Delaware DMV Exam FAQ 2026
How do I get my first driver's license in Delaware?
You apply through the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), a division of DelDOT. Anyone who is at least 16 and under 18 goes through the Graduated Driver License (GDL) program: you complete a certified Delaware driver education course, get a Level One Learner's Permit, log supervised practice, and then move up to a full Class D license. Adults 18 and older may opt out of GDL, take a Temporary Instruction Permit, and go straight to testing. Everyone must prove identity, legal presence, a Social Security number, and Delaware residency.
What is the minimum age to get a learner's permit in Delaware?
You can apply for a Level One Learner's Permit at 16, as long as you are still under 18 (16 to 21 if you have an active IEP receiving special education services). To qualify you need a Delaware Driver Education Certificate (the Blue/White Certificate) proving you completed a certified driver education course, proof of identity, legal presence, a Social Security number, and two proofs of Delaware residency, plus a signed sponsor and the $40 Class D fee. You must also pass an eye screening.
What is the Graduated Driver License program and who has to use it?
Delaware's Graduated Driver License (GDL) program applies to anyone at least 16 and under 18, and to drivers under 22 who have an active IEP. It phases in full driving privileges through a Level One Learner's Permit, a supervised practice period, and finally an unrestricted Class D license. The Level One permit automatically converts to a Class D license after a full 12 months of valid driving authority. Drivers who are 18 or older may opt out of GDL, but they then have no sponsor and must take the eye, knowledge, and road exams at the DMV.
What are the restrictions on a Delaware Level One Learner's Permit?
All cell phone and electronic device use is banned, including hands-free. The permit and all passengers must wear seat belts. For the first six months you must be supervised at all times by a licensed driver who is at least 25 years old and has held a Class D license for at least five years, seated beside you in the front seat. After the first six months you may drive unsupervised only between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.; between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. you still need supervision, except when driving directly to or from church, work, or school activities. Violating these rules is treated as driving without a license.
How many supervised driving hours does Delaware require for teens?
During the first six months on a Level One Learner's Permit you must be supervised at all times, and your sponsor must certify that you completed 50 hours of driving, 10 of which are at night. That certification is submitted to the Department of Education after the first six months. During the second six-month period, when no supervisor is present, you may carry only one other passenger besides yourself. The permit converts to a Class D license after a full 12 months of valid driving authority.
I'm over 18 and never had a license — what do I do in Delaware?
Adults may take a Temporary Instruction Permit (learner's permit). You pass the eye screening and knowledge exams, pay the fee, and the permit is issued for twelve months. While you practice, you must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 and qualified to drive that class of vehicle. You may not take the road exam until at least 10 days after the permit was issued. Passing all required exams within twelve months of applying is required.
What documents do I need to bring to the Delaware DMV?
You need proof of identity and legal presence, evidence of your Social Security number, and two proofs of Delaware residency. For a teen applicant, the two residency proofs may be waived if the sponsor is a licensed Delaware driver living at the same address. Teens also need the Delaware Driver Education Certificate and a signed sponsor (a parent, then guardian, then an approved suitable person). If your name differs from your identity document, bring the legal name-change documentation.
How many questions are on the Delaware knowledge test and what score do I need to pass?
The Class D knowledge test consists of 32 questions, of which you must answer 26 correctly to pass — roughly 81 percent, so you can miss no more than 6. It covers Delaware rules of the road, motor vehicle laws, and safe-driving practices, with a separate section on identifying signs and signals by shape, color, and meaning. The DMV publishes a 10-question sample test, but the real exam is 32 questions. Study the official Delaware Driver Manual before you go.
What are the parts of the Delaware driver examination?
The examination has four parts: a vision screening, a highway sign and signal test, a rules-of-the-road test, and a road test. All four must be passed within twelve months of your application. You become eligible for the road exam 10 days after passing the knowledge exam. Audio versions with headphones are available on request, and disability accommodations can be arranged with an advance appointment.
What happens during the Delaware road test?
You supply the vehicle, which must be registered, insured, and pass a basic safety inspection by the examiner. Bring your valid learner's permit, the valid license of an accompanying driver who is at least 21, the registration card, and the insurance card. There is no smoking, no cell phone use, and no music during the test. You will be asked to respond to signs and signals, parallel park, make a three-point turn, make right and left turns, change lanes, merge, and back up 50 feet. The road exam lasts about 30 minutes and is given every weekday except Wednesday.
