Driving Tests

Delaware Driver's License at 18 or Older: Temporary Permit

informational·how to guide·Published September 15, 2026

How do you get a first driver's license in Delaware at 18 or older?

Apply in person at the Delaware DMV. Pass the eye screening and the written exam, pay the fee, and you get a Class D Temporary Instruction Permit for 12 months. Drive only with a licensed operator over 21 beside you and no more than 2 other people. Take the road exam no sooner than 30 days after you pass the written exam. The Class D license costs $50 (U.S. dollars) for 8 years.

Where these rules come from

The permit rules come from Delaware Code Title 21, § 2712, and the license fee comes from § 2715. The application steps and the road exam details come from the Delaware Driver Manual (July 2026). The change from 6 to 12 months comes from 84 Del. Laws c. 78, and the 2026 DMV new residents guide confirms the $50 fee. Where the law and the Manual differ, this guide follows the law. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Delaware DMV (dmv.de.gov) before you drive.

Steps to your first Delaware license at 18 or older

1
Choose your path
Delaware makes the graduated driver license (GDL) program optional at 18 or older. If you opt out, you need no sponsor, and you take an eye, knowledge and road skills exam at the DMV.
2
Gather your documents
The DMV needs proof of your name, date of birth, legal presence in the United States, Social Security number (if you are eligible), sex and Delaware residence address. The documents and proof of residency guide lists what to bring.
3
Apply in person
You must apply at the Division of Motor Vehicles in Delaware City, Dover, Georgetown or Wilmington. Payment is due when you apply.
4
Pass the eye screening and the written exam
The DMV issues the Temporary Instruction Permit after you pass both exams and pay the required fee. The permit is valid for 12 months.
5
Practice with a qualified supervisor
Drive only with a licensed operator over 21 in the seat beside you and no more than 2 other people in the car.
6
Pass the road exam and get your Class D license
Take the road exam no sooner than 30 days after you pass the knowledge exam. After you pass, the DMV can issue your Class D license.

Who can ride with you on the permit

The permit lets you drive for 12 months under two conditions. A licensed operator over 21 must sit in the seat beside you, and no more than 2 other people may ride in the car. Your supervisor must also be licensed for the class of vehicle you drive.

Some lines of the Driver Manual say "at least 21 years of age," but the law says "over the age of 21." This guide follows the law. You can test this rule on the free practice question about the qualified accompanying driver for an adult permit.

Delaware adult permit at a glance

Delaware adult permit at a glance
Item	Rule
Minimum age	18 or older
Permit length	12 months (it was 6 months before a 2023 law change)
Supervisor	Licensed operator over 21, in the seat beside you
Other people in the car	No more than 2
Exams before the permit	Eye screening and written exam
Exam before the Class D license	Road exam, at least 30 days after the knowledge exam
Class D license fee	$50 for 8 years

What happens if you break the rules or run out of time

Driving on the permit without the licensed operator over 21 beside you, or with more than 2 other people, counts as driving without a license under § 2701(a). A permit holder who breaks this rule is suspended for 2 months for a first offense and 4 months for later offenses. The fine for a first offense of driving without a license is $50 to $200.

If you do not pass the required exam within the 12 months, the permit is void and the fee is forfeited. Book your road exam well before the permit ends.

What to do in common situations

You cannot show proof of legal presence in the United States

You may be eligible for a Class D license or a Class D temporary instruction permit that is valid for driving privileges only. Delaware calls it a driving privilege card or permit.

You receive special education services under an active IEP

You may skip the adult permit rules. Up to age 22, you can hold a Level 1 Learner's Permit for at least 12 months, with an application signed by a sponsor, and then get a Class D license.

You are a child in the custody of the state child services department

You pay no fee under the permit section (§ 2712) or the license fee section (§ 2715) of the law.

You cannot read road signs in English

A person who cannot understand highway warning or direction signs in English cannot get a license.

Road exam day

You can take a Class D road exam on any weekday except Wednesday, 30 days after you pass the knowledge exam. The 2024 Manual said 10 days, so older guides can show the wrong wait. Schedule yours online with My Road Test, or call a DMV office.

Bring your valid learner's permit, your supervisor's driver license, and valid registration and insurance cards. The drive lasts about 30 minutes, with no cell phone use or music. A licensed driver must stay on site to drive the car away if you do not pass.

The examination has four parts: vision screening (20/40 minimum, glasses or contacts allowed), signs and signals, rules of the road, and the road test. Review them with the four-part examination question.

Phone use while you practice

Delaware bans using an electronic communication device while you drive a motor vehicle on any highway and the vehicle is in motion. A hands-free call with hands-free equipment is allowed. A first offense is a civil penalty of $100, and the law assesses no motor vehicle points. The hand-held device ban for permit holders covers the extra rules for teen permit holders.

What the license costs

The Class D license fee is $50, and the license is valid for 8 years. The law, the 2026 DMV new residents guide and the July 2026 Driver Manual all give $50. Older copies of the Manual show $40, so plan for $50. Driver license fees also include the cost of the learner's permits that come before the license. Payment is due when you apply.

Key takeaways

At 18 or older, you can get a Class D Temporary Instruction Permit. The GDL program is optional for you.
The permit lasts 12 months. If you do not pass the exam in that time, the permit is void and the fee is forfeited.
Drive only with a licensed operator over 21 beside you and no more than 2 other people in the car.
Break these rules and the law counts it as driving without a license. The suspension is 2 months for a first offense.
Take the road exam no sooner than 30 days after the knowledge exam. The Class D license costs $50 for 8 years.
Next step: practice on the free Delaware Class D practice test.

Delaware adult permit: common questions

Can I drive alone on a Delaware Temporary Instruction Permit?

No. The permit lets you drive only when a licensed operator over 21 sits in the seat beside you. If you drive alone, the law treats it as driving without a license. The permit is suspended for 2 months for a first offense, and the fine is $50 to $200.

Can I extend my Delaware adult permit?

No. The current law gives no extension. If you do not pass the required exam during the 12-month period, the permit is void and the fee is forfeited. A 2023 law change removed the old rule that let you pay $5.00 for an extension. Book your road exam early.

Do I need driver's ed to get a Delaware license at 18 or older?

No. The driver education rule in the law applies to applicants who have not reached their 18th birthday. At 18 or older, the GDL program is optional. If you opt out, you need no sponsor, and you take the eye, knowledge and road skills exams at the DMV.

What happens if I fail the Delaware road exam on my permit?

Wait at least 30 days before you try again. The licensed driver who came with you must stay on site and drive the car away. Each new try must come within the 12 months of the permit. After that, the permit is void and the fee is forfeited.

Do I need a Social Security number to get the permit?

The DMV asks for proof of your Social Security number if you are eligible for one. If you cannot show legal presence in the United States, you may be eligible for a driving privilege card or permit, which is valid for driving privileges only.