How To Clear A Suspended Registration Nv

Nevada residents facing a driver's license suspension or revocation are entitled to an administrative DMV hearing to fight to keep their license. DMV hearings are like small-scale civil trials where the license-holder's attorney may present evidence and cross-examine witnesses.

There are many reasons that trigger a license suspension or revocation in Nevada, including:

getting a DUI
racking up traffic tickets (at least 12 demerit points within a year)
not maintaining auto insurance
not paying child support
using graffiti
not properly securing a child in a vehicle
various juvenile offenses, including habitual truancy

And because state DMV offices share information with each other, even out-of-state residents may face a license suspension in their home state for an alleged traffic violation in Nevada.

But an experienced Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer may be able to save the defendant's driver's license by getting the underlying criminal charge reduced or dismissed.

This article summarizes how Nevada's license suspension and revocation laws work and ways to avoid it. Specifically, our Las Vegas DUI defense attorneys discuss:

1. What is a license suspension or revocation in NV?
2. What are the grounds?
3. How do I fight it?
4. What if I live out of state?
5. How do I reinstate my license?
6. What if I move from Nevada to another state?
7. What if I move from out-of-state to Nevada?
8. What if I drive with a suspended or revoked license?
9. Does it show up on background checks?
10. Can I get a restricted license?

driver's license police

Nevada police may confiscate a DUI suspect's driver's license if their blood alcohol level is .08 or higher.

1. What is a license suspension or revocation in Las Vegas, Nevada?

Like it sounds, a suspended or revoked license is when the Nevada DMV temporarily cancels a person's driving privileges. Once the suspension or revocation period has elapsed, the driver may petition the DMV to reinstate the license.

2. What are the grounds for suspending or revoking a Nevada driver's license?

Two of the most common reasons for a Nevada driver's license suspension or revocation are 1) a DUI arrest, and 2) accruing 12 or more demerit points.

2.1. DUI license revocations

There is a mandatory license revocation period for driving under the influence. The length of the revocation depends on the specific DUI charge:

DUI offense	Length of Nevada driver's license revocation
1st DUI	185 days (restricted license may be available after 90 days)
2nd DUI (within 7 years)	1 year (No restricted license is available.)
Felony DUI, including a 3rd DUI (within 7 years) and DUI causing injury or death	3 years, but a restricted license is available after 1 year

Note that DMV proceedings are separate from criminal court proceedings in Nevada DUI cases. Even if the criminal case gets dismissed or the defendant gets acquitted at trial, the DMV can still revoke the defendant's license if his/her blood alcohol level was .08 or higher.¹

2.2. Demerit point license suspensions

A Nevada driver who racks up twelve (12) or more demerits in a year's time faces a license suspension of six (6) months or more.²

Most moving traffic violations cause a predetermined number of demerit points to go on the person's license for a year:³

Nevada traffic offense	Demerit Points
Nevada Reckless Driving	8
Careless Driving	6
Nevada Hit & Run	6
Following too closely	4
Failure to yield right-of-way	4
Passing a school bus when signals are flashing	4
Failure to yield to a pedestrian	4
Disobeying a traffic signal or stop sign	4
Driving too slowly	2
Failure to dim headlights	2
Speeding 1-10 mph over limit	1
Speeding 11-20 mph over limit	2
Speeding 21-30 mph over limit	3
Speeding 31-40 mph over limit	4
Speeding 41 mph and over limit	5

Even though demerit points disappear from a person's driver's license after a year, the underlying traffic violation remains on the defendant's criminal record unless the case gets sealed.⁴

Note that it may be possible to remove up to three (3) demerit points by doing Traffic School.⁵ See the list of Nevada DMV-approved traffic schools.

2.3. Other reasons for Nevada license suspensions and revocations

The following actions will cause the Nevada DMV to suspend or revoke the defendant's driver's license for some period of time:

Nevada Offense	Driver's license suspension or revocation period
Nevada crime of street racing	6 months to 2 years⁶
Not paying child support	Depends on the case⁷
Nevada crime of failure to maintain SR-22 insurance	Until the driver gets SR-22 insurance⁸
Using graffiti	6 months to 2 years (1 – 2 years for juveniles)⁹
No liability insurance, and the defendant had an accident causing bodily injury or property damages in excess of $750	Depends on the case¹⁰
No car insurance	Until the driver gets insurance¹¹
Perjury or making a false affidavit to the DMV	1 year¹²
Missing a court appearance	Depends on the case¹³
Failure to properly secure a child in a car (third or subsequent offense)	30 days to 180 days¹⁴
Juveniles using or possessing alcohol or drugs	90 days to 2 years¹⁵
Habitual truancy (first offense)	30 days to 6 months¹⁶
Nevada crime of juveniles using firearms	Up to 1 year for a first offense¹⁷

3. How do I fight a license suspension or revocation in Las Vegas, Nevada?

Once the defendant receives notice of the license suspension or revocation, he/she usually has seven (7) days to request a Nevada DMV Hearing to contest it. The driver is then allowed to continue driving pending the outcome of the hearing.

