Driving Tests

Delaware Driving Privilege Card: Tax Returns, SBI Fingerprints and ID

informational·how to guide·Published September 11, 2026

Can I get a Delaware license without legal status?

Yes, in one form. If you can show every required proof except legal presence in the United States, Delaware may issue a driving privilege card (DPC). You need Delaware tax returns for each of the 2 preceding years (or dependent status), SBI fingerprints (SBI charges $72), two proofs of Delaware residency and the written and road exams. The DPC costs $20, lasts 4 years and is not valid as ID.

Where these rules come from

The eligibility, tax return, SBI, card text, fee and permit rules come from Title 21 of the Delaware Code, sections 2711, 2712, 2715 and 2718. The step-by-step process and the document list come from the Delaware Driver Manual (July 2026 edition). The 2026 DMV guide for new residents gives the current Class D fee. Where the law and the Manual differ, the law wins. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Delaware DMV (dmv.de.gov) before you drive.

What a driving privilege card is

Delaware law lets the DMV issue a Class D license or a Class D Temporary Instruction Permit "valid for driving privileges only" to an applicant who shows all required proof except legal presence in the United States. This card or permit is the driving privilege card or permit (DPC). The required proof covers your name, date of birth, Social Security number (if you are eligible), sex and Delaware address.
The DPC is for Delaware residents who cannot show legal presence. People whose immigration or passport documents are invalid or expired may also be eligible. U.S. citizens and persons with valid legal presence documents are not eligible.

DPC compared with a regular Class D license

DPC compared with a regular Class D license
Item	Driving privilege card	Class D license
Fee	$20	$50
How long it lasts	4 years, to your birthday	8 years, to your birthday
Proof of legal presence	Not required, but you must meet the other DPC rules	Required

The DPC steps in order

1
Check that you are eligible
You must live in Delaware and be unable to show legal presence. If you cannot show legal presence and do not meet the DPC rules, the DMV can refuse you a license.
2
Book an appointment with the State Bureau of Identification (SBI)
Since September 11, 2023, all eligible applicants must schedule an appointment with SBI to begin the DPC process. Book it online at uenroll.identogo.com with service code 27S424. At the appointment, SBI collects your fingerprints, validates your identification and collects a $72 fee.
3
Keep the SBI receipt
SBI gives you a receipt. Bring it with you to the DMV.
4
Collect the tax filing document
Get a Certification of Filing Compliance from the Delaware Division of Revenue. You can get it at once on the Division of Revenue website (tax.delaware.gov), or call 302-577-8200 to find the nearest office and pick it up in person. It confirms that Delaware taxes were filed for the previous 2 years.
5
Gather your other documents
Bring a valid foreign passport or consular ID, two proofs of Delaware residency and any name-change papers. Documents must be originals or certified copies. Photocopied, altered or expired documents are not accepted.
6
Apply in person
Go to a DMV office in Delaware City, Dover, Georgetown or Wilmington. Sign the DPC application, show proof of your Social Security number if you are eligible for one, and pass the eye screening. Then take the written exam and, later, the road skills exam.

The Delaware tax return rule

The law asks for proof that, for each of the preceding 2 years, you filed a Delaware income tax return, or lived in Delaware and were claimed as a dependent by a person who filed one. The DMV takes one paper as this proof: the Certification of Filing Compliance from the Division of Revenue.
The paper shows your name and address, the years filed, your ITIN or Social Security number and a document locator code. The names and numbers of a spouse or dependents on the return can be on it too. The DMV checks it with the Division of Revenue when you apply.

The SBI fingerprint step

The law also requires every DPC applicant to complete the procedures of section 8595 of Title 11. The DMV process starts with an SBI appointment: fingerprints, a check of your identification and a $72 fee. The SBI receipt shows your name and the SBI receipt number. The DMV checks the receipt with SBI when you apply, so bring the original, not a photocopy.

