Nevada lets teens apply for an instruction permit at age 15 and a half. Rules and fees change, so as of 2026 treat this guide as a starting point and confirm everything with the official agency, the Nevada DMV at dmv.nv.gov. The Nevada Driver Handbook is the study source for the test.
Age and the written test
Nevada residents can apply for the permit at 15½. The DMV lists a written knowledge test of 25 multiple-choice questions with an 80% passing score. You can take it online through KnowTo Drive Nevada, which needs a computer with a front-facing camera and does not support touch-screen devices, or in person at a DMV office by appointment. The DMV lists a 60-minute limit for the online version.
- The DMV lists a $25 testing fee for the first attempt and $10 for each retest.
- If you fail, you may retake the test the next day.
- Vision: the minimum standard is 20/40 in at least one eye. If you need glasses to meet it, a Restriction B is added.
- A Nevada instruction permit is valid for 1 year. If it has been expired more than 30 days, you must retake the test.
Practice hours and supervision
A licensed driver age 21 or older with at least 1 year of driving experience must sit next to you. Most first-time drivers under 18 must also complete a driver education course, though that is not needed to get the permit itself.
- The DMV's teen page lists at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 at night.
- If no driver education is available within 30 miles of you, the requirement rises to 100 hours: 90 by day and 10 at night.
- Log every drive on the DLD-130 form or in the RoadReady app. A parent or guardian signs the first page of the DLD-130 even if you use the app.
Write the date, length and conditions of each drive on the same day. A log filled in months later is easy to get wrong.
Teen license restrictions
After you move from permit to license, Nevada limits what new drivers can do.
- Drivers under 18 may not drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., with exceptions for travel to scheduled events such as work or school. Cities may add local curfews.
- For the first 6 months, no passengers under 18 except immediate family.
- Texting and hand-held phone use are illegal while driving. Hands-free devices and voice-operated GPS are allowed.
How to prepare
Read the Nevada Driver Handbook one chapter at a time and take the DMV's own practice quiz before you test. Pay attention to the Move Over law, which asks you to slow down and avoid the lane next to a stopped emergency vehicle when you can, and to the school bus rule: traffic must stop for flashing red lights, except in the opposite direction on a divided highway with a physical barrier.
Then take practice questions and explain each wrong answer out loud. Repeat your weak topics before the real test.
What to bring
The DMV page for teens lists these items. Check the current list before you go.
- Proof of identity, such as a certified U.S. birth certificate
- Proof of Social Security
- Two documents showing your Nevada residential address
- The Certification of Attendance (DMV 301), valid for 60 days
- The Application for Driving Privileges or ID Card (DMV 002)
- The Minor Affidavit and Information Sheet (DP-38)
The licensing fee listed is $22.50. Confirm all fees and documents with the Nevada DMV before your visit. DMVZone questions are for study only and are not the real test questions.