parking, yellow for loading, red for no stopping, standing or parking, blue for disabled parking.
Stopped by police: pull as far out of traffic as you can, stay in the car, keep your hands in view and wait for the officer to ask for your license, registration and insurance.
No parking: within 15 feet of a hydrant (20 feet where angle parking is allowed), on or within 20 feet of a crosswalk, within 30 feet of a roadside traffic signal, within 50 feet of the nearest rail, within 20 feet of a fire station driveway (75 feet on the opposite side), in a bike lane, or next to a highway construction zone. Parking in a disabled space without a placard or plate carries a minimum $250 fine.
Signals: at least 100 feet before a turn or lane change on city streets and 300 feet on open highways and freeways.
Center turn lanes: travel no more than 200 feet in one before a left turn, and no more than 50 feet after turning onto the road before merging.
U-turns: allowed where safe unless signs say otherwise, but not where you cannot see 200 feet each way, near a grade with less than 500 feet of view, or in an active school zone.
School zones: 15 or 25 mph as posted. Disobeying a school crossing guard is a misdemeanor.
Left lane: on a highway with two lanes in your direction, do not stay in the far left lane below the limit when a faster car is behind you (cities, left turns and passing are exceptions).
Passing: not within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad crossing, near a hill or curve, or across a double solid yellow line. Do not overtake a car that is slowing or stopped until you know why it stopped.
Railroad crossings: stop at least 15 feet from the tracks when a train is coming, and never go around a lowered gate.
Following distance: at least two seconds at 40 mph or less, more as speed rises.
Shoulders: since January 1, 2024, only authorized vehicles such as police, fire, ambulances, tow cars and transit buses may use a shoulder marked for emergency use.
Blind pedestrians: a person with a white cane or guide animal has the right of way at all times.
Truck beds: no one under 18 may ride in a pickup bed or on a flatbed on a paved highway.
The chapter also covers signs, signals, pavement markings, right-of-way, ramp meters, Active Traffic Management signs, HOV lanes, roundabouts, turns and U-turns, passing and parallel parking.

Chapter 4: driver assistance systems

The handbook explains warning systems (such as back-up warning and blind spot monitors), cameras, detection technology and assistance systems. The key point: they assist you but do not drive the car. Keep checking mirrors and over your shoulder. Some features, such as parking assist and cruise control, are not allowed on the Nevada road test.

Chapter 5: special driving conditions

Flash floods: never drive into a flooded road. Less than 1 inch of water can cause loss of control, and most vehicles can float in 2 feet of water or less. Turn around or wait. If your car stalls in rising water and you can get out safely, leave it and get to higher ground.
Running off the pavement: ease off the gas, grip the wheel, and stay on the shoulder until you have control before easing back on.
Blowout: grip the wheel and ease off the gas; do not brake hard.
Stopped emergency, utility or service vehicles: slow to below the posted limit, be ready to stop and, if you safely can, move out of the adjacent lane. This includes tow trucks, NDOT vehicles and garbage trucks. See move over laws.
Headlights: on from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, and whenever you cannot see 1,000 feet ahead. Dim high beams 500 feet before an oncoming car and 300 feet behind a car you follow.
Work zones: penalties are doubled for violations.
Night driving, bad weather, skids and work zones are also covered. See driving in snow, fog and rain.

Chapter 6: sharing the road

School buses: stop for a bus showing flashing red lights and wait until the lights go off. On a divided highway you only stop if you are traveling in the same direction as the bus. See school bus stopping laws.
Motorcycles: dim your headlights when approaching one, and leave more following distance on wet roads.
Mopeds: riders must stay in the far right lane except in set cases, and riders and passengers must wear helmets.
Also covered: trucks, bicycles, passengers in truck beds and pedestrians, including pedestrians who are blind or visually impaired. See sharing the road and pedestrians and crosswalks.

Chapter 7: towing

A non-commercial Class C driver may tow a vehicle or combination with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less and a total length of no more than 70 feet. Heavier towing needs a J endorsement. Inspect the trailer and load again within 50 miles of starting a long trip, then after 3 hours or 150 miles.

Chapter 8: insurance and crashes

Minimum liability insurance: $25,000 for injury or death of one person, $50,000 for two or more people, $20,000 for property damage.
Carry your Evidence of Insurance card in the vehicle, or show it electronically.
If a crash is not investigated by police and causes $750 or more in damage or any injury, send a Report of Crash (SR-1) to the DMV within 10 days.

See what to do after a crash and car insurance for new drivers.

Chapters 9 to 11: points, DUI and suspensions

Every moving violation carries demerit points, and 12 or more points in 12 months suspends your license. Drivers under 21 face revocation for a blood alcohol level of 0.02% or more. Minors can also lose their license for truancy, firearms, graffiti and alcohol or drug offenses. Full detail: Nevada demerit points and license suspensions.

Chapters 12 and 13: registering a vehicle and DMV offices

New residents must register their vehicle within 30 days of becoming a resident, or when they get a Nevada license if that comes first. Most Nevada DMV offices are open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the non-commercial offices in Henderson, Las Vegas and Reno also open on Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hours can change, so check the DMV website and book an appointment.

Common questions

Can I take the Nevada permit test online?

Yes. KnowTo Drive Nevada is the DMV’s official online test. You need a desktop or laptop with a front-facing camera; touch-screen devices are not supported. You still visit a DMV office to get the permit.

How long must I hold a Nevada permit?

At least 6 months if you are under 18.

Is driver’s ed required in Nevada?

Yes, for a license if you are under 18, but not for the permit. Home-schooled students are not exempt.

How many practice hours do I need?

50 hours, including 10 at night. If no driver education course is available within 30 miles and you cannot take one online, you need 100 hours, including 10 at night.

Who can supervise a Nevada permit driver?

A licensed driver aged 21 or older with at least 1 year of driving experience, seated beside you.

Can I drive in Nevada on another state’s license?

Visitors, out-of-state students and seasonal residents can drive on a valid home-state license if they are at least 16. Anyone who becomes a Nevada resident must switch within 30 days. Teens with a permit should read driving with a permit in another state.

Comparing states? See learning to drive in the USA, GDL compared, permit tests by state, road tests by state and practice hours by state.

Sources

Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “Nevada Driver’s Handbook, DMV 700 (March 2024)” (dmv.nv.gov)
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “Nevada Teen Driving” (dmv.nv.gov)
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “Written Knowledge Test” (dmv.nv.gov)
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “Get a Teen Instruction Permit” (dmv.nv.gov)
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “Driver Education for Teens” (dmv.nv.gov)
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “Teen Road Test for Teens” (dmv.nv.gov)
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “Get Your Teen License” (dmv.nv.gov)
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “Driver License/ID Fees and Exemptions” (dmv.nv.gov)
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “New Resident Guide” (dmv.nv.gov)

Learning to Drive in Nevada: Permit to Driver’s License Guide