Nevada's uninsured motorist laws require owners of motor vehicles to carry insurance issued by licensed insurance companies. If they operate a motor vehicle without the required insurance, they commit a misdemeanor that incurs a fine for each penalty. This penalty applies also where the owner allows another to operate the vehicle without evidence of insurance.
Current Law
Insurance Coverage Required
NRS 485.185 provides that owners of motor vehicles, whether registered or not in the State of Nevada, must continuously provide, while the vehicle is present or registered in the state, insurance provided by an insurance company licensed by the Division of Insurance of the Department of Business and Industry and approved to do business in this State.
The coverage must provide the following:
1. $15,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident;
2. Subject to the limit for one person, $30,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident; and
3. $10,000 for injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident,
Operator's Policy of Liability Insurance
NRS 485.186 provides:
1. A person satisfies the requirements of NRS 485.185 by obtaining, in lieu of an owner’s policy of liability insurance, an operator’s policy of liability insurance which meets the requirements of this section and NRS 485.3091.
2. An operator’s policy of liability insurance may only be issued to a person if:
(a) The number of motor vehicles the person owns is greater than the number of persons in his or her household who possess a driver’s license; and
(b) Each person in his or her household who possesses a driver’s license is covered by an operator’s policy of liability insurance.
3. An operator’s policy of liability insurance must state, in addition to the requirements of NRS 485.3091, that:
(a) The insurer is only liable under the policy for liability incurred by the insured while the insured is the operator of a motor vehicle or while a motor vehicle owned by the insured is not being operated by any person;
(b) The policy does not provide coverage for any vicarious liability imposed on the owner of the motor vehicle as a result of the operation by another person of a motor vehicle owned by the insured
4. A licensed owner of a motor vehicle shall not permit another person to operate the motor vehicle if the owner knows or should have known that the person does not have liability insurance to cover the person’s own operation of that motor vehicle.
Unlawful acts; fines and penalties; exceptions.
NRS 485.187 provides that a motor vehicle owner shall not:
1(a) Operate the motor vehicle without having insurance.
(b) Operate or knowingly permit the operation of the motor vehicle without evidence of insurance of the operator or the vehicle in the vehicle.
(c) Fail or refuse to surrender, upon demand, to an officer
2. A person shall not operate the motor vehicle of another person unless the person who operates the motor vehicle:
(a) First ensures that the required evidence of insurance is present in the motor vehicle; or
(b) Has his or her own evidence of insurance which covers that person as the operator of the motor vehicle.
Penalties
A person who violates subsection 1 or 2 is guilty of a misdemeanor. and if sentenced shall be punished by a fine of not less than $600 nor more than $1,000 for each violation.
Find an Attorney
If you operate a motor vehicle in Nevada without insurance, you are guilty of a misdemeanor that can incur fines up to $1,000 for each violation. Consult with an experience attorney to determine your possible liability.
