The Delaware road test
A plain-language guide, checked against the Delaware Department of Motor Vehicles (DE DMV): who the test is for, what to bring, how it is scored, and what a retake really costs.
The rule that decides your path
The Delaware road test, also called the behind-the-wheel or driving skills test, is the final exam the DE DMV gives before it issues a driver's license. New drivers can take the Delaware driving test at 17, after logging 50 hours of supervised driving. The drive includes parallel parking.
In Delaware, driver's education is required before anyone under 18 can be licensed. The first 6 months of the GDL period are fully supervised; after that, driving is unsupervised from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Drivers 18 and older may opt out of the GDL, taking the vision, knowledge, and road exams at the DMV.
Below you'll find the full Delaware road test requirements: who qualifies, what to bring, how examiners score the drive, and the retake rules if you don't pass the first time. On our Driving Index, Delaware's written knowledge test ranks tied for 17th-hardest of 51.
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Supervised hours before the Delaware road test
These are hours you spend driving with a licensed adult, usually a parent, before you can take the test. Keep a log as you go, on paper or in an app, because the state can ask to see it. Practice in a mix of conditions, day and night, highways and quiet streets, rain and clear weather, and get the night hours in early, since those are the ones most people leave to the last minute.
What to bring to the Delaware road test
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Documents
Your vehicle must have
Who comes with you. A licensed driver 21 or older must accompany you and stay on site to drive away if you fail.
If you fail the Delaware road test
Here's how a retake works in Delaware: At least 10 days.
Beyond any fee, a retry usually means another day off work or school, another ride to the office, and another car to borrow, so failing costs far more than it looks on paper.
Passing on the first try is the cheapest way through. A first license runs $50 (Class D, 8 years).
How the Delaware road test is scored
Delaware doesn't publish a point system or a set passing score, so the examiner simply judges whether you drive safely and follow the rules. In general, you fail for dangerous driving, breaking a traffic law, causing a crash, or not following the examiner's directions. Small mistakes add up too, so drive smoothly and predictably.
Before the road test
Pass the Delaware written test on your first try
Nearby road-test guides.
Six more states, neighbours first, then the closest matches on test difficulty.
Test specifications, fees and laws change. This guide was last verified July 2026; always confirm current requirements with the DE DMV (dmv.de.gov) before booking a test. DMV IQ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any state DMV, DPS, MVD, or BMV.
Spot an error? Email [email protected] and we'll get it corrected.
Sources for this guide (4 official DE DMV pages)
- Eligibility: https://dmv.de.gov/DriverServices/drivers_license/index.shtml?dc=dr_lic_grad_dl
- What to bring: https://dmv.de.gov/DriverServices/drivers_license/index.shtml?dc=dr_lic_road
- Test format: https://dmv.de.gov/DriverServices/drivers_license/index.shtml?dc=dr_lic_road
- Scoring: https://dmv.de.gov/forms/driver_serv_forms/pdfs/dr_frm_manual.pdf
- Retakes: https://dmv.de.gov/forms/driver_serv_forms/pdfs/dr_frm_manual.pdf
- Fees: https://dmv.de.gov/Common/DMVFees/index.shtml
- Handbook (July 2025): https://dmv.de.gov/forms/driver_serv_forms/pdfs/dr_frm_manual.pdf
Current as of 2026-07-16. Official Delaware sources only; anything the state does not publish is left out rather than guessed.