How to Sell a Gun in Nevada

Nevada Key Points

• Gun sales in Nevada must generally go through federally licensed dealers.
• You have to be at least 18 to buy a gun in Nevada.
• Background checks are mandatory for nearly all gun buyers in Nevada.
• Gun buyers with recently issued concealed carry permits can skip background checks in Nevada.
• You can quickly sell your gun and get a quote right now with Cash for Arms.

Step 1: Understand the Laws for Gun Sales in Nevada

Nevada’s gun sale and purchase rules aren’t as complex as they seem. We’ve explained all of the ones you need to know below.

Private Gun Sales in Nevada

Private gun sales are legal in Nevada if a licensed dealer processes the sale for the parties involved.

This rule applies to non-transactional gun transfers too. There are only a few exceptions:

• Gun transfers between immediate family members
• Gun transfers to estate executors
• Gun transfers of antique guns

Background Checks on Gun Sales in Nevada

Background checks are needed for most gun sales in Nevada. Exceptions are made for some buyers, e.g. those with Nevada concealed carry permits issued in the last 5 years.

Note that Nevada is also a Point of Contact or POC state for background checks. That means dealers ask the Nevada Department of Public Safety (NDPS) instead of the FBI for buyer background checks.

Like the FBI, the NDPS uses the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. They confirm through it and other databases that a potential buyer is allowed to buy a gun.

Length of Background Checks for Gun Sales in Nevada

Background checks for gun sales in Nevada can take up to 72 hours. In many cases, they’re finished in only 24 hours.

Registration for Guns Sold in Nevada

Nevada doesn’t require gun registration. You can sell unregistered guns in the state.

Limits to Individual Gun Purchases in Nevada

There are no limits on how many guns an individual can buy in Nevada.

However, if you're looking to sell a large amount of guns, Cash for Arms offers liquidation services in Nevada.

Waiting Periods for Gun Purchases in Nevada

There are no waiting periods for gun purchases in Nevada.

Minimum Age to Buy a Gun in Nevada

The minimum age to purchase a gun in Nevada is 18 for long guns and 21 for handguns.

People Prohibited from Buying Guns in Nevada

The following people are prohibited from buying guns in Nevada:

• Persons with felony convictions
• Persons with misdemeanor domestic violence convictions
• Persons convicted of stalking and whose victims reasonably fear physical harm
• Persons who are the adverse parties in some protective orders (often due to an extended order for protection against domestic violence)
• Persons adjudged mentally ill or committed by a US court to a mental facility
• Persons who’ve pleaded or been found “guilty but mentally ill” in a US court
• Persons who’ve been acquitted by reason of insanity in a US court
• Illegal users of controlled substances
• Addicts to controlled substances
• Persons illegally in the US
• Fugitives from justice

Preemption in Nevada for Gun Sale Laws

There’s preemption in Nevada for gun sale laws. So, the legislation to check for firearms sellers in the state is at the state and federal level.

Gun Lock Requirements for Sold Guns in Nevada

Gun locks are required to come with sold guns in Nevada. This is a relatively recent rule that came into effect in July 2023.

Step 2: Find the Market Value of Your Gun

See what others are paying for guns like yours. This is for two reasons:

• So you don’t fall for the worst low-ball offers.
• So you have a sense of the price range people are likely to tolerate for the gun.

This doesn’t mean you can’t go over or under the range. If you’re pricing over the range you find, though, you’ll likely take longer to find a buyer.

It’s also not feasible if you’re not selling to a dealer instead of a private individual. Dealers tend to set prices themselves.

To make this easier, you can get a free appraisal from Cash for Arms!

Step 3: Pick Where to Sell

Possibility 1: Sell It to Cash for Arms

We buy a lot of guns in Nevada and make it easy for sellers each time.

• Send the gun’s specs and photos to us on our website.
• Let us know if you like our offer so we can send you prepaid shipping labels.
• Ship the gun to our HQ.
• Get paid the same day we get the gun.

The beauty of choosing us is that you barely have to expend effort. You get the safety of selling to an FFL dealer right from your home.

Our recommendation: Put as much detail as you can in your initial gun submission. Cash for Arms is known for buying guns at some of the very best market prices. We can only do that if we know exactly what we’re dealing with. The more you tell us, the better!

Possibility 2: Sell It to a Nevada Gun Store

Many Nevada gun stores buy used guns. They won’t offer you a lot, often pricing at just around 50% or so of your gun’s value. Nonetheless, they’re good choices if you want your cash up-front and can take the sale price hit.

• Clean your gun as prep for showing it to the stores.
• Call nearby stores to ask which ones are interested in seeing and buying your gun.
• Bring the gun to each store for an appraisal and offer.
• Keep a list of the offers and compare them all to see which one is best.
• Bring the gun back to the store with the best deal and sell it there.

Our recommendation: Be sure you unload your gun before driving to shops! It’s illegal to have a loaded rifle or shotgun in a vehicle in Nevada (Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 503.165). Even if state law says nothing about other gun types, stay on the safe side and unload them too.

Possibility 3: Sell It to a Nevada Pawnbroker

Some Nevada pawnbrokers buy used guns too! You do have to look out for heavy low-balling, though. Most pawnbrokers start their offers far lower than even gun stores.

If you really have to sell to a pawnbroker, follow the steps we gave for selling to gun stores.

Our recommendation: Because pawnbrokers offer so little for guns, go to as many as you can. This lets you get as many offers as possible, which can help you find a better price.

Possibility 4: Sell It to a Private Individual in Nevada

We’ve already outlined the challenge of selling to private parties here. On the other hand, the upside of it is that you can get great sale prices with the right buyer.

• Advertise your gun for sale, whether online (e.g. Nevada Shooters, GunBroker, etc.) or offline (word-of-mouth, local range posting boards, etc.).
• Screen buyers and compare their offers.
• Choose the top offer and arrange to meet at an FFL dealer’s shop near both of you.
• Ask the FFL dealer to hold onto the gun and process the gun sale.
• Once the background check clears, collect your payment while the buyer collects his gun.

Our recommendation: There’s a fee for the private party transfer (usually about $35). Decide who should pay for it before going to the FFL dealer. In most cases, the buyer will foot the bill but you have to be clear about that in advance.

Conclusion

This shows you the avenues you can take when selling guns in Nevada. If you just want as smooth a path as possible while still getting a good price, think about selling to us.

Cash for Arms is famous for being one of the easiest ways to sell guns in the state. With our fuss-free process, we can help you get good money while also disposing of your unwanted guns.