Nevada AB 511 — First U.S. State Law Authorizing Autonomous Vehicles
Nevada · NRS Ch. 482A (2011 Nev. Stat. Ch. 461)
Nevada was the first U.S. state to legalize autonomous vehicles. AB 511 directed the DMV to write rules for testing and operating self-driving cars on Nevada roads, including a special license endorsement and an autonomous-vehicle testing license, and made Nevada the proving ground for the early Google self-driving project.
Technical detail
2011 Nev. Stat. Ch. 461 (AB 511); codified at NRS Chapter 482A (Autonomous Vehicles) and NAC 482A; defined 'autonomous vehicle' and directed the DMV to adopt testing, licensing, insurance, and safety regulations.
Who is protected: Nevada motorists and pedestrians sharing roads with AV testing
Who must comply: AV manufacturers, testers, and operators on Nevada public roads
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Nevada |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Limited protection |
| Effective date | 2011-06-17 |
| Enacted | 2011-06-16 |
| Citation | NRS Ch. 482A (2011 Nev. Stat. Ch. 461) |
| Enforced by | Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles; Nevada Department of Public Safety |
| Private right of action | No — agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | License revocation; civil/administrative penalties under NAC 482A |
| Topics | government use of AI · consumer protection · automated decision-making |
| Last verified | 2026-06-17 |
| Official source | Nevada Legislature — AB 511 (76th Session, 2011) ↗ |
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