How do I apply for my first license or permit?

The graduated driver license program is designed to reduce the high accident and fatality rate of minor drivers. Minors will receive additional supervised driving experience and reduced exposure to high-risk driving situations. The parent or sponsor will actively participate in training the minor and determining when the minor is capable of increased driving authority.

• Must be at least 16 years old, and less than 18 years of age.
• Must present a Delaware Driver Education Certificate (Blue Certificate) as proof that you passed a certified Delaware Driver Education Course. If you passed a course in another state, your out-of-state certificate must be approved by the Department of Education; this approval must be presented to the Division of Motor Vehicles. For approval send the certificate to the Education Associate for Driver Education, Safety and Physical Education, Townsend Building, P.O. Box 1402, Dover, Delaware 19903, or fax to 302-739-3744 (Telephone 302-739-4885).
• Must provide documentation proving the applicant's name and date of birth, social security number if eligible, and two proofs of Delaware residency (unless the sponsor is a licensed Delaware driver and lives at the same address as the applicant). A list of approved documents are contained in the Required Documentation Table in this chapter.
• All minor's driver license applications must be signed by a sponsor.
• The applicant must pay a $25.00 Class D license fee and pass an eye screening at the time of application.
• Minors who require specialized evaluation, training or equipment to operate a motor vehicle because of a physical or mental disability will be identified by the driver education teacher and tested by the Division.

• A permit holder who is at least 17 years old, but less than 18 years old, may obtain a Class D operator's license when the driver has held a Level One Learner's Permit for at least 12 months, the sponsor has not withdrawn his/her endorsement, and the applicant’s driving privileges are not suspended, revoked, canceled, denied, or surrendered.

NOTE: The level one learner’s permit will automatically convert to a Class D license once the permit holder has completed a full 12 months of valid driving authority. The time used to compute the 12 months of required driving experience shall not include any period of time when the permit holder’s driving privilege has been suspended, revoked, canceled, denied, or surrendered. A period of additional driving experience equivalent to that of the suspension, revocation, cancellation, denial, or surrender will be added to the end of the original 12 month period. This will ensure that the permit holder has fully complied with the required full 12 months of valid driving authority.

What driving restrictions apply to a permit the first year?

• Permit must be in the possession of the permit holder when driving a motor vehicle.
• When the permit holder is under mandatory supervision, the supervisor must be a properly licensed parent, guardian or licensed driver (approved by the sponsor) who is at least 25 years of age and has held a Class D license for at least 5 years. The supervising driver must be seated beside the permit holder in the front seat of the vehicle when it is in motion. No person other than the supervising driver can be in the front seat.
• For the first six months of valid Level One Learner's Permit driving authority, the permit holder may only drive when supervised. This is the mandatory supervision period.
• The Sponsor shall certify that the permit holder has driven for 50 hours; 10 of which include nighttime driving. The certification is to be turned into the Department of Education after the first six months of valid driving authority.
• The permit holder and all passengers, under the age of 18, must wear a safety belt or be secured ina child safety seat or booster seat while the vehicle is in motion and the permit holder is driving.
• After the first six months after issuance, the permit holder may drive:
  • Unsupervised between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
  • The permit holder may drive between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. only when under supervision. Exception: The permit holder may travel without supervision during those hours when going directly to and from church activities, work activities, and the permit holder's school activities on school property.
  • No passengers other than the adult supervisor and one other passenger may be in the vehicle during the first year. During the second six-month-period of unsupervised driving when a supervisor is not present, only one other passenger in addition to the driver may be in the vehicle. This passenger limit does not apply to immediate family members.
  • Ther permit holder and all passengers under the age of 18, must wear a safety belt or be secured in a child safety seat or booster seat while the vehilce is in motion and the permit holder is driving.
• The use of a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle is prohibited. A conviction for violating this law will result in a one (1) month driver license suspension for a first offense and a three (3) months suspension for each subsequent offense

Persons who violate the Level One Learner's Permit restrictions are considered as driving without a license which will result in a 2-month suspension for the first offense and a 4-month suspension for subsequent offenses.

