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Can I Register My Car if Insurance Starts Next Monrth

Technology Fee

The DMV is no longer collecting the $1 Technology Fee.

If your mailed suspension notice or other document indicates a Technology Fee is due, please deduct $1 from the total amount. The reinstatement fees listed below are correct.

Got a Notice?

Use these links to respond to a mailed notice from the DMV.

  • Verification Response - Use if your access code begins with I
  • Registration Reinstatement - Use if your access code begins with R

If you have sold the vehicle or registered it in another state, you are not required to reinstate or pay any fine. You should cancel the registration through a MyDMV account or by mail. See Plate Surrender. However, fines will apply if you attempt to register the same vehicle in your name again in the future.

You can check your Registration & Insurance Status and Update Your Vehicle Insurance online too.

Tips Top ↑

  • There is no need to visit a DMV office for most insurance issues. Use the Internet, telephone or mail.
  • Update your policy information with the DMV any time you change coverage or companies.
  • Your insurance must be written for Nevada and at least one of the named insured must appear on the vehicle registration. Minimum coverage is 25/50/20.
  • Evidence of Insurance may be either a printed card or in an electronic format displayed on a mobile electronic device.
  • If you drop the liability insurance on any vehicle for any reason, you must cancel the registration and surrender the license plates. You may cancel the registration through MyDMV and mail the plates. See Plate Surrender.
  • If you are new to Nevada, you must notify your insurance company that you have moved here. Your policy must be written for Nevada. Out-of-state insurance is not accepted.
  • You can verify whether your agent, agency or company is properly licensed at the Nevada Division of Insurance website.

Forms & Brochures Top ↑

  • Payment Authorization Form (ADM 205)
  • Declaration of Responsibility (NVL-019)
  • Vehicle Registration Insurance Suspension Guide (NVL-010)
  • Nevada Division of Insurance - Understanding Auto Insurance
  • Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance Rates (PDF)
  • Nevada LIVE Brochure for Agent (PDF)

Your Policy Top ↑

The DMV's Nevada LIVE program helps keep uninsured motorists off the road. We validate the insurance coverage on every vehicle registered in Nevada on a continual basis. It is important that you provide accurate policy information.

Current Status
Insurance Status Screenshot

You can check the status of your existing insurance and registration online anytime. You will need your license plate number and the last 4 digits of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

  • Insurance and Registration Status Inquiry

See your Certificate of Registration for the VIN and the complete license plate number if you have specialty plates.

If your registration is suspended, you may not drive the vehicle on public streets. See Reinstatements.

New or Updated Insurance Policy
Insurance Agent

You or your agent should update your insurance information with the DMV anytime you make a change to your policy, especially if the policy number has changed. You may receive a verification request if you don't.

You will need your Evidence of Insurance or policy Declarations Page.

  • Insurance Policy Update

At least one named insured must be in common on your vehicle registration and insurance policy. The name listed should match the name on the insured's driver license. Ensure the Vehicle Identification Number matches on the registration, insurance and the vehicle itself.

New Registration
Documents and Glovebox

Get insurance before you register the vehicle. You must show your Nevada Evidence of Insurance at registration. You must carry the card and your Certificate of Registration in the vehicle at all times.

Out of state insurance is not accepted. Use the following services to ensure your company and/or agent are licensed in Nevada.

  • The Nevada Division of Insurance online search lists agents, agencies and companies.

Help! I Got a Notice or a Ticket Top ↑

If the DMV cannot verify your liability insurance coverage, there are several steps in a process that may lead to a suspension of your vehicle registration and a possible citation by law enforcement.

Please review the following to help resolve your issue. In most cases, there is no need to visit a DMV office.

Verification Request
Verification Request Card

Do not ignore this notice! A timely response will help prevent a possible registration suspension and law enforcement citation. Respond online or return the letter even if you have sold the vehicle or moved out of state.

  • Verification Response - Use if your access code begins with I

You must respond within 15 days of the mailing date. If the DMV can confirm that you have had continuous coverage, the process ends. If not, the DMV will issue a Certified Letter.

Nevada has no grace period. A one-day lapse in coverage will result in a registration suspension. Out-of-state insurance is considered a lapse. Use the Insurance and Registration Status Inquiry to see your current status.

Certified Letter, Registration Suspension and Reinstatement
Certified Letters

If your coverage has actually lapsed or we cannot confirm coverage at all, the DMV will send a Certified Letter notifying you that your vehicle registration will be suspended. This will take effect 10 days after the date of mailing.

You may not drive your vehicle on public streets with a suspended registration.

