Getting Behind the Wheel: Driving with Disabilities
Having a disability does not necessarily mean you can’t drive. Many people with disabilities have licenses and even their own cars.
In fact, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that:
- Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) cannot deny a person a driver’s license solely because of a disability, and
- Public buildings are required to have disabled parking spaces that are at least eight feet wide with eight-foot loading zones and wheelchair ramps.
Having a disability may make it more challenging to obtain a driver’s license — especially if you’re a first-time driver who is also learning the basic rules of the road — but it’s certainly possible. Here’s what you need to know about driving in Nevada.
Getting Your First Nevada Driver’s License as a Teenager
If you’ve never been a licensed driver before and would like to get your Nevada license, here are the requirements for drivers under 18, regardless of whether or not you have a disability:
- Be at least 16 years of age.
- Receive an instruction permit that allows you to practice driving under the direction of a licensed driver.
- Hold an instruction permit for at least six months.
- Complete a 30-hour approved driver’s education course, either in a classroom or online. (The DMV maintains a list of qualified, approved instructors.)
- Complete and log a minimum of 50 hours of driving experience, which must include 10 hours of night driving.
- Have no moving violations, drug, or alcohol use convictions and no at-fault crashes for at least six months prior.
- Pass a vision test with at least 20/40 vision (which may mean you must wear glasses or contact lenses).
- Pass a driving test administered by the DMV.
For full details about what’s involved in getting your instruction permit or license in Nevada, visit https://dmv.nv.gov/nvdlteens.htm.
According to Nevada law, if a representative from the DMV has good cause to believe that a physical or mental disability may prevent you from safely operating a vehicle, they may require you to be examined by a doctor or other professional and provide a report of their findings.
Getting Your License as an Adult
In Nevada, if you’re a beginning driver who is at least 18 years old (or have had your license expire, suspended, or revoked for over a year), you still must receive an instruction permit, get your 50 hours of experience, and pass your vision and driving tests. However, you are not required to complete a driver’s education course.
Driver Education
Whether or not you’re required by law to receive driver education, there is value in this training, especially if you’re a beginning driver! This education not only could make you safer on the road, but it might even qualify you for a discount on your auto insurance, depending on your carrier and policy. (See our “In the Driver’s Seat: Owning and Operating Your Own Vehicle” page for details about auto insurance.)
Learning to drive with a disability, particularly with adaptive equipment (such as hand controls or extended foot pedals), may call for a deeper level of learning. Fortunately, there are driving schools and occupational therapists that offer this instruction and may even have accessible vehicles. This may even be partially or fully covered by your insurance, nonprofit organizations, or other sources.
To learn more about driver education programs in Nevada, visit https://dmv.nv.gov/dlschoolsprd.htm.
The average driving school may not offer specialized instruction for driving with adaptive equipment. For this, you may need a Driver Rehabilitation Specialist or a Mobility Equipment Dealer. To find one near you, visit https://www.aded.net/page/725.
Keep Your License Current
Getting your license comes with responsibility. You have to maintain a safe driving record, avoid any drugs or alcohol before you get behind the wheel, and renew it before the expiration date.
In Nevada, you may or may not receive a renewal notice. It’s your responsibility to check your license expiration date and renew it between 60 days prior to the expiration date and up to one year after. (Note: If your license is past its expiration date, it may be rejected as a valid ID in some situations.) Typically, a license will need to be renewed every four or eight years, depending on your age and other factors.
If you have a clean driving record and a standard license, you usually can renew your license online. Visit https://dmv.nv.gov/dlrenewal.htm to learn more.
