Delaware Other Vehicle Registrations

Beyond passenger cars and light trucks, the Delaware DMV registers a long list of additional vehicle types through the same four offices that handle standard registration. Trailers, motorcycles, mopeds, recreational vehicles, off-highway vehicles, and antique vehicles each have their own fee structure, plate type, and inspection rule, all set under 21 Del. C.

Motorcycles

Delaware motorcycles register exactly like passenger cars: title transfer at the DMV, $35 title fee, 3.75% Document Fee on first registration, annual safety inspection, and proof of motorcycle-rated insurance. The license endorsement is separate — riders need a Class M motorcycle endorsement on their Delaware driver's license, which requires its own knowledge test and skills exam. Delaware also accepts completion of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Basic RiderCourse in lieu of the on-vehicle skills test.

Mopeds

Delaware defines a moped as a motorized cycle with an engine of 55cc or less and a maximum design speed of 35 mph or less. Mopeds register at the DMV for a flat annual fee — typically $20 — and display a moped license plate. Mopeds do not require an annual safety inspection in most cases, but they do require a Delaware driver's license (any class) and minimum liability insurance. Riders under 18 must wear a helmet.

Trailers

Trailers register through the Delaware DMV. The trailer gets its own plate, a trailer-specific weight tax based on the trailer's net weight, and a separate annual safety inspection. Boat trailers, utility trailers, and small cargo trailers all follow the same rules. Delaware does not offer a permanent-tag option for any trailer class — every trailer has to be renewed at the same cycle as a passenger vehicle.

Recreational vehicles (RVs)

Motor homes register as passenger vehicles using their gross weight rather than net weight, which raises the registration fee. Travel trailers and fifth-wheels register as trailers. The annual safety inspection applies to both, and Delaware DMV's lane safety check is generally equipped to handle Class B and smaller Class C motor homes; very large Class A motor homes may need to use a dealer-affiliated inspection. Insurance has to cover the full motor home value plus contents; standard auto policies often need an RV endorsement.

Off-highway vehicles

Off-highway vehicles (OHVs) include ATVs, side-by-sides, and dirt bikes. Delaware registers OHVs through the DMV for off-highway use only — they cannot be operated on public roads except in narrow exceptions allowed by ordinance or for limited agricultural use. The OHV plate is a smaller decal-style plate, and the registration fee is lower than passenger vehicles. OHVs do not require a safety inspection or insurance, but operators on state-managed lands must follow Delaware Department of Natural Resources rules.

Antique vehicles

Delaware offers an antique vehicle plate for vehicles 25 years old or older that have been preserved or restored to original condition and are operated for parades, club events, exhibitions, and pleasure driving — but not as a daily driver. The antique plate has a one-time registration fee and exempts the vehicle from the standard annual safety inspection (the vehicle must still be safe to operate). A separate street rod classification covers modified pre-1949 vehicles. Both require photos and an application at any Delaware DMV office.

Specialty plates

Delaware offers a wide range of specialty plates beyond the standard black-and-white "First State" plate: military service plates (active duty, veteran, Purple Heart), university plates (University of Delaware, Delaware State, others), organizational plates, conservation plates, and personalized vanity plates. Most carry an additional one-time fee of $20-$50 plus a small annual surcharge. Delaware's low-number plate program is a recognized status symbol — low-number plates trade among collectors at significant premiums and require attention to ownership transfer rules.

Commercial vehicles

Commercial vehicles — pickup trucks used for business, delivery vans, dump trucks — register through the same DMV office but pay a higher weight-based registration fee and may require a Class A or Class B commercial license depending on gross weight and use. Federal USDOT registration applies to interstate commercial operators; Delaware intrastate operators are regulated by Delaware DMV and DelDOT. See Delaware vehicle registration for the underlying rules and inspection requirements.