  • Registration Reinstatement - Use if your access code begins with R

The certified letter will contain an access code and instructions. You may also reinstate at a DMV kiosk or in person at an office. You must reinstate in person or by mail or fax if you have an SR-22 requirement as outlined under Penalties.

You must have current insurance and meet the requirements listed under Penalties. See Reinstatements & Penalties for details.

If you have sold the vehicle or registered it in another state, you are not required to reinstate or pay the fines. Cancel the registration through a MyDMV account or by mail. See Plate Surrender. Fines will apply if you attempt to register the vehicle in your name again in the future.

Law Enforcement Citations
Police Car Lights

A law enforcement citation is separate from any DMV action. You must take care of the citation with the court listed on it and then resolve the DMV issues separately.

There are two types of citations related to insurance. They have differing consequences with the DMV:

If you were cited for a suspended registration, you must reinstate the registration. You must visit a DMV office to receive new license plates if your plates were confiscated. See Reinstatements.

If you were cited for no insurance and you are convicted, you will be subject to a driver license suspension. You will have to reinstate your driver license and carry SR-22 insurance coverage. See License Suspensions and Revocations.

Again, the court case and any DMV sanction are separate actions and must be taken care of individually.

Reinstatements & Penalties Top ↑

To reinstate a suspended vehicle registration, the owner must provide current insurance that has been verified by the company and meet the requirements listed under Penalties.

Insurance Reinstatements can be paid online, at kiosks or at any full service DMV office. You can also mail or fax your payment.

You need to provide current Nevada Evidence of Insurance. You will also need to complete a Declaration of Responsibility (NVL 019). This must be signed in person at the DMV or notarized.

To reinstate by fax you will need to fax a completed Payment Authorization Form (ADM 205), along with a notarized Declaration of Responsibility (NVL 019), a current Nevada Evidence of Insurance card and a copy of your SR-22 if required. The Nevada LIVE fax number is (775) 684-4543.

You may use our online Insurance Verification Reinstatement or a kiosk if your registration is actually suspended and if you meet the following qualifications:

  • You have obtained Nevada liability insurance on the vehicle.
  • Your insurance company has validated the new coverage.
  • You have the certified suspension notification letter from DMV that contains an access code.
  • Your vehicle registration is actually suspended or you have been sent a letter verifying your insurance information.

Registration Renewal

You will also be given the option to renew your registration if it would be otherwise expired or due for renewal within approximately 30 days. If your vehicle requires an emission inspection and your registration is suspended, you must pay the reinstatement fee and obtain a movement permit to drive the vehicle for the test. Show the old registration slip or other proof of ownership at any DMV office to obtain a permit.

Penalties

Nevada has a tiered system of fees and fines. Below is a matrix of the new penalties. They are based on the length of the lapse of coverage and the number of previous lapses. See the table below.

Length of Lapse: 1-30 Days 31-90 Days 91-180 Days 181 Days or More
1st Offense
Reinstatement Fee $250 $250 $250 $250
Fine $250 $500 $1,000
SR-22 Insurance Yes Yes
Totals $250 $500 $750 $1,250
2nd Offense Within Five Years
Reinstatement Fee $500 $500 $500 $500
Fine $500 $500 $1,000
SR-22 Insurance Yes Yes
Totals $500 $1,000 $1,000 $1,500
3rd Offense Within Five Years
Reinstatement Fee $750 $750 $750 $750
Fine $500 $750 $1,000
SR-22 Insurance Yes Yes Yes Yes
Driver License Suspension Min. 30 days Min. 30 days Min. 30 days Min. 30 days
Totals $750 $1,250 $1,500 $1,750

Notes

  • "SR-22 Insurance" is a Certificate of Financial Responsibility that your insurance company will file with the DMV. The company will notify us immediately if you drop the coverage. Penalties for failure to maintain insurance under the SR-22 requirement include a driver license suspension.
  • The fees to reinstate a suspended driver license include a $75 reinstatement fee, the cost of the license and any applicable testing fees. See Driver License Suspensions and Revocations.
  • The penalties listed here are in addition to any penalties imposed by a court following a law enforcement citation.
  • Nevada law enforcement officers are required to remove the license plates from any vehicle on which the registration has been suspended. They may also impound the vehicle.
  • Kiosk transactions carry an additional $1 processing fee for a reinstatement and $3 for a registration renewal.

If the owner of the vehicle declares it dormant due to mechanical or seasonal circumstances during the period in question, the owner must sign a Dormant Vehicle Affidavit (NVL-003) and present documentation to verify the status. The reinstatement requirements will then include current proof of insurance, a $50 reinstatement fee, and the payment of any applicable fines (see the table above).

