Getting your Nevada learner permit

By the end of this topic you can

• You can list the documents you need for a Nevada permit.
• You can explain what the DMV 301 form is and how long it stays valid.
• You can state the minimum vision standard and what Restriction B means.
• You can describe the role of a parent or guardian in a minor's application.
• You can say how long the permit lasts and what happens if it expires.

What you need to know and understand

• You can apply for a Nevada instruction permit at age 15 and a half.
• Applicants under 18 need a Certification of Attendance (DMV 301) signed by their school, dated within the previous 60 days.
• The minimum vision standard is 20/40 in at least one eye.
• If you need glasses or contact lenses to meet the vision standard, Restriction B is added.
• A parent or guardian must co-sign a minor's application and shares liability for damage the minor causes while driving.
• Driver education is not required to get the permit, only to get the license.
• The permit is valid for one year, and you must carry it whenever you drive.

Your document checklist

Unless you already hold a Nevada ID card, gather originals or certified copies of the following before you go. The DMV checks and scans identity documents, so photocopies will not do.

• Proof of identity and date of birth, such as a certified state-issued birth certificate or a valid US passport.
• Proof of your Social Security number, such as your Social Security card or a W-2 showing the full number.
• Two documents showing your Nevada home address. For a minor, a parent or guardian can instead sign a DMV-approved form confirming you live at the same address.
• The DMV 301 school attendance form, completed by your school within the last 60 days. If you have finished school, bring it with a copy of your diploma or equivalency certificate.
• The Application for Driving Privileges or ID Card (DMV 002), with your parent or guardian present to authorize it.

At the DMV office

1. Book an appointment and arrive with your parent or guardian and documents.
2. Pay the fees. The DMV fee list shows $22.50 for the permit and a $25 testing fee that covers your first knowledge test and your first road test. Each retest costs $10. Check current fees before you go, as they can change.
3. Take the vision screening. You need at least 20/40 in one eye.
4. Pass the knowledge test, unless you have already passed it online through the DMV's remote testing system.
5. Receive a temporary paper permit so you can start practicing. The permit card arrives by mail within about 10 business days.

Keeping your permit valid

Your permit lasts one year. If it expires by more than 30 days, the DMV says you must take the knowledge test again. Renewals are done in person, and a parent or guardian signs again for a minor.

Homeless youth under 25 may qualify for a fee waiver using the Declaration of Homeless Status form (DMV 128). The site also has a longer Nevada permit test and instruction permit guide if you want more detail.

Common mistakes

• Bringing an old DMV 301. It must be signed and dated within the previous 60 days, so ask your school close to your appointment date.
• Bringing photocopies or a hospital birth certificate. These are not accepted as proof of identity.
• Forgetting that you need two separate proofs of address, not one.
• Arriving without a parent or guardian. A minor's application must be authorized by one.

Test yourself: Getting your Nevada learner permit

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Nevada Permit Test
• Learning to Drive in Nevada
• Nevada Permit Practice Test