NRS 483.230 – Driving Without a License – Las Vegas Nevada Law

You must have a current and valid driver’s license in order legally to operate a motor vehicle in Nevada. Driving without a license (or with an expired or invalid license) is a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to 6 months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.

The language of the statute states that:

NRS 483.230 Licensing of drivers required; vehicle being towed; possession of more than one license prohibited.

      1. Except persons expressly exempted in NRS 483.010 to 483.630, inclusive, a person shall not drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this State unless such person has a valid license as a driver under the provisions of NRS 483.010 to 483.630, inclusive, for the type or class of vehicle being driven.

      2. Any person licensed as a driver under the provisions of NRS 483.010 to 483.630, inclusive, may exercise the privilege thereby granted upon all streets and highways of this State and shall not be required to obtain any other license to exercise such privilege by any county, municipal or local board or body having authority to adopt local police regulations.

      3. Except persons expressly exempted in NRS 483.010 to 483.630, inclusive, a person shall not steer or exercise any degree of physical control of a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle upon a highway unless such person has a license to drive the type or class of vehicle being towed.

      4. A person shall not receive a driver’s license until the person surrenders to the Department all valid licenses in his or her possession issued to the person by this or any other jurisdiction. Surrendered licenses issued by another jurisdiction shall be returned by the Department to such jurisdiction. A person shall not have more than one valid driver’s license.

Even if you were issued a citation, it may be possible to plea bargain the charge down to a lesser offense. Or the prosecutor may dismiss the case altogether if the defendant obtains a valid license and shows proof to the court.

People convicted of driving with no license may be eligible for a criminal record seal 1 year after the case ends. And if the charges get dropped completely, a seal may be available immediately.

In this article, our Las Vegas DUI defense attorneys discuss:

• 1. Is it illegal to drive without a license in Las Vegas?
• 2. What are the penalties?
• 3. How do I fight the charges?
• 4. Am I eligible for a Nevada driver’s license?
• 5. Can illegal aliens get driver’s licenses?
• 6. What if I live out of state?
• 7. How do I get a Nevada driver’s license?
• 8. What if my license was suspended?
• 9. When can I seal my case?
• 10. Can I be deported?

1. Is it illegal to drive without a license in Las Vegas?

No. Nevada state law says that

“a person shall not drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this State unless such person has a valid license as a driver[.]”

This law encompasses

1. people who never had a license, and
2. those driving in Nevada with an expired license.

Out-of-state or foreign drivers in Nevada are required to carry proof of licensure from their home state or country.

Drivers must carry their proof of licensure with them whenever they are driving. Licensed drivers who forget to bring their card with them will still get cited for violating NRS 483.230. Though prosecutors usually drop the charge if the driver later shows proof of being licensed at the time.¹

Note that taxi drivers do not need a special driver’s license from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles to drive a cab. But they do need a driver’s permit from the Nevada Transportation Authority. Ride-sharing drivers for such companies as Uber and Lyft need a Nevada business license.² Learn more in our article on driving cabs without a permit.

2. What are the penalties?

Jail time is rare for these types of traffic violations. Driving unlicensed is a misdemeanor in Nevada, carrying:

• a fine of up to $1,000, and/or
• up to six months in jail³

But judges typically impose just a fine. Depending on the case, the defendant may also get a suspended license as part of the sentence. Then the defendant would have to apply for reinstatement.

Note that anyone who moves to Nevada must obtain Nevada driver’s licensure within thirty (30) days or risk misdemeanor penalties of:

• up to $1,000 in fines, and/or
• up to six (6) months in jail⁴

3. How do I fight the charges?

Many defendants are in fact licensed but did not have the license handy when the traffic officer asked to see it. In these cases, the prosecutor will usually dismiss the NRS 483.230 charge if the defendant can show proof that he/she was licensed at the time.

If the driver was not licensed at the time of the citation, prosecutors will usually dismiss the case in exchange for a fine as long as the defendant obtains licensure promptly.

Note that having recently expired licensure is not a defense to charges of driving unlicensed.

4. Am I eligible for a Nevada driver’s license?

Barring extenuating circumstances, state residents 16 and older are eligible for some class of driver’s license upon passing the Nevada DMV driving test:⁵

Age of Nevada resident	Type of license the resident may be eligible for
At least 18 years of age	Non-commercial license
16- and 17-year olds	Restricted license for teens
15-and-a-half-year olds	Learner’s permit (instruction permit)

5. Can illegal aliens get driver’s licenses?

Contrary to popular belief, undocumented immigrants may not be granted Nevada driver’s licenses. However, undocumented immigrants can obtain a driver’s authorization card (DAC) as long as they can show the DMV:

• proof of identity; and
• proof of Nevada residency.

Like drivers’ licenses, DACs allow card-holders to drive in Nevada. But unlike driver’s licenses, DACs do not allow cardholders to board aircraft, obtain state benefits or services, or drive in other states.

