Delaware Class D Learner's Permit

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Delaware's Class D Learner's Permit is the first step into the state's graduated driver licensing system. A teen can apply at age 16 with parental consent and concurrent enrollment in driver education. Once issued, the permit must be held for at least 6 months with no traffic convictions before the teen can apply for a Conditional License at age 16 years 6 months. The permit is issued at any of Delaware's four DMV offices.

Eligibility

To apply for a Delaware Learner's Permit, the teen must:

Be at least 16 years old on the day of application.
Have a parent or legal guardian sign the consent section of the DLA-100 application in person at the Delaware DMV office.
Be enrolled in or have completed a state-approved driver education program — Delaware's "DEDU" curriculum is offered through public high schools and private driving schools.
Be in compliance with school attendance — Delaware enforces a "no pass, no drive" rule for permit and conditional license holders under age 18.

Documents required

The teen and the parent/guardian both come to the Delaware DMV. Bring:

Certified U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport for the teen.
Social Security card or W-2 showing the teen's SSN.
Two proofs of Delaware residency in the parent's name (utility bill, mortgage statement, lease, bank statement) dated within 60 days.
Proof of school enrollment, recent report card, or DEDU enrollment letter.
Driver education enrollment certificate from a state-approved program (or the state's online enrollment confirmation).
Completed DLA-100 Application for Driver's License signed by the parent in front of the DMV examiner.

The knowledge test

The Learner's Permit knowledge test is the same 30-question multiple-choice test used for the full Delaware driver's license: 80% to pass (24 of 30). The test draws from the current Delaware Driver Manual, which is published in PDF by Delaware DMV and given to applicants at the office. Questions emphasize school-bus stopping rules, the I-95 corridor merge etiquette, the DUI threshold, and the Move Over Law. A vision screening (20/40 corrected) is performed at the same visit.

What the permit allows

A Delaware Learner's Permit allows the teen to drive a passenger vehicle only when accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older who is seated in the front passenger seat. The supervising driver must have held a valid license for at least three years and must be sober and able to take control if needed. The permit is valid for one year and can be renewed once if the holder hasn't yet completed the 6-month holding period or driver education.

Required supervised driving

Delaware requires the teen to log at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night, before applying for the Conditional License. The supervising parent or guardian signs a Behind-the-Wheel Log that the teen presents at the DMV at the road test appointment. Driver-education hours behind the wheel with a state-licensed instructor count toward the 50 hours, but at least 30 hours have to be with a parent or guardian.

Permit restrictions and violations

No driving without a qualifying supervisor in the front seat.
Zero-tolerance alcohol limit — any detectable BAC under 21 is a violation.
Cell phone use, including hands-free, is prohibited under Delaware's distracted driving law for drivers under 18.
Seatbelts required for every occupant.

A traffic conviction during the permit period extends the 6-month holding period or restarts it from zero, depending on the violation. Multiple convictions can result in the permit being suspended, and Delaware does add points to the underlying record (see Delaware point system).

Moving to the Conditional License

After the teen has held the Learner's Permit for at least 6 months without violations, completed driver education, completed the 50/10 supervised hour log, and reached age 16 years 6 months, they're eligible to test for the Delaware Conditional License. The teen schedules the road test through the Delaware DMV. The DMV verifies the supervised-driving log and driver education completion before scheduling.