Nevada VIN Lookup

As of 2024, there are 136 used car dealers in Nevada, and prospective buyers can spend around $25,317 to buy a used car in the state. The average cost of a used car also varies within the state, with used-car dealers in Reno selling at a lower price than the state's average. Buying a used car is often more cost-effective than buying a brand-new one, but it can come with significant risks and legal issues if you are not careful. While the state's lemon law offers some protection for used cars, it may not apply if the dealer is a scammer who disappears after the sale. Therefore, potential buyers must exercise due diligence and take precautionary steps when purchasing a used vehicle to avoid falling victim to scams.

VIN lookups are an excellent way to do due diligence before purchasing a used car in Nevada. They reveal essential information about a vehicle's history, including details on accidents, recalls, inspection records, liens, and other relevant facts about the vehicle's condition.

Why Performing a Nevada VIN Check is Important?

A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a 17-digit unique code consisting of numbers and alphabets assigned to each vehicle in the state. This unique code is used as a vehicle's identifier and can be used to track the vehicle's history and specifications. When you do a Nevada VIN check, you can find key details such as:

• Title Verification: By performing a VIN check you can find out about a vehicle's title status and history. You may also see information about the previous owners or lienholders.
• Odometer Verification: You can view a vehicle's odometer reading through a VIN check. You can check the recorded readings against the vehicle's age and maintenance history. This will help you spot any differences that could suggest tampering.
• Theft Checks: As of 2021, Nevada has a car theft rate of 426.75 per 100,000 inhabitants, making it the state with the 8th highest rate in the country. By performing a VIN check, you can see whether a car has ever been reported stolen. This ensures you do not have to deal with the legal implications of driving a stolen vehicle.
• Title Brand: Before buying a used car, you should be confident about its condition. A VIN check can provide details about a vehicle's condition. In Nevada, vehicles are designated as salvage, prior salvage, damaged, or junked. These designations suggest that the vehicle is not in good condition or may have been rebuilt.
• Auto Fraud Prevention: You can find problems like rolled-back odometer readings or fake titles by checking the VIN, helping you avoid scams.

How To Perform a Nevada VIN Check

A VIN check in Nevada allows the public to retrieve a detailed vehicle history, including the vehicle's specifications and model, ownership and title records, accident records, and odometer readings. Common ways to perform a VIN check in Nevada include:

The NHTSA VIN Decoder:

The NHTSA VIN Decoder allows users to look up a particular vehicle's VIN and find detailed information about the vehicle’s manufacturer, the country where it was manufactured, and other specifications. The NHTSA also provides a free search tool to check if a vehicle has any unresolved safety recalls from the last 15 years.

National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS):

The NMVTIS works with VIN service providers to allow the public to retrieve key vehicle details, including title status, brand history, odometer reading, salvage history, and total loss history. This service may have a small fee associated with it.

National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB):

The NICB VINCheck is a free service that allows users to determine if a vehicle has ever been reported as stolen or salvage. To perform a lookup, simply enter the vehicle’s VIN in the required fields.

Free vs. Paid VIN Check Services in Nevada

Although most government VIN tools offer satisfactory information about a vehicle for free, they are either focused on safety features or theft reports. Consider using a paid third-party VIN service provider such as GoodCar, Cermet, and Autocheck for a more comprehensive vehicle history. These platforms can provide you with the following information:

• Title details
• Title brands
• Ownership records
• Vehicle specifications
• Accident history
• Odometer verification
• Rebuild records
• Inspection records
• Service and maintenance records
• Safety defects and recalls
• Sales history

What Used Car Scams are Common in Nevada

Car scams are common in Nevada, and the state's DMV has repeatedly warned the public about the prevalence of private party vehicle sales scams. This scam involves posting auto deals that are too good to be true, deals with limited-time, and cash-only deals on social media to trick unsuspecting customers into buying vehicles that had been stolen and have their VIN switched or vehicles that their odometer has been tampered with. Other used car scams in Nevada include:

Curbstoning:

Illegally selling used cars. In most cases, the seller chooses to not get a car dealer license because they intend to sell bad or stolen vehicles.

Odometer Rollback:

Deliberately tampering with a vehicle's odometer reading to deceive potential buyers about the vehicle's mileage and value.

Fake Vehicle History:

Here, scammers sell used cars with their histories manipulated or falsified. This deceptive practice is employed because revealing the vehicle's true history, such as previous accidents, flood damage, or odometer rollbacks, would significantly decrease its value in the eyes of potential buyers.