Read more about driving rules for illegal aliens in Nevada.

6. What if I live out-of-state?

Out-of-state defendants facing Nevada misdemeanor charges usually do not have to come back to the state for court appearances as long as they hire a local attorney to appear in court on their behalf.

Out-of-state defendants just have to be sure not to ignore the charge. Otherwise, the judge will issue a bench warrant for their arrest after the first missed court appearance or fine payment deadline.

7. How do I get a Nevada driver’s license?

State residents usually have to go to the DMV in person to apply for licensure. Applicants may be able to make appointments ahead of time online. Currently, the DMV has locations in Clark County and the rest of the state at:

Carson City 555 Wright Way Carson City, NV 89711 8a-5p M-F | Get Map (775) 684-4368	Elko 3920 E. Idaho Street Elko, NV 89801 8a-5p M-F | Get Map (877) 368-7828
Ely 178 Avenue F Ely, NV 89301 8a-5p M-F | Get Map (877) 368-7828	Fallon 973 W. Williams Ave. Fallon, NV 89406 8a-5p M-F | Get Map (877) 368-7828
Hawthorne 1085 Highway 95, Suite B Hawthorne, NV 89415 8a-5p M-F | Get Map (877) 368-7828	Henderson 1399 American Pacific Dr. Henderson, NV 89074 8a-5p M-F, 8a-4p Sat. | Get Map (702) 486-4368
Las Vegas – Decatur 7170 N. Decatur Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89131 8a-5p M-F, 8a-4p Sat. | Get Map (702) 486-4368	Las Vegas – East Sahara 2621 E. Sahara Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89104 8a-5p M-F, 8a-4p Sat. | Get a Map (702) 486-4368
Las Vegas – West Flamingo 8250 W. Flamingo Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89147 8a-5p M-F, 8a-4p Sat. | Get Map (702) 486-4368	Laughlin 3030 S. Needles Hwy., Suite 100 Laughlin, NV 89029 8a – 5p M-F | Get a Map (702) 486-4368
Mesquite 550 W. Pioneer Blvd., Suite 120 Mesquite, NV 89027 8a-5p M-F | Get Map (877) 368-7828	Pahrump 1780 E. Basin Ave., Suite 1 Pahrump, NV 89060 8a – 5p M-F | Get a Map (877) 368-7828
Reno 305 Galletti Way Reno, NV 89512 8a-5p M-F, 8a-4p Sat. | Get Map (775) 684-4368	Tonopah 1137 N. Main St., Suite C-8 Tonopah, NV 89049 8a – 5p M-F | Get a Map (877) 368-7828
Winnemucca 3505 Construction Way Winnemucca, NV 89445 8a-5p M-F | Get Map (877) 368-7828	Yerington 215 W. Bridge St., Suite 9 Yerington, NV 89447 8a – 5p M-F | Get a Map (877) 368-7828

Driver’s licensure applicants must be prepared to present the following documentation to the Nevada DMV:

• the person’s previous driver’s licensure or state-issued ID,
• proof of the person’s social security number, and
• two proofs of the person’s address (such as utility bills)

Driver’s licenses are typically valid for eight (8) years and cost $42.25. Senior citizens aged 65 and older may get licenses good for four (4) years and that cost $18.25.

Refer to the Nevada DMV Driver’s License website for more instructions.

8. What if my license was suspended?

Driving with suspended or revoked licensure in Nevada is an entirely different misdemeanor offense than driving with no license at all. The penalties depend on the reason for the suspension:

Reason for the suspension or revocation	Nevada penalties for driving on a suspended or revoked license
DUI charges	no less than 30 days of jail (or 60 days of home confinement); and $500 to $1,000; and 1-year license revocation
Non-DUI charges	maximum $1,000 fine and/or maximum of 6 months in jail (judges rarely impose jail), and a doubling of the original license suspension period

For more information, see our article on driving on a suspended or revoked license.⁶

9. When can I seal my case?

A conviction for driving unlicensed may be sealed one (1) year after the case closes.⁷ But there is no waiting period to get a seal if the traffic ticket charge gets dismissed.⁸

Even though violating NRS 483.230 is a minor offense, it may still look bad to potential employers when they run a background check. Anybody with a criminal record is encouraged to pursue a seal as soon as possible.

10. Can I be deported?

Driving unlicensed is not a deportable offense. Still, immigrants are always in a precarious situation when facing criminal charges. And undocumented aliens are vulnerable to removal whether or not they commit a crime.

Non-citizen defendants should seek legal counsel from an experienced law firm to discuss how to try to ensure that they may stay in the U.S. Learn more about the criminal defense of immigrants in Nevada.

See our article about medically-restricted licenses.

Arrested in California? Refer to our article on Vehicle Code 12500 VC.

Arrested in Colorado? Refer to our article on Colorado’s “driving without licensure” law.

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