Photo: Niagara, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Delaware DMV knowledge test has two parts: a highway sign and signal test, then a rules of the road test. Both come from the Delaware Driver Manual. You also need to pass a vision screening. Pass all three and you get a Class D learner’s permit. This guide is for adults and anyone else who tests at the DMV. Most teens under 18 take their written test with their driver education teacher instead.
Key facts (Delaware DMV, checked November 2026)
- Vision: 20/40 or better, with or without glasses. Between 20/40 and 20/50, you may be limited to daylight driving.
- Questions: the DMV sample test page says 32 questions with 26 correct to pass. The DMV FAQ says 30 questions with 24 correct. Either way, you need about 80%.
- Learner’s permit: valid 12 months, and you must pass all exams within that time.
- Road test: no sooner than 30 days after passing the knowledge exam under the July 2026 manual (the DMV road test web page still says 10 days).
- Fee: $50 for a Class D license, which includes the permit (from October 10, 2025).
- Audio tests with headphones are available on request.
Who takes the knowledge test at the Delaware DMV?
- First-time drivers 18 or older who don’t use the GDL program.
- Driving Privilege Card applicants.
- Drivers licensed in another country or a U.S. territory. Germany, Taiwan and France are exempt for a Class D license.
- Drivers whose Class D privileges have been cancelled, expired, suspended or revoked for over a year. Over 5 years, you also retake the road test.
- Teens moving to Delaware with an out-of-state license.
Teens under 18 on the GDL route: your driver education teacher gives the written and road tests. At the DMV you only need the eye screening. The DMV tests minors who need a specialized evaluation because of a disability. See Delaware driver’s ed and the Blue Certificate.
How many questions are on the Delaware permit test?
The two DMV pages give different numbers:
| DMV page | Questions | Correct answers to pass |
|---|---|---|
| Sample Written Test page | 32 | 26 |
| General FAQ page | 30 | 24 |
Prepare to get at least 26 right and you are covered either way. The DMV’s free sample test (10 questions) is on its website and the DelDOT mobile app. It shows the style of question, not every question you’ll get.
Part 1: the highway sign and signal test
You identify signs by shape, color or symbol alone, with the words removed. You also explain what signs, signals and pavement markings mean. The manual’s examples:
- Shapes: the stop, yield and school sign shapes.
- Signal colors: red means stop, yellow means prepare to stop, green means proceed with caution.
- Symbols: keep right, no U-turn, no right turn.
Also learn that work zone warning signs are usually orange, and that black-on-yellow speed signs are advisory, not legal limits. Speed limit signs are black on white. Full system: US road signs by shape and color.
Part 2: the rules of the road test
These questions cover Delaware traffic law and safe driving. The manual names these sample topics: the speed limit on two-lane roads, what to do at a flashing red signal, when not to pass, how to handle a skid, and how far from a fire hydrant you can park. These are the Delaware figures to know cold:
| Topic | Delaware answer |
|---|---|
| Two-lane road speed limit | 50 mph unless posted |
| Other default limits | School zone 20, business or residential 25, divided or 4+ lane roads 55, Route 1 and I-495 65 mph |
| Flashing red light | Same as a stop sign: full stop, go when safe |
| Flashing yellow light | Slow down and proceed with caution |
| Dark signal | Slow down and prepare to yield to vehicles in or approaching the intersection |
| Fire hydrant | Don’t park within 15 feet |
| Crosswalk at an intersection | Don’t park within 20 feet |
| Stop sign, signal or flashing beacon | Don’t park within 30 feet |
| Railroad crossing | Don’t park within 50 feet |
| Signal before turning | 300 feet |
| Passing a cyclist | At least 3 feet |
| Headlights | On from sunset to sunrise, below 1,000 feet visibility, and with wipers on; dim within 500 feet of oncoming traffic, 200 feet behind another car |
| Downhill parking | Turn front wheels toward the curb or road edge |
| Uphill parking with a curb | Turn front wheels away from the curb |
| Yellow center lines | Solid line on your side means no passing; double solid means neither side passes |
| Stopped school bus, red lights | Stop from both directions unless you are across a road with 4 or more lanes |
| Under-21 alcohol limit | 0.02 BAC (adults 0.08) |
| Crash reporting | Report to police for any injury, or $500+ apparent damage on a public highway |
The 10 sample questions also cover yielding on left turns, four-way stops, bridges freezing first, making room for merging traffic, low beams in fog and following distance in bad weather. See four-way stops explained and speed limits and the basic speed law.
Getting your Class D learner’s permit in Delaware
- Go to a DMV office (Delaware City, Dover, Georgetown or Wilmington) with your identity, Social Security and two Delaware residency documents.
- Pay the fee. Payment is due when you apply.
- Pass the eye screening and both knowledge tests.
- Get your learner’s permit, valid for 12 months.
Permit rules (18 and older):
- Drive only with a licensed driver aged 21 or older sitting beside you.
- The DMV says no more than 2 other passengers.
- Drive only the class of vehicle shown on the permit.
- If you don’t pass the road test within the 12 months, you reapply and redo all the testing.
Next step: what the Delaware road test checks.
How to study for the Delaware knowledge test
- Read Sections Two (license rules, DUI) and Four (rules of the road) of the manual closely. The DMV says you can’t pass unless you know the manual.
- Learn every number in the table above. Delaware-specific figures are the easiest marks to lose.
- Practice naming signs from their shape and color alone.
- Take the DMV sample test, then check every answer against the manual.
- If you have a disability and need an accommodation, call your DMV office to book before you go.
Common questions
How many questions do I need right on the Delaware permit test?
The DMV sample test page says 26 of 32. The DMV FAQ says 24 of 30. Aim for 26 or more.
Is the Delaware knowledge test available in other formats?
The manual says audio tests with headphones are available on request. Ask your DMV office which test languages are available.
Do 16-year-olds take the knowledge test at the DMV?
Not usually. On the GDL route, your driver education teacher gives the written test as part of the course. At the DMV you bring the Blue Certificate and pass the eye screening.
Is the sample test the real test?
No. The DMV says the 10 sample questions don’t include every question on the actual exam.
What if my eyesight is between 20/40 and 20/50?
The DMV may let you drive in daylight only. If you need glasses to pass, your license will be marked so you can’t legally drive without them.
How long is the Delaware learner’s permit valid?
12 months from issue. You must pass the road test in that time or start again.
Compare other states: US permit test by state. Back to the Delaware learner driver guide.
Sources
- Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, “Delaware Driver Manual (July 2026)” (dmv.de.gov)
- Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, “Sample Written Test” (dmv.de.gov)
- Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, “Frequently Asked Questions: General” (dmv.de.gov)
- Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, “Drivers License Examination” (dmv.de.gov)
- Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, “Apply for License (Over 18)” (dmv.de.gov)
- Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, “Graduated Driver Licensing handout” (services.dmv.de.gov)
- State of Delaware News, “DMV Fees Increase in October 2025” (news.delaware.gov)