Nevada driver's license
Get your first license in Nevada after moving to the US.
How it goes
- 1You arriveYou have moved to Nevada and you want to drive here.
- 2Your permitYou practice on the road with a learner permit.
- 3The written testYou take the written test.
- 4Behind the wheelYou take the drive test behind the wheel.
- Your licenseYou pass the tests, and the license is yours.
What it costs
A first license
$41.50 for a standard 8-year non-commercial license if you are 64 or under. A $17.50 fee is also listed.
A non-commercial ID card costs $8.50.
You pay this when you apply.
If you just arrived in the US
Foreign documents with no expiry date
Nevada accepts a Resident Alien Card, Form I-551, that contains no expiration date as proof of legal presence, alongside an unexpired Permanent Resident Card.
Documents you need
- Documents that are still validThe document you present must be unexpired.
- The DMV can refuse an expired document, refuse to issue the license, or both. A passport, I-551, EAD, visa or I-94 must be unexpired, except an I-551 with no expiration date, which is accepted.
- One document is accepted with no expiration date: the older Resident Alien Card, Form I-551, issued without one.
- A document from the proof-of-identity list must be unexpired.
Your Social Security Number
Giving your number, and who may see it
The DMV checks your number through the Social Security Online Verification system.
If you have been assigned a Social Security number, you must show proof of it: your original Social Security card, or other proof the DMV accepts, such as employment records or federal income tax returns. Application information is stored electronically to protect it from unauthorized use and keep your personal information confidential.
Tests you take
Eye test
With no progressive eye disease, 20/40 or better gives full driving privileges, worse than 20/40 through 20/70 means daylight driving only (a restriction on the license, not a refusal), and worse than 20/70 means you cannot be licensed. With a progressive eye disease the daylight-only band ends at 20/60 and adds a yearly eye exam; if one eye is 20/100 or worse, the other eye is judged at 20/40, 20/50 and worse than 20/50.
If you fail the screening you get no license and no road test; a report from a Nevada physician or optometrist can be submitted, but reports are advisory. 20/40 or better means full privileges in every track, and the daylight-only band runs to 20/70 with no progressive disease, to 20/60 with progressive disease (plus a yearly exam), and to 20/50 in the other eye when one eye is 20/100 or worse; below the band you are not eligible.
Drive test
The DMV can require a driving skills test based on your driving history.
Renewing a license that has been expired for 4 years or more also requires the skills test.
Practice questions for the written test
If you cannot study in English or Spanish, you can use an interpreter during the written test, but not during any drive test. The interpreter cannot be a family member, must bring a letter of approval from a government agency, court, educational institution or non-profit advocacy group plus a signed attestation and an Affidavit of Oath (DLD 11) at each test session, and you pay any interpreter fee.
Practising with your permit
Who can sit with you while you practise
You must have the permit with you whenever you drive, including on the way to a road test, and a qualified licensed driver must sit in the seat beside you.
A licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and has at least 1 year of licensed driving experience in the type of vehicle the permit was issued for must sit in the seat beside you.
The permit lets you drive a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle.
What to bring to the drive test
Who comes with you
A licensed driver at least 21 years old, with at least 1 year of licensed driving experience in the type of vehicle your permit was issued for, must sit in the seat beside you.
The car and its insurance
The test is taken in a motor vehicle of the type or class you are being licensed for.
Where to go
Who gives the tests
The Nevada DMV gives them. A DMV-registered third-party certifier employed by the driver-training school where you are a student can also give the drive test.
Booking an appointment
You can schedule an appointment on the DMV's appointments.htm page.
When an appointment is required, you can schedule one on the DMV's appointments.htm page.
You can look up or change an existing appointment at 402401.waitwell.us/find-my.
You can book an appointment at dmv.nv.gov/appointments.htm. Pick the office you want there to open the scheduling platform.
Office locations
You can find DMV offices at dmv.nv.gov/locat.htm.
Renewal is done in person at a DMV office, and the DMV's locat.htm office locator lists them.
Other states
U
Every source, quoted25 sources
Every fact on this page is quoted from the page that publishes it, in the words it uses.
“Original 8-Year Non-Commercial License $41.50”
dmv.nv.gov/dlfees.htmChecked August 3, 2026
“$8.50 for non-commercial license/ID only”
dmv.nv.gov/idcards.htmChecked August 4, 2026
“(d) An unexpired Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551, issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security; (e) A Resident Alien Card, Form I-551, that contains no expiration date, issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice;”
leg.state.nv.us/nac/nac-483.htmlChecked August 14, 2026
“You must present one of the following valid, unexpired documents:”
dmv.nv.gov/idcards.htmChecked August 4, 2026
“With respect to any document presented by a person who was born outside of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands or the United States Virgin Islands to prove his or her full legal name and age, the Department: ... May, if the document has expired, refuse to accept the document or refuse to issue a driver's license to the person presenting the document, or both; and ... Shall issue to the person presenting the document a driver's license that is valid only during the time the applicant is authorized to stay in the United States, or if there is no definite end to the time the applicant is authorized to stay, the driver's license is valid for 1 year beginning on the date of issuance.”
