Delaware DMV · Quick Reference 2026

Delaware DMV Test Cheat Sheet

Every key number, rule, and fact from the Delaware Driver Manual (July 2025) — on one page. Bookmark it or print it.

🏎️ Speed Limits

Route 1 & I-49565 mph

Controlled-access (turnpikes/expwy)55 mph

Two-lane road50 mph

Divided / 4+ lane road55 mph

Business / Residential district25 mph

School zone (when children present)20 mph

Roundabout10–15 mph

Work zone — finesDOUBLED

💡 The 20 mph school-zone limit applies only when children are present (defined in Title 21 of the Delaware Code) and zone signs are posted (p. 91). General Speed Restriction: never drive faster than is reasonable for conditions, even if below the posted limit.

🅿️ Parking Distances

From fire hydrant15 feet MEMORIZE

From crosswalk at intersection20 feet

From fire station entrance20 feet

From stop sign / yield / signal30 feet

From railroad crossing50 feet

From curb (parallel parking)12 inches

In front of a drivewayNever — prohibited

🍺 Alcohol & DUI Laws

BAC limit — drivers 21+0.08%

BAC limit — under 210.02% Zero Tolerance

BAC limit — CDL / commercial0.04%

Refuse chemical test (1st)12 months

Refuse chemical test (subsequent)18–24 months

Fail chemical test (BAC < .15)12 months

1st DUI conviction12-month minimum revocation

Under-21 DUI2-month suspension (1st)

Reinstate suspended license$50

Reinstate revoked license$200

⚠️ Delaware Implied Consent: by driving on a Delaware road you have agreed to submit to a chemical test (breath, blood, or urine) when arrested for DUI. Refusing carries a 12-month DMV revocation that runs separately from any DUI conviction — and refusal at .20+ BAC carries a 24-month revocation.

⚖️ DUI Penalties (Adults)

Offense	Fine	Jail	Suspension
1st DUI	$500–$1,500	Up to 12 mo	12–24 mo (BAC-tiered)
2nd DUI (within 10 yrs)	$750–$2,500	60 days – 18 mo	18-month revocation
3rd DUI (within 10 yrs)	$1,500–$5,000 (felony)	1 – 2 yrs mandatory	24-month revocation
4th+ DUI	$3,000–$7,000 (felony)	2 – 5 years	5 yrs (Class E felony)

📏 Key Distances & Rules

Turn signal — all roads300 feet before

Lane-change signal300 feet before

Following distance3-second rule

Following — bad weather4-second rule (or more)

School bus stop distance20 feet minimum

No passing — bridge / tunnel100 feet

No passing — RR crossing100 feet

Dim headlights (oncoming)500 feet

Dim headlights (following)200 feet

High beam range / Low beam350 ft / 100 ft

Tail / brake lights visible500 ft / 100 ft

Horn audible from200 feet

Pass cyclist clearance3 feet minimum

RR crossing stop range15–50 feet from rail

Don't follow emergency vehicleWithin 500 feet (lights on)

💡 Headlights are required from sunset to sunrise, any time visibility is less than 1,000 feet, and any time windshield wipers are in use (p. 60). At 55 mph for 3–4 seconds your vehicle covers the length of a football field — leave room.

🔷 Sign Shapes

Shape	Meaning	Example
Octagon (8 sides)	STOP	Stop sign
Inverted triangle	YIELD	Yield sign
Diamond	WARNING	Curves, merges, hills
Pentagon (5 sides)	SCHOOL	School zone/crossing
Circle	RAILROAD	Advance RR warning
Pennant	NO PASSING	No passing zone (left side)
Vertical rectangle	REGULATORY	Speed limits, rules
Horizontal rectangle	GUIDE	Directions, distances
Crossbuck (X)	RR CROSSING	At the crossing itself

🎨 Sign Colors

Color	Meaning
🔴 Red	Stop, yield, do not enter, prohibition
⬜ White	Regulatory — rules and laws
🟡 Yellow	Warning — hazards ahead
🟢 Green	Guide — directions, distances
🔵 Blue	Services — gas, food, hospital
🟠 Orange	Construction / work zone
🟤 Brown	Parks, recreation, historic
💛 Yellow-Green	Pedestrian, school, bicycle

