State guide · Updated October 2026
Nebraska Driving Laws (2026): Speed, Phone, Insurance, Tax
Nebraska belongs to the Midwest region, with Lincoln as its capital and Omaha and Lincoln as its biggest cities. Here you will find the Nebraska driving laws that matter most, from speed and phones through coverage, taxes, inspections and riding.
Every section below covers one rule in detail, with the facts, the figures and how it compares nationally, and the figures were last checked October 25, 2026.
Nebraska driving laws: speed limits
The top speed limit in Nebraska is 75 mph. Rural interstates reach up to 75 mph and urban freeways at up to 70 mph.
| Nebraska: Maximum posted speed | 75 mph |
|---|---|
| Rural interstates | 75 mph |
| City freeways | 70 mph |
On busy roads such as I-80 and I-680, posted limits are frequently lower than 75 mph, especially around Omaha and in work zones.
Drivers must also keep a speed that suits weather and traffic, even when that means going slower, and officers can write a ticket for that alone.
At a glance, under Nebraska driving laws: max speed limit, 75 mph.
Nebraska driving laws: cell phone and texting law
Yes for calls, no for texting. Nebraska prohibits texting while driving for all motorists, but adults can still use a hand-held phone for calls.
| Nebraska: Hand-held calls | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Texting behind the wheel | Banned |
| Teen phone ban | Permit and intermediate license holders |
Texting laws apply to every driver in Nebraska, but using a hand-held phone to talk is not banned statewide once you are licensed as an adult.
New drivers face stricter rules: in Nebraska, permit and intermediate license holders cannot use a phone at all, not even through Bluetooth.
At a glance, under Nebraska driving laws: phone law, texting ban only.
Nebraska driving laws: driving age and teen licenses
Teens in Nebraska can obtain a learner's permit at 15 and a provisional (intermediate) license at 16, which still restricts night driving and passengers.
| Nebraska: Permit age | Age 15 |
|---|---|
| Second-stage license | Age 16 |
| Practice hours | 50 (not mandatory with driver education) |
| All limits lifted | After 12 months licensed or at 18, whichever comes first (minimum 17) |
Before the road test, new drivers in Nebraska log 50 hours (not mandatory with driver education) of supervised driving.
Bottom line, under Nebraska driving laws: learner's permit age, permit at 15.
Nebraska driving laws: minimum car insurance
Nebraska requires at least 25/50/25 in liability coverage: $25,000 for injuries to one person, $50,000 for all injuries in one accident and $25,000 for property damage. You also need uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.
| Nebraska: Injury limit per person | $25,000 |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury per accident | $50,000 |
| Property damage limit | $25,000 |
| Extra required coverage | UM, UIM |
| Claims system | At-fault |
| Coverage mandatory by law | Yes |
Nebraska uses fault-based claims, so whoever causes a crash is responsible for the other drivers' injuries and damage through their policy.
Required on top of liability in Nebraska: uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.
The legal minimum rarely covers a serious crash, since hospital bills and a new car may pass $50,000 in one crash.
Consumer groups suggest at least 100/300/100, since damages above your limits may be claimed from you personally.
In short, under Nebraska driving laws: car insurance, 25/50/25.
Nebraska driving laws: car sales tax
Nebraska collects a 5.5% state sales tax on cars you buy, and local taxes can raise the total.
| Nebraska: Statewide rate | 5.5% (sales tax) |
|---|---|
| City or county tax | Yes, in some areas |
| Trade-in lowers tax | Yes |
| State tax on a $30,000 car | $1,650 |
- A $20,700 car in Nebraska: roughly $1,139 in state tax
- A $36,050 car in Nebraska: about $1,983 in state tax
- A $55,000 car in Nebraska: roughly $3,025 in state tax
A trade-in cuts the Nebraska driving laws: trading in a $5,000 car on a $30,000 purchase means paying roughly $1,375 rather than $1,650.
Bottom line, under Nebraska driving laws: car sales tax, 5.5%.
Nebraska driving laws: vehicle inspection and emissions
No. Nebraska does not require regular safety inspections or emissions tests for passenger vehicles, apart from a one-time check in some situations.
| Nebraska: Safety check | Only in some situations |
|---|---|
| Smog check | Not required |
Vehicles previously titled in another state need a one-time inspection by the sheriff.
Safety checks in Nebraska only happen in specific cases, such as a sale or an out-of-state car.
At a glance, under Nebraska driving laws: car inspection, no regular inspection.
Nebraska driving laws: license and registration deadlines for newcomers
After moving to Nebraska, you have 30 days to obtain a Nebraska driver's license, and 30 days to register your car.
| Nebraska: Switch your license | 30 days |
|---|---|
| Register your car | 30 days |
| Required insurance | 25/50/25 |
| Inspection rule | No regular inspection |
Step-by-step list for Nebraska driving laws
- Get a Nebraska driver's license: 30 days. Bring an ID document, your SSN and two documents with your new address to the Nebraska DMV (REAL ID rules).