NOTE: The level one learner’s permit will automatically convert to a Class D license once the permit holder has completed a full 12 months of valid driving authority. The time used to compute the 12 months of required driving experience shall not include any period of time when the permit holder’s driving privilege has been suspended, revoked, canceled, denied, or surrendered. A period of additional driving experience equivalent to that of the suspension, revocation, cancellation, denial, or surrender will be added to the end of the original 12 month period. This will ensure that the permit holder has fully complied with the required full 12 months of valid driving authority.

Must my parents sign the application?

All minor’s driver license applications must be signed by a sponsor. The sponsor is held jointly liable with the minor for any damages resulting from the minor’s negligence. The sponsor has the final authority to determine if the minor is capable of handling the responsibility of operating a motor vehicle and the authority to designate who may supervise the minor driver. The sponsor may withdraw his/her endorsement at any time until the minor reaches age 18, thereby canceling the minor’s driving privileges. The following sponsors are listed in order of preference:

• Either father or mother of the minor if both parents are living together within this State and the minor resides with both parents.
  - OR -
  
• Father of the minor, if the father is living within this State, and the minor resides with the father only. Mother of the minor, if the mother is living within this State and the minor resides with the mother only. Father or mother, if the father or mother lives within this State, and the minor resides with neither parent, and the minor has no legal guardian within this State. (Note: Stepparents can not act as a sponsor unless the minor is adopted or appointed the minor’s guardian.)
  - OR -
  
• Legal guardian or court-appointed custodian of the minor, duly appointed as such under the laws of this State.
  - OR -
  
• By any suitable person acceptable to the Secretary of Public Safety or the Chief of Driver Services, (302) 744-2561.
• The sponsor must sign the minor’s drivers license application in the presence of a Division licensing employee. However, the parent, guardian, or court-appointed custodian acting as a sponsor can have his/her signature notarized on the application and have it forwarded to the Division.

Must I take a drivers education course?

• An applicant must present a Delaware Driver Education Certificate (Blue Certificate) as proof that you passed a certified Delaware Driver Education Course. If you passed a course in another state, your out-of-state certificate must be approved by the Department of Education; this approval must be presented to the Division of Motor Vehicles. For approval send the certificate to the Education Associate for Driver Education, Safety and Physical Education, Townsend Building, P.O. Box 1402, Dover, Delaware 19903, or fax to 302-739-3744 (Telephone 302-739-4885).

What identification documents do I need?

Required Documentation Table

How do I transfer my out-of-state license?

Those persons who are at least 16 years old but less than 18 years and were issued a driver's license by another state must obtain a Delaware license within 60 days after becoming a Delaware resident.

1. The applicant must have completed an approved driver education course.
2. The applicant must pass a written and road examination conducted by the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles and an eye screening.
3. The application must be signed by an approved sponsor.
4. If the minor applicant was issued an out-of-state license for over 18 months, they may be eligible for a Class D operator's license.

If the minor applicant was issued an out-of-state license for less than 12 months, they may be eligible for a Level One Learner's Permit.

How do I get a motorcycle endorcement or permit?

Any person who operates a motorcycle, motorbike or other 2-wheeled, motor-driven vehicle on the highway shall have a driver's license with a motorcycle endorsement. Persons over the age of 18 must pass a written examination and road skills test to obtain a motorcycle endorsement. The written and road test examinations are waived for those who complete the approved motorcycle rider education program. This endorsement costs $8.00, and it is valid for the same period as the license.

The Division publishes a Delaware Motorcycle Operator Manual which covers the requirements for the Motorcycle endorsement, procedures to acquire the endorsement, testing requirements, and the basic knowledge needed to obtain this endorsement.

Motorcycle Rider Classes

New Castle County - 302-326-5030
Kent County and Sussex County - 302-744-2658
Experienced Rider Progam - New Castle 302-326-5030 for Kent or Sussex 302-744-2658