Special Mobile Equipment

Vehicles and equipment not specifically listed under Definitions may be evaluated and designated as Special Mobile Equipment by the Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles. 

You must submit the application below along with the documents stated on the application. You will receive a mailed notification letter when the determination has been made.

Documents for vehicles 26,000 pounds or more should be submitted to the Motor Carrier Division. Submit documents to the Central Services Division, Title Section for vehicles under 26,000 pounds.

Contacts

In Las Vegas, call (702) 486-4368
In Rural Nevada, call (877) 368-7828

NRS 482.123 “Special mobile equipment” defined.

1. “Special mobile equipment” means every motor vehicle not designed or used primarily for the transportation of persons or property and only incidentally operated or moved upon a highway, including, but not limited to, scoopmobiles, forklifts, ditch-digging apparatus, well-boring apparatus and road construction and maintenance machinery such as asphalt graders, bituminous mixers, bucket loaders, tractors other than truck tractors, leveling graders, finishing machines, motor graders, road rollers, scarifiers, earth-moving carryalls and scrapers, power shovels and draglines, and earth-moving equipment.
2. “Special mobile equipment” does not include house trailers, dump trucks, truck-mounted transit mixers, concrete pumpers, cranes or drill rigs with highway-rated tires or other vehicles designed for the transportation of persons or property to which machinery has been attached.
3. The Director may make the final determination as to whether a vehicle not specifically enumerated in subsection 1 or 2 falls within this definition.
4. The Department shall, by regulation, define “incidentally operated or moved upon a highway” for purposes of this section.

See the Adopted Regulations (R079-07) for more information.

Special Mobile Equipment is exempt from vehicle registration requirements and fees. DMV will issue titles for Special Mobile Equipment. An identification letter and license plate will be issued upon request.

Special Mobile Equipment is not exempt from fuel taxes unless it is using dyed diesel and operating incidentally or off-road.

Proof of insurance is required for Special Mobile Equipment.

You must have one of the following to be issued a title:

• Properly endorsed Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin
• Properly endorsed Certificate of Title
• Nevada Dealer's Report of Sale

Vehicles coming from out-of-state are subject to a VIN inspection. This may be completed at DMV offices or by a sworn peace officer using the RD-15 form below.

An Identification Letter and license plate may be issued for 100% Nevada-based Special Mobile Equipment weighing 26,000 pounds or more. A Prison Industry Fee of 50 cents per license plate will apply.

You must obtain a Special Fuel Users License if your equipment will be using clear diesel fuel. The Schedule A (MC-011) and Schedule B (MC-003) forms should be submitted at the same time you apply for the title and Identification Letter.

Submit all documents to the Motor Carrier Division for vehicles 26,000 pounds or more. You must report the annual mileage on each yearly renewal application.

Vehicles under 26,000 pounds may be issued a title only. Submit the ownership documents and VIN inspection, if needed, to the Central Services Division, Title Section.

Sales Taxes

Sales of Special Mobile Equipment by a vehicle dealer are subject to sales/use taxes. Out-of-state dealers must follow their state's laws regarding this type of sale. DMV will verify any sales taxes paid and charge any difference between the amount paid out-of-state and what would have been due in Nevada.

Sales of Special Mobile Equipment between private parties or non-dealer businesses are not subject to sales or use taxes.

Special Mobile Equipment using clear diesel fuel must be licensed using the MC-011 and MC-003 forms as outlined above.

Equipment using dyed diesel is exempt from fuel taxes as long as it operating within the definition of "incidental use" as outlined in the Adopted Regulations (R079-07).

If Special Mobile Equipment is used in interstate operations, it is the responsibility of the business to obtain the proper registration and fuel tax licenses. 

Visit www.iftach.org, choose "Carrier Info" and select the proper jusrisdiction(s) to obtain contact information. The Nevada DMV will issue IRP and/or IFTA credentials if an intended jurisdiction requires these.