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In Delaware you must register your vehicle within 30 days of purchasing it or within 90 days of becoming a resident of the state. You can retain your plates for a small fee, but you must surrender them if you are moving out of state or canceling your insurance.
Sample Delaware License Plate
Applying for License Plates in Delaware
All vehicles must be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in Delaware. This includes cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, trailers, and motorhomes.
If you are a new resident in Delaware, you have 60 days to register your vehicle.
If you are buying a new or used vehicle, you have 30 days to register your vehicle.
When you are registering your vehicle for license plates in Delaware, be sure to have the following:
- Proof of insurance
- Certificate of passing emissions test
- Completed form MV-212: Certificate of Title Application
- Valid Driver’s License from Delaware
- Payment for all related registration fees
Note: When you buy a vehicle from a dealer, they will usually handle the registration of your vehicle’s license plates.
Costs for Delaware License Plates
These are just a few of the fees you’ll be required to pay when you register your vehicle at the DMV:
- Registration fee: $40 a year
- License Plate Replacement: $5
- Replacement Sticker: $5
- Retaining Licence Plates:
- With a lien: $55
- Without a lien: $35
- Transfer fee (of retained plates): $20
Types of License Plates in Delaware
The standard license plate in Delaware has a blue background with gold letters. You can also choose from the following types of license plates:
- Disability Plates & Placards
- Personalized Plates
- Specialty Plates
Disability License Plates in Delaware
If you are eligible, you can obtain a disability placard, which is to be hung from your rearview mirror. Or you can get a disability license plate instead. These are available for:
- People with permanent disabilities
- People with temporary disabilities (license plates not available)
- Disabled veterans (placards not available)
Whether you obtain the placard or the license plate, you will be permitted to park in any handicapped parking spaces.
Out-of-state placards and license plates are valid in Delaware. If you become a resident, you will be obligated to register your vehicle and obtain new plates or placard.
Personalized License Plates for Delaware
For just $40 (in addition to your standard registration fees), you can get a personalized license plate.
On this plate, you can:
- Use letters, numbers, hyphens, spaces, and "&"
- Use up to 7 characters, or up to 5 characters for motorcycles
You cannot:
- Use profanity
- Choose all numbers
- Create a combination of 1s and 0s or Is and Os
- Copy a pre-existing plate number
You can look up available license plates for free online.
Specialty License Plates in Delaware
There are many specialty license plates to choose from in Delaware, from ornamental styles to proud representations of your school, state, or charity. Here’s are some of the most common specialty plates you can get:
- Fraternity & Sorority License Plates
- In-State University License Plates
- Out-of-State University License Plates
- Charity & Non-Profit License Plates
- Organizational License Plates
- Military Honor License Plates
- Antique Vehicles in Delaware License Plates
Additional fees are required for these specialty plates. For example, an antique-vehicle plate will cost you $25.
Placement of License Plates in Delaware
Delaware requires you to have only 1 license plate, which must be placed on the rear of the vehicle. This license plate must:
- Be attached to the back
- Be 12 inches from the ground
- Have its registration sticker visible on lower right corner
Don’t get caught without a license plate; see lost or missing plates for more information.
Lost, Stolen, or Damaged License Plates in Delaware
Here are the fees for lost, stolen, or damaged license plates in Delaware:
- License Plate & Sticker: $10
- Sticker or License Plate only: $5
You must report your plates to the police if they were stolen. The DMV will provide you with temporary tags or plates until your new license plates are delivered.
You may be able to apply for the same license plate number. However, you may want to get a new one to avoid problems if your plate was stolen.
Transfer License Plates in Delaware
If you are the owner of a new vehicle, you can transfer your old license plates. You can also request to retain your license plates until you have purchased a new vehicle.
You must visit your local DMV office to apply for a transfer. When you do, remember to bring:
- Your titles (for both vehicles)
- Proof of insurance
- Payment for transfer fees
If you are buying a new car from a dealership or trading in, often they will handle the transfer of your license plates for you.
