Military Licensing and Registration

Please keep your address current with the Nevada DMV by mail or fax as you move. See Address Changes. Be sure to include a copy of your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) if your physical address is outside of Nevada.

Nevada residents who are stationed in Nevada are subject to the same licensing and vehicle registration requirements as non-military. See Driver License or Vehicle Registration.

Military Star graphic

Guidance for Military Members

  • Renew Your Driver License

    Renew Your Driver License

    This section is for Nevada residents stationed in other states.

    Driver licenses must be renewed prior to expiration. Nevada does not grant automatic extensions to military members, spouses or dependents. Active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, federal employees and their spouses/dependents may renew by mail.

    Renew Online

    If your last original issuance or renewal was completed at a Nevada DMV office, you may qualify for online renewal through MyDMV.

    Renew by Mail

    If you are unable to renew online, please mail the following documents to the address on the DMV 204 application:

    Recently-discharged military members, members on normal Reserve duty, employees of federal contractors or spouses and dependents of any of these must follow the normal renewal requirements. See Driver License Renewal Options.

    Renew Early

    You may wish to renew your license early in person while you are in Nevada if you will be on an extended deployment. You may renew at any time. You do not have to wait for the expiration date to approach. You may renew at any DMV office regardless of your city or county of residence.

  • Get a Duplicate Driver License

    Get a Duplicate Driver License

    This section is for Nevada residents stationed in other states.

    You may order a duplicate and/or change your address online through a MyDMV account. If you don't have the information needed to sign up for MyDMV, you can order by mail.

    Any Nevada-licensed driver who is temporarily out of the state may obtain a duplicate driver license by mail. If your application is accepted, the DMV will mail a new license to you if we have a valid photograph on file. If you application is rejected, we will notify you of the reason.

    Your license or driving privilege must not be expired, suspended, revoked, canceled or denied in any state. To apply, please mail the following documents to the address on the DMV 204 application:

  • Obtain an Original Driver License/ID

    Obtain an Original Driver License/ID

    This section is for Nevada residents stationed in other states.

    Application requirements for an original Nevada driver license are no different for military members than for non-military. You must visit a DMV Office to obtain an original license. See:

    If you're on active duty in the Armed Forces and have a valid license issued in a foreign country by the U.S. Armed Forces, you may drive a motor vehicle for no more than 45 days from the date of return to the United States.

  • Apply for a Driver License Exemption

    Apply for a Driver License Exemption

    This section is for residents of other states stationed in Nevada.

    Certain persons are exempted from obtaining a Nevada driver license:

    • A nonresident on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces who has a valid license issued by his or her home state, or such a nonresident’s spouse or dependent child who has a valid license issued by such state.
    • Any person on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces who has a valid license issued in a foreign country by the Armed Forces may drive a motor vehicle for a period of not more than 45 days from the date of return to the United States.

    If you wish to obtain a Nevada license, the application requirements are the same as those for non-military residents. See:

    The driver license exemption is authorized by Nevada state law. See NRS 483.240.

  • Register Your Vehicle

    Register Your Vehicle

    This section is for Nevada residents stationed in other states.

    Renewal

    See Renewal Options for complete details and forms.

    The DMV will waive registration late fees for active duty military members assigned to combat or combat support positions. Use the Active Duty Military Combat Affidavit (VP 258) when you renew your registration.

    You may be eligible for a Veterans Exemption and, if so, you may transfer it to your spouse. Apply through your County Assessor.

    If your registration renewal requires an emission inspection and you cannot have it completed in Nevada, you must have a smog check completed if you are currently residing in an area that requires emission inspections. Submit an EC 8 application if testing is not required in your location.

    Original

    Nevada residents on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces may maintain a Nevada vehicle registration while stationed in other states. However, you are not entitled to tax relief under the Service Member's Civil Relief Act of 2003. You may be entitled to a Veterans Exemption. Contact your Nevada County Assessor.

    If you wish to obtain an original registration or transfer an existing Nevada registration and plates to another vehicle, please contact us with the Vehicle Identification Number and other specifics such as where and how the vehicle was purchased, sales price and any sales taxes paid. We will return an estimate of fees and instructions on how to complete the registration. We may ask you to include one or more of the following documents:

    Use our Online Registration Fee Estimate but please note there are additional charges for license plates, title transactions, etc.

    Emission Inspections

    Smog checks are required on most gasoline and diesel powered cars and trucks, 1968 and newer, if your address is in most areas of Las Vegas or Reno. See Emissions.

    Exemptions include new vehicles on their first, second or third registration, hybrids for the first five model years, diesel vehicles with a manufacturers gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 pounds, motorcycles and mopeds.

    You may submit a passing smog check if the area in which you live requires testing. If testing is not required in your area, you may submit the Emission Control Exemption Affidavit (EC 008) above.

    Mailing Address

    Nevada DMV
    Registration Renewal by Mail
    555 Wright Way
    Carson City, NV 89711

  • Apply for a Registration Exemption

    Apply for a Registration Exemption

    This section is for residents of other states stationed in Nevada.

    Vehicle Registration

    Out-of-state residents on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces are not required to register their vehicles in Nevada. Spouses are also exempt if the spouse lives in Nevada solely to be with the service member.

    U.S. service members and spouses who choose to obtain a Nevada registration are eligible for an exemption from the Nevada Governmental Services Taxes on vehicles. Members of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and other foreign forces are not eligible for this exemption and must pay the full registration fees.

    You must submit a Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) dated within the past 30 days to claim the exemption. Spouses have additional requirements that are listed on the VP 203s form.

    Complete the appropriate form and submit all of the required documents listed when you register or renew your vehicle.

    Only one of the above forms is required.

    • Use the VP 203 form if only the service member's name appears on the registration, or if both the member and spouse are listed.
    • VP 203S must be submitted if only the name of the spouse appears on the registration.

    You can renew by mail using these forms. Contact us.

    The DMV will waive registration late fees for active duty military members assigned to combat or combat support positions. Use the Active Duty Military Combat Affidavit (VP 258) when you renew your registration. This form must be submitted at the time of renewal. You may renew by mail if the form is notarized or you may sign it and renew in person at a DMV office.

    Other registration requirements are the same as those for non-military. See:

  • Import a Vehicle

    Import a Vehicle

    Vehicles purchased overseas through the Armed Forces and titled with a Form AE 190-1A do not require shipping papers or DOT or EPA releases as long as they are built to U.S. safety and emissions standards.

    The Form AE 190-1A may be substituted for a state-issued title and registration. Other registration requirements are the same as those for New Residents.

    Vehicles purchased outside of the Armed Forces system and not built to U.S. standards are considered "gray market" vehicles and may require clearances from the US DOT and US EPA. See Section IV of our Registration and Title Guide and email us before importing a vehicle. You may also wish to contact our Emissions Lab if the vehicle will be based in Las Vegas or Reno.