Driving Tests

Delaware Road Test: What to Bring, the 30-Minute Drive and Skills

informational·how to guide·Published September 16, 2026

What is on the Delaware road test and what do I bring?

The Delaware road test is about 30 minutes of normal driving. Bring your valid permit, a licensed driver over 21 with their license, and the registration and insurance card for the car. The examiner does a basic safety inspection of the car first. You show skills such as a three point turn, backing 50 feet and merging with traffic. After a fail, wait at least 30 days.

Where these rules come from

This guide uses the Delaware Driver Manual (July 2026) for the road exam itself, and Title 21 of the Delaware Code (sections 2701, 2710, 2712 and 2713) for who tests and for the permit rules, as of 2026. Where the two differ, the law wins. The road exam details come from the July 2026 Manual and can change. Confirm the rules with the Delaware DMV (dmv.de.gov) before you drive.

What to bring on test day

Your valid permit. For most adults, this is the Temporary Instruction Permit.
A licensed driver over 21, as your permit describes, with a valid driver license. That driver stays on site and drives the car away if you do not pass.
The valid registration card for the car, and for a trailer if you tow one.
A valid insurance card for the car: the original card or an electronic one.

The car you use for the road test

You provide the car. It must be registered, it must have liability insurance, and it must be in the license class you apply for. For a Class D test, that class covers passenger cars, station wagons, pickup trucks, utility vehicles and most panel trucks. Before the drive starts, the examiner does a basic vehicle safety inspection, and the car must pass it.
You may not smoke, use a cell phone or play music during the exam. Put your phone away and turn off the radio before the exam starts.

How the Delaware road test goes

1
Hand over your papers
Give the examiner your permit, the license of the driver who came with you, and the registration and insurance cards. The examiner then inspects the car. Learn the controls of the test car before test day, because knowing them is part of the exam.
2
Drive for about 30 minutes
You do the things that are usual in normal driving. The examiner never asks you to break a traffic law or to drive in an unsafe way.
3
Show the skills on the list
You show each skill in the next list when the examiner asks for it. Listen to each direction before you move.
4
Get the result
If you pass, you can get your Class D license. If you fail any part, you must wait at least 30 days before you take the exam again.

The skills you must show

Respond to road signs, traffic signals and pavement markings.
Make right and left turns.
Keep a proper speed.
Merge with traffic.
Change lanes.
Follow and pass other vehicles.
Enter intersections.
Use the right-of-way rules.
Inspect the vehicle for safety.
Know the vehicle controls.
Make a three point turn.
Back up 50 feet.

Practice the turning and backing skills

Practice the three point turn and backing 50 feet in an empty lot with your supervising driver. The July 2026 Manual no longer lists parallel parking as a road test skill, but you still need it to park on the street. On a two-way road, you park parallel to and within 12 inches of the curb. Our free question on how close your right wheels must be to the curb tests this distance. The question on what to check before you back up covers the look behind and to both sides. Our practice questions are free and in English only.

Who gives your Delaware road test

Who gives your Delaware road test
Your situation	What happens
Teen in a Delaware driver education course	A certified driver education teacher or the DMV gives the road skills test, before the Level 1 Learner's Permit.
Teen with a disability who needs specialized training	The DMV gives the exams.
Adult 18 or older	You pass the written exam before the Temporary Instruction Permit. You pass the road skills exam before the Class D license, and not until at least 30 days after you pass the knowledge exam.
Teen under 18 who moves to Delaware with an out-of-state license	The DMV gives you a written and road test, and an eye screening.
Adult with a valid license from another state	The law lets the DMV issue a license without exams. The exams are normally waived if your license is valid.

Book the Delaware road test

You can take a Class D road exam 30 days after you pass the knowledge exam. This is also the rule on a Temporary Instruction Permit. The 2024 Manual said 10 days, so older guides can show the wrong wait. A motorcycle road exam still comes 10 days after the knowledge exam. Road exams are given every weekday except Wednesday, according to the July 2026 Manual. Book with the My Road Test scheduler under Online Services on the DMV website, or call your local DMV office to speak with a DMV associate.

While you wait for a retest

Use the 30 days to practice the skills that went wrong, with a supervisor who meets your permit rules. Keep to every permit limit. On a Temporary Instruction Permit, that means a licensed driver over 21 in the seat beside you and no more than 2 other people in the car.
If you break the limits of a Level 1 Learner's Permit or a Temporary Instruction Permit, the law counts it as driving without a license. The permit holder is suspended for 2 months for a first offense and 4 months for each later offense.

Key takeaways

The road exam is about 30 minutes of normal driving, with skills such as a three point turn, backing 50 feet and merging with traffic.
Bring your permit, a licensed driver over 21 who stays on site, and the registration and insurance card of a car that passes the safety inspection.
Do not smoke, use a phone or play music during the exam.
Book with My Road Test or by phone. Exams run every weekday except Wednesday, and you wait at least 30 days after a fail.
Next step: practice on the free Delaware Class D practice test.

Delaware road test: common questions

Can I drive myself to the Delaware road test?

No. Without a valid Class D license that lets you drive alone in Delaware, a licensed driver over 21 must come with you, as your permit describes. A friend under 21 cannot take this role. That driver must stay on site and drive the car away if you do not pass. The adult permit guide explains who can ride with you on a Temporary Instruction Permit.

Where can I take the road test in Delaware?

The July 2026 Manual lists four DMV offices for road exams: Wilmington (302-434-3220), Delaware City (302-832-5176), Dover (302-744-2515) and Georgetown (302-853-1003). You can call the office of your choice to book your road exam by phone.

What happens if my permit expires before I pass the road test?

It depends on the permit. A Temporary Instruction Permit lasts 12 months. If you do not pass in that time, the permit is void and you lose the fee you paid. If a Level 1 Learner's Permit expires, you pay the fees that apply and pass a written and road skills exam at the DMV. Book your road exam early in the permit period.

Do I need a DMV road test if I passed it in driver education?

Not while your certificate is valid. When you complete the course, your certified teacher issues a High School Driver Education Certificate. The DMV accepts it in place of its own written and road skills exams for 6 months from the date of issue. If the certificate expires, you need full testing at the DMV. The driver education certificate guide explains the grade rules.