After you pass in Nevada: restrictions and your licence

By the end of this topic you can

• You can explain the passenger limit and when it ends.
• You can explain the teen curfew and its exceptions.
• You can describe what happens at the DMV after you pass.
• You can name the ways a new teen license can be cancelled or suspended.
• You can keep your license details up to date.

What you need to know and understand

• After passing, you pay the $22.50 license fee, receive an interim paper license and get your card by mail within about 10 business days.
• If you are 16 or 17 when licensed, you may not carry passengers under 18, other than immediate family, for your first 6 months.
• Drivers under 18 may not drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless going to or from a scheduled event, such as school or work.
• The curfew lasts until your 18th birthday.
• Breaking the teen rules can bring fines and longer restrictions.
• A parent or guardian who signed for you can cancel your license at any time before you turn 18.
• You must tell the DMV about a change of address or name within 30 days.

Your first day as a licensed driver

1. Go back into the DMV office after passing and pay the license fee.
2. Your permit is hole-punched and handed back to you.
3. You receive an interim paper license so you can drive straight away. Carry it whenever you drive.
4. Your card arrives by mail. It is printed vertically to show you are a minor, with your 18th birthday in red.
5. Call your insurance company. All licensed drivers in a household must be disclosed.

Living with the teen rules

For your first 6 months, friends under 18 cannot ride with you. Brothers, sisters and other immediate family members can. After 6 months the passenger limit ends, but the curfew continues until 18.

The curfew exception covers trips to or from a scheduled event, such as school or work, and the DMV says you may be asked for proof. Some cities, including Las Vegas and Reno, also have separate youth curfews that apply whether or not you are driving. Check local rules too.

These limits are a minimum. Many families add their own rules, such as no freeway driving for the first month.

How a new license can be lost

Your first Nevada license is normally valid for eight years if you are under 65, so it will not need renewing for a long time. The site's Nevada teen curfew and passenger rules guide goes into more detail.

• A parent or guardian cancels it before you turn 18 by bringing the Minor Affidavit (DP-38) and your license to a DMV office.
• A BAC of 0.02 percent or more under age 21 brings a 185-day revocation.
• Twelve or more demerit points in 12 months brings a 6-month suspension.
• Non-driving offenses such as truancy, graffiti, or alcohol or drug offenses can lead to suspension.

Common mistakes

• Giving a school friend a ride home in your first 6 months. Unless they are immediate family, that breaks the passenger rule.
• Driving home from a party at 11 p.m. A social gathering is unlikely to count as a scheduled event; plan to be home by 10.
• Forgetting to carry the interim paper license before your card arrives.
• Not telling the insurer you are licensed. Undisclosed drivers can cause problems with claims.

Test yourself: After you pass in Nevada: restrictions and your licence

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

Go deeper

• Nevada Teen Driving Curfew and Passenger Rules Explained
• Learning to Drive in Nevada
• Moving to Nevada