Nevada Car Insurance Laws and Requirements (2023)

Laws in the state of Nevada dictate the minimum requirements for insurance coverage that all drivers must carry. All drivers in Nevada must hold 25/50/20 in liability insurance, which covers both bodily injury and property damage. Personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage are suggested. Plus, drivers can pick from a long list of additional coverages.

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Nevada

The minimum car insurance requirements in Nevada^[1] are:

• $25,000 for bodily injury liability per person

• $50,000 for bodily injury liability per accident

• $20,000 for property damage liability per accident

Nevada is an at-fault state. This means that if you’re found responsible for causing an accident, you and your insurance company have to cover the costs of damages and injuries. For this reason, you might want to consider additional coverage to protect yourself. On top of that, Nevada has no grace period. Even a one-day lapse in your coverage can lead to fines and penalties.

Bodily Injury Liability

Bodily injury liability is part of your liability car insurance coverage. If you cause an accident, this coverage will help cover the other party’s medical expenses. This type of coverage will not cover your own medical expenses for injuries sustained in a car accident you caused. Bodily injury liability coverage is required in Nevada.

Property Damage Liability

Property damage liability is the other half of your liability car insurance. It covers repair costs and damage expenses to the other cars involved in an accident you caused. This coverage does not cover damage to your own car in an accident you were at fault for. Property damage liability coverage is required in Nevada.

Validate Your Insurance Electronically

Your proof of insurance must be validated electronically by an insurance company licensed to do business in Nevada, where the information is sent to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). However, Nevada Liability Insurance Validation Electronic (NVLIVE) verification only applies to liability insurance. The DMV does not require proof of any additional coverage.

Is state minimum car insurance enough in Nevada?

The minimum required car insurance coverage in Nevada provides drivers with a solid foundation of auto insurance coverage, but it may not be enough for everyone. If your driving record shows a higher risk of accidents and collisions, you may want to consider supplementing your auto insurance policy with liability insurance beyond the minimum coverage requirements.

Nevada law doesn’t require drivers to carry any insurance that would cover the at-fault driver’s and their passengers’ property damage coverage or help them pay for medical costs. Since the minimum requirements don’t apply, getting extra medical payments coverage (MedPay) could be worth a higher insurance cost.

Optional Car Insurance Coverage for Nevada

Nevada drivers who want to be protected in any situation should consider bolstering the minimum car insurance coverage with the following supplemental car insurance coverages:

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage covers damages to your car after a collision with another vehicle or object. If your vehicle is a total loss, collision coverage will reimburse you for the actual cash value of your vehicle. This is a great addition to the required property damage liability coverage in Nevada, which applies only to the damages to the other driver’s vehicle.

Comprehensive Coverage

Complementing your collision coverage, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle that occurs during an event that is not a collision with another vehicle or object. This may apply in situations of vandalism, theft, weather damage, or a run-in with an animal. Adding comprehensive and collision coverage together creates a full-coverage car insurance policy.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

If an uninsured (or underinsured) driver causes an accident and you suffer bodily injury, uninsured motorist coverage will cover your medical expenses. If the at-fault driver surpasses their bodily injury liability coverage limits, your underinsured motorist coverage will cover the rest of your medical expenses.

Other Supplemental Coverage

If you have additional needs for your coverage, know that you can customize your policy to fit your unique driver profile. While it’s not required for Nevada auto insurance, there are other add-ons to support you and give you peace of mind. For example, if you find yourself at a higher risk of collisions, rental car reimbursement can help pay for a car while yours is in the shop.

Additionally, if it comforts you to know that someone can help you with car trouble, maybe try roadside assistance. Services can include an on-call tow truck, changing a flat tire, jump-starting a dead battery, helping if you lock yourself out of your car, and delivering gasoline to your car if you run out. This might result in a higher insurance premium, but it could be worth it for safety.

Penalties for Driving Uninsured in Nevada

It is illegal to drive in Nevada without the minimum car insurance coverage. Like your driver’s license, you should always have proof of insurance with you whenever you get behind the wheel to operate a motor vehicle. If you fail to show law enforcement your insurance card, then you could face fines of $250 to $750 and a license suspension with high reinstatement fees.

• First offense: $250 fine and potential SR-22 depending on the length of lapse

• Second offense: $500 fine and potential SR-22 depending on the length of lapse

• Third offense: $750 fine, SR-22 insurance, and a 30-day minimum license suspension

As mentioned earlier, Nevada has no grace period. This means that drivers need to have continuous coverage without any gaps. Even a one-day lapse in your coverage can lead to fines and penalties in the state’s tiered system.

Minimum Requirements for High-Risk Drivers in Nevada

If you’re prone to claims and collisions, you face not only higher auto insurance rates in the future but also some severe penalties and hurdles that make it harder to get back on the road. High-risk drivers and drivers who fail to show proof of insurance need to provide additional documentation, a movement permit to drive the vehicle, and new license plates.

One example of additional required documentation is an SR-22. This is a certificate that acts as proof of financial responsibility. An insurance company must purchase this for you and can help add it to your policy to help you get back on the road.

More Information for High-Risk Drivers in Nevada

DUI Insurance in Nevada

SR-22 Insurance in Nevada

Cheapest Minimum Car Insurance in Nevada

Car insurance companies weigh different factors to determine what to quote drivers on their car insurance policies. Minimum coverage generally means lower car insurance rates. It also means low coverage limits, which may cost you if you’re ever involved in an accident. Here are the cheapest car insurance quotes for minimum coverage in Nevada.

How to Find Cheap Car Insurance in Nevada

From Las Vegas to Reno, Nevada drivers can get the coverage they need without breaking the bank by shopping around first. Insurify does all the hard work to sift through rates from hundreds of different insurance companies, making it easy to compare car insurance quotes.