Nevada (NV) Teen Auto Insurance Laws, Rates & Requirements

In the state of Nevada, car crashes cost the government more than $1.9 billion each year. And believe it or not, most Nevada car crashes occur in rural not urban areas. 66.5% of Nevada’s traffic fatalities are in urban areas, making the fatality rate in rural areas 1.5 times higher than the rate in urban areas. Most fatal accidents occur at night (63%), with distracted driving, drinking, and lack of education also topping the list of causes. In response to the staggering statistics, the state of Nevada has decided to stop the problem before it starts by training drivers at a very early age. By adopting the Graduated Driver Licensing system, Nevada sends teens through a rigorous program designed to educate and train young Nevada drivers as early as 15 years of age.

Continue reading to learn more about Nevada’s teen driving laws and the consequences for violating them.

Nevada Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) and Driver License Requirements

The Nevada Graduated Licensing (GDL) has three steps:

•    Driver Education
•    Instruction Permit
•    Full Driver’s License

Driver Education
All Nevada beginning driver’s under the age of 18 must complete a driver’s education course. The course must be taken at a private professional driving school or a public school. If your child is home-schooled, he must take a drivers education course at a private professional driving school or high school as well. There are no exceptions to this rule. You can enroll in the course beginning at age 15.

Instruction Permit
In order to obtain an instruction permit, you must be 15 ½ years of age. You must also pass a vision and knowledge test. To apply you must provide proof of age (state-issued birth certificate) and identity, your social security card, and proof of residence. Your parent or guardian must accompany you in order to sign a financial responsibility statement. You will also have to pay a $22 licensing fee and a $25 testing fee.

During the instruction permit phase, the teen must complete at least 50 hours of behind the wheel training/driving, to include 10 hours at night. You must obtain Form DLD-130 (DMW Beginning Driver Experience Log) and keep track of your hours. In rural areas, teens must complete 100 hours of behind the wheel training/driving.

Full Driver’s License
To qualify for a full driver’s license, you must successfully complete the permit phase. In addition, you must be at least 16 years of age, hold the instruction permit for at least 6 months, and have a clean record for at least 6 months before applying. Your driver’s license should be free of at-fault accidents, moving violation convictions, and alcohol or drug convictions.

When you apply for your license you must schedule a test and bring the following to the testing facility:

•    Instruction permit
•    Beginning driver experience log
•    Parent or guardian
•    Driver education certificate (if applicable)
•    Vehicle with valid registration and insurance

If you fail the test, you will have the opportunity to take it again, you must reschedule and pay an additional $10 fee.

Nevada Teen Driving Laws and Enforcement

In the state of Nevada, instruction permit holders must be accompanied by a licensed driver 21 years of age or older at all time. The designated driver must be seated next to you at all times. In addition, the designated driver must be licensed for at least one year. In addition, driver’s under the age of 18:

•    Cannot transport any passenger under the age of 18 for 6 months following the date of issue. The only exception to this rule is immediate family members
•    Cannot drive between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., unless driving to or from school or work activities

If the driver violates the above restrictions, the parent or legal guardian can cancel the teen’s license or permit. The court can suspend all current and future driving privileges as well.

Nevada Cell Phone Use/Texting While Driving Laws

In the state of Nevada, it is still legal to use a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. While Nevada does not have a cell phone law in place, driving while using a cell phone in any capacity is still dangerous – especially for beginning drivers. If your phone rings while you are driving, use common sense. Find a safe place to communicate or wait until you are no longer behind the wheel.

Nevada Teen DUI Laws

In the state of Nevada, it is a crime for a teen to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration level (BAC) of 0.02% or higher. A BAC of 0.02% is as little as one beer, one glass of wine or one mixed drink for most people. It can be even less for some. Proof of a BAC of 0.02% is all that is needed to convict a Nevada teen of DUI. If you get caught driving with a BAC of 0.02% or higher, you will be arrested. Next, your license will be suspended for at least 90 days. In addition, it is highly likely that your vehicle will be impounded.

If you think refusing a breath, blood or urine test is a smart idea, think again. It is against the law to refuse to take a chemical test. If you do, you will be arrested and lose your license, automatically, for up to 1 year. The courts may impose additional criminal penalties upon conviction.

Nevada Teen Auto Insurance Requirements

In the state of Nevada, auto insurance is the law. All vehicles must carry liability insurance in the amount of 15/30/10. This is equal to $15,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in an accident, $30,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people in any one accident, and $10,000 for injury to or destruction of others property. All teens must be covered under Nevada’s minimum auto liability insurance law and carry "proof of financial responsibility" at all times. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Because the risk of an auto collision is significantly higher during a teen’s first year behind the wheel, Nevada auto insurance companies recommend purchasing higher amounts of coverage than the legal limits. If you plan to add a teen driver to your policy, instead of purchasing a separate policy, your annual rate will increase anywhere from $1,200 to $4,900 a year or an average of $2,171 a year.