How old do you have to be for a Delaware learner permit?

16+ learner permit path. Verify your exact applicant path with Delaware DMV before applying.

How many questions are on the Delaware permit test?

Use 30 questions as the planning figure on this guide, then confirm the latest test format with the official source.

What score do I need to pass in Delaware?

Use 24 correct / 80% as the benchmark and practice above that line before test day.

What documents should Delaware learners prepare?

Prepare Delaware DMV identity/legal presence, Social Security, residency documents, fee payment, and sponsor/parent documents for minors when required.

What documents do I need for a Delaware learner permit?

Prepare Delaware DMV identity/legal presence, Social Security, residency documents, fee payment, and sponsor/parent documents for minors when required.

How much does the Delaware permit test or learner permit cost?

Delaware fee amounts can change by application type, testing path, and office policy. Check the official source before scheduling and bring an accepted payment method.

What is the Delaware retake rule if I fail?

Delaware retake rules can depend on testing method, number of attempts, age, appointment availability, and fee policy. Check the official source before booking another attempt.

What is different for teens and adults in Delaware?

Teen applicants may have parent, education, or supervised-driving requirements. Adult applicants should confirm the first-license path with the official DMV.

Where is the official Delaware driver handbook?

Use the official driver handbook linked by your state DMV, then use practice questions to check your understanding.

Delaware Permit Restrictions: Driving Alone, Night & Passenger Rules (2026)

Last UpdatedAugust 4, 2026State guide facts, source links, and DMV-day reminders are reviewed for learner permit prep.

State permit restrictions

Delaware permit rules at a glance

Last updated
August 4, 2026

Delaware learner permit and provisional license restrictions were organized from official state licensing sources.

Quick answer
During mandatory supervision, Delaware requires a properly licensed parent/guardian or a licensed driver age 25 or older who has held a Class D license for at least 5 years, seated beside the permit holder. After the learner stage, new drivers should still check Delaware night, passenger, and phone restrictions before driving alone.

Written by Abhishek Chigadani
Reviewed by US Permit Prep editorial team
Source checked against official DMV/state safety pages

At a glance

Delaware learner and provisional restriction snapshot

Learner permit ageDelaware Level One Learner's Permit eligibility begins at age 16.

Supervisor ruleDuring mandatory supervision, Delaware requires a properly licensed parent/guardian or a licensed driver age 25 or older who has held a Class D license for at least 5 years, seated beside the permit holder.

Supervised hoursAfter the first 6 months, the sponsor must certify 50 supervised driving hours, including 10 hours at night, before the permit holder can use the unsupervised daytime privilege.

Holding periodDelaware's Level One Learner's Permit lasts 12 months; the first 6 months are supervised-only before limited unsupervised day driving may begin.

Provisional ageDelaware Class D license eligibility for minors generally begins at age 17 after the 12-month Level One Learner's Permit experience is completed.

Fee notePermit and license fees can change by transaction type. Check the official state fee page before visiting, and use the DMV fees cheat sheet to plan what to bring.

Primary sourceDelaware DMV – Graduated Driver License

State-specific notes

Delaware rules that are easy to miss

First 6 months are supervised-onlyDelaware's Level One permit is stricter at first, then allows limited unsupervised daytime driving after the sponsor certifies practice hours.
Supervisor age is higher than many statesDelaware allows a parent/guardian supervisor, but other licensed supervising drivers must be at least 25 and have held a Class D license for at least 5 years.
One other passenger ruleDuring the first 12 months, Delaware limits passengers to the adult supervisor and one or fewer other passengers.
Fee noteDelaware's Level One law references a $25 Class D fee at initial application; verify current DMV fees before your visit.

Try the tool

Check a Delaware permit driving situation

Use this quick checker when a learner or provisional driver wants to know whether a trip looks allowed. It checks age, permit stage, supervision, time of day, passengers, highway or freeway driving, phone use, and trip purpose against the Delaware data we have reviewed.

This tool is a planning aid, not a replacement for official Delaware DMV or licensing rules. If the result mentions an exception or says to check the state rule, open the official source before driving.

Interactive checker

Check a Delaware driving situation

Use this tool for Delaware learner permit and provisional-license situations. It is designed for quick planning, then points you back to official sources for final wording.

Answer a few questions about your permit stage, supervision, time of day, passengers, and trip purpose. The checker returns a practical result with a reason, next step, and official state source link.

Quick answer If you are on a learner permit, assume a qualified licensed adult is required unless your official state source clearly says otherwise. If you are on a provisional license, check curfew and passenger limits before driving at night or with friends.