Residents of Nevada lose thousands of dollars on used car scams; in some cases, the victim may pay for a car theft they know nothing about. The state's DMV has advised that prospective vehicle buyers take the following precautionary steps to avoid falling victim to used car scams:

• Have a clear idea of the vehicle you want.
• Research the vehicle's dealer and get a photo ID and contact information. Then, research the dealer and their contact information online.
• Do not interact with a third party who is not the dealer you contacted.
• Ask for relevant documents regarding the vehicle. If the deal does not include the vehicle's title document, stop all forms of communication and walk away.
• You can take the vehicle to any DMV VIN inspection station to have it checked. Alternatively, you can use reputable third-party VIN service providers such as Goodcar to research the vehicle's history.
• Do not accept cash-only deals.

How Do I Check the Status of My Vehicle's Title in Nevada?

If you're unsure whether your vehicle is titled in Nevada or if you don't have all the required information about your vehicle, you may need to perform a title verification. To check the status and history of your vehicle's title, you can mail an application for individual record information to the state's DMV, along with an application fee of $7.

Per state law, the DMV does not release vehicle records to prospective vehicle buyers. Therefore, only the vehicle owner can check the title status and history. However, prospective buyers can take the vehicle to any VIN inspection station at larger DMV offices to obtain information about the vehicle's history.

How To Register a Brand New Car in Nevada?

Your brand-new car must be registered within 30 days of the purchase in Nevada. However, you must obtain insurance and movement permits to drive the vehicle on the highway before registration. You can register your brand-new car online or in person at any of the state's DMV offices. The registration process and the required documents involved in car registration depend on whether you purchased the car from a Nevada or out-of-state dealer. You can register your vehicle online if you purchased it from a Nevada dealer. You must obtain an Electronic Dealer Report of Sale (EDRS) number before registering online. Other documents needed to complete an online registration for a new car purchased from a Nevada dealer include:

• Nevada Evidence of Insurance Card
• Current Odometer Reading
• Current Registration if transferring plates
• Tax Exemption Number, if any
• A printer for your movement permit and receipt

If the car was purchased from an out-of-state dealer, it is best to register it in person. This will ensure you fully comply with state regulations concerning out-of-state vehicles before registration. For out-of-state vehicle registration in Nevada, you typically need to provide the following documents:

• Invoice or Bill of Sale
• Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin
• Odometer Disclosure Statement
• Nevada Evidence of Insurance Card
• Vehicle Inspection Certificate
• Current Registration if transferring plates
• Tax Exemption Number, if any
• A printer for your movement permit and receipt

Additionally, you must obtain liability insurance from a Nevada-licensed carrier using the exact names on the registration and title. Out-of-state insurance is not accepted.

Does Nevada Mandate Vehicle Inspection?

The state of Nevada mandates that vehicle owners undergo smog checks and other inspections before registration in the state. This inspection concerns smog and vehicle emissions, and it is only necessary if you are based in urban areas of Clark or Washoe County, if the vehicle is gasoline-powered, or if the vehicle is diesel-powered with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight of up to 14,000 pounds.

Used car dealers in Nevada must provide a valid passing emissions test for any vehicle they sell that is registered in Clark or Washoe counties. Emissions tests are valid for 90 days, but if the vehicle was purchased from a Nevada dealer, the test will be valid for 180 days.

How Do I Get a VIN Replacement in Nevada?

Generally, when a VIN is missing in Nevada, the DMV or its authorized agency or representatives must inspect the vehicle to determine whether the VIN is hidden or stolen. If your vehicle's VIN is hidden, the representative will locate it and conduct a VIN verification to ensure that the information on the vehicle matches the inputted number. However, if the DMV representative confirms that the vehicle's VIN was stolen, the state will assign a new VIN and allow you to register it. Once a new VIN tag is issued, you must attach the tag to the location used by the original manufacturer. However, if it is a closed-body vehicle and the original manufacturer's location is unknown, you can attach the VIN tag to the pillar post for the left door hinge.

Does Nevada Require a VIN Inspection for Out-of-State Vehicles?

A VIN inspection is required for out-of-state vehicles and any vehicle that has never been registered in Nevada. In Nevada, a VIN inspection can be conducted at DMV Offices, your local County Assessor’s Office, or anywhere provided a law enforcement officer completes the inspection. At the DMV office, you do not need to schedule an appointment for a VIN inspection; you can get your vehicle inspected any time before registration. However, a VIN inspection is completed at your County Assessor’s Office while you are registering your vehicle. If a law enforcement officer performs the inspection, the officer must complete the VIN 015 form after the inspection. Finally, without a VIN inspection, you cannot register your out-of-state vehicle in Nevada.