Photo: Missvain, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
To take the Nevada DMV road test as a teen you must be at least 16, have held your instruction permit for 6 months or more, have logged 50 hours of supervised driving and have no at-fault crashes, moving violations or drug or alcohol convictions in the past 6 months. Using a phone during the test is an automatic fail, and so is a serious violation such as speeding or failing to yield. This checklist covers booking, what to bring, the vehicle check and what the examiner scores.
Are you eligible for the Nevada road test?
- Age 16 or older.
- Instruction permit held for at least 6 months.
- No at-fault crashes, moving violations, or drug or alcohol convictions in the past 6 months.
- At least 50 hours of supervised practice, 10 of them at night, logged on the RoadReady app or form DLD-130.
- Driver education certificate. See driver’s ed and the 50 hour log.
Booking and cancelling
- Book the driving skills test online. If someone books for you, they need your permit number or Social Security number.
- To cancel, call (775) 684-4368 for Reno, Sparks and Carson City, or (702) 486-4368 for the Las Vegas area.
- The $25 testing fee you paid at the permit stage covers your first skills test. Each retest costs $10 (as of November 2026).
What to bring to the Nevada road test
- Your parent or guardian, to sign forms
- Your instruction permit
- Proof of identity and residency
- Your completed driving log (RoadReady app or DLD-130, plus any extra sheets)
- Application for Driving Privileges or ID Card (DMV 002)
- A vehicle with valid registration and insurance. Rental cars are not allowed.
The vehicle check: what the examiner inspects
Before you drive, the examiner checks:
- registration and license plates
- Evidence of Insurance card
- headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals
- horn
- seat belts
- tires
- windshield wipers
Brakes, speedometer and muffler must also work, and the front passenger seat must be safe and clean for the examiner. Check every item on this list the evening before and fix anything that does not work.
Rules during the test
- No passengers or animals in the vehicle, apart from the examiner.
- No phone use. Using a cell phone during the drive test is an automatic fail.
- No driver aids such as parking assist or cruise control. The handbook says certain safety features are not allowed during the test.
- No interpreters on the drive test.
- You will never be asked to break a traffic law, and you are penalized if you do.
What the examiner scores
The Nevada Driver’s Handbook lists these skills:
| Skill (handbook) | Practice tip |
|---|---|
| Preparing to drive | Seat, mirrors and seat belt set before you move |
| Vehicle control | Smooth steering, braking and acceleration |
| Entering traffic | Signal, mirror and over-the-shoulder check, safe gap |
| Lane use | Stay centered in the correct lane |
| Speed control | Keep to the limit and adjust for conditions |
| Turns | Signal early, turn into the correct lane |
| Parking and backing up | Control and observation while reversing |
| Stopping | Full stops at the right place |
| Passing | Only where legal and safe |
| Attention to traffic | Scanning, yielding and reacting to hazards |
You may also be asked to stop on a grade, so practice hill starts and stops. Parallel parking and parking on a hill are both explained in Chapter 3 of the handbook.
What fails you on the Nevada driving test
- Using a cell phone
- Serious violations, for example speeding or failure to yield
- Any traffic law violation is penalized
The habits that cost points most often nationally are covered in common reasons people fail the US driving test.
If you fail
The examiner tells you what went wrong. You may have to wait up to 30 days before you can retest, and each retest costs $10.
If you pass
Go back into the DMV to process your license and pay the $22.50 fee. Your permit is hole-punched and returned, you get an interim paper license, and the card arrives by mail within 10 business days. Teen licenses are printed vertically, with the 18th birthday in red. Teen restrictions start now: see Nevada teen curfew and passenger rules. Call your insurance agent too, because all licensed drivers in the household must be disclosed.
Common questions
Can I use a rental car for the Nevada road test?
No. The vehicle must have valid registration and insurance, and rentals are not allowed.
Can my parent ride along during the test?
No. Passengers and animals are not allowed in the vehicle. Your parent does need to come to the DMV to sign forms.
Can I use my backup camera or parking sensors?
The handbook says you will not be allowed to use certain safety features, such as parking assist and cruise control. Ask the examiner before the test what is allowed on your car, and practice backing up with mirrors and head checks.
How long do I wait to retest in Nevada?
Up to 30 days.
Do I need 50 hours before booking?
Yes. You must complete at least 50 hours of supervised practice before the skills test.
Is there parallel parking on the Nevada road test?
The handbook lists parking and backing up among the tested skills but does not say which parking maneuver you will be given. Practice parallel parking, parking on a hill and reversing. Compare other states in US road test by state.
Back to the main guide: learning to drive in Nevada. Earlier step: the Nevada permit test.
Sources
- Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “Teen Road Test for Teens” (dmv.nv.gov)
- Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “Nevada Driver’s Handbook, DMV 700 (March 2024)” (dmv.nv.gov)
- Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “Get Your Teen License” (dmv.nv.gov)
- Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “Written Knowledge Test” (dmv.nv.gov)
- Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “Driver License/ID Fees and Exemptions” (dmv.nv.gov)