Autonomous vehicles - Nevada

Type of vehicles allowed

• Non-CMV: Yes
• CMV: Yes

Automation level allowed: SAE Levels 3-5

Testing only: No.

Insurance for testing: Before a person begins testing an autonomous vehicle (AV) on a highway In Nevada, the person must:

• Submit to the Department proof of insurance or self-insurance acceptable to the Department in the amount of $5M; or
• Make a cash deposit or post and maintain a surety bond or other acceptable form of security with the Department in the amount of $5M.

Safety and control requirements (for testing or operation): If an AV is being tested or operated, a human operator must be:

• Seated in a position which allows the human operator to take immediate manual control of the AV; and
• Capable of taking over immediate manual control of the AV in the event of a failure of the automated driving system (ADS) or other emergency.
• Tested or operated without human operator. A fully autonomous vehicle (SAE 4-5) may be tested or operated with the ADS engaged and without a human operator being present if the vehicle is capable of achieving a minimal risk condition if a failure of the ADS occurs which renders the system unable to perform the dynamic driving task (DDT) relevant to its intended operational design domain (ODD).

Testing and operational requirements:

• An AV may not be registered in Nevada unless the AV has affixed to it a label pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 567.4 (federal identification, certification, and compliance with safety standards label).
• An AV must not be tested or operated on a highway in Nevada with a human operator unless the AV is capable of operating in compliance with the applicable motor vehicle laws and traffic laws, unless an exemption has been granted by the Department, and:
  • If the AV vehicle is not a fully autonomous, the vehicle is:
    • Equipped with a means to engage and disengage the ADS which is easily accessible to the human operator;
    • Equipped with an indicator located inside the vehicle which indicates when the ADS is operating; and
    • Equipped with a means to alert the human operator to take manual control of the AV if a failure of the ADS occurs which renders the system unable to perform the DDT relevant to its intended ODD; and
  • If the AV is fully autonomous, it can achieve a minimal risk condition if a failure of the ADS occurs which renders the system unable to perform the DDT relevant to its intended ODD.
• If a federal law or regulation provides standards for the operation of an AV, it may be tested or used on a highway in Nevada with a human operator if it is of operating in compliance with the applicable motor vehicle laws and traffic laws of Nevada and such a federal law or regulation.

Platooning: Yes. A truck or other motor vehicle may use driver-assistive platooning technology on a highway only if the truck or other motor vehicle and the driver-assistive platooning technology are capable of being operated in compliance with the applicable motor vehicle laws and traffic laws of Nevada, unless the truck or other motor vehicle has been granted an exemption by the Department.

Full operation: Yes.

Permit required: No permit or license is issued based on AV’s level of automation, but a permit is required for self-driving vehicles like robotaxi, mini-shuttle, or autonomous delivery vehicles.