Military Licensing
Nevada Residents Stationed in Other States

Please keep your address current with the DMV as you move. You may change your address by fax or mail. Include a copy of your LES if your physical address is outside of Nevada. See Address Changes.

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.

Home Safe. Drive Safe. Stay Safe

Veteran Safe Driving

The VA has developed a wealth of information intended to help returning veterans drive safely.

The Veterans' Safe Driving Initiative includes advice on child seat safety, driving with medical conditions and motorcycle safety.

Driver License Renewals

Driver licenses must be renewed every 4 years. Nevada does not grant automatic extensions to military members, spouses or dependents. However, active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, federal employees and their spouses and dependents may renew by mail continually.

We suggest that, if possible, you renew your driver license in person at a DMV office while you are in Nevada. 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.

If you have received a renewal application with an access code, we encourage you to renew by Internet. If you have not received a notice, or if you received a post card notice with no access code, you may renew by mail if you meet all of these qualifications:

To apply, please mail the following documents to the address on the DLD-4 application:

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If your application is accepted, DMV will mail a new license to you if we have a valid photograph on file. We will notify you of the reason if your application is rejected.

In some cases, we may mail a "Valid Without Photo" license. You are required to surrender this for a photo license within 24 days of returning to Nevada. Please allow a minimum of 10-14 days for mail and processing.

DMV may place an "S" restriction on your license if it is expired or if you have had more than three moving violations within the past 4 years. The "S" restriction means you are required to complete a written test and possibly a skills test prior to your next renewal.

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.

Driver License Duplicates

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

In some cases, we may mail a "Valid Without Photo" license. You are required to surrender this for a photo license within 24 days of returning to Nevada. Please allow a minimum of 10-14 days for mail and processing.

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 DLD-4 application:

Original Nevada License

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:

Any person on active duty in the Armed Forces who has a valid license issued in a foreign country by the U.S. 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.

Vehicle Registration

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 your registration renewal requires an emissions inspection and you cannot have it completed in Nevada, see Renewal Options. You must have a smog check completed if you are currently residing in an area that requires emission inspections or submit an affidavit if testing is not required in your location. You may wish to consider renewing early when you are in Nevada.

Active duty members in combat or combat support positions are entitled to a waiver of late fees on vehicle registration renewals. Use the Active Duty Military Combat Affidavit (VP 258).

If you wish to obtain an original registration or transfer an existing Nevada registration and plates to another vehicle, please email 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 forms:

Importing Vehicles

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.