Retaining License Plates in Delaware
Perhaps you want to use your license plates for a future vehicle, but you haven’t purchased one yet. In this case, you can retain your license plates at the DMV office by paying a $35 retention fee.
When you purchase a new vehicle, you can return to the DMV to register with your retained plates.
Surrendering License Plates in Delaware
If you plan on moving to a new state or country, you’ll have to surrender your license plates. Other situations requiring you to surrender your plates include:
- Applying for a new license plate
- Canceling your vehicle’s insurance
If you cannot return your license plates in person, you can also mail them to a DMV office in Delaware.
How to look up Delaware license plates
In some situations, you may want to perform a background check on the vehicle you are purchasing, or check if a license plate number is available.
FindByPlate offers a free search engine allowing you to look up license plates in Delaware.
Find out if the car you’re thinking about buying was stolen, or whether “CUTECARE” is available to personalize your plate.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to look up Delaware license plates and report bad drivers:
- Open a web browser
- Go to FindByPlate.com
- Enter the plate number, and select state
- View the report
- View images submitted by the community
- View videos submitted by the community
- Add comments
- Add pictures of the vehicle
- Add videos related to the vehicle
Car Ownership in Delaware
- Delaware has 547 motor vehicle registrations per 1,000 licensed drivers, the lowest in the United States.
- The state saw the largest increase in motor vehicle registrations in the US between 2017 and 2021. Motor vehicle registrations increased by nearly 50% during this time period.
- 94.10% of households in Delaware have at least one vehicle.
- Delaware ranks 19 in the United States in terms of the number of car owners in the state. Idaho and Wyoming have the highest car ownership rates while the District of Columbia has the lowest car ownership rate in the US.
- Delaware ranks 20 (tied) in the US for electric vehicle ownership. About 0.33% of all registered vehicles in Delaware are electric vehicles.
- Delaware is ranked 22 (tied) in the list of most expensive states to own a car. The average cost of a check engine light-related car repair in Delaware is $390. The average cost of full coverage car insurance in Delaware is $2,462 per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Delaware require vehicle inspections?
Yes, Delaware requires vehicles to pass safety and emissions inspections biennially (once every two years). These inspections are performed for no fee. All vehicles that are being titled in Delaware for the first time need to undergo an inspection. The only exception are new vehicles that have never been titled in any other state and are sold by dealers who provide buyers with an MV212A form (Delaware Application for Title). The latest seven model yea vehicles that weigh 10,000 lbs or less and are being titled for the first time in Delaware may only require a VIN (vehicle identification number).
When is a vehicle inspection due in Delaware?
A vehicle inspection is due at the time of vehicle registration renewal. You can complete the inspection up to 90 days before your vehicle’s registration expires. The DMV will email or voicemail a reminder to you 90, 60, and 30 days before your registration is due to expire. If you fail to get the vehicle inspection done before the registration expiration date, the Delaware DMV will charge a $20 late fee.
What are some tips for purchasing a used car in Delaware?
If you’re privately purchasing a used vehicle in Delaware, you should do the following:
- Check a vehicle history report (you can do this on FindByPlate for free)
- Pay a registration fee
- Pay for a title transfer
- Complete a vehicle inspection
- Buy car insurance
Some additional things to keep in mind:
- Make sure the seller properly signs the title when delivering the vehicle to you (a vehicle registration or invoice is not a substitute for the title).
- If you’re buying the vehicle on payments, the lien should be recorded on the title by the seller before they surrender the title to you. The DMV will send the title to the lienholder.
- If there is lienholder information on the title, the seller should provide you with a lien release from the lienholder.
- Make sure the title describes the vehicle you are buying.
- Verify the VIN (vehicle identification number) physically on the vehicle and make sure it matches the VIN mentioned on the title.
- Look out for words like “reconstructed,” “home-made,” or “specially constructed” which indicate that the vehicle was built from scratch or rebuilt. This would make the manufacturer’s VIN invalid.
Note: Do not purchase a vehicle where the seller’s signature is already on the title and you are purchasing it from someone other than the seller. This person could be an illegal dealer or middleman and you may not be able to find this person if there are any problems with the sale of the vehicle.
