by Jim Thompson | Last Updated: January 11, 2021

In order to meet the requirements of the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) graduated drivers licensing program, new teen drivers must complete a drivers education course. A drivers education course will go beyond preparing you for your written and road tests, helping you to become a safer and more confident driver once you are out on the road.

Eligibility Requirements for Delaware Drivers Ed

A drivers education course is required for all Delaware teens younger than 18. After the course is completed, you’ll be able to apply for a DE learners permit. To be eligible to take drivers ed, you must currently be enrolled in a public or private school or be homeschooled.

Contact your school for specific details about their driver education program or call the Delaware Department of Education at (302) 857-3320. If you are a homeschool student, you may also contact the Department of Education or your local school district for options as to where you can complete your drivers ed program.

A Word about Delaware Drivers Ed for New Residents

If you have recently moved to Delaware and have taken drivers Ed in another state, you can submit your completion certificate to the Delaware Department of Education by mail or by fax:

By Mail:          Department of Education
Collette Education Resource Center
35 Commerce Way, Suite 1
Dover, DE 19904

By Fax:           (302) 739-1780.

For more information, please call (302) 857-3320.

More about Delaware Drivers Ed

A drivers education program in Delaware will feature both classroom and behind the wheel portions. To receive a certificate of course completion, you must fulfill 30 hours in the classroom, seven hours of behind the wheel practice and seven hours of in-car observation.

Classroom topics include:

• Delaware traffic laws
• Safe defensive driving techniques
• Avoiding accidents and managing risk
• Driving in hazardous conditions such as bad weather, heavy traffic, etc.
• Sharing the road safely with other motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

When you have finished your drivers ed program you will be given a Delaware Driver Education Certificate. You may then present this certificate at your local DMV office to apply for your learners permit.

Along with other requirements, earning your permit will require passing a written driving knowledge test. To get ready for the test you may:

• Study the Deleware DMV driver handbook
• Review information from the classroom portion of your drivers ed class
• Take advantage of a permit practice test

Delaware permit practice tests will allow you to know exactly what to expect from your permit exam because practice tests feature questions taken from actual DMV exams. It’s like knowing the answers before the test even begins!

Getting Your Delaware License

To begin the process of obtaining your Delaware license, you must:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Have permission from your parent or legal guardian
• Hold a learners permit for at least 12 months
• Practice supervised driving for the first six months

After fulfilling all of these requirements, you will then become eligible to take your road test. After passing the road test, you will receive your Delaware drivers license.