Whenever you register your vehicle in Nevada, you have to pay a Governmental Services Tax based on the value of the car. In some counties, you may also need to pay a Supplemental Governmental Services Tax.
While this sort of tax may be referred to as an “excise tax” in some states, that term isn’t used for recurring vehicle registration taxes in Nevada. Nevada charges excise taxes on gasoline, cigarettes, cellphones, and alcohol, but Nevada car sales tax
is not considered an excise tax. If you’re new to the state of Nevada and want to figure how much you’ll pay in taxes when you go to register your car, Jerry
, the car insurance
super app, has you covered. And when we’re done, we’ll tell you how to find a cheaper and better Nevada car insurance
policy. Let’s get started! What is Nevada’s vehicle registration tax?
When you register a motor vehicle in Nevada—or when you renew your registration—you’ll have to pay registration fees and taxes. The flat rate registration fee is $33. In certain counties, you’ll also pay a single Governmental Services Tax, and some counties have an additional Supplemental Governmental Service Tax added on top of that.
Each of these fees and taxes are used for specific purposes. The registration fees fund road construction and DMV operations, adn the Governmental Services Tax funds local government and school operations and also contributes to the state General Fund. In Clark and Churchill counties, Supplemental Governmental Services taxes are charged to fund highway construction.
RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
Calculating your registration tax payment
State laws regarding Governmental Services Taxes are laid out in Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 371
. Here’s a simplified breakdown on how these taxes are calculated: These taxes are based on your vehicle’s original Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). The DMV values your vehicle at 35% of this figure.
That means, if your vehicle’s MSRP was $30,000, the DMV valuation is $30,000 x 0.35 = $10,500.
In addition, the DMV valuation depreciates 5% after one year and 10% every year after.
For example, if the same vehicle mentioned above is three years old, its depreciated valuation is $10,050 x (1 - 0.25) = $7,875
Governmental Services Tax is taxed at 4% of the depreciated DMV valuation
Following the same example, that’s $7,875 x 0.04 = $315
Supplemental Governmental Services Tax is another 1% of the depreciated DMV valuation.
If you live in Clark or Churchill county, your total services taxes would be $7,875 x (0.04 + 0.01) = $393.75
If you’re registering a vehicle that you purchased from a dealer in Nevada, you may be eligible to use the NV DMV’s Online Registration
tool. Otherwise, you’ll need to make an appointment at your local DMV office to register your vehicle. If you’re renewing your registration and didn’t renew online last year, you can use the one-time online registration renewal tool. Otherwise, you can renew in person, by mail, or by fax. Use this form
for mail or fax renewal. When you register in person, you’ll be asked to pay your fees and taxes at the DMV office. If you’re registering online, you’ll be able to use an electronic check or a valid credit/debit card to pay.
MORE: Is Nevada a community property state?
Penalties for nonpayment
Since you need to pay your fees and taxes in order to register your vehicle or renew your registration, the main penalty for nonpayment is no registration. There is no registration grace period in Nevada, so if you are late to renew your registration, you run the risk of incurring late fees on top of the other fees you need to pay for registration.
If your registration is late, you’ll be charged the following, in addition to the full registration and taxes:
Prorated fees and taxes for the time when your vehicle wasn’t registered
$6 per month in late fees
10% past-due penalty on Governmental Services and Supplemental Governmental Services Taxes
How to avoid registration tax in Nevada
If you’re eligible for tax exemption, you can claim it when you register your vehicle or renew your registration. Tax relief is available for:
Some veterans and their surviving spouses
Active duty military members who are out-of-state residents
Native Americans residing on tribal lands; use this form
Otherwise, you’ll probably just have to be okay with paying your fair share.
How to save on car insurance in Nevada
Nevada has some of the highest car taxes in the country, but if you want to free up some of your budget for other car costs, try using Jerry
to find a more affordable car insurance policy! When you download Jerry’s trustworthy super app
, you’ll be prompted to briefly provide some current info that Jerry can use to gather custom quotes from over 55 insurance companies. Then, in just 45 seconds, Jerry analyzes and compares these quotes before sending you the most competitive offers available. With Jerry, you’ll never have to worry about overpaying on your car insurance policy, and you’ll save an average of over $800 a year on your premium!
“Jerry
is awesome! I loved my experience. Love from Las Vegas NV.” —Kelly G.
RECOMMENDEDThis app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
4.7
