Can You Retroactively Register Your Car

Tips

Renew your registration online or at a kiosk. Kiosks dispense decals on the spot and many take cash.

If you must renew in person, make an appointment at our offices in Carson City, Henderson, Las Vegas and Reno.

If you have just purchased a vehicle from a Nevada dealer and need to register it, see Online Vehicle Registration.

Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights plate renewal now includes a $10 contribution to support the Knights Foundation.

Technology Fee

The DMV is no longer collecting the $1 Technology Fee.

If your mailed notice or other document indicates a Technology Fee is due, please deduct $1 from the total amount. The fees listed on the DMV website are correct.

Movement Permits

You can obtain a movement permit online through MyDMV or at a DMV office without an appointment. This will help avoid late fees if your vehicle is inoperable.

Vehicles must have a valid registration or a movement permit to be driven on public streets. COVID-19 extensions have expired.

Didn't receive a notice?

You don't need a printed renewal notice to renew or get a smog check. You can use the license plate number and last 4 digits of the VIN. Have your current odometer reading ready. Check your Registration and Insurance Status.

You may wish to use MyDMV or a kiosk if you are unsure whether we have your correct address.

Smog Exemption for Classic Vehicle/Classic Rod/Old Timer plates

You must complete a Odometer Certification for Emission Exemption (EC 018) at each renewal and submit this with your payment by mail, by fax or in person at a DMV office.

Mail/fax renewals may take four to six weeks for processing. You may obtain a movement permit as outlined above if your registration expires.

You do not have to claim the smog exemption. You may have an emissions inspection completed and renew online or at a kiosk.

Emissions Changes

New vehicles are now exempt from emissions tests until the fourth registration. Tests were previously required upon the third registration.

Online Renewal

Address Change? Use MyDMV if you need to change or verify your address. Renewals are sent to the address on record. You cannot change your address through the one-time renewal.

Choose One-Time Renewal or go to your MyDMV Account. Enter your license plate number without spaces or special characters.

Be sure to look for a License Plate Reissue notification if your plates are eight years old or older.

Check your Registration & Insurance Status online to see the expiration date.

Odometer Reading Required. We will use the reading from your smog check if you had a test completed. If not, have your current mileage ready. Motorcycles and mopeds are exempt. More info

General Information Top ↑

Vehicle registrations expire on the exact date listed, not at the end of the month. You will receive a renewal postcard in the mail approximately 30 days prior to renewal. You will receive only email notices if you have a MyDMV account and have chosen to go paperless.

You are responsible for timely registration renewal even if you do not receive a notice. Late fees based on the expiration date are assessed for late renewals. Nevada has no grace period.

You may obtain a temporary movement permit if you must drive after your registration is expired, for example, to drive to an emissions testing station. See Late Renewal.

You must register your vehicle for a full year. There are no partial registrations. Trailers may be registered for one year or three years. Moped registrations are valid until the vehicle is sold. There is no annual renewal.

If you have received a renewal notice for a vehicle you no longer own, please cancel the registration and surrender the plates as outlined in Plate Surrender.

Plate Reissue

If your license plates are more than eight years old, you may receive replacement license plates in the mail after you renew. Please ensure we have your correct address.

Plates and decals are mailed separately. Place your new decal on your new plates when you receive them. DO NOT put the decal on your old plates.

Renewal postcards, web services and kiosks will indicate whether you will be receiving plates.

See Plate Reissue for more information.

Smog Checks and On-Board Diagnostics

Smog checks are required each year in Nevada. You do not need a renewal notice to have a test completed. 1996 and newer vehicles are equipped with on board computers that continuously monitor performance:

The vehicle will not pass an emissions test if the Check Engine light is on.
If you have a monitoring device plugged into the connector below your dashboard, you must remove it before the emissions test. Emission stations are required to fail the vehicle if such a device is plugged in.
Don't test your vehicle right away if the battery been disconnected or is in bad condition. The vehicle will need to be driven under varying conditions for up to one week in order for the OBD-II system to run all of its tests. Obtain a movement permit through MyDMV or at your nearest DMV office if necessary.

Renewal Options Top ↑

Complete Streets Top ↑

Residents of participating counties have the option to make a $2 donation to the Complete Streets Program in their county. This program promotes the retrofitting of roads to benefit pedestrians, bicyclists, disabled persons, and motorists. The donation is voluntary, non-refundable, and is in addition to any other applicable registration fees. The option is available only on internet and kiosk renewals.