How much does a Delaware driver's license cost?
A Class D license is $40.00 for the eight-year term, and that fee includes the cost of the learner's permit. Renewal of a Class D license is also $40.00. A replacement (duplicate) driver license is $20.00. If you renew after your license has expired, a $10.00 late fee applies. Reinstating a license after a suspension costs $50.00, and reinstating after a revocation costs $200.00.
How long is a Delaware driver's license valid and how do I renew it?
Delaware licenses are issued for eight years and expire on your birthday. A renewal reminder is mailed about 60 days before expiration, and you may renew any time within the 180-day (six-month) window before it expires. You must surrender your previous license, complete an application, and pass an eye screening; a knowledge and road exam may also be given. Renewing after expiration adds a $10.00 late fee. Permanent licenses are no longer issued — existing permanent-license holders now return every eight years to renew for $24.00.
Does Delaware issue REAL ID licenses?
Delaware issues federally compliant credentials, and getting one relies on the same core documents the DMV uses to establish identity: proof of identity and legal presence, a Social Security number, and proof of Delaware residency. Because federal requirements and acceptable documents can change, confirm the exact document checklist and whether you want a REAL ID before your visit at dmv.de.gov. You can also use the online services portal at mydmv.delaware.gov.
I just moved to Delaware — how long do I have to get a license?
New residents must apply for a Delaware license within 60 days of becoming a resident. You surrender your out-of-state license or provide a certified driving record, and you present proof of legal presence, a Social Security number, and two proofs of Delaware residency. Written and road exams may be given. If your privileges have lapsed, note that Delaware requires retesting for licenses that have been expired or invalid for more than a year (vision and knowledge) or more than five years (vision, knowledge, and road).
What is the vision requirement for a Delaware license?
You need a minimum of 20/40 vision, with or without corrective lenses. If you meet that standard only with glasses or contacts, a corrective-lens restriction is printed on your license and you must wear them when driving. Applicants whose vision falls between 20/40 and 20/50 may be granted daylight-only driving privileges. A vision screening is part of every application, renewal, and new-resident transfer.
How does the Delaware point system work?
The DMV may take action against a driver who accumulates 8 or more points in a two-year period. Points count at full value for the first 12 months from the violation date and half value for the second 12 months. Sample values: speeding 1–9 mph over is 2 points, 10–14 over is 4, and 15 or more over is 5; disregarding a stop sign or red light is 3; reckless or aggressive driving is 6; and passing a stopped school bus is 6. At 12 points you must complete a behavior-modification course within 90 days or face a mandatory 2-month suspension, and the suspension length climbs to 12 months at 22 points.
What is the blood alcohol limit and DUI penalty in Delaware?
The adult per se limit is a BAC of .08 or greater, and you can still be charged if you are impaired below that. Commercial drivers are held to .04. For a first DUI offense the DMV revokes your license for 12 months if your BAC was under .15, 18 months for a BAC of .15 to .19, and 24 months for a BAC of .20 or more or for refusing the test; the court fine is $500 to $1,500. Penalties escalate sharply for repeat offenses, and a fourth offense becomes a felony.
What are the rules for drivers under 21 in Delaware?
Delaware enforces zero tolerance for drivers under 21: a BAC of .02 mandates license revocation. Anyone under 21 who drives while consuming, or after having consumed, alcohol has their license revoked for two months on a first offense, and for no less than six and no more than twelve months for each later offense. Separately, underage possession or consumption of alcohol carries a $100 fine for a first offense and $200 to $500 for later offenses.
What is Delaware's implied consent law?
By driving in Delaware you consent to chemical testing if an officer suspects you are under the influence. At arrest the officer confiscates your license (except for out-of-state holders) and issues a 15-day temporary license. You then have 15 days to request an administrative hearing, or your license is revoked at the end of those 15 days. At the hearing, a chemical test showing a BAC of .08 or greater, or the presence of any drug, is conclusive evidence of driving under the influence.
What car insurance do I need in Delaware?
Delaware requires liability coverage from a company licensed by the Insurance Commissioner, with at least $15,000 in Personal Injury Protection for any one person, $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in any one crash, and $10,000 for damage to the property of others in any one crash. Your proof of insurance is an original Delaware Insurance Identification Card. Driving an uninsured vehicle carries a $100 uninsured-motorist penalty, and you must surrender your plates if you cancel coverage.
