Nevada Driver’s Handbook – Key Vocabulary

CHAPTER 1 – GETTING YOUR NEVADA DRIVER’S LICENSE

• You need a Nevada license if you live or work in NV (exempts border‐state workers & military station). Apply within 30 days.
• Must visit a full-service DMV, be ≥ 16 yrs, show proof of: full legal name, age, SSN (for license, not DAC), NV residency.
• Licenses < age 65 valid 8 yrs; ≥ 65 valid 4 yrs; limited-term = up to DHS departure date.
• Minors (< 18) need co-signer who shares liability.

New NV Residents

• May hold only ONE U.S./foreign license; must surrender the old one (returned voided).
• Vision test always; all other tests waived if:
– < 3 moving violations/4 yrs, no suspension/revocation.
– No DUI 7 yrs, no eval restrictions, valid out-of-state license (same class), and age ≥ 21.
• Exempt: active-duty military w/ home-state license; non-residents w/ valid license ≥ 16.
• National checks: PDPS & CDLIS – any open suspension blocks licensing.

Identity / Residency Documents

• Acceptable primary proofs listed (birth cert., passport, Real ID etc.).
• Permanent Resident Card rules (I-551, I-94).
• Limited-Term docs: I-766, passport w/ unexpired visa + I-94.
• Need proof of SSN (card, W-2, 1099, paystub w/ full SSN).
• Real ID: gold NV outline + star; standard card says “NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES.” Must show 2 NV-residence proofs.

Driver Authorization Card (DAC)

• Valid 4 yrs; in-person renew/change only.
• Separate doc list (military ID, consular ID, etc.).
• Foreign docs need certified DMV-approved translation (exact wording provided).
• Not valid for federal ID or benefits; same driving rules as license.

Residency Proof (2 originals) examples

• Lease, utility, bank statement, paystub, school record, insurance doc, tax record, CAP, or DMV forms DMV-005/115/116.
• Parent/guardian may certify address for < 18.

Testing & Fees

• Vision required; knowledge/oral test; skills test (25 initial, 10 retest).
• Road-test vehicle must pass safety check; cell‐phone use = automatic fail.

Young Drivers

• License can be suspended/revoked for alcohol 0.02–0.08 185 days, graffiti, firearms, truancy, racing, trick display.
• Teen must present: Driver Education cert + Beginning Driver Log (50 hrs / 10 night OR 100 hrs rural waiver).
• DMV-301 school attendance form required (< 18); GED/diploma acceptable.
• Instruction permit (Class C): ≥ 15.5 yrs, knowledge + vision, parent signature; must drive w/ licensed 21-yr-old ≥1 yr exp.
• Permit holding time: ≥ 6 months; Passenger/curfew: first 6 mo no passengers < 18 (family excepted); no driving 10 pm–5 am until 18.

License Classes & Endorsements

• Class A >26{,}000 lb GCWR trailer >10{,}000.
• Class B single >26{,}000.
• Class C cars/pickups trailer ≤10{,}000 total combo ≤70 ft.
• Class M motorcycle/moped.
• Common restrictions: B (corrective lenses), F (extra mirrors), G (daylight only)…
• Endorsement J (tow >10{,}000 w/ Class C), F (fire, farm, military CDL exemption).

CDL / Motorcycle

• CDL requires extra tests; offices in NLV, Reno, Carson, Elko, Winnemucca.
• Motorcycle permit: ≥15.5, tests or NV Rider course; daylight, no passengers, no freeway; MOST drive test.

Admin Items

• Renewals: on/ before birthday; tests may be required; no automatic military extension—mail renewal possible.
• Address change within 30 days (online/mail except CDL).
• Restricted licenses possible (hardship teen, partial reinstate).
• Fees: extensive schedule – e.g., 41.25 new lic <$65$, 17.25 duplicates >65$, testing 25/10, reinstatements 75–120.

CHAPTER 2 – BUCKLE UP

• Seat-belt law: all front passengers ≥6 yrs + any with belts; vehicles ≥1968 lap belts; ≥1970 shoulder belts.
• Children < 6 or < 57 in must be in approved CRS; < 2 rear-facing.
• Unattended: illegal to leave child < 7 w/o ≥12 yr supervisor in unsafe conditions; unlawful to leave pet in extreme heat/cold.

CHAPTER 3 – DRIVING SAFELY

Pre-Drive Checklist

• Adjust seat/mirrors, clean glass, buckle, attitude check.
• Check gauges, set audio, headlights.

Tire Safety

• Monthly PSI check; penny-test tread – if you see all Lincoln’s head, replace.

Signs/Signals/Markings

• Colors & shapes; regulatory, warning, guide. Stop = full stop before crosswalk; yield = slow & give way.
• Signal hierarchy: red/green/yellow lights & arrows, flashing, lane control, pedestrian WALK/Don’t.
• Pavement markings: dashed/solid lines, center turn lane (max 200 ft before, 50 ft after turn), HOV, dotted lines.

Right-of-Way

• First in intersection or vehicle on right; existing traffic; yield to emergency; pedestrians in crosswalk; blind pedestrian full stop.

Speed Control

• Basic rule: reasonable for conditions. Common limits: 15 mph school, 25 res/business, 65 urban freeway, 70 rural interstate.
• Doubling speed ⇒ 4× stopping distance.