If the owner of the vehicle experienced extenuating circumstances beyond their control, the owner may complete an affidavit and present original receipts and/or documentation to verify circumstance and time frames. Financial hardship does not qualify. Examples of extenuating circumstances are hospitalization, illness or a death in the family. You must apply at a DMV office or a County Assessor that offers vehicle registration services.

FAQs Top ↑

Does Nevada allow Evidence of Insurance to be presented on a cell phone?

Yes. Evidence of Insurance may be presented on a printed card or in an electronic format to be displayed on a mobile electronic device.

Insurers are not required to provide electronic evidence. However, they must always provide a printed card upon request.

If you present your mobile device to another person to provide Evidence of Insurance:

  • You assume all liability for any damage to the device
  • A peace officer may view only the Evidence of Insurance and may not intentionally view any other content on the device
  • The Evidence of Insurance must be provided by your insurer and contain all of the information provided on a printed card.

How does DMV know when I don't have insurance?

Insurance companies licensed to do business in Nevada are required to validate the status of Nevada insurance policies.

The DMV's Nevada LIVE program periodically asks your insurance company if the vehicle has current Nevada liability insurance coverage.

How can I make sure my insurance is on file?

You can check the status of your insurance by using the Registration and Insurance Registration Status Inquiry. You will need the license plate number and last 4 digits of the VIN.

This will also tell you whether your vehicle registration is active and its expiration date.

Why did I receive a verification letter? Was I randomly selected?

Insurance Verification Notices are never random. Notices mean we do not have a valid record of your liability insurance coverage or that there is a possible lapse in the coverage. We will send a notice when the DMV is unable to verify the coverage with a confirmed response from a Nevada-licensed insurance company.

Often, this occurs when you change insurance companies. When you change companies, either you or your insurance agent must update your insurance information. You can update your insurance online.

How do I respond to the letter?

There is no need to visit a DMV office. You may reply online or by mail.

The first option is to complete your response online using the provided access code printed on your letter. Once you have accessed your vehicle, you will have the option to select your response. If you have maintained continuous insurance, you will be able to enter your policy information.

The website will let you know if the information you entered confirmed with your insurance company. If it does confirm immediately, you will receive a follow up letter letting you know the incident has been resolved.

If the insurance does not confirm, you will receive a message letting you know your response was received and you do not need to mail the card back. We will mail your response to your insurance company to let them know we need your insurance records for the vehicle.

The second option is to complete the card and mail it directly to our office. It is a business reply so there is no need for postage.

I lost the DMV letter, what can I do?

There are a couple of options to verify your insurance. Contact us as listed below. Your insurance agent can also contact their Home Office to request insurance be updated.

I entered my insurance information online but it says "pending"?

This means the insurance information you entered did not confirm with your insurance company's database immediately. It does not mean you are not insured.

If you just purchased a new policy, it may take several days for the company to confirm it. You may wish to wait and try the Insurance and Registration Status Inquiry at a later time.

Compare your insurance policy and vehicle registration. It is important the name(s) on your insurance and vehicle registration match. If you change the name on your insurance, you must also change the name on your vehicle registration. At least one person's or business name on the registration must match a named insured on the policy.

Report any errors to your company so they may update their database. You will need to come into the DMV office if the DMV has the incorrect information.

Why did I receive a certified letter?

A certified letter is the notification of a possible suspension. This could mean we did not receive a response from the registered owner within the (15) days response time or the insurance company did not respond to our notice within their (20) day response time.

Another possibility is that the insurance company has denied your coverage. If there is an actual lapse in coverage, you will have to follow the procedures under Reinstatements & Penalties.

You may not legally drive the vehicle after the suspension date listed in the letter.

I received a letter that says "disregard" or "rescinded".

The "disregard" letter means your insurance company has responded to the verification card sent to you by confirming your insurance information.

The "rescinded" letter means the suspension or your registration has been reversed and is no longer in effect. In most cases this means your insurance company confirmed coverage with the DMV, and nothing more is needed. You may legally drive the vehicle if the registration is otherwise valid. Use the Insurance and Registration Status Inquiry to be sure.

What is an SR22? How does this relate to an insurance reinstatement?

"SR-22 Insurance" is a Certificate of Financial Responsibility that your insurance company will file with the DMV. Any lapse of insurance that is 91 days or more, one registered owner is required to maintain an SR22 for 3 years.

The company will notify us immediately if you drop the coverage. Penalties for failure to maintain insurance under the SR-22 requirement include a suspension of your driver license and the registrations of all vehicles registered to you.

My vehicle was dormant during the lapse of insurance.

If the owner of the vehicle declares it dormant due to mechanical or seasonal circumstances during the period in question, the owner must sign a Dormant Vehicle Affidavit (NVL-003) and present documentation to verify the status. The reinstatement requirements will then include presenting current proof of insurance, a Declaration of Responsibility (NVL019) and the payment required.

