A Teen Driver's License
21 Del. C. § 2710 — a learner's permit at 16, 12 months of it, and 50 hours of practice signed off by a parent
A person at least 16 years old and under 18 may get a Level 1 Learner's Permit after completing an approved driver education course, passing the written and road skills tests, being certified by the driver education teacher, and applying with a sponsor's signature.
- The sponsor is usually a parent or guardian, decides whether the teen is ready, and can withdraw the signature in writing until the teen turns 18.
- For the first 6 months, the teen drives only with a supervisor: a licensed parent or guardian, or a licensed driver at least 25 years of age who has held a license for at least 5 years.
- To drive unsupervised after that, a parent or guardian certifies 50 hours of driving, including 10 hours at night.
- After 12 months on the permit, with the sponsor's endorsement still in place, the teen is eligible for a Class D license.
The permit expires 12 months after issue. Lying about a minor's age or a sponsor's relationship on the application is a class B misdemeanor, and both the minor's and the sponsor's privileges are suspended for 2 months.
A particular application is a question for the Division of Motor Vehicles.
Sources for this section (1)
- 21 Del. C. § 2710 — Issuance of a Level 1 Learner’s Permit and Class D operator’s license to persons under 18 years of age
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Delaware attorney.