Provides for the issuance of special license plates and registration certificates for certain antique kei vehicles. (BDR 43-1145)

REQUIRES TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE
(§§ 2, 6)
A.B. 525

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ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 525–COMMITTEE
ON GROWTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE

MARCH 24, 2025
____________

Referred to Committee on Growth and Infrastructure

SUMMARY—Provides for the issuance of special license plates
and registration certificates for certain antique kei
vehicles. (BDR 43-1145)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State: Yes.

~

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; providing for the issuance of
special license plates and registration certificates for
antique kei vehicles in certain circumstances; exempt ing
certain antique kei vehicles from certain provisions
relating to testing for exhaust emissions; imposing a fee
for the issuance and renewal or replacement of special
license plates for antique kei vehicles; authorizing the
special license plates to be transferred to another vehicle
under certain circumstances ; and providing other matters
properly relating thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Existing law authorizes special license plates and registration certificates to be 1
issued to residents of Neva da for antique motor vehicles that qualify as “Old 2
Timer” vehicles, street rods, classic rods or classic vehicles. (NRS 482.381, 3
482.3812, 482.3814, 482.3816) Section 1 of this bill also authorizes the 4
Department of Motor Vehicles to issue special license plates and registration 5
certificates to residents for antique kei vehicles, which are defined as imported 6
vehicles having an enclosed passenger cab that are: (1) at lea st 25 years old; (2) 7
powered by an internal combustion engine with a displacement of 660 cubic 8
centimeter or less; (3) 60 inches or less in width; (4) 135 inches or less in length; 9
and (5) designed to travel on four wheels. Section 1 prohibits the use of a vehicle 10
which has been issued special license plates and a registration certificate for antique 11
kei vehicles from being used for general transportation purposes but auth orizes 12
such a vehicle to be used for club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades or similar 13
activities and for uses which are necessary for the operation and maintenance of the 14
vehicle. Section 1 authorizes a person wishing to obtain the special license plates to 15

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request that the plates be combined with personalized prestige plates if the person 16
pays the additional fees for the personalized prestige plates. 17
Existing law requires the State Environmental Commission, in cooperation with 18
the Department and any local air pollution control agency, to adopt regulations for 19
the control of emissions from motor vehicles in areas designated by the 20
Commission that are in any county wh ose population is 100,000 or more (currently 21
Clark and Washoe Counties). (NRS 445B.770) Existing law also authorizes the 22
Commission to prescribe emissions standards for certain vehicles but requires the 23
Commission to provide an exemption for certain classi c vehicles that the owner 24
certifies were not driven more than 5,000 miles during the immediately preceding 25
year. (NRS 445B.760) Section 7 of this bill similarly exempts an a ntique kei 26
vehicle from such exhaust emissions standards if the owner of the antique kei 27
vehicle certifies to the Department that the antique kei vehicle was not driven more 28
than 5,000 miles during the immediately preceding year. Section 1 exempts an 29
antique kei vehicle from certain standards and requirements for the control of 30
emissions. Section 3 of this bill prohibits the Department from issuing a special 31
license plate pursuant to section 1 if the motor vehicle is tested for exhaust 32
emissions and fails such an emissions test. 33
Section 2 of this bill prohibits a new vehicle dealer who is authorized to issue 34
certificates of registration from accepting an application for the registration of an 35
antique kei vehicle if the applicant wishes to obtain special license plates. 36
Section 4 of this bill prohibits the Department from issuing the special license 37
plate for a full trailer or semitrailer. 38
Section 5 of this bill makes a conforming change to authorize the holder of the 39
original registration of any antique kei vehicle to transfer the registration and use of 40
the special license plates to another vehicle under certain circumstances. 41
Section 6 of this bill establishes a fee of $10 for any replacement of a special 42
license plate issued pursuant to section 1. 43

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Chapter 482 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 1
thereto a new section to read as follows: 2
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, the 3
Department may issue special license plates and registration 4
certificates to residents of Nevada for any antique kei vehicle if the 5
antique kei vehicle is covered by insurance that meets the 6
requirements of NRS 485.185 and that: 7
(a) Is designed or designated specifically for an antique 8
vehicle; or 9
(b) Includes an endorsement designed or designated 10
specifically for antique vehicles. 11
2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, any vehicle 12
issued special license plates and a registration certificate pursuant 13
to subsection 1 shall not be used for general transportation but 14
may be used for: 15
(a) Club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades or similar 16
activities; and 17

