Buyer guide
The Papers You Sign When You Buy a Used Car in Nevada
Buying a used car from a Nevada dealer comes with a stack of papers. Each one has a job: some you read before you sign, some you sign and keep, some go to the DMV so the car becomes yours. Know which is which, and nothing at the table will surprise you.
Read these before you sign
Three papers come before the contract. Take your time with them.
- The Buyers GuideThe sticker in the window. It says whether the car has a warranty or is sold as is, and it becomes part of your contract.
- The Vehicle Condition DisclosureOn a car with 75,000 miles or more, Nevada law has the dealer inspect the engine and drivetrain and give you the findings in writing, before you sign. You sign that you received it.
- The inspection record and the history reportWhat was checked, found and fixed, and what was reported about the car's past.
What you sign and keep
These carry your signature, and a copy goes home with you.
- The contractThe bill of sale on a cash purchase, or the finance contract if you finance. The price should match what you agreed, with every fee on its own line.
- The odometer disclosureFederal law requires a written mileage statement when ownership changes. Check it against the dash.
- The Buyers Guide, signedThe final version, with any change you agreed to.
- The warrantyIf the car has one, the written terms and how to make a claim.
- The We OweAnything the dealer still owes you, written down. If nothing is owed, it should say so plainly.
- Your receiptProof of what you paid.
What goes to the DMV
You don't carry these. The dealer sends them so the car can be titled in your name.
- The titleSigned over by the seller. The DMV issues your new title and mails it to you, or to your lender if you financed.
- The Nevada bill of sale (form VP104)The record of the sale itself.
- The dealer's report of sale (EDRS)The dealer's official record that the car is now yours. You get a copy too.
- The smog testA Nevada dealer has to give you a passing one with the car.
Registering the car
With the dealer's report of sale, you can register online. The DMV explains each path at dmv.nv.gov/registervehicle.htm.
- BringYour driver's license and proof of your Nevada auto policy.
- OnlineWith the EDRS number from your report of sale.
- In person or by mailThe Application for Vehicle Registration (form VP-222).
- PlatesBring your current registration if you are moving plates from your old car.
Paying a large amount in cash
A business that receives more than ten thousand dollars in cash in one sale, or in related sales, has to report it to the IRS on Form 8300, and tell you it did. It's a routine federal filing, not a mark against you. The IRS explains it at irs.gov.
How we do it at Authentico
Your Car Consultant walks you through every page before you sign it, each fee sits on its own line, and nothing is signed until you've read it. You leave with your own copies of everything you signed.
Questions people ask
What papers should I get when I buy a used car in Nevada?
Copies of the contract, the signed Buyers Guide, the odometer disclosure, any warranty, the We Owe and your receipt. On a car with 75,000 miles or more, the Vehicle Condition Disclosure too.
Who sends the title to the DMV?
The dealer. The DMV issues the new title and mails it to you, or to your lender if you financed.
Do I need a smog test to register?
In urban Clark County, yes, for most gas cars. A Nevada dealer has to give you a valid passing test with the car.
Can I register the car online?
Yes, with the EDRS number on the dealer's report of sale and proof of your Nevada auto policy.
What is a We Owe?
A written list of anything the dealer still owes you after the sale, like a part on order. If nothing is owed, it should say so. Spoken promises are hard to enforce, so get them on this page.
Why would a dealer file an IRS form about my payment?
Federal law requires a business to report cash payments over ten thousand dollars on Form 8300. It's routine, and the business has to let you know.
Official sources
- Register a vehicle, dealer and private sales (Nevada DMV)dmv.nv.gov
- Vehicle title and ownership (Nevada DMV)dmv.nv.gov
- Emission Control Program, smog checks (Nevada DMV)dmv.nv.gov
- Dealer's Guide to the Used Car Rule, the Buyers Guide (FTC)ftc.gov
- Odometer fraud and the mileage statement (NHTSA)nhtsa.gov
- NAC 482.264, the condition disclosure before you sign (Nevada Legislature)leg.state.nv.us
- IRS Form 8300 reference guide (IRS)irs.gov
Free buyer’s worksheet
Sign with nothing left to guess.
18 points in 5 stops, each with a box to check and what to ask, plus room for your notes. Print it or save it as a PDF, and take it with you.
Keep reading
The rest of the buyer guides.
How to Inspect a Used Car Before You Buy: The 25-Point Checklist
Read it →Start hereUsed Car Maintenance in Las Vegas: Your First 12 Months, Service by Service
Read it →SigningWhere Every Dollar Goes When You Buy a Used Car in Nevada
Read it →Start hereService Contracts and GAP, in Plain Words
Read it →The papersNevada Used Car Inspection Laws: What the Law Requires Before You Buy
Read it →What Reconditioning Should a Used Car Get Before It Is Sold?
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