If approved, the Dormant Vehicle Affidavit (NVL-003) will reduce the reinstatement fee to $50.00. The fine for the lapse of insurance will still apply.

I'm having a dispute with my insurance company/agent. What can I do?

If your insurance company has denied your coverage and you believe this to be incorrect, you can contact the Nevada Division of Insurance at (775) 687-0700 to inquire about filing a complaint.

I will be parking my vehicle and may obtain "garage" insurance. Is this insurance acceptable?

In most cases, garage insurance is NOT liability insurance, and therefore is not acceptable or reported to the DMV. Comprehensive, collision and other coverage is not reported to DMV.

If you drop the liability insurance for any reason, you must cancel the registration and surrender the license plates. Nevada LIVE verification applies only to liability insurance. See Canceling below.

Please check with your insurance agent to verify whether you have liability coverage.

Nevada Insurance Requirements Top ↑

Nevada requires that automobile liability insurance policies carry minimum coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in any one accident; $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more persons on any one accident; and $20,000 for injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.

Coverage must be validated by an insurance company authorized to do business in the State of Nevada.

Nevada LIVE verification applies only to liability insurance. Comprehensive, collision and other coverage is not reported to DMV.

You must present Nevada Evidence of Insurance on a printed card or on a mobile device to register your vehicle. It must be presented at most registration transactions: first-time, renewals, reinstatement and license plate changes. It must be carried in your vehicle at all times and presented to any law enforcement officer upon request.

Sometimes when you purchase new insurance or renew your policy, the policy number changes and/or the insurance company name changes. These changes must be reported to DMV as soon as possible. Use the Online Update. You or your agent need to report:

  • The insurance company's name (enter exactly as it is on the card),
  • The policy number (enter exactly as it is on the card),
  • The effective date, and
  • The termination or expiration date.

Nevada has no grace period. A one day lapse in your insurance coverage will result in a possible suspension of your registration. The minimum penalty is a $251 reinstatement fee. See Penalties.

Motor Carriers

Higher liability insurance requirements apply to Motor Carriers (any person or business which transports people or property for hire). For more information, ask your insurance agent or contact our Motor Carrier section. See also our Vehicles in Business guide and Nevada Administrative Code Chapter 706.

Self-Insurance

Persons or businesses who have more than 10 vehicles may qualify as a self-insurer. See Fleet Registration/Self-Insurance and Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 485.

How Nevada LIVE Works Top ↑

Nevada LIVE validates your coverage with your insurer instantly as part of the registration process. The DMV also verifies coverage periodically throughout the year.

Newly-issued policies may not be validated immediately if the policy has not been processed. You should check back using the Insurance and Registration Status Inquiry to ensure the listing is completed.

Individual agents cannot send insurance information; it must come from the company's corporate office.

Reported information includes Vehicle Identification Number, the name(s) of the insured, The policy's effective dates, expiration/termination dates and the insured's Nevada driver license or business FEIN number.

It is important the name(s) on your insurance and vehicle registration match. If you change the name on your insurance, you must also change the name on your vehicle registration. At least one person's or business name on the registration must match a named insured on the policy.

An operator policy may be used in lieu of owner's policy of liability. Each registered owner of the vehicle must maintain an operator policy in order to meet Nevada's requirement for liability insurance.

Canceling Your Insurance or Registration Top ↑

If you drop the liability insurance on any vehicle for any reason, you must first cancel the registration and surrender the license plates.

If you cancel your insurance, it is extremely important for you to do the following:

  • If you cancel your insurance because your vehicle is not in use, you must first cancel your Nevada registration. You may cancel your registration online through MyDMV.
  • If you sell your vehicle, you must remove the license plates, then cancel your Nevada registration. The license plates do not stay on the vehicle.
  • You will receive credit toward registration of another vehicle for the unused portion of the canceled registration. You may qualify for a refund under certain limited circumstances.
  • If you have personalized plates and wish to keep them, you may do so by bringing the rear plate to the DMV and scraping off the decal in person.

See Plate Surrender/Registration Fee Refunds for more details.

Department of Motor Vehicles
Nevada LIVE
555 Wright Way
Carson City, Nevada 89711-0800

DMV General Email

(775) 684-4850 Reno/Sparks/Carson City
(702) 486-8696 Las Vegas Area
(800) 344-0483 Rural/Toll Free
(775) 684-4904 TDD (Hearing Impaired only)
(775) 684-4543 Fax (Nevada LIVE only)

Can I Register My Car if Insurance Starts Next Monrth

Source: https://dmvnv.com/insurance.htm