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(b) Such other uses as are necess ary for the operation and 1
maintenance of the vehicle. 2
3. A vehicle that complies with subsection 2 is exempt from 3
the provisions of NRS 445B.770 to 445B.815, inclusive. 4
4. If the owner of the vehicle elects to use the vehicle for 5
general transportation, he or she: 6
(a) Except as otherwise provided in NRS 482.2655, shall not be 7
issued special license plates and a registration certificate pursuant 8
to subsection 1; and 9
(b) Shall comply with the provisions of NRS 445B.770 to 10
445B.815, inclusive. 11
5. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, license plates 12
issued pursuant to this section must be inscribed with the words 13
“Antique Kei Vehicle” and a number of characters, including 14
numbers and letters, as determined necessary by the Director 15
pursuant to NRS 482.367003. 16
6. A person may request personalized prestige license plates 17
issued pursuant to NRS 482.3667 to be combined with a special 18
license plate issued pursuant to subsection 5 if the person pays the 19
fees for the personalized prestige license plate s in addition to the 20
fees required pursuant to this section. 21
7. If, during the registration period, the holder of special 22
license plates issued pursuant to this section disposes of the 23
vehicle to which the plates are affixed, the holder shall retain the 24
plates and: 25
(a) Affix them to another vehicle which meets the 26
requirements of this section and report the change to the 27
Department in accordance with the procedure set forth for other 28
transfers; or 29
(b) Within 30 days after removing the plates from the ve hicle, 30
return them to the Department. 31
8. The fee for the special license plates is $35, in addition to 32
all other applicable registration and license fees and governmental 33
services taxes. The fee for an annual renewal sticker is $10. 34
9. In addition to t he fees required pursuant to subsection 8, 35
the Department shall charge and collect a fee for the first issuance 36
of the special license plates for those motor vehicles exempted 37
pursuant to subsection 3 from the provisions of NRS 445B.770 to 38
445B.815, inclusive. The amount of the fee must be equal to the 39
amount of the fee for a form certifying emission control 40
compliance set forth in paragraph ( b) of subsection 1 of 41
NRS 445B.830. 42
10. Fees paid to the Department pursuant to subsection 9 43
must be accounted for in the Pollution Control Account created by 44
NRS 445B.830. 45

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11. As used in this section: 1
(a) “Antique kei vehicle” means a motor vehicle that: 2
(1) Is powered by an internal combustion engine with a 3
displacement of 660 cubic centimeters or less; 4
(2) Is 60 inches or less in width; 5
(3) Is 135 inches or less in length; 6
(4) Is designed to travel with four wheels in contact with the 7
ground; 8
(5) Has an enclosed passenger cab; 9
(6) Was imported into the United States; and 10
(7) Is at least 25 years old. 11
(b) “General transportation” means a vehicle that is: 12
(1) Driven more than 5,000 miles in the immediately 13
preceding year; or 14
(2) Used in any capacity for commercial purposes. 15
Sec. 2. NRS 482.216 is hereby amended to read as follows: 16
482.216 1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 482.2155, 17
upon the request of a new vehicle dealer, the Department may 18
authorize the new vehicle dealer to: 19
(a) Accept applications for the registration of the new motor 20
vehicles he or she sells and the related fees and taxes; 21
(b) Issue certificates of registration to applicants who satisfy the 22
requirements of this chapter; and 23
(c) Accept applications for the transfer of registration pursuant 24
to NRS 482.399 if the applicant purchased f rom the new vehicle 25
dealer a new vehicle to which the registration is to be transferred. 26
2. A new vehicle dealer who is authorized to issue certificates 27
of registration pursuant to subsection 1 shall: 28
(a) Transmit the applications received to the Depart ment within 29
the period prescribed by the Department; 30
(b) Transmit the fees collected from the applicants and properly 31
account for them within the period prescribed by the Department; 32
(c) Comply with the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection 33
5; and 34
(d) Bear any cost of equipment which is necessary to issue 35
certificates of registration, including any computer hardware or 36
software. 37
3. A new vehicle dealer who is authorized to issue certificates 38
of registration pursuant to subsection 1 shall not: 39
(a) Charge any additional fee for the performance of those 40
services; 41
(b) Receive compensation from the Department for the 42
performance of those services; 43
(c) Accept applications for the renewal of registration of a motor 44
vehicle; or 45

