Driver's License Test Prep

Moving to Nevada? Here's what to know about getting your license

If you're new to Nevada, you'll typically need to transfer your out-of-state license within a set time window. The fees, identification documents, and whether you need to retake the knowledge test depend on where you're coming from.

Section

Documents you'll need

Acceptable identity documents

Present one unexpired original or certified copy of: a state-issued birth certificate, a valid U.S. Passport or Passport Card, a Nevada Department of Corrections identification card (not valid for Real ID), a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240), or a driver license, instruction permit, or identification card from another state bearing a Real ID marking. If born outside the U.S., a Certificate of Naturalization (N-550) or Certificate of Citizenship (N-560) is acceptable. Permanent Residents may use a Permanent Resident Card (I-551) or a valid foreign passport with an I-94 stamped 'Processed for I-551' (expired I-94 requires a Notice of Action I-797 showing an approved extension). Limited-term residents may use an Employment Authorization Card (I-766) or a valid foreign passport with an unexpired U.S. visa and an I-94 (with I-797 if the I-94 is expired); cards issued from limited-term documents will be marked 'Limited Term.' Hospital-issued birth certificates, out-of-state licenses without Real ID marking, foreign birth certificates, border crossing cards, and consular identification cards are not accepted as proof of name and age.

Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (DMV 700, March 2024), Chapter 1, Documents You Will Need, Evidence of Full Legal Name and Date of Birth, p. 8. Accepted, born-outside-the-U.S., Permanent Resident, and Limited-Term lists reproduced from that page, including the I-797 requirement for an expired Permanent Resident Card or expired I-94 and the "Limited Term" marking. The not-accepted list ("Hospital-issued Birth Certificate", out-of-state and foreign licenses, "Foreign Birth Certificate", "Border Crossing Card", "Consular Identification Card") is on the same page; an out-of-state license is accepted only where it "contains a Real ID marking approved by the Department of Homeland Security".

Acceptable residency documents

Present two documents reflecting a Nevada residential address. Dated within 60 days: rent or lease receipts, a residence lease showing you as lessee, public utility records, bank or credit card statements, employment check stubs, court documents, bills or receipts requesting payment, Nevada educational institution records or student IDs, hotel/motel/RV park/campground records showing 30 or more consecutive days of residency, voter registration cards issued under NRS 293.517, public-assistance documentation, military Leave and Earnings Statements (for deployed members), or notarized statements from a residence owner. Last-issued versions accepted: insurance agency documents (card, binder, or bill), tax records other than property taxes, property tax records, deed of trust or mortgage documentation, or Confidential Address Program documents under NRS 217.462-.471. Department-approved forms DMV 005 (Certification of Nevada Residency), DMV 115 (Relief Agency or Shelter Certification), and DMV 116 (Property Owner Residency Affidavit) are also accepted. A parent or guardian of an applicant under 18 may sign a DMV-approved form verifying that the applicant lives at their address.

Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (DMV 700, March 2024), Chapter 1, Proof of Nevada Residency, Documents Proving Residency Status, p. 11: "The applicant must present an original or certified copy of any two of the following documents which reflect a residential address in Nevada," split into a dated-within-60-days column and a last-issued-document column, both reproduced here. The under-18 alternative ("Signing a DMV-approved form verifying the applicant resides at the same address as the parent or legal guardian") is on the same page.

SSN proof requirements

Present one original document showing your full Social Security Number: your Social Security Card, a W-2 with the full SSN, an IRS Form 1099, or a paystub with your full legal name. Handwritten paystubs are not accepted. Alternative documents may be approved by the Department with supervisory approval but are not allowed for Real ID issuance.

Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (DMV 700, March 2024), Chapter 1, Evidence of Social Security Number, p. 9: "Social Security Card / W-2 (with full SSN) / IRS Form 1099 / Paystub with full legal name. Handwritten paystubs are not acceptable." "All documents must be originals and must contain the complete Social Security Number. Alternative documents ... may be approved by the Department and will require supervisory approval. Alternative documents are not allowed for the issuance of a Real ID card."

See full Required Identification Documents detail →

Section

Fees to expect

Learner permit fee

The instruction permit is $22.50. Completing the permit, meaning converting it once you pass the drive test, is another $22.50.

Source: Nevada DMV, Driver License Fees schedule, Driver License Fees table ("Instruction Permit $22.50"; "Completion of Instruction Permit $22.50")

Knowledge test fee

Nevada charges one $25 testing fee that covers your knowledge test and your drive test together, not $25 each. It is charged once for any combination of license classes or endorsements paid for at the same time. Every retest after that is $10. Taking the knowledge test at home through the state online proctor adds a separate $6.75 vendor charge per attempt, and it does not replace the $25.

Source: Nevada DMV, Driver License Fees schedule, Testing Fees table ("Initial Knowledge and Skills Test $25"; "Each Retest $10"). Nevada DMV, Driver License Testing, Fees ("The DMV charges a Testing Fee of $25 for a first-time knowledge and skills test and $10 for all retests. The initial fee covers both written and drive tests for any combination of license classes or endorsements that are paid for at the same time."; "The KnowToDrive Nevada written exam charges a $6.75 fee each time the exam is taken.")

Skills (road) test fee

There is no separate drive-test fee in Nevada. The single $25 testing fee covers both the knowledge test and the drive test, so budget $25 total for testing rather than $25 twice. Retests are $10 each.