web.archive.org/web/20260703063655/https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-483.htmlChecked August 3, 2026
“(e) A Resident Alien Card, Form I-551, that contains no expiration date, issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice;”
web.archive.org/web/20260409071752/https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nac/NAC-483.htmlChecked April 9, 2026
“unexpired documents:”
dmv.nv.gov/dlresidency.htmChecked August 4, 2026
“Social Security Online Verification”
dmv.nv.gov/nvdladult.htmChecked August 4, 2026
“Every applicant who has been assigned a social security number must furnish proof of his or her social security number by displaying: ... An original card issued to the applicant by the Social Security Administration ... Other proof acceptable to the Department, including, without limitation, records of employment or federal income tax returns.”
web.archive.org/web/20260703063655/https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-483.htmlChecked August 1, 2026
“The following summary of vision standards consists of minimum levels of acceptable vision and the restrictions that will be imposed on a driver if he or she fails to meet those minimum levels: (a) Vision with no progressive abnormalities or diseases of the eye: (1) Better than and including 20/40 - full driving privileges. (2) Worse than 20/40 through and including 20/70 - daylight driving only. (3) Worse than 20/70 - not eligible to be licensed. (b) Vision with progressive abnormalities or diseases of the eye: (1) Better than and including 20/40 - full driving privileges. (2) Worse than 20/40 through and including 20/60 - daylight driving only and yearly visual examination. (3) Worse than 20/60 - not eligible to be licensed. (c) Drivers with vision of 20/100 or worse in one eye and the vision in the other eye is: (1) Better than and including 20/40 - full driving privileges. (2) Worse than 20/40 through and including 20/50 - daylight driving only and yearly visual examination. (3) Worse than 20/50 - not eligible to be licensed.”
web.archive.org/web/20260409071752/https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nac/NAC-483.htmlChecked April 9, 2026
“Vision with no progressive abnormalities or diseases of the eye: ... Better than and including 20/40 - full driving privileges. ... Worse than 20/40 through and including 20/70 - daylight driving only. ... Worse than 20/70 - not eligible to be licensed. ... Vision with progressive abnormalities or diseases of the eye: ... Worse than 20/40 through and including 20/60 - daylight driving only and yearly visual examination. ... Worse than 20/60 - not eligible to be licensed. ... Drivers with vision of 20/100 or worse in one eye and the vision in the other eye is: ... Worse than 20/40 through and including 20/50 - daylight driving only and yearly visual examination. ... Worse than 20/50 - not eligible to be licensed.”
web.archive.org/web/20260409071752/https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nac/NAC-483.htmlChecked August 1, 2026
“driving skills test based on your driving history.”
dmv.nv.gov/dlrenewal.htmChecked August 4, 2026
“Expired 4 Years or More You will also have to take the skills test”
dmv.nv.gov/dlrenewal.htmChecked August 4, 2026
“An applicant who has a lack of English or Spanish language skills may use an interpreter during a written examination for a non-commercial driver’s license, driver authorization card or instruction permit.”
dmv.nv.gov/wtestadult.htmChecked July 26, 2026
“[Rev. 4/15/2026 3:07:46 PM--2025] ... issue to the applicant an instruction permit entitling the applicant, while having the permit in his or her immediate possession, to drive a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, upon the highways for a period of 1 year when accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age, who has had at least 1 year of licensed driving experience in the type of vehicle for which the permit was issued and who is actually occupying a seat beside the driver.”
web.archive.org/web/20260703063655/https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-483.htmlChecked July 31, 2026
“Any person who is at least 15 1/2 years of age may apply to the Department for an instruction permit. ... after the applicant has successfully passed all parts of the examination administered pursuant to NRS 483.330, other than the driving test, issue to the applicant an instruction permit entitling the applicant, while having the permit in his or her immediate possession, to drive a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, upon the highways for a period of 1 year when accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age, who has had at least 1 year of licensed driving experience in the type of vehicle for which the permit was issued and who is actually occupying a seat beside the driver.”
web.archive.org/web/20260703063655/https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-483.htmlChecked August 1, 2026
“issue to the applicant an instruction permit entitling the applicant, while having the permit in his or her immediate possession, to drive a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, upon the highways for a period of 1 year when accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age, who has had at least 1 year of licensed driving experience in the type of vehicle for which the permit was issued and who is actually occupying a seat beside the driver.”
web.archive.org/web/20260703063655/https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-483.htmlChecked August 11, 2026
“an actual demonstration of the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle of the type or class of vehicle for which he or she is to be licensed.”
web.archive.org/web/20260703063655/https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-483.htmlChecked August 1, 2026
“If the Department requires an applicant for a Class C noncommercial driver's license to submit to a drive examination, the drive examination may be conducted by a third-party certifier who is: ... Employed by the school for training drivers at which the applicant whose driving ability is being certified is a student; and ... Has been issued a certificate of registration as a third-party certifier by the Department”
web.archive.org/web/20260409071752/https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nac/NAC-483.htmlChecked August 1, 2026
“<a href="appointments.htm"”
dmv.nv.gov/newresident.htmChecked July 26, 2026
“href="appointments.htm"”
dmv.nv.gov/dlrenewal.htmChecked July 23, 2026
“https://402401.waitwell.us/find-my?backto=%2Flocations”
dmv.nv.gov/appointments.htmChecked July 23, 2026
“Select your preferred office below to be taken to our appointment scheduling platform.”
dmv.nv.gov/appointments.htmChecked August 3, 2026
“href="locat.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"”
dmv.nv.gov/dlresidency.htmChecked July 23, 2026
“href="locat.htm"”
dmv.nv.gov/dlrenewal.htmChecked July 23, 2026
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