Road rules
Nevada motorcycle laws
Nevada motorcycle rules from the NRS and the Nevada DMV: helmet and eye protection, no lane splitting, two abreast, full lane use, and getting a Class M.
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · 3 sources
These are the Nevada rules that come up most on a motorcycle, with the statute or DMV page behind each one. It’s a summary, not legal advice. We checked the Nevada Legislature’s site and the Nevada DMV on October 22, 2026.
Same rights, same duties
NRS 486.331 gives a person driving a motorcycle or moped on a highway all the rights and duties of drivers of motor vehicles, except as NRS 486.351 (below) provides and except for rules that by their nature can’t apply.
Helmets and eye protection
NRS 486.231 requires the driver and the passenger on a motorcycle or moped on a highway to wear:
- protective headgear, securely fastened on the head
- protective glasses, goggles or a face shield
Both have to meet standards the DMV adopts. Eye protection isn’t required if the bike has a transparent windscreen that meets those standards. The statute also exempts parades authorized by a local authority, and three-wheel vehicles (other than trimobiles) where everyone rides inside an enclosed cab.
No lane splitting
NRS 486.351 says no one, except a police officer on duty, may drive a motorcycle or moped between moving or stationary vehicles in adjacent lanes. That covers lane splitting in traffic and filtering between stopped cars at a light.
Riding two abreast
The same section bars driving a motorcycle abreast of, or passing, another vehicle within the same lane. The exception: motorcycles and mopeds may ride no more than two abreast in a single lane, with the consent of both riders.
Your lane is yours
NRS 486.341 says every motorcycle or moped “is entitled to full use of the traffic lane it is occupying,” and no one may drive another vehicle in a way that takes that use away.
Getting a Class M license
Nevada issues a Class M license. From the Nevada DMV’s motorcycle page and its licensing guide:
| Item | What the DMV says |
|---|---|
| Training | A Motorcycle Safety Foundation course through Nevada Rider waives the DMV written and skills tests |
| How long the course counts | The DMV accepts it for up to one year after you complete it |
| Fee to add Class M | $8.25 |
| Appointments | Required at Las Vegas and Henderson DMV offices |
| Riders under 18 | Follow the teen driver rules |
| Moving to Nevada | Nevada transfers Class M licenses and motorcycle endorsements from most states |
Under NRS 486.071, the DMV can’t issue a motorcycle drivers license unless the applicant is at least 18 and has passed the DMV’s required tests or a motorcycle safety course the DMV approves. The statute has separate rules for 16- and 17-year-olds.
Where to ride
The roads on this site are popular on two wheels: the Red Rock Scenic Drive, Lake Mead, where one $20 pass covers up to two motorcycles, Valley of Fire and the Mt Charleston climb. Watch for cyclists on all of them. Under NRS 484B.270, drivers of motor vehicles have to give a cyclist at least 3 feet when passing; see Nevada bicycle laws.