At the time of registration in Nevada, you may present a Nevada Evidence of Insurance Card or sign a declaration that you will maintain Nevada insurance coverage for the entire time the vehicle is registered in Nevada. So if in 2005 your car was still registered in NV, even if you were out of the country, then you needed to keep insurance on the vehicle.

Nevada law requires you to have at least $15,000/$30,000/$10,000 in liability insurance. This means coverage must be at least $15,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident to a limit of not less than $30,000 because of bodily injury to or destruction of property, and to a limit of not less than $10,000 because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.

Nevada has mandatory liability responsibility laws that are met through Nevada Licensed Insurance Carriers. All registered vehicles are required to have the minimum liability coverage. Should the coverage lapse while registration is still current, DMV may suspend the vehicle registration and charge a $250 reinstatement fee.

The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles states specifically that you must cancel your Nevada registration if you cancel your insurance. You must surrender your license plates if you cancel or drop the liability insurance on any vehicle for any reason.

The DMV and law enforcement use roadside spot-checks, direct mail verification, and insurance company data comparisons provide verification methods to ensure compliance of the financial responsibility law.

If you had turned in your plates and canceled your registration with the NV DMV when you were out of the country and thus the car was not registered then you may be able to plead your case with the DMV. A lawyer familiar with the Nevada state laws can give you more information on the legal aspects of your situation.

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