State

Delaware Loaded from this state page

Driver age

Permit or license stage

Supervision Licensed adult is present

Supervisor relationship

Supervisor age

Valid license Front passenger seat

Driving situation

Trip start time

Trip purpose

This is night driving This includes highway/freeway driving Driver plans to use a phone/device while driving

Passengers

Total passengers

Young non-family passengers

Family passengers

Delaware page mode

This checker is locked to Delaware so the page stays focused on one state instead of repeating every supported state summary.

Why some results say Check state rule

Some restrictions depend on region, exact age in months, passenger relationship, documentation, or official exceptions. For those cases, the checker points you back to the state source instead of guessing.

Official-source check

Delaware source used by this tool

This page shows only the source snapshot for Delaware. To compare all supported states, use the permit restrictions hub.

Compare all permit restriction guides

Delaware During mandatory supervision, Delaware requires a properly licensed parent/guardian or a licensed driver age 25 or older who… After the Level One permit period is completed and a Class D license is issued, verify whether any… Check Delaware DMV - Graduated Driver License Last checked: August 4, 2026

Can a learner permit driver drive alone in Delaware?

During mandatory supervision, Delaware requires a properly licensed parent/guardian or a licensed driver age 25 or older who has held a Class D license for at least 5 years, seated beside the permit holder. Treat solo driving on a learner permit as not allowed unless the official source clearly says your exact situation is an exception.

Delaware learner night driving

After the first 6 months, Delaware Level One permit holders may drive unsupervised from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; 10 p.m.-to-6 a.m. driving requires supervision unless a church, work, or school exception applies.

Delaware provisional night restriction

After the Level One permit period is completed and a Class D license is issued, verify whether any remaining age-based restrictions apply to your situation.

Delaware passenger restriction

After the Level One permit period is completed and a Class D license is issued, verify whether any remaining age-based passenger restrictions apply.

Highway and freeway notes

No separate learner highway restriction is coded here; the listed supervision and GDL rules still apply.

Phone and device rules

Delaware Level One permit holders should not use a phone while driving except for emergency/source exceptions; verify current DMV wording before relying on a device exception. Delaware young drivers should verify current DMV/device-use restrictions before using a phone while driving.

Before you drive

What to verify in Delaware

Permit stage: learner permit rules are different from provisional or intermediate license rules.
Supervisor details: check age, license validity, seat location, and relationship rules.
Night exceptions: work, school, medical, emergency, or religious exceptions may require proof in some states.
Passenger relationship: family passengers and young non-family passengers are often treated differently.
Documents and fees: bring accepted DMV documents and confirm current payment rules before a permit or license visit.

Official resources

Delaware permit restriction source links

US Permit Prep is independent and not a government agency. Use these links to verify final rules before driving or scheduling.

Delaware DMV – Graduated Driver LicenseLevel One permit restrictions, unsupervised window
Delaware DMV – Under 18 FAQ50 hours, 10 night hours
Delaware DMV – Level One Learner's Permit Lawsupervisor rule, passenger rule, 12-month permit duration, Class D fee

Delaware permit restriction FAQs

Can you drive alone with a learner permit in Delaware?

Usually no for this state data set. During mandatory supervision, Delaware requires a properly licensed parent/guardian or a licensed driver age 25 or older who has held a Class D license for at least 5 years, seated beside the permit holder. Open the official Delaware source before relying on any exception.

Can you drive at night with a permit in Delaware?

What are the provisional license night rules in Delaware?

After the Level One permit period is completed and a Class D license is issued, verify whether any remaining age-based restrictions apply to your situation.

What are the passenger restrictions for new drivers in Delaware?

After the Level One permit period is completed and a Class D license is issued, verify whether any remaining age-based passenger restrictions apply.

Are these Delaware permit restriction rules official?

US Permit Prep is independent and not a government agency. This page summarizes official-source research and links to the source so you can verify the final wording before driving.

What age can you get a Delaware Level One Learner's Permit?

Delaware Level One Learner's Permit eligibility begins at age 16.

When can a Delaware permit holder drive alone?

After the first 6 months and sponsor certification of 50 practice hours, a Delaware Level One permit holder may drive unsupervised from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with listed exceptions for later travel.

How many supervised hours does Delaware require?

Delaware requires 50 supervised driving hours, including 10 nighttime hours, before the limited unsupervised daytime privilege begins.

Other launch states

Compare nearby restriction guides

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