↗️ Right-of-Way Rules

→At a 4-way stop: first to arrive goes first. If tied, driver on the RIGHT goes first.
→At an uncontrolled intersection: yield to the vehicle on the RIGHT.
→Turning left: always yield to oncoming straight-through traffic.
→Entering from alley, driveway, or private road: stop and yield to ALL traffic.
→At a T-intersection (no signs): the vehicle on the terminating road yields.
→Pedestrians in a crosswalk: ALWAYS yield — marked or unmarked.
→Emergency vehicles with lights/sirens: pull to the RIGHT and stop.
→Delaware Move Over law: on multi-lane roads change lanes away from a stopped emergency, tow, utility, or DelDOT vehicle; on two-lane roads slow below the posted speed and pass with caution.

🚌 School Bus Rules

→Stop at least 20 feet from a school bus with red flashing lights or extended stop arm — both directions on any two-lane or undivided road.
→Exception: on a divided roadway with a median or four or more lanes, traffic on the OPPOSITE side of the bus is not required to stop (but must remain alert for children crossing).
→Penalty for passing a stopped school bus: $115–$230 fine + 30–60 days jail + 1-month license suspension on a 1st offense; second offense within 3 years = $230–$575 + 60–90 days + 6-month suspension.

🎓 Teen / GDL Laws

Minimum age for permit16 years

Hold permit for6 months minimum

Supervised practice hours50 hrs (10 at night)

Driver educationRequired for under-18 GDL

Supervising driver age25+ with Class D ≥ 5 yr

Class D license — full age17 (after 12 mo Level 1)

GDL cap age18 (22 with IEP)

Curfew — first 6 monthsSupervised driving only

Curfew — after 6 monthsUnsupervised 6 AM – 10 PM

Passenger restrictionAdult sup + 1 other (family OK)

Phone use (under 18)Banned (even hands-free)

Permit violation2-mo suspension (1st)

🛡️ Child Restraint & Safety Belts

Under 2 yrs AND under 30 lbsRear-facing car seat

Under 4 yrs AND under 40 lbsForward-facing harness seat

Until age 8 (or 65 lbs)Booster seat

Ages 8+ (or 65 lbs)Lap/shoulder seatbelt

Under 12 yrs OR under 5'5"Must ride in rear seat

Seatbelt enforcementPrimary — fine $25 (driver) + $25 (each unbelted passenger)

🏦 Insurance & Financial Responsibility

Bodily injury (per person)$25,000

Bodily injury (per accident)$50,000

Property damage (per accident)$10,000

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)$15,000 / $30,000

Uninsured driver penalty$1,500–$2,000 + 6-mo suspension

Proof of insuranceRequired at traffic stops — electronic proof on phone accepted

📋 License Fees & Administration

Class D license (8 yr)$40

Late renewal fee$10

Replacement / duplicate license$20

Reinstate suspended license$50

Reinstate revoked license$200

Renewal frequencyEvery 8 yrs (180-day window)

New resident — get DE licenseWithin 60 days

Address change deadlineWithin 30 days

Vision standard20/40 (corrected)

DMV website / locationsdmv.de.gov — Wilmington, Delaware City, Dover, Georgetown

🚗 Other Must-Know Rules

→Hand-held phone use while driving: banned for all drivers; hands-free is allowed for adults but completely banned for any driver under 18 (even hands-free).
→Texting while driving: banned outright for every driver in Delaware — primary enforcement.
→Headlights required: sunset to sunrise, any time wipers are on, and whenever visibility is less than 1,000 feet.
→Hill parking: downhill = turn wheels TO curb. Uphill with curb = turn wheels AWAY from curb.
→U-turns: illegal if you cannot see 500 feet in all directions, near curves, hills, intersections with signals, or where prohibited by sign.
→Skidding: ease off gas/brakes, steer INTO the direction of the skid.
→Studded tires are only legal Oct 15 – Apr 15; outside this window they must be removed.
→Point system: 8 calculated points = advisory letter, 12 = course or 2-mo suspension, 14 = 4-month suspension. Points are halved after 12 months without a new offense.

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