Nevada graduated driver licence stages

By the end of this topic you can

• You can name the three steps from permit to unrestricted driving in Nevada.
• You can state the minimum ages for the permit and the license.
• You can explain who may supervise a permit driver.
• You can list the teen passenger and curfew limits and say when they end.
• You can explain how the rules differ for adults aged 18 and over.

What you need to know and understand

• The minimum age for a Nevada instruction permit is 15 and a half.
• A Nevada instruction permit is valid for one year.
• Drivers under 18 must hold the permit for at least 6 months before getting a license.
• The minimum age for a Nevada driver's license is 16.
• A permit driver must have a licensed driver aged 21 or older, with at least one year of driving experience, seated beside them.
• Teens must stay free of at-fault crashes, moving violation convictions and alcohol or drug convictions for 6 months before the license is issued.
• Adults 18 and over may skip the permit and go straight to the road test after passing the knowledge test.

Step by step: from learner to unrestricted driver

Each stage has its own entry rules. You must meet all of them before you move on.

1. Instruction permit (from 15 and a half): pass the vision and knowledge tests, bring your documents and a school attendance form, and have a parent or guardian authorize the application.
2. Practice period (at least 6 months for under-18s): drive only with a qualified supervisor beside you, finish driver education and log at least 50 hours, 10 of them at night.
3. Driver's license (from 16): pass the road test. If you are 16 or 17, passenger and curfew limits apply.
4. Age 18: the teen curfew ends, and you drive without the under-18 limits.

The limits that come with a teen license

Nevada protects new teen drivers with two main rules. Both come from state law and are explained in the Nevada Driver's Handbook.

• Passengers: if you are 16 or 17 when licensed, you may not carry passengers under 18, other than immediate family, for your first 6 months of driving.
• Curfew: drivers under 18 may not drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless driving to or from a scheduled event, such as school or work. This lasts until your 18th birthday, however early you were licensed.
• Your license is printed in a vertical format, which shows you are a minor, with the date you turn 18 marked in red.

Unusual Nevada points to remember

Adults aged 18 and over do not have to hold a permit for 6 months, and the driver education requirement applies to drivers under 18. An adult may take the road test straight after passing the knowledge test, although getting a permit first to practice is wise.

In special cases, Nevada can issue a restricted license to 14 and 15 year olds who show family hardship or who need to drive to and from school. Ask a DMV office if you think this applies to you.

A parent or guardian who co-signed for a minor can ask the DMV to cancel that license at any time before the driver turns 18.

Common mistakes

• Counting the 6-month permit period from the wrong date. It runs from the day the permit was issued, so check the date on your permit.
• Thinking any adult can supervise. The supervisor must be at least 21, licensed for at least a year and seated beside you.
• Forgetting the 6-month clean record rule. A ticket or at-fault crash late in your permit period can delay your license.
• Assuming the curfew ends 6 months after licensing. Only the passenger limit ends then; the curfew lasts until 18.

Test yourself: Nevada graduated driver licence stages

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

Go deeper

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