2026 Nevada Revised StatutesChapter 690B – Casualty InsuranceNRS 690B.020 Coverage for uninsured or hit-and-run vehicles required; exceptions; insolvency of insurer; payment; presumption.

Statutory Text

1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section and NRS 690B.035, no policy insuring against liability arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of any motor vehicle may be delivered or issued for delivery in this State unless coverage is provided therein or supplemental thereto for the protection of persons insured thereunder who are legally entitled to recover damages, from owners or operators of uninsured or hit-and-run motor vehicles, for bodily injury, sickness or disease, including death, resulting from the ownership, maintenance or use of the uninsured or hit-and-run motor vehicle. No such coverage is required in or supplemental to a policy issued to the State of Nevada or any political subdivision thereof, or where rejected in writing, on a form furnished by the insurer describing the coverage being rejected, by an insured named therein, or upon any renewal of such a policy unless the coverage is then requested in writing by the named insured. The coverage required in this section may be referred to as “uninsured vehicle coverage.”

2.  The amount of coverage to be provided must be not less than the minimum limits for liability insurance for bodily injury provided for under chapter 485 of NRS, but may be in any greater amount.

3.  For the purposes of this section, the term “uninsured motor vehicle” means a motor vehicle:

(a) With respect to which there is not available at the Department of Motor Vehicles evidence of financial responsibility as required by chapter 485 of NRS;

(b) With respect to the ownership, maintenance or use of which there is no liability insurance for bodily injury or bond applicable at the time of the crash or, to the extent of such deficiency, any liability insurance for bodily injury or bond in force is less than the amount required by NRS 485.210;

(c) With respect to the ownership, maintenance or use of which the company writing any applicable liability insurance for bodily injury or bond denies coverage or is insolvent;

(d) Used without the permission of its owner if there is no liability insurance for bodily injury or bond applicable to the operator;

(e) Used with the permission of its owner who has insurance which does not provide coverage for the operation of the motor vehicle by any person other than the owner if there is no liability insurance for bodily injury or bond applicable to the operator; or

(f) The owner or operator of which is unknown or after reasonable diligence cannot be found if:

(1) The bodily injury or death has resulted from physical contact of the automobile with the named insured or the person claiming under the named insured or with an automobile which the named insured or such a person is occupying; and

(2) The named insured or someone on behalf of the named insured has reported the crash within the time required by NRS 484E.030, 484E.040 or 484E.050 to the police department of the city where it occurred or, if it occurred in an unincorporated area, to the sheriff of the county or to the Nevada Highway Patrol.

4.  For the purposes of this section, the term “uninsured motor vehicle” also includes, subject to the terms and conditions of coverage, an insured other motor vehicle where:

(a) The liability insurer of the other motor vehicle is unable because of its insolvency to make payment with respect to the legal liability of its insured within the limits specified in its policy;

(b) The occurrence out of which legal liability arose took place while the uninsured vehicle coverage required under paragraph (a) was in effect; and

(c) The insolvency of the liability insurer of the other motor vehicle existed at the time of, or within 2 years after, the occurrence.

Ê Nothing contained in this subsection prevents any insurer from providing protection from insolvency to its insureds under more favorable terms.

5.  If payment is made to any person under uninsured vehicle coverage, and subject to the terms of the coverage, to the extent of such payment the insurer is entitled to the proceeds of any settlement or recovery from any person legally responsible for the bodily injury as to which payment was made, and to amounts recoverable from the assets of the insolvent insurer of the other motor vehicle.

6.  A vehicle involved in a crash which results in bodily injury or death shall be presumed to be an uninsured motor vehicle if no evidence of financial responsibility is supplied to the Department of Motor Vehicles in the manner required by chapter 485 of NRS within 60 days after the crash occurs.

(Added to NRS by 1971, 1777; A 1971, 1954; 1973, 839; 1977, 438; 1979, 1518; 1985, 1999; 1987, 1098; 2001, 2635; 2011, 114; 2015, 1695; 2021, 127)

NV Rev Stat § 690B.020 – Last Verified February 2026

Plain English Explanation

Nevada law requires that almost every car insurance policy sold in the state must include uninsured vehicle coverage. This is the part of your policy that protects you when the other driver in a crash either has no insurance at all or flees the scene without stopping. The law exists because not everyone on the road follows the rules, and injured people deserve a way to recover compensation even when the at-fault driver cannot pay.

The minimum amount of this coverage must match Nevada’s minimum liability insurance limits under state law, though you can purchase more protection if you want it.

What counts as an “uninsured motor vehicle” under Nevada law?

The definition is broader than most people expect. A vehicle is considered uninsured if the driver has no liability insurance or bond in place at the time of the crash. It also applies when the insurance that does exist falls below the minimum amounts Nevada requires. A vehicle qualifies as uninsured if the insurance company denies the claim or has gone out of business and cannot pay. Stolen vehicles being driven without the owner’s permission count too, as long as no other coverage applies to the driver.

Hit-and-run situations are also covered, but two conditions must be met. The injury or death must have resulted from actual physical contact with the unknown vehicle, and the crash must be reported to police within the timeframe Nevada law requires.

What happens when an insurance company goes insolvent?

Nevada law treats an insured vehicle almost like an uninsured one when the other driver’s insurance company becomes insolvent and cannot pay. Your own uninsured coverage can step in, as long as the insolvency happened at the time of the crash or within two years afterward.

When your insurer does pay out under this coverage, it gains the right to pursue whoever was legally responsible for your injuries. That way the company can try to recover what it paid on your behalf.

One practical note worth knowing: if a vehicle involved in a crash cannot show proof of financial responsibility to the Nevada DMV within 60 days of the accident, the law presumes that vehicle was uninsured.

Frequently Asked Questions About NRS 690B.020

Does Nevada require uninsured motorist coverage on every car insurance policy?

Yes, with a few exceptions. Nevada law requires that nearly all auto insurance policies sold in the state include uninsured vehicle coverage. The main exceptions are policies issued to the state government or its subdivisions, and situations where the named insured rejects the coverage in writing on a form provided by the insurance company. If you reject it, that rejection carries over to any renewals of the policy unless you specifically request the coverage back in writing.

What is the minimum amount of uninsured motorist coverage required in Nevada?

Nevada law requires that uninsured vehicle coverage meet at least the same minimum limits as the state’s required liability insurance for bodily injury under Nevada’s financial responsibility laws. You are free to purchase a higher amount, and many people choose to do so for greater financial protection.

Does uninsured motorist coverage apply to hit-and-run accidents in Nevada?

It can, but two specific conditions must be satisfied. First, the injury or death must have resulted from actual physical contact between your vehicle or your body and the hit-and-run vehicle. Second, the crash must be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency within the timeframe Nevada law requires. If the driver who hit you cannot be found after a reasonable search, coverage may apply once those two requirements are met.

What happens if the other driver had insurance but their company went bankrupt and cannot pay?

Nevada law accounts for this situation. When the other driver’s insurance company becomes insolvent and is unable to pay a valid claim, that vehicle is treated similarly to an uninsured vehicle for purposes of this law. Your own uninsured vehicle coverage can then step in to cover your losses, as long as the insolvency occurred at the time of the crash or within two years after it happened.

How does Nevada determine whether a vehicle involved in a crash was uninsured?

If the vehicle’s owner or operator cannot provide proof of financial responsibility to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles within 60 days after the crash, the law automatically presumes the vehicle was uninsured. This presumption makes it easier for injured people to access their uninsured vehicle coverage without having to prove a negative.