All car owners must obtain new registration plates in Nevada through the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Motorists must display one DMV license plate in the front and another in the rear of the car, unless the vehicle is a trailer or a motorcycle. As such, drivers must get license plate credentials as soon as possible after acquiring a vehicle.

As a general rule, vehicle owners may apply for car registration plates online, by mail or in person at a local DMV office. Furthermore, motorists must be mindful of when they must renew or replace their car registration credentials. Discover how to get a license plate in the state by reviewing the sections below.

Types of License Plates in Nevada

Unless exempt, all vehicles must display two Nevada car registration plates and one month and year sticker in the upper right-hand corner of the rear license plate. When drivers purchase new registration plates in NV, they may choose from several different types, including standard plates, special plates or personalized tags.

A special DMV license plate variation may include charitable and collegiate plates, organizational tags and veteran or military plates. Moreover, the DMV offers specific tags for classic vehicles, peace officers and firefighters. Other available car registration tags include disability plates, exempt plates, proposed specialty plates, apportioned plates and dealer or loaner tags.

If you purchase a vehicle from a dealership, the dealer will provide you with a temporary car registration plate. Additionally, you may apply for temporary movement permits through the DMV, including ten-day permits, 15-day drive-away permits and non-resident business permits.

How to Apply for a License Plate in Nevada

For drivers wondering how to get a license plate in Nevada, it is important to note that the plate application process varies depending on whether car owners purchase the vehicle from a dealership or private seller. As such, drivers must register their vehicles, obtain a title and purchase new NV car tags in person at a DMV office if they purchase a vehicle from a private party. In some cases, vehicles may need to undergo a vehicle identification number (VIN) and emissions inspection prior to registration.

Conversely, vehicle owners may obtain new registration plates online or in person if they purchase a vehicle from a licensed dealership. On the other hand, if car owners purchase a vehicle from out-of-state they can only apply in person.

After purchasing a car from a dealership, the dealer will submit your vehicle’s DMV license plate paperwork to the DMV. However, the dealer will not be able to register the vehicle on your behalf. For this reason, you must register your car and obtain license plates on your own, either online or in person. Furthermore, you must apply for car registration tags and register the vehicle before your temporary placard expires.

How to Renew License Plate Tags in Nevada

Motorists must renew license plate credentials before the vehicle’s plates expire. Otherwise, they may apply for a temporary movement permit if they need to drive the vehicle after its expiration date but before requesting a car registration renewal. Overall, the Nevada DMV sends vehicle owners a car tag renewal notice before a vehicle’s license plate is set to expire. Moreover, it is important to note that there is no grace period for renewing license plate decals or tags in the state.

In general, the process of how to renew a license plate in NV varies depending on whether vehicles need to undergo an emissions test prior to their registration renewal. As such, drivers can generally apply for license plate renewal online, by mail, via fax or in person. However, car owners cannot renew online if the vehicle requires a smog check. The in-person procedure may take place at a DMV office, kiosk, county assessor’s office or at a participating emissions station.

How to Replace License Plates in Nevada

Vehicle owners must replace license plate credentials that sustain damages, become illegible or go missing. During this process, drivers may obtain new plates with a new number and style, or they may request a set of duplicate plates that are identical to the original ones. Thus, the process of how to replace license plate credentials varies depending on whether vehicle owners wish to obtain a new plate number or not.

Motorists replacing license plate tags without requesting a new plate number may request duplicate credentials in person at a DMV office, by mail or by fax. In order to obtain these duplicate car registration tags, car owners must submit a completed application form and, if applicable, a credit card authorization form. In any case, drivers must submit an appropriate payment method for obtaining duplicate plates, and must surrender their old plates, if possible.

In the case of requesting a new plate number when replacing car tags, vehicle owners must visit a DMV office in person to surrender their old plates (if available) and pay any applicable replacement fees. Furthermore, drivers are required to request replacement car registration plates and obtain a new plate number if their old plates were stolen. If motorists cannot surrender their old plates to the DMV due to the fact that these credentials were stolen or lost, they must complete a specific application form to inform the department of these circumstances.

Furthermore, drivers are required to replace car tags after eight years of use in order to meet the requirements of Nevada’s rolling reissue program. As such, drivers may receive replacement car tags after renewing their car tags with the DMV. In most cases, plate renewal notices specify whether drivers need to replace these credentials or not, along with specific replacement fees.

How to Transfer License Plates in Nevada

Nevada car registration tags belong to car owners, not to the vehicle itself. Therefore, under state law, car owners must remove their plates before selling or disposing of a vehicle. Otherwise, they may transfer their plates to a different vehicle. If drivers do not transfer their DMV car tags to a newly-acquired vehicle, they must surrender the plates to the DMV. As a general rule, drivers must transfer or surrender their special plates within 30 days. In the case of standard plates, that timeframe is 60 days.

If vehicle owners wish to transfer their NV car registration tags to a recently-purchased vehicle, they may complete the transfer when registering the newly-acquired vehicle online, in person or by mail. If drivers wish to surrender their DMV license plates and cancel their vehicle’s registration, they may do so in person or by mail. In this case, car owners will receive a credit for the unused portion of the vehicle’s registration.

In certain cases, vehicle owners may be able to transfer their car registration plates to another driver. To do so, car owners must complete a specific application form, which the new license plate owner must submit when registering their vehicle with the DMV.

Nevada License Plate Fees

Upon registering a vehicle, the cost of a set of standard license plates is $8. However, there are also options to personalize your plates for an additional fee. You can choose to donate to an organization with your Nevada license plate for an initial fee of $62 and a subsequent fee of $30 a year. You can also add personalized initials, names or words to your license plate for an initial fee of $97 and a subsequent fee of $50 a year. If you would like standard initials instead, it will be an initial fee of $41.50 and a subsequent annual fee of $20.

Whichever plate options you choose, you will need to complete your request form and present it when you register your vehicle.

License Plate Lookups in Nevada

Motorists may perform an online car registration tag lookup prior to purchasing a used vehicle. After drivers complete a Nevada DMV license plate lookup, they can learn more about the vehicle’s history, performance, safety recalls or collision history. Additionally, a plate lookup provides drivers with information about the vehicle’s previous owner and manufacturer.

California Privacy R. Request

California Opt-Out