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(d) Accept an application for the registration of a motor vehicle 1
if the applicant wishes to: 2
(1) Obtain special license plates pursuant to NRS 482.3667 3
to 482.3823, inclusive [;] , and section 1 of this act; or 4
(2) Claim the exemption from the governmental services tax 5
provided pursuant to NRS 361.1565 to veterans and their relations. 6
4. The provisions of this section do not apply to the registration 7
of a moped pursuant to NRS 482.2155. 8
5. The Director shall adopt such regulations as are necessary to 9
carry out the provisions of this section. The regulations adopted 10
pursuant to this subsection must provide for: 11
(a) The expedient and secure issuance of license plates and 12
decals by the Department; and 13
(b) The withdrawal of the authority granted to a new vehicle 14
dealer pursuant to subsection 1 if that dealer fails to comply with the 15
regulations adopted by the Department. 16
Sec. 3. NRS 482.2655 is hereby amended to read as follows: 17
482.2655 1. If, with respect to a motor vehicle that is 18
required to comply with the provisions of NRS 445B.700 to 19
445B.815, inclusive, and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto, 20
an authorized inspection station or authorized sta tion tests the 21
emissions from the motor vehicle and the motor vehicle fails the 22
emissions test, the Department shall not issue a special license plate 23
for that vehicle pursuant to NRS 482.381, 482.3812, 482.3814 or 24
482.3816 or section 1 of this act for a period of 90 days after the 25
motor vehicle fails the emissions test. 26
2. As used in this section: 27
(a) “Authorized inspection station” has the meaning ascribed to 28
it in NRS 445B.710. 29
(b) “Authorized station” has the meaning ascribed to it in 30
NRS 445B.720. 31
(c) “Fails the emissions test” means that a motor vehicle does 32
not comply with the applicable provisions of NRS 445B.700 to 33
445B.815, inclusive, and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. 34
Sec. 4. NRS 482.274 is hereby amended to read as follows: 35
482.274 1. The Director shall order the preparation of vehicle 36
license plates for trailers in the same manner provided for motor 37
vehicles in NRS 482.270, except that a vehicle license plate 38
prepared for a full trailer or semitrailer that is registered pursuant to 39
subsection 3 of NRS 482.483 is not required to have displayed upon 40
it the month and year the registration expires. 41
2. The Director shall order preparation of two sizes of vehicle 42
license plates for trailers. The smaller plates may be used for trailers 43
with a gross vehicle weight of less than 1,000 pounds. 44

