Driving doesn’t just require a driver’s license. It typically requires auto insurance coverage, too. Every state has its own minimum coverage requirements for drivers, and it’s key to know what you need in your state.
If you live in Nevada, you need 25/50/20 liability insurance, which translates to $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability and $20,000 per accident for property damage liability.1 Here are Nevada’s car insurance requirements and what to consider when purchasing car insurance.
Nevada car insurance requirements
Nevada drivers must purchase minimum liability insurance and verify their coverage through Nevada Liability Insurance Validation Electronically (NVLIVE). To meet Nevada car insurance requirements, drivers must carry:2
You also need to provide proof of insurance when registering your vehicle and have it available in your car upon request or during times of renewal.
Bodily injury liability coverage
Bodily injury liability coverage protects you financially and pays for other parties’ injuries, deaths, and medical expenses directly related to an accident you caused. But it doesn’t cover your injuries.
As part of Nevada car insurance requirements, you must buy a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person and $50,000 in bodily injury per accident. While these are minimums, you can purchase higher limits for even greater financial protection.
Property damage liability coverage
Property damage coverage pays for damage you cause to property, including vehicles, fences, mailboxes, and other structures. Property damage coverage kicks in to pay for repairs when you cause an accident that damages someone else’s property. Like bodily injury liability, this coverage doesn’t pay for damage to your property.
In Nevada, you must buy $20,000 per accident in property damage liability coverage, though you can also get higher limits for more financial protection.
The Nevada Automobile Insurance Plan
Do you need more than state-minimum coverage in Nevada?
You can legally get by with just minimum coverage in Nevada, but full-coverage car insurance offers more protection. Full-coverage car insurance typically includes liability, comprehensive, and collision.
Comprehensive coverage pays for your vehicle’s damage from non-collision events, like falling objects, storms, floods, fire, vandalism, and more. Collision coverage pays for your vehicle’s damage when you hit another vehicle or an object like a fence or light pole.
Full-coverage car insurance is more expensive than liability insurance. In Nevada, full coverage costs an average of $243 per month, while liability coverage costs an average of $162 per month.
Liability-only coverage is the cheapest insurance in Nevada, but it only covers costs for the other driver. If your car is older and lower in value, this type of coverage may be enough.
But if you have a newer vehicle, full-coverage insurance may have the protection you need. And if you lease or finance your vehicle, your leasing company or lender will probably require you to buy full-coverage car insurance.3
Penalties for driving without proof of insurance in Nevada
While Nevada drivers must have liability insurance, the coverage also has to go through the NVLIVE verification process.
To register your vehicle, you’ll need proof of insurance, either with a printed card or on your mobile phone. You can also use this proof if law enforcement requests it or during any transactions with the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
You must have proof of insurance, or you may face penalties, depending on how long you haven’t had coverage and if previous lapses are on your record. Nevada doesn’t have a grace period, and even a single day without insurance coverage can result in reinstatement fees.
Here’s what you could face in penalties and fines for driving without insurance in Nevada:
First offense: You must pay fees and fines between $250 and $1,250, depending on the length of lapse in coverage. Longer lapses may require SR-22 insurance.
Second offense within five years: You must pay fees and fines between $500 and $1,500, depending on the length of lapse in coverage. Longer lapses may require SR-22 insurance.
Third offense within five years: You must pay fees and fines between $750 and $1,750, depending on the length of lapse in coverage. You also must file an SR-22 insurance certificate in Nevada, and the state will suspend your driver’s license for a minimum of 30 days.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Nevada
The average cost of liability-only car insurance in Nevada is $162 per month, according to Insurify data. Getting liability coverage will ensure you meet Nevada’s minimum requirements and cover your financial liability if you cause an accident.
This type of coverage includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability, both of which pay for other parties’ expenses.
Here are some of the cheapest liability car insurance companies in Nevada.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Nevada
The average cost of full-coverage insurance in Nevada is $243 per month. This type of coverage protects you in various scenarios beyond the basics of liability coverage.
Full-coverage car insurance typically includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. Collision and comprehensive coverages pay for your vehicle repairs, regardless of fault.
Here are the top companies for full-coverage car insurance and their average quotes in Nevada.
Optional car insurance coverages to consider
As part of Nevada car insurance requirements, drivers must purchase and verify their liability coverage.
For increased protection, you can raise liability limits and get other coverages to supplement your liability insurance. Here are some of the most common coverage options to consider: