How Much Does It Cost To Register A Car

General Information Top ↑

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We accept cash, personal checks, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and money orders made out to the Department of Motor Vehicles in the exact amount of your fees. Please do not mail cash. Third party checks are not accepted.

We encourage you to use e-check. This saves taxpayer dollars through reduced fees. Debit cards are processed as credit.

Registration Fees and Taxes Top ↑

Nevada charges a Registration Fee, a Governmental Services Tax and, in some counties, a Supplemental Governmental Services Tax.

The basic Registration Fee funds state road construction and the DMV operating budget.
The Governmental Services Tax funds local governments, school districts and the state General Fund.
The Supplemental Governmental Services Tax is a voter-approved tax used for highway construction in the counties which charge it, currently Clark and Churchill.
There are other factors which determine the final cost of registering a vehicle. Fees for a first-time Nevada title are $28.25. A set of standard license plates costs $8. The DMV collects sales taxes on many out-of-state dealer sales. There is a $6 Safety Fee on motorcycle registrations that funds safety programs and training.

Registration Fee Details

Registration fees are charged based on the class of the vehicle and its weight.
(NRS 482.480 and 482.482)

For every passenger car, reconstructed, or specially constructed passenger car, regardless of weight or number of passenger capacity, a fee for registration of $33.
For every motorcycle, a fee for registration of $33 and for each motorcycle other than a trimobile, an additional fee of $6 for motorcycle safety.
For every moped, a fee for registration of $33.
For every travel trailer, a fee for registration of $27.
For every trailer or semitrailer having an unladen weight of 1,000 pounds or less, a flat registration fee of $12.
For every trailer having an unladen weight of more than 1,000 pounds, a flat registration fee of $24.
For every permit for the operation of a golf cart, an annual fee of $10.
For every low-speed vehicle, as that term is defined in NRS 484.527, a fee for registration of $33.
For every motor truck, truck-tractor or bus, which has a declared gross weight of:
- Less than 6,000 pounds, a fee of $33.
- Not less than 6,000 pounds and not more than 8,499 pounds, a fee of $38.
- Not less than 8,500 pounds and not more than 10,000 pounds, a fee of $48.
- Not less than 10,001 pounds and not more than 26,000 pounds, a fee of $12 for each 1,000 pounds or fraction thereof.
- Not less than 26,001 pounds and not more than 80,000 pounds, a fee of $17 for each 1,000 pounds or fraction thereof. The maximum fee is $1,360.

Sample Governmental Services Tax Calculation

Taxes are based on the original Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) set when the vehicle was new.
(NRS Chapter 371)

The MSRP will not change over time regardless of vehicle age or condition. The first calculation is the DMV Valuation of the vehicle, which is 35% of MSRP.
The DMV Valuation is then depreciated 5% after the first year and 10% per year thereafter until it reaches a minimum of 15%. The minimum Governmental Services Tax is $16.00.
The Governmental Services Tax is 4 cents on each $1 of the depreciated DMV Valuation.
The Supplemental Governmental Services Tax is 1 cent on each $1 of the depreciated DMV Valuation.

Vehicle 2 years old with an original MSRP of $20,000
$20,000
x .35	DMV Valuation - will not change over time (NRS 371.060)
$7,000
x .85	DMV Valuation is depreciated 15% - vehicle is two years old (NRS 371.050)
$5,950
x .04	Governmental Services tax is 4% of the depreciated valuation (NRS 371.040)
$238	Governmental Services Tax is $238

The Supplemental Governmental Services Tax, if charged in the above example, would be $60 (after rounding) for total taxes of $298.

Commercial vehicles with a declared gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more and trailers with an unladen weight of 4,000 pounds or more use a different schedule.

Tax Exemptions Top ↑

You must claim your tax exemption at the time you register or renew your vehicle. Exemptions are not credited or refunded after the fact.

County Assessors can approve Governmental Services tax relief for:

veterans with certain dates of service
disabled veterans and their surviving spouses
the blind

Contact your County Assessor for specific requirements and see NRS Chapter 371. These exemptions apply only to the Governmental Services Tax.

Active duty military members who are residents of another state but stationed in Nevada qualify for a full exemption on Governmental Services Tax. This exemption may be transferred to a spouse. See Military Licensing.

Native American tribal members who reside on tribal lands also qualify for Governmental Services Tax exemptions. You must have the Application for Governmental Services Tax Exemption (VP 154) signed by the Tribal Chairperson.

Late Fees 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.

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.

Late fees are not charged for any period in which the motorist had a valid movement permit.

Sales Taxes Top ↑

See the Nevada Department of Taxation Sales and Use Tax Publications for current tax rates by county.

Nevada Dealer Sales - Taxes are paid to the dealer based on the actual purchase price.

Out-of-State Dealer Sales - An out-of-state dealer may or may not collect sales tax. Many dealers remit sales tax payments with the title paperwork sent to the DMV Central Services Division. See Out-of-State Dealer Sales for more information.

Private Party Sales, Family Sales and Gifts - These are not subject to sales taxes.