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3. The Director shall determine the registration numbers 1
assigned to trailers. 2
4. Any license plates issued for a trailer before July 1, 1975, 3
bearing a different designation from that provided for in this section, 4
are valid during the period for which such plates were issued. 5
5. The Department shall not issue for a full trailer or semitrailer 6
that is registered pursuant to subsection 3 of NRS 482.483 a special 7
license plate available pursuant to NRS 482.3667 to 482.3823, 8
inclusive [.] , and section 1 of this act. 9
Sec. 5. NRS 482.399 is hereby amended to read as follows: 10
482.399 1. Upon the transfer of the ownership of or interest 11
in any vehicle by any holder of a valid registration, or upon 12
destruction of the vehicle, the registration expires. 13
2. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 482.2155 and 14
subsection 3 of NRS 482.483, the holder of the original registration 15
may transfer the registration to another vehicle to be registered by 16
the holder and use the same regular license plate or plates or special 17
license plate or plates issued pursuant to NRS 482.3667 to 18
482.3823, inclusive, and section 1 of this act, or 482.384, on the 19
vehicle from which the registration is being transferred, if the 20
license plate or plates are appropriate for the second vehicle, upon 21
filing an application for transfer of registration and upon paying the 22
transfer registration fee and the excess, if any, of the registration fee 23
and governmental services tax on the vehicle to which the 24
registration is transferred over the total registration fee and 25
governmental services tax paid on all vehicles from which he or s he 26
is transferring ownership or interest. Except as otherwise provided 27
in NRS 482.294, an application for transfer of registration must be 28
made in person, if practicable, to any office or agent of the 29
Department or to a registered dealer, and the license p late or plates 30
may not be used upon a second vehicle until registration of that 31
vehicle is complete. 32
3. In computing the governmental services tax, the 33
Department, its agent or the registered dealer shall credit the portion 34
of the tax paid on the first v ehicle attributable to the remainder of 35
the current registration period or calendar year on a pro rata monthly 36
basis against the tax due on the second vehicle or on any other 37
vehicle of which the person is the registered owner. If any person 38
transfers owne rship or interest in two or more vehicles, the 39
Department or the registered dealer shall credit the portion of the tax 40
paid on all of the vehicles attributable to the remainder of the 41
current registration period or calendar year on a pro rata monthly 42
basis against the tax due on the vehicle to which the registration is 43
transferred or on any other vehicle of which the person is the 44
registered owner. The certificates of registration and unused license 45

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plates of the vehicles from which a person transfers owner ship or 1
interest must be submitted before credit is given against the tax due 2
on the vehicle to which the registration is transferred or on any other 3
vehicle of which the person is the registered owner. 4
4. In computing the registration fee, the Department or its 5
agent or the registered dealer shall credit the portion of the 6
registration fee paid on each vehicle attributable to the remainder of 7
the current calendar year or registration period on a pro rata basis 8
against the registration fee due on the vehicle to which registration 9
is transferred. 10
5. If the amount owed on the registration fee or governmental 11
services tax on the vehicle to which registration is transferred is less 12
than the credit on the total registration fee or governmental servic es 13
tax paid on all vehicles from which a person transfers ownership or 14
interest, the person may apply the unused portion of the credit to the 15
registration of any other vehicle owned by the person. Any unused 16
portion of such a credit expires on the date the registration of the 17
vehicle from which the person transferred the registration was due 18
to expire. 19
6. If the license plate or plates are not appropriate for the 20
second vehicle, the plate or plates must be surrendered to the 21
Department or registered deale r and an appropriate plate or plates 22
must be issued by the Department. The Department shall not reissue 23
the surrendered plate or plates until the next succeeding licensing 24
period. 25
7. If application for transfer of registration is not made within 26
60 days after the destruction or transfer of ownership of or interest 27
in any vehicle, the license plate or plates must be surrendered to the 28
Department on or before the 60th day for cancellation of the 29
registration. 30
8. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2 of NRS 31
371.040, NRS 482.2155, subsections 8 and 9 of NRS 482.260 and 32
subsection 3 of NRS 482.483, if a person cancels his or her 33
registration and surrenders to the Department the license plates for a 34
vehicle, the Department shall: 35
(a) In accordance with the provisions of subsection 9, issue to 36
the person a refund of the portion of the registration fee and 37
governmental services tax paid on the vehicle attributable to the 38
remainder of the current calendar year or registration period on a pro 39
rata basis; or 40
(b) If the person does not qualify for a refund in accordance with 41
the provisions of subsection 9, issue to the person a credit in the 42
amount of the portion of the registration fee and governmental 43
services tax paid on the vehicle attributable to the rem ainder of the 44
current calendar year or registration period on a pro rata basis. Such 45