Complete Streets programs: Carson City | Douglas | Clark | Washoe

Three-Year Trailer Registration Top ↑

Recreational and utility trailers can be registered for either one year or three years at a time.

You will be issued a three-year decal.
Registration credits can be applied.
County-issued tax exemptions can be applied to the first year's fees only. Exemptions issued in the second and third years cannot be applied retroactively or refunded.
Three-year registrations are available at original registration and at renewal.
Three-year registrations are not available for fleet customers.

Visit Online Fee Estimates to compare one-year and three-year fees.

Out-of-State Renewal Top ↑

You cannot use the online renewal if your vehicle requires a smog check and you can't have it completed in Nevada. Please contact us with your license plate number and current address for fees and instructions.

If you are currently in an area where emissions testing is required, you must have a test completed. Submit the completed test with the other documents listed.

If you are currently in an area where emissions testing is not required, you may complete an Emission Control Exemption Application (EC-8) and submit this with the other documents listed above. You must have the car tested upon your return to Nevada.

Violations of emissions testing laws are criminal offenses and you may also be subject to an administrative fine from the DMV.

You may wish to consider an Early Renewal to change your expiration date. A college student, for example, may renew in August before leaving Nevada for the year. Those who travel during the summer could renew in the spring. Early renewals must be done in person at a DMV office. Credit will be given for the unused portion of the current registration.

Late Renewal Top ↑

Nevada does not have a grace period on expired registrations. Your registration expires on the date listed, not at the end of the month. You can check its status with our Online Registration and Insurance Status Inquiry. See also Renewal Options.

If your registration is expired and your vehicle requires an emission inspection, you must obtain a movement permit to drive the vehicle legally.

You may obtain a movement permit online through MyDMV. The registration must be in your name, expired less than 18 months and have no suspension, cancellation or other unusual problem. The fee is $1.

Visit a DMV full service office if you don't meet the online requirements or if you need another type of permit. Provide proof of ownership, such as the old registration or the vehicle title.

The DMV is required by law to charge late fees that consist of taxes and penalties. You must pay the full renewal fees for the coming year and the pro-rated Registration Fee and Governmental Services Taxes for the period of time the vehicle was not registered.

Additional penalties include $6 per month on the Registration Fee. The Governmental Services Tax penalty is $6.00 or 10%, whichever is greater (including Supplemental Governmental Services Taxes in applicable counties). Contact us for an exact quote if needed.

You may renew online up to 18 months after expiration provided DMV has your correct address and you have no unusual problems such as an insurance lapse or unpaid parking tickets. The system will automatically calculate late fees.

If you did not drive your vehicle on public streets during the registration lapse, you may avoid the late fees if you renew through a MyDMV account or in person at a DMV office and complete an Affidavit of Non-Operation. Late fees cannot be waived or refunded if you renew at a kiosk or an emissions station.

Early Renewal/Change Expiration Date Top ↑

Vehicle registrations enter "renewal status" approximately 35 days before expiration. If you renew during this period, the expiration date will remain the same and you will be charged fees for a full year.

If you wish to renew early or change your expiration date, you must visit a DMV office. The new expiration date will be set one year from the date of the renewal. You will receive credit for the unused portion of your current registration fees. You will need to complete a new emission inspection if required for your vehicle and if the last test was completed more than 90 days prior to the renewal.

Change License Plates Top ↑

You must obtain new license plates in person at a DMV Full Service Office or County Assessor which offers vehicle registration services.

If you wish to avoid personalized or specialty plate fees charged on your current plates, you should renew your registration in person and exchange plates at the same time. We do not issue credits or refunds for these fees.

Please renew your registration on time regardless of whether you change plates. You may renew first and change plates at a later date without obtaining a new registration or emission inspection.

If the new plates you wish to obtain are in stock at the DMV, you should renew the registration, surrender the old plates and obtain the new ones at the same time. Bring the old plates into the office with you.

If the new plates will be custom-ordered, you may order them in person at the same time you renew the registration. Or, you may renew using any method above and order the plates by mail. You would then exchange the plates in person when the new set is ready.

See our License Plates pages for different plate styles and for specific instructions on obtaining the plates of your choice.