Freeway

• Use acceleration lane; yield to traffic; no lane-hopping; Active Traffic Mgmt signs: green arrow = open; yellow X = caution/merge; red X closed.
• HOV: 2+, hours posted, motorcycles OK; solid double-white = do not cross.

ABS

• Four-wheel ABS: stomp-stay-steer. Rear-wheel ABS only keeps trailer straight.

Stopping Distances (dry): example 55 mph ⇒ 202 ft reaction + 168 braking = 370 ft.

Defensive Driving Rules

• Look 12 sec ahead (20–30 sec freeway), 2-sec following (4+ at speed/bad weather), mirror/blind-spot checks.

Cell Phones

• Handheld use illegal; hands-free OK; texting/web banned unless emergency.

Traffic Stops

• Pull over, stay in car, hands visible, comply, contest in court not roadside.

Roundabouts

• Counter-clockwise; choose lane before; yield to inside traffic; signal exit; big trucks may use apron.

Turns/Lane Change/Parking

• Signal 100 ft city (300 ft highway); hand signals; U-turn legal when safe, illegal at RR, 1-way, school zone w/ kids.
• Parallel park procedure; hill parking wheels (down=to curb, up w/ curb=away, up no curb=right).
• Colored curbs: white short stop, green timed, yellow loading, red none, blue ADA.

CHAPTER 4 – ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS

• Warning Tech: back-up beepers, blind-spot alerts, curve speed, cross-traffic, FCW, lane departure.
• Camera Tech: rear, side, surround-view; drivers must still shoulder-check.
• Assistance Tech: AEB, lane-keep, left-turn crash avoid, ACC, auto-park (not allowed during drive test).
• Autonomous levels SAE 0–5; NV defines AV = level 3–5.

CHAPTER 5 – SPECIAL DRIVING CONDITIONS

• Night: headlamps from ½ hr after sunset to ½ hr before sunrise & when visibility <1000 ft.
• Bad Weather: slow down, double stopping distance; chains/studs Oct 1–Apr 30; first rain extra slick.
• Skid recovery: release brakes/steer; trailer jackknife hazards.
• Emergencies: brake fail pump/parking brake; blowout grip/slow; run-off road stay on shoulder then reenter; flash-flood “Turn Around – Don’t Drown.”
• Work Zones: orange signs/fines doubled; obey flaggers.

CHAPTER 6 – SHARING THE ROAD

Commercial Vehicles

• No-Zones: side, front, rear; leave space; wide right turns.

Motorcycles & Mopeds

• Full lane rights; look twice; allow extra following; mopeds stay far right except as allowed; helmets mandatory.

School Buses

• Must stop for flashing red both directions unless divided highway opposite.

Bicycles

• May use lane; motorist pass with ≥3 ft & preferably change lane; bike signals; motorists yield in bike lane.

Pedestrians

• Crosswalk exists at every intersection; drivers must yield; special care for blind (white cane/dog) – full stop.
• Illegal to overtake stopped vehicle at crosswalk.

CHAPTER 7 – TOWING

• Class C may tow combo ≤10{,}000 lb & ≤70 ft overall; J-endorsement needed if >10{,}000.
• Load low & balanced; understand GVW/GCWR; secure chains, breakaway, lighting.
• Trailer skids: watch mirrors, ease brakes; “crack-the-whip” amplified with triples.

CHAPTER 8 – INSURANCE & FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

• Mandatory liability 25/50/20 (k) coverage; NV LIVE monitors lapses; fines 250–1750 + SR-22 + 30-day suspension possible.
• Crashes ≥$750 or injury require SR-1 within 10 days if not police-investigated.
• SR-22 proof needed for certain suspensions (file once, maintain).
• Crash protocol: stop, aid, warn, call, exchange.

CHAPTER 9 – DRIVING RECORD & POINTS

• Demerit points: 12 pts/12 mo ⇒ 6 mo suspension; may remove 3 pts via traffic school once/yr.
• Examples: reckless 8, careless 6, fail yield ped 4, speeding 1–5.

CHAPTER 10 – DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

• Implied consent: refuse test ⇒ 1-yr revocation (first), 3 yrs (second in 7 yrs).
• Limits: 0.08 BAC (drivers), 0.04 CDL, 0.02 under 21, >2 ng/ml THC.
• Admin revocation 185 days; criminal penalties: 1st – 2-6 days jail/400–1000 fine, DUI school; 2nd – 10-6 mo jail, 750–1000, 1-yr revocation; 3rd – 1–6 yrs prison, 2000–5000, 3-yr revocation. Death/SBI 2–20 yrs.
• Ignition interlock available for early reinstatement.

CHAPTER 11 – SUSPENSIONS & REVOCATIONS

• Reasons: points, DUI, hit bicyclist/ped, FTP, no insurance, child support, graffiti, firearm, racing, trick display.
• Reinstatement: reapply, identity docs, fees, tests.

CHAPTER 12 – NEW RESIDENT REGISTRATION

• Register within 30 days. Need out-of-state title/plates, NV insurance, VIN inspection, smog (Clark/Washoe; gas ≥1968 & diesel ≤14{,}000 GVWR), NV Evidence card.
• Liability insurance limits as above; cancel plates if coverage ends.

CHAPTER 13 – DMV LOCATIONS & SERVICES

• Offices statewide; Sat hours in Henderson, Las Vegas, Reno.
• Online services: address change, renewals, kiosks, appointments.