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a credit may be applied by the person to the registration of any other 1
vehicle owned by the person. Any unused portion of the credit 2
expires on the date the registration o f the vehicle from which the 3
person obtained a refund was due to expire. 4
9. The Department shall issue a refund pursuant to subsection 8 5
only if the request for a refund is made at the time the registration is 6
cancelled and the license plates are surrend ered, the person 7
requesting the refund is a resident of Nevada, the amount eligible 8
for refund exceeds $100, and evidence satisfactory to the 9
Department is submitted that reasonably proves the existence of 10
extenuating circumstances. For the purposes of thi s subsection, the 11
term “extenuating circumstances” means circumstances wherein: 12
(a) The person has recently relinquished his or her driver’s 13
license and has sold or otherwise disposed of his or her vehicle. 14
(b) The vehicle has been determined to be inope rable and the 15
person does not transfer the registration to a different vehicle. 16
(c) The owner of the vehicle is seriously ill or has died and the 17
guardians or survivors have sold or otherwise disposed of the 18
vehicle. 19
(d) Any other event occurs which the Department, by regulation, 20
has defined to constitute an “extenuating circumstance” for the 21
purposes of this subsection. 22
Sec. 6. NRS 482.500 is hereby amended to read as follows: 23
482.500 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2 or 3 24
or specifically provided by statute, whenever upon application any 25
duplicate or substitute certificate of registration, indicator, decal or 26
number plate is issued, the following fees must be paid: 27
28
For a certificate of registration ........................................ $5.00 29
For every substitute number plate or set of plates ............. 5.00 30
For every duplicate number plate or set of plates ............ 10.00 31
For every decal displaying a county name ...................... .50 32
For every other indicator, decal, license plate sticker 33
or tab............................................................................. 5.00 34
35
2. The following fees must be paid for any replacement 36
number plate or set of plates issued for the following special license 37
plates: 38
(a) For any special plate issued pursuant to NRS 482.3667, 39
482.367002, 482.3672, 482.370 to 482.3755, inclusive, 482.376 or 40
482.379 to 482.3818 , inclusive, and section 1 of this act, a fee of 41
$10. 42
(b) For any special plate issued pursuant to NRS 482.368, 43
482.3765, 482.377 or 482.378, a fee of $5. 44

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(c) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (a) of subsection 1
1 of NRS 482.3824, for any souvenir license plate issued pursuant 2
to NRS 482.3825 or sample license plate issued pursuant to NRS 3
482.2703, a fee equal to that established by the Director for the 4
issuance of those plates. 5
3. A fee must not be charged for a duplicate or substitute of a 6
decal issued pursuant to NRS 482.37635. 7
4. The fees which are paid for replacement number plates, 8
duplicate number plates and decals displaying county names must 9
be deposited with the State Treasurer for credit to the Motor Vehicle 10
Fund and allocated to the Department to defray the costs of 11
replacing or duplicating the plates and manufacturing the decals. 12
Sec. 7. NRS 445B.760 is hereby amended to read as follows: 13
445B.760 1. The Commission may by regulation prescribe 14
standards for exhaust emissions, fuel evaporative emissions and 15
visible emissions of smoke from mobile internal combustion 16
engines on the ground or in the air, including, but no t limited to, 17
aircraft, motor vehicles, snowmobiles and railroad locomotives. The 18
regulations must provide for the exemption from such standards of: 19
(a) A moped registered pursuant to NRS 482.2155; and 20
(b) A vehicle for which special license plates have been issued 21
pursuant to NRS 482.381, 482.3812, 482.3814 or 482.3816 or 22
section 1 of this act if the owner of such a vehicle certifies to the 23
Department of Motor Vehicles, on a form provided by the 24
Department of Motor Vehicles, that the vehicle was not driven more 25
than 5,000 miles during the immediately preceding year. 26
2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, standards for 27
exhaust emissions which apply to a: 28
(a) Reconstructed vehicle, as defined in NRS 482.100; and 29
(b) Trimobile, as defined in NRS 482.129, 30
 must be based on standards which were in effect in the year in 31
which the engine of the vehicle was built. 32
3. A trimobile that meets the definition of a mot orcycle in 40 33
C.F.R. § 86.402 -78 or 86.402 -98, as applicable, is not subject to 34
emissions standards under this chapter. 35
4. Any such standards which pertain to motor vehicles must be 36
approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles before they are 37
adopted by the Commission. 38
Sec. 8. 1. This section becomes effective upon passage and 39
approval. 40
2. Sections 1 to 7, inclusive, of this act become effective: 41
(a) Upon passage and approval for the purpose of adopting any 42
regulations and performing any other preparatory administrative 43
tasks that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this act; and 44

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(b) On October 1, 2025, for all other purposes. 1

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