Nevada Motorcycle Insurance Requirements

Nevada — the home of Vegas — but Vegas isn’t the only thing Nevada has going for it. The state has a lot of great places to ride motorcycles, including Death Valley Run, Valley of Fire Loop and Old Highway 50. But to ride in Nevada, you must carry motorcycle insurance and abide by Nevada’s rules for motorcycles, including its helmet and other safety laws.

What is a Motorcycle Under Nevada Law?

The State of Nevada considers anything with less than three wheels and more than 50 cc displacement a motorcycle, except for tractors and mopeds. This includes power cycles. Nevada rules for motor vehicles apply to motorcycles.

A moped that has less than 50 cc displacement and that will not go faster than 30 mph does not need insurance and does not need to be registered in the State of Nevada. If you are not sure as to whether your moped falls under this designation, contact the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Safety Regulations

Certain safety regulations may affect your insurance. Nevada requires all motorcycle drivers and riders to wear helmets. It also requires eye protection. If you happen to get in an accident and have neither, your insurance company could decide not to pay out.

Other regulations include a passenger seat and passenger footrest if someone is riding with you. You must also have turn signals on the bike if the bike was manufactured after 1973. The state also requires that the handlebars are lower than the driver’s shoulders — so no ape hangers. Nevada has not restrictions on helmet speakers.

Registration Requirements

The State of Nevada requires the rider education waiver or the skill and knowledge test to get a motorcycle endorsement. If you have an endorsement from another state, the State of Nevada will accept that in lieu of taking its test.

If you do not have proof of insurance or your insurance company notifies the Department of Motor Vehicles that you canceled coverage or had your coverage canceled by the insurance company for non-payment. The Department of Motor Vehicles will suspend your license unless you can show proof that you obtained insurance from another motorcycle insurance company.

Should the DMV cancel your registration, you will have to show proof of coverage or self-insurance and pay a $250 reinstatement fee. There is one exception: If your bike was not on the road due to repairs or because you were overhauling it, fill out the Department of Motor Vehicle’s Dormant Vehicle Affidavit. Submit that and proof that the bike was not on the road, along with a reinstatement fee of $50 to get the registration reinstated.

Minimum Insurance Requirements

Nevada motorcycle operators must carry compulsory liability insurance at the minimum. The limits are $15,000 for one person in an accident and $30,000 total per accident, plus $10,000 for property damage.

The State of Nevada does not require that a motorcycle operator have comprehensive and collision coverage, but it prefers you to have full coverage motorcycle insurance, which is a good idea, especially if you are still making payments on the bike. As a side note, most lending companies will require that you carry comprehensive and collision coverage.

Proof of Insurance or Financial Liability

You must carry at least proof of insurance in the State of Nevada, but you may also be self-insured if you have 11 or more vehicles. Nevada also has an insurance verification program. Insurance companies send reports on a monthly basis to the Department of Motor Vehicles. If that reports shows that you do not have insurance, the Department of Motor Vehicles will send you a verification request. You must forward proof of insurance or self-insurance to the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you do not, the next notice you will receive is a notice suspending your registration.