Delaware Drivers Education

Like many other states, Delaware has adopted a graduated Drivers License for drivers under the age of eighteen in the interest of reducing accident and fatality rates due to inexperience. Typically supervised driving experience and allowing less exposure to high risk driving situations allow a teen - along with their parent or sponsor to – to be more comfortable behind the wheel of a car before driving alone.

Delaware offers a Level One Learner’s Permit which requires that you be at least sixteen years old (and under eighteen years old), present a Delaware Drivers Education Certificate (known as a Blue Certificate) as proof that you’ve attended and passed a certified course, and provide documentation of your name, date of birth, social security number and proof of residency.

Your Level One Learner’s Permit application must be signed by a sponsor who may be one of your parents (who lives in the state of Delaware), step-parent if adoption or guardianship can be documented, or any other person who might be acceptable to the Secretary of Public Safety or the Chief of Driver Services. You must also pay a licensing fee and pass an eye screening at the time of your application, and if you require special training due to physical or mental disability you may request that training from the Division of Motor Vehicles.

There are a number of restrictions that must be adhered to with your Level One Learner’s Permit. First and foremost, you must have possession of your permit when you are driving a car, you must be supervised by a licensed driver who is at least twenty five years old and has had a driver’s license for a minimum of five years for at least the first six months and not more than one additional passenger may be in the vehicle, all passengers must wear a seatbelt. Once you have passed through the mandatory six month period, and have presented proof that you have driven for at least fifty hours with ten of those hours being night time driving, you are allowed to drive unsupervised from six in the morning until ten at night (exceptions made for work, school or church activities) and the same restrictions as prior to the six months applies. Only one passenger (outside of immediate family) is allowed to be in the vehicle with you at that time.

It is very critical that you understand that any violation of any restriction during the time you hold a Level One Learner’s Permit is considered the same as driving without a license and will result in suspension which is ‘added on’ to the requirements for your drivers license.

Once you have held your Learners Permit for a period of twelve months provided you are at least seventeen years old (and under eighteen), your sponsor has not withdrawn their endorsement, and you have not had your permit cancelled, denied or otherwise surrendered.

It will be useful to you to read and understand the full terms of the Level One Learner’s Permit Program as well as the Delaware Class D Operator’s Guide as they will help you understand the programs as well as the rules of the road as they apply in Delaware.