Vehicle registration and titling is overseen by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in Nevada. All vehicles based in Nevada must have a valid car registration and NV title in order to be legally operated anywhere in the state. All applications for registration must be accompanied by the necessary supporting documentation and application fees to be correctly processed. Applications received after the eligible time window will have to include an additional penalty fee.

To apply for a DMV registration and title in Nevada, most vehicle owners have the choice of submitting an application online or in-person. Application procedures for a title and registration and different for owners of recently purchased used cars and those purchased from a dealer. New residents to the state are required to follow specific application instructions to complete a registration transfer as well. NV residents who are active duty in the military can take advantage of special conditions for first-time registration and renewal applications. Keep reading to learn more about titling and registration for vehicle owners in Nevada.

Nevada Car Registration Requirements

The requirements vehicle owners must meet in order to register a car in Nevada vary according to how the driver acquired the vehicle and whether the driver is a new or established state resident. Some application criteria is applicable to most classes of drivers, however. Most vehicle owners will be required to provide the following documents when registering a car in Nebraska:

  • Evidence of current and valid auto insurance
  • Nevada Emission Vehicle Inspection Report
  • Signed and completed Application for Vehicle Registration (VP 222) form
  • Proof of ownership, such as a previous title, Bill of Sale or Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MSO)

Car Insurance Requirements for Registering a Car in Nevada

Whether applying for car registration online or in-person, all vehicle owners must be able to demonstrate having adequate Nevada car insurance to submit a request. The DMV will electronically verify the driver’s insurance, but the driver should keep a paper copy of his or her policy in the vehicle at all times. The minimum adequate auto insurance coverage levels accepted to register a vehicle in Nevada include:

  • $25,000for bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident
  • $50,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident
  • $20,000for injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident

Smog Inspection Requirements in Nevada

Car registration fees do not incorporate the additional cost of having to get a smog inspection. Most vehicles powered by gas or diesel and manufactured since 1968 must pass a smog inspection if based in Las Angeles or Reno. The following vehicles do not need to pass a smog inspection to receive a car registration regardless of where they are based:

  • New vehicles registering for the first or second time
  • Hybrids for the first five model years
  • Diesel vehicles with a manufacturers gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 pounds
  • Motorcycles and mopeds

Registering a Vehicle in Nevada

How to register a vehicle in Nevada depends on the specific situation of both the driver and the vehicle. Unlike in some states, new vehicle owners must pay car registration fees and submit the necessary paperwork themselves even if the vehicle was purchased at a dealership. Most vehicle owners of both used and newly manufactured cars can choose whether they prefer to submit a registration application online or in-person at a DMV office. Some drivers are required to submit the request in-person.

How to Register a New Car in Nevada

To submit the registration application and cover the car registration cost after purchasing a new vehicle from a Nevada dealership, vehicle owners must gather the necessary application material. To all new owners the time to do this, temporary tags can be issued by the dealer for a short period of time while the driver waits for his or her new permanent tags. The specific documentation required for established Nevada residents who have purchased a new car from a licensed dealer include:

  • Evidence of current and valid auto insurance
  • Electronic Dealer Report of Sale (EDRS)
  • Nevada Emission Vehicle Inspection Report (if applicable, issued by dealer)
  • Signed and completed Application for Vehicle Registration (VP 222) form
  • Proof of ownership, such as a previous title, Bill of Sale or Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MSO)

The car registration cost does not incorporate the applicable sales taxes that are required to be paid by the new owner and which should be collected by the dealer according to the actual sales price. Not all vehicle owners are eligible to submit a registration request online. For example, vehicle owners are ineligible to register a vehicle online in Nevada if any of the following are true:

  • The vehicle was not purchased from a Nevada dealer
  • The vehicle is a motor home, moped or trailer
  • You would like to order new personalized or specialty license plates
  • You would like to use a farmer or rancher exemption

Registering a Used Car in Nevada

How much is car registration for owners of recently purchased used cars? The same standard vehicle registration fees apply to most classes of drivers of passenger vehicles, new or used. Owners of used vehicles can use the same application process as owners of new vehicles, but are required to provide the following supporting documentation with each application request:

  • Evidence of current and valid auto insurance
  • Title or Security Agreement from a Financial Institution
  • VIN inspection (if not previously registered in Nevada)
  • Current odometer reading (if less than 10 years old)
  • Nevada Emission Vehicle Inspection Report (if applicable)
  • Signed and completed Application for Vehicle Registration (VP 222) form

Owners of used vehicles must get a vehicle registration within 30 days of purchasing or receiving the vehicle. NE drivers can take the following steps to get a new vehicle registration for a used vehicle:

  1. Gather the abovementioned required application information and documentation.
  2. Complete and sign the Application for Vehicle Registration (VP 222) form and any other applicable forms.
  3. Prepare the appropriate application fee.
  4. Submit the application online at the DMV web portal or take the material to your nearest DMV office to submit in-person.

How to Register a Car in Nevada as a New Resident

New residents in Nevada wondering how to access car registration services generally have the same titling and registration application choices as other types of vehicle owners in the state. The specific application material required to be submitted for car registration online or in-person for new residents to Nevada include:

  • License plates and current registration certificate
  • Evidence of current and valid auto insurance
  • Title or lien agreement
  • VIN inspection (if not previously registered in Nevada)
  • Nevada Emission Vehicle Inspection Report (if applicable)
  • Signed and completed Application for Vehicle Registration (VP 222) form

Once prepared, new Nevada residents have 30 days to transfer their DMV registration and title to the state system to avoid paying the state’s hefty late penalty. Additional documentation may be requested depending on the vehicle’s history.

Vehicle Registration for Military Members in Nevada

Car registration requirements for NV residents who are active duty military personnel is somewhat different. Vehicle owners in this situation can choose to maintain their NV car registration details even while stationed outside of Nevada or to apply for a registration and title in the city where they are stationed.

Nevada vehicle registration renewal policies also include more options for members of the military. These vehicle owners may be able to postpone certain emissions and smog inspection requirements until returning home without facing late fees.

Temporary DMV Registration in Nevada

Drivers who purchase a used vehicle must generally buy temporary registration from the DMV to operate the vehicle while waiting for his or her permanent registration and plates. This temporary vehicle registration can only be issued by the DMV for specific purposes for varying periods of time. The DMV offers a ten day short-term permit available online to allow the driver to pass an emissions test, for example. Temporary permits issued by the DMV are only valid within Nevada.

Nevada License Plates

Depending on how a driver submits a car registration form to the DMV, he or she may receive the vehicle’s new registration and title immediately or have to wait for it to arrive in the mail. Vehicle owners are issued two license plates by the DMV, one for the front and one for the rear. Specialty plates carry an extra fee and generally incur longer processing times.

Nevada Car Registration Fees

Paying all the necessary fees is an important part of what you need to register a car with the DMV in Nevada. The basic car registration costs for NV drivers are based on the class and weight of the vehicle, with most passenger cars and motorcycles carrying a $33.00 fee while travel trailers, for example, cost $27.00 to register.

Last updated on Friday, March 6 2020.