Source: Nevada DMV, Driver License Fees schedule, Testing Fees table ("Initial Knowledge and Skills Test $25"). Nevada DMV, Driver License Testing, Fees ("The initial fee covers both written and drive tests for any combination of license classes or endorsements that are paid for at the same time.")

First-time license fee

An original 8-year non-commercial license is $41.50. A 4-year Driver Authorization Card or limited-term license is $22.50 instead.

Source: Nevada DMV, Driver License Fees schedule, Driver License Fees table ("Original 8-Year Non-Commercial License $41.50"; "Original 4-Year Driver Authorization Card or Limited Term License $22.50")

Renewal fee

Renewing the 8-year non-commercial license is $41.50. The 4-year Driver Authorization Card or limited-term renewal is $22.50.

Source: Nevada DMV, Driver License Fees schedule, Driver License Fees table ("Renewal (8 Year) $41.50"; "Renewal (4 Year - DAC or Limited Term) $22.50")

Non-driver ID card fee

A standard adult (18 to 64) identification card is $21.50 for an original or an 8-year renewal, or $12.50 for the 4-year version. Ages 10 to 17 pay $9.50. At 65 or older it drops to $11.50 for an original 8-year card and $3.50 for any renewal.

Source: Nevada DMV, Driver License Fees schedule, Identification Card Fees tables by age tier (Age 18-64: "Original $21.50", "Renewal or Duplicate (8 Year) $21.50", "Renewal or Duplicate (4 Year) $12.50"; Age 10-17: "Original, Renewal or Duplicate $9.50"; Age 65 or Older: "Original or Duplicate (8 Year) $11.50", "Renewal (all) $3.50")

Retake fee

Every retest is $10, whether it is the knowledge test or the drive test. If you retake the written test online instead, the $6.75 vendor charge applies to that attempt as well.

Source: Nevada DMV, Driver License Fees schedule, Testing Fees table ("Each Retest $10")

See full License & Test Fees detail →

Section

About the knowledge test

Passing Score Pct

Nevada passes you at 80 percent or better. On a 25-question test that means 20 correct answers.

Source: Nevada DMV, Driver License Testing, Knowledge (Written) Test ("80 percent or better is a passing score.")

Num Questions

The Class C non-commercial knowledge test is drawn from a 25-question pool, but you will often answer fewer than 25. The test stops the moment you reach 20 correct or 6 incorrect, so it can end early either way.

Source: Nevada DMV, Driver License Testing, Knowledge (Written) Test ("The Nevada knowledge test for a Class C, non-commercial license consists of 25 multiple-choice questions.")

Num To Pass

You need 20 correct. Nevada stops the test as soon as you hit that number, so a clean run ends before you see every question. It also stops at 6 wrong, which is the fail line.

Source: Nevada DMV, Driver License Testing ("The test will stop when you have reached 20 correct answers or six incorrect."); Nevada DMV, New Adult Drivers (18+) Written Knowledge Test ("20 correct answers needed")

Time Limit Minutes

There is no time limit on the knowledge test at a DMV office, so the clock is not something to plan around on the standard path. The only cap applies if you test at home through the state online proctor, which allows 60 minutes.

Source: Nevada DMV, New Adult Drivers (18+) Written Knowledge Test, Test Format panel: "60 Minutes Online" and "In Person: No time limit". Page read 2026-08-11 at https://dmv.nv.gov/wtestadult.htm.

Test format

Nevada administers the knowledge test on automated testing equipment at the DMV, but a paper version is also available. If you have trouble reading or understanding the written test, you can request an oral examination instead, and the Basic Class C and motorcycle tests are offered in Spanish as well as English.

Source: Nevada Driver's Handbook (DMV 700, March 2024), Chapter 1, Testing, Knowledge Testing, p. 12: "This is done using either the automated testing equipment or a paper test. If you have problems reading or understanding the written test, you may request an oral examination. Testing for the Basic Class C license and motorcycle license is also available in Spanish."

Retake Wait Days

Fail and you can test again the next day. If you are disqualified partway through an online attempt rather than simply failing it, the wait is 24 hours. Every retest carries a $10 fee.

Source: Nevada DMV, New Adult Drivers (18+) Written Knowledge Test ("If you fail, you can retake the test the next day. If you're disqualified, you can retake the test after 24 hours."; "A $10 retest fee applies to all retakes.")

Passing Question Categories

Nevada sets no per-section minimums. Nothing requires you to clear a separate bar on sign questions or right-of-way questions on their own. Only the running total matters, and the test ends the moment it reaches 20 correct or 6 incorrect.

Source: Nevada DMV, Driver License Testing, Knowledge (Written) Test. The published rule is a single overall stopping condition: "The test will stop when you have reached 20 correct answers or six incorrect." No per-category requirement is stated anywhere in the DMV's testing pages or the handbook.

See full Passing Score & Test Length detail →

Hub Nevada home → Practice questions, study guide, and signs reference. FAQ Nevada FAQ → Common Nevada test questions, answered.
The Cheat Sheet

The printable Nevada cheat sheet, free.

Every Nevada number and rule we track, ready to print.

Get the free PDF
Free study plan

Your free Nevada study plan

A short run of study emails for the Nevada DMV test: what to drill, the rules people trip on, and a final pre-test checklist. The printable cheat sheet is free to grab either way.

One email a few times a month. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. Privacy.