Tesla has officially secured approval from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to begin testing driverless cars on public roads.
The company submitted its application for a Testing Registry certification on September 3, and the DMV’s Office of Business Licensing confirmed the paperwork was processed this week, according to information provided to Tesla investor and enthusiast Sawyer Merritt.
Along with the certification, Tesla also received autonomous plates and the official registry certificate, clearing the path for its first sanctioned tests in the state.
What Comes Next
While this approval allows Tesla to put its robotaxis on Nevada’s roads, there is still one more regulatory hurdle before it can launch a commercial ride-hailing service. To begin offering rides to the public, Tesla will need to complete the DMV’s Self-Certification for Operations step.
This process requires manufacturers to self-certify that their vehicles meet the requirements outlined in Nevada’s statutes. Once approved, Tesla would be issued a Certificate of Compliance, authorizing it to operate autonomous vehicles as part of a public service.
Path to Commercial Deployment
Nevada’s regulatory framework is structured in two parts:
- Testing Certification – allowing autonomous vehicles to operate on public roads under supervision.
- Operations Self-Certification – enabling companies to provide paid rides or services to the public.
Tesla has already launched a driverless ride service in Austin, Texas, where cars operate without anyone in the driver’s seat. A similar program could soon come to Nevada if the company completes the self-certification stage, which given Tesla’s push to expand its robotaxi service, should happen quickly.
Why Nevada Matters
Nevada has become a major hub for autonomous vehicle testing and deployment, with around a dozen companies operating nearly 500 driverless cars across the state. Amazon’s Zoox launched its fully driverless robotaxi service in Las Vegas this week. Motional, a Hyundai–Aptiv joint venture is also running autonomous rides with Lyft. Waymo meanwhile has started testing its vehicles on the Vegas Strip, but has yet to offer its service to the public.
