The U.S. state of Nevada first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1913.

[1] As of 2023[update], plates are issued by the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

The license plate factory moved to the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in 2012.

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.

[3] The 1956 (expired June 30, 1957) issue was the first Nevada license plate that fully complied with these standards: the 1955 (expired June 30, 1956) issue was 6 inches in height by 12 inches in width, but had non-standard mounting holes.