Delaware - Apply for Graduate Driver's License

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Procedure

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.

1. The applicant must provide documentation proving the their 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). If proper documentation is provided, you will be issued a federally compliant driver license.
2. Pay the $40.00 Class D license fee and pass an eye screen at the time of application. All new licenses will be 8 year licenses.

Note: 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.

Road Tests

Road tests are given on every weekday, except Wednesday, from 8:00 until 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 until 3:30. For more information you may contact the facility that you obtained your permit.

Road tests will not be conducted during inclement weather (rain, fog, snow and ice).

Bring the following when you take Class D test:

1. Valid vehicle registration card and valid insurance card for the vehicle that you will drive during the test.
2. Driver's license of the driver who came with you.
3. Your learner's permit.

The examiner will conduct a basic vehicle safety inspection before the road test begins. Please refrain from smoking during the test. The New Castle Inspection Lane does not conduct motorcycle road tests.

Road Test - Locations

For a Class D Operator's License:

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D operator's license when the driver has held a Level One Learner's Permit for at least 12 months, the sponsor has not withdrawn his/her endorsement, and the applicant's driving privileges are not suspended, revoked, canceled, denied, or surrendered.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

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Required Documents

Acceptable Identification Document List

Any person applying for a drivers license (DL) or identification (ID) card is required to submit one primary document and one secondary document from the following list. A primary document must contain the full name and date of birth and must be verifiable, example: the issuing agency may be contacted to determine the authenticity of the document.

Each applicant must provide their social security number, if eligible, two separate proofs of Delaware residence (i.e. rent receipt or lease and electric, telephone or other utility receipts etc.) and non-US citizens must provide proof of legal presence in the United States.

Note: False statements, attempted fraud by displaying invalid licenses, ID Cards, or documents, or misrepresentation is perjury and may result in fines and denial of licenses and services. A driver license may be suspended any time false information is found on the signed application form.

Provide ONE of the following proof of identity/legal presence documents: This document must contain proof of full legal name, date of birth, and citizenship/legal presence in the United States to be eligible to obtain a federally compliant identification document.

• Certificate of birth (U.S. issued). Must be original or certified copy, have a raised seal and be issued by the Office of Vital Statistics or State Board of Health. Please note that wallet cards, birth registration or hospital announcements/records are not accepted. (If under 18, birth certificate must include birth parent(s) names)
• Consular report of birth abroad
• Certificate of Naturalization (N-550, N570m or N-578)
• Certificate of

Eligibility

Level One Learner's Permit

Applicant's eligibility requirements:

• Applicant must be at least 16 years old, and less than 18 years of age.
• May be able to 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 Dr. M. Dean Betts,
  Education Associate Driver Education,
  Department of Education,
  Collette Education Resource Center,
  35 Commerce Way, Suite 1,
  Dover, Delaware 19904,
  OR
  You may fax it to 302.739.1780 (Telephone 302.857.3320)

Sponsors

The signature of the sponsor is needed in all minor's driver license applications. The sponsor is held jointly liable with the minor for any damages resulting from the minor's negligence. 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 rests on the sponsor. The sponsor may withdraw his/her endorsement at any time until the minor reaches age 18, thereby cancelling the minor's driving privileges.

The following sponsors are listed in order of preference:

1. Either father or mother of the minor if both parents are living together within this State and the minor resides with both parents. (Note: Parents are verified by using the minor's original or certified copy of their birth certificate which must include mother and/or father's name), or
2. 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: Parents are verified by using the minor's original or certified copy of their birth certificate which must include mother and/or father's name. Step-parents can not act as a sponsor unless the minor is adopted or appointed the minor's guardian. or
3. Legal guardian or court-appointed custodian of the minor, duly appointed as such under the laws of this State.
4. By any suitable person acceptable to the Secretary of Transportation or the Chief of Driver Services, 302.744.2561.

Ineligible Immigration Status

Those applicants who are legally in the United States under the following immigration status or holding invalid or expired documents are not eligible for a Delaware-issued driver license or identification card, even if they have established residency in Delaware:

Those under the following immigration statuses are not eligible to apply for a Delaware driver license or identification document:

• Those with invalid or expired immigration or passport documents
• Those I-94 holders without a valid INS or USCIS stamp
• Immigration status A-1. Ambassador, public minister, career diplomatic or consular officer and dependents are ineligible, because an "A" status may only be issued a driver's license from the United States State Department
• Immigration status A-2 for other foreign government officials or employees and dependents unless they are foreign military official and/or their dependents. Foreign military members and their dependents must provide a valid passport, I-94, visa, or assignment orders to be eligible
• Immigration status B-1. Visitor for business
• Immigration status B-2. Visitor for pleasure (tourist)
• Immigration status C-1. Alien in transit through the United States
• Immigration status C-2. Alien in transit to United Nations Headquarters district. Travel limited to 25 miles radius of Columbus Circle in New York
• Immigration status C-3. Foreign government official coming to the United Nations, dependents, attendants, servants, or other personal employees of an official in transit through United States
• Immigration status D-1. Alien crew members
• Immigration status G-1. Resident representative of a foreign government to an international organization, plus staff and dependents
• Immigration status WB. Visitor for business (visa waiver program.)
• Immigration status WT. Visitor for pleasure (tourist in visa waiver (program.)
• Attached unexpired temporary I-551 visa

Instructions

To obtain a driver's license, you must apply in person at one of the offices of the Division of Motor Vehicles in Wilmington, New Castle, Dover, or Georgetown.

Required Information

• Full Name
• Date of Birth
• Sex
• State
• County
• Expiry Date
• Social Security Number
• Mailing address
• Residence address

Need for the Document

The graduated driver license program is designed to reduce the high accident and fatality rate of minor drivers. Applicants under this program 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.

Following are procedures on how you can apply for a graduated driver's license in Delaware.