- Buy car insurance that meets the minimum: Nebraska sets a floor of 25/50/25. Coverage is generally needed before registration.
- Inspection: No regular inspection, though a VIN check may be needed for an out-of-state car.
- Register and title your car: 30 days at the county treasurer.
The clock generally starts when you begin a job, buy a house or put children in a local school in Nebraska, not on the day the moving truck indicates up.
In short, under Nebraska driving laws: new resident deadline, 30 days.
Nebraska driving laws: motorcycle helmet law
Only if you are under 21. In Nebraska, motorcyclists 20 and younger must wear a helmet; adults 21 and older can legally go without one. That holds on I-80 and I-680 as much as on local streets in Omaha.
| Nebraska: Helmet required for | Riders 20 and younger |
|---|---|
| Kind of law | Partial (age-based) |
| Helmet optional for adults | Yes, with conditions |
Riders 20 and younger must wear a helmet under the Nebraska driving laws; at 21 a rider can decide.
Since 2023, motorcyclists 21 and older who meet the state's conditions (including wearing eye protection) can ride without a helmet.
Federal safety data show that helmets prevent roughly 37% of rider deaths in serious crashes, and 41% for passengers.
Any helmet worn to meet the law indicates the DOT label on the back; novelty helmets without it are not legal.
In short, under Nebraska driving laws: helmet law, under 21.
Nebraska driving laws: lane splitting
No. Splitting and filtering are illegal in Nebraska. A motorcycle is entitled to a full lane, and motorcyclists are not allowed to squeeze between cars or split traffic.
| Nebraska: Lane splitting (moving traffic) | Not legal |
|---|---|
| Filtering at a stop | Not legal |
| In effect since | — |
Without a law that allows it, Nebraska driving laws is treated as an illegal pass or an improper lane change, and a collision during a split can hurt the rider.
At a glance, under Nebraska driving laws: lane splitting, not allowed.
Where the Nebraska driving laws stand out
- Nebraska lands mid-table of the national range on each topic we track, so no single rule in the Nebraska driving laws should catch out newcomers from nearby states.
Driving around Nebraska
Key highways include I-80, I-680 and US-75, which tie together Omaha, Lincoln and Lincoln. Every one of these roads falls under Nebraska driving laws.
You obtain a license from the Nebraska DMV, and registration and titles go through the county treasurer.
Every law on this page applies statewide, from Omaha to small towns.
Next door
- Colorado: car sales tax of 2.9% instead of 5.5%; car insurance 25/50/15 (vs. 25/50/25); helmet law of Under 18 instead of Under 21
- Iowa: max speed limit 70 mph (vs. 75 mph); 5% for car sales tax, against 5.5%; 20/40/15 for car insurance, against 25/50/25
- Kansas: car sales tax 6.5% (vs. 5.5%); helmet law of Under 18 instead of Under 21
- Missouri: car sales tax of 4.225% instead of 5.5%; helmet law Under 26 (vs. Under 21)
- South Dakota: 80 mph for max speed limit, against 75 mph; car sales tax of 4% instead of 5.5%; helmet law of Under 18 instead of Under 21
- Wyoming: 80 mph for max speed limit, against 75 mph; car sales tax 4% (vs. 5.5%); car insurance 25/50/20 (vs. 25/50/25)
Questions about the Nebraska driving laws
Do the Nebraska driving laws change for trucks?
Most roads in Nebraska use the same number for passenger vehicles and big rigs; look out for separate truck signs.
Will police pull over motorists just for breaking the Nebraska driving laws?
Yes. In Nebraska it is generally a primary offense, meaning police may pull you over for it even with no other violation.
Can a 15-year-old drive alone under the Nebraska driving laws rules?
No. Driving alone starts once you hold the provisional license at 16 in Nebraska.
What if I drive without Nebraska driving laws?
Driving uninsured in Nebraska may bring penalties, a suspended license and registration, and personal liability for the damage you cause.
Is the Nebraska driving laws owed on used vehicles?
Yes. Used vehicles are taxed too, and sales between individuals may be valued at a minimum or a standard value.
Is a Nebraska driving laws required to sell a car?
Yes, in the cases described above.
Does an adult need to follow the Nebraska driving laws?
No. Only riders 20 and younger need one in Nebraska; since 2023, riders 21 and older who meet the state's conditions (including wearing eye protection) may ride without a helmet.
Is moving up at a light part of Nebraska driving laws?
No. Moving between stopped cars at a light is illegal in Nebraska as well.