For example: In DUI cases, defendants who fail the Nevada DUI breath test get notice of their license revocation immediately; therefore, the seven-day period to request a DMV hearing starts right away. But defendants who take the Nevada DUI blood test get to keep their license pending the blood test results, which may take months to come back. The seven-day period does not start until the DMV notifies them by mail that they failed the blood test.

A DMV hearing is a small-scale administrative proceeding where — similar to a trial — the defense attorney can present evidence and arguments and question witnesses. DMV hearings are traditionally harder to win than criminal trials because the state has a much lower burden of proof in DMV hearings.

If the defendant wins the DMV hearing, he/she may continue driving. If the state wins, the DMV will notify the defendant of the length and dates of his/her license suspension or revocation.¹⁸

4. How does a suspension or revocation of driving privileges in Nevada affect out-of-state licenses?

The Nevada DMV informs defendants' home state DMVs when and why their driving privileges were suspended in Nevada. Then the home state DMV will usually impose the same penalty that it would have if the defendant committed the offense in the home state.

Most states abide by the Interstate Driver's License Compact, where all DMVs agree to share information and penalize their license holders accordingly.¹⁹

For example: If a San Francisco resident gets arrested for driving drunk in Reno, the Nevada DMV will tell the California DMV about the arrest. The California DMV will then probably suspend the defendant's California driver's license, which is what the California DMV would do had the defendant got arrested for DUI in California.²⁰

All non-Nevada residents arrested or cited for a traffic matter in Nevada should consult with a lawyer in their home state about how their case will affect their driver's license.

5. How can I reinstate my suspended or revoked Nevada license?

It depends on the type of case. Sometimes the driver has to take a written or vision test. DUI defendants have to get an ignition interlock device installed. And all drivers whose licenses have been suspended or revoked for more than a year have to take a driving skills test. Either way, it is the responsibility of the driver (or driver's lawyer) to contact the DMV and fill out the proper paperwork.²¹

For specific instructions call the Nevada DMV headquarters at 775 684-4368. Note that drivers still have to go through the reinstatement process even if he/she gets cleared of all criminal charges.

6. What if someone with a suspended or revoked Nevada license moves to another state?

If someone with a suspended Nevada driver's license moves to another state, he/she still has to pay a reinstatement fee and earn clearance in Nevada before getting a license in the new home state.

Call the Nevada DMV headquarters at 775 684-4368 for more information. Any payments can be made by credit card using the Processing Center Payment Authorization (NVL-007).

7. What if someone with a suspended or revoked out-of-state license moves to Nevada?

New Nevada residents with suspended licenses in other states have to get their old licenses reinstated before they can get Nevada licenses. They should contact their state's DMVs for reinstatement procedures.

8. What happens if I drive on a suspended or revoked driver's license in Las Vegas, Nevada?

Driving on a suspended or revoked license is a misdemeanor in Nevada. The maximum sentence is:

six (6) months in jail, and/or
$1,000 in fines

But if the suspension was due to a DUI, the judge will order 30 days in jail (or 60 days of house arrest) as well as fines. See more at our article on the Nevada crime of driving on a suspended license.²²

9. Does a license suspension or revocation show up on background checks?

No. This is because license suspensions and revocations are civil, not criminal matters. However, the underlying criminal charge that led to the license suspension or revocation will show up in background checks. Learn about how to seal criminal records in Nevada.

10. Can I get a restricted license in Nevada if my license is suspended or revoked?

Possibly. People with suspended or revoked licenses may call the Nevada DMV at 775-684-4364 to learn whether and when they may get a restricted license. Also refer to the Nevada DMV restricted license application.

For example in Nevada DUI cases, a restricted license may be available depending on the specific charge and if the defendant gets an ignition interlock device installed:

Nevada DUI offense	Waiting time to get a Restricted License
DUI 1^st	90 days into 185-day revocation
DUI 2^nd	No restricted license is available.
DUI 3^rd or DUI causing injury or death	1 year into 3-year revocation.

In non-DUI cases, it may be possible to get a restricted license when half of the person's suspension or revocation period has passed. So if a defendant is given a one (1) year license suspension for using graffiti, the defendant may be eligible for a restricted license after six (6) months.²³

At most, restricted licenses allow the license-holder to drive to and from:

work,
school,
medical providers,
the supermarket, and/or
court-ordered child visitation

Every restricted license has a different scope, though, which is tailored to the particular license-holder's needs. (Also refer to our article about medically-restricted licenses in Nevada.)²⁴

Call a Nevada criminal defense attorney…

If you are facing license suspension or revocation due to a DUI, traffic ticket, lapsed insurance, or other reason, call Las Vegas Criminal Defense Lawyers. We may be able to request a DMV hearing and/or negotiate a favorable resolution to safeguard your driving privileges.

Licensed to drive in California? Read our informational article on driver's license suspensions after a DUI in California.

Licensed to drive in Colorado? Read our informational article on driver's license suspensions after a DUI in Colorado.

Legal References