Documents to bring to the DMV

The SBI receipt and the Division of Revenue Certification of Filing Compliance.
Proof of name and date of birth: one valid, unexpired foreign passport, or one valid, unexpired consular identification document from your country of citizenship. The Manual lists consular cards from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico, and the list may change. For Mexico, the Mexican voter card (IFE Credencial para Votar) is also approved.
Two separate proofs of Delaware residency, such as utility bills, credit card statements, auto or life insurance policies or bank account records. Photocopies, printouts of bills and non-business letters are not accepted. The two proofs of residency guide shows more examples.
Proof of any name change, translated into English by a professional translator.
If you are under 18: an original and a translated copy of your birth certificate.

Exams and the DPC permit

DPC applicants and holders follow the same rules as holders of a Class D license, a Class D Temporary Instruction Permit and a Level 1 Learner's Permit.
From age 18, after the written exam, you may drive for 12 months only with a licensed operator over 21 in the seat beside you and no more than 2 other persons in the vehicle. Without that adult, you drive without a license. If you do not pass the road exam in the 12 months, the permit is void and you forfeit the fee. See the adult temporary instruction permit guide and the free question on who may supervise an adult permit holder.

Why the card says "Not Valid For Identification"

By law, the DPC has its own design and shows "Driving Privilege Only" and "Not Valid For Identification" on its face. It is not a valid form of identification for any purpose. It is a valid license for driving within Delaware only.
The personal information that you give in the DPC application stays confidential, except for purposes that also apply to other license applicants.

What to do in common cases

Your immigration or passport documents are invalid or expired

You cannot get a regular Delaware license or ID card with them, but you may be eligible for a DPC.

You did not file your own Delaware tax return

Show that you lived in Delaware and that a person who filed a Delaware return claimed you as a dependent, for each of the 2 preceding years.

Your documents are not in English

Have a professional translator translate them into English, and bring the original with the translation.

You have a license from another state

Bring it. You must surrender it when you apply for the DPC.

You want a commercial driver license (CDL)

A DPC cannot lead to a CDL, because federal law requires proof of legal presence for a CDL.

Key takeaways

A driving privilege card (DPC) is for Delaware residents who can show everything except legal presence in the United States.
You need Delaware tax returns for the 2 preceding years, or dependent status, shown by the Division of Revenue Certification of Filing Compliance.
Start with an SBI appointment for fingerprints. SBI charges $72 and gives you a receipt to bring to the DMV.
The DPC costs $20 and is valid for 4 years. An 8-year Class D license costs $50.
The card says "Not Valid For Identification". It is a license to drive in Delaware only.
Next step: practice on the free Delaware Class D practice test before your written exam.

Delaware driving privilege card: common questions

Can I use a DPC as ID at a bank or airport?

No. The card is not a valid form of identification for any purpose, and "Not Valid For Identification" is printed on its face. When a bank, airline or office asks for ID, show your passport or consular ID. Use the DPC only as your license to drive in Delaware.

Is a DPC cheaper than a regular Delaware license?

Yes. The DPC fee is $20 for 4 years, which is $5 per year. An 8-year Class D license costs $50, which is $6.25 per year. The DPC expires on your birthday about 4 years after it is issued, and you then renew it.

Which country IDs does Delaware accept for a DPC?

Bring one valid, unexpired foreign passport or consular ID from your country of citizenship. The July 2026 Manual accepts consular cards from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico, and says the list may change. Mexican applicants may also use the IFE voter card (Credencial para Votar).

What do I need if I am under 18?

Bring the same documents as an adult, plus an original and a translated copy of your birth certificate. For the tax proof, you can show that a person who filed a Delaware return claimed you as a dependent for each of the 2 preceding years. The Level 1 Learner's Permit rules also apply to you.

How soon can I take the road test after the written test?

You can take the Class D road exam 30 days after you pass the knowledge exam, on any weekday except Wednesday. The 2024 Manual said 10 days. Bring your permit, the license of the adult who comes with you and the vehicle registration card. No phone use or music is allowed. See the free page on the four parts of the driver examination.