Delaware Duplicate Title

If your Delaware vehicle title has been lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed, the registered owner can apply for a duplicate certificate at any Delaware DMV office in Wilmington, New Castle, Dover, or Georgetown. The fee is $35 — the same flat fee Delaware charges for a new title — and the duplicate is typically mailed in 7-14 business days from the central state vendor.

Who can apply

Only the registered owner shown on the title (or their authorized agent with a notarized power of attorney) can apply for a duplicate. If the title shows a lienholder, the lienholder usually has to apply or sign off on the application — Delaware titles for financed vehicles are held by the lender, so a lost-title problem on a financed vehicle is typically resolved through the lender, not the DMV. Joint owners both have to sign the application unless the title is held with "or" between the names.

What you'll need

Bring the following to any Delaware DMV office:

• MV-DR Driver Record / Duplicate Title Request form completed and signed.
• Government-issued photo ID — Delaware driver's license, REAL ID, or U.S. passport.
• Vehicle registration card or VIN documentation that matches the lost title.
• Lienholder release, if any prior lien has been paid off but the title was never updated.
• Payment of the $35 duplicate title fee, plus a $25 expedited fee if needed.
• Notarized power of attorney if a third party is filing on the owner's behalf.

Filing in person

Delaware duplicate title applications are typically filed in person at the DMV counter. The owner signs the application in front of the DMV clerk; the clerk verifies the signature against the driver's license and the existing title record in the state database. Once approved, the duplicate title is mailed to the address on file in 7-14 business days. The original title (if found later) is no longer valid once the duplicate is issued.

Mail-in applications

Delaware accepts mail-in applications for duplicate titles when the owner is out of state. The owner downloads the MV-DR form, completes it, has the signature notarized, and mails it to the Delaware DMV with payment by check or money order. Processing time is the same 7-14 business days but the DMV may take an extra 5-10 days to verify the notarization. Active military members stationed outside Delaware are usually accommodated this way.

If a lien is on the title

Delaware titles for financed vehicles are held by the lienholder, not the owner. If the lien has been satisfied but the title was never released, contact the lender first — most lenders mail the title to the owner within 30 days of payoff. If the lender failed to release the lien on file with the DMV, file the duplicate with a copy of the loan payoff statement and ask the DMV to update the record. If the lender no longer exists (a defunct credit union or sold-off auto loan), Delaware allows a "lien release by affidavit" filing with proof of payoff and a documented attempt to locate the lienholder.

Processing time and expedited service

Standard processing for a Delaware duplicate title is 7-14 business days from the date the DMV approves the application. Delaware offers an expedited service for an additional $25 fee that reduces processing to 3-5 business days. The expedited service is useful when the duplicate is needed for an imminent title transfer or out-of-state move. Mail-in applications cannot be expedited; the option is in-person only.

Selling without the original title

You cannot complete a Delaware title transfer without an original title in the seller's hand. If the title is lost, apply for a duplicate first, wait for it to arrive, and then sign it over to the buyer. Don't try to use a Bill of Sale alone — the Delaware DMV will not process the transfer, and the buyer will end up unable to register the vehicle. Plan for the duplicate's processing time when scheduling the sale. See Delaware vehicle registration for the buyer's side of the transaction.