The Delaware knowledge (permit) test

By the end of this topic you can

• You can say who takes the knowledge test at the DMV and who takes it through driver education.
• You can describe the two parts of the written exam.
• You can answer common Delaware-specific questions on speed limits and parking.
• You can plan your study using the manual and the DMV's sample test.

What you need to know and understand

• The written exam has a highway sign and signal test and a rules of the road test, alongside a vision screening.
• In the sign test you may have to identify signs by shape, color or symbol alone.
• Teens on the GDL route pass their written and road tests with a driver education teacher.
• Adults must pass all exams within the 12 months the learner's permit is valid.
• If your Class D privilege has lapsed or been withdrawn for over a year, you retake the vision and knowledge exams.
• The DMV offers a free sample exam on its website and on the DelDOT mobile app.

Who sits the test, and where

• Teens 16 and 17 on the GDL route: the driver education teacher gives the written test. The DMV tests minors with disabilities who need specialized evaluation.
• Adults 18 and older who choose not to use the GDL program: eye screening and knowledge exams at the DMV.
• Drivers licensed in another country: eye, knowledge and road exams, except license holders from Germany, Taiwan and France, who are exempt from the knowledge and road exams for a Class D license.
• Teens moving to Delaware with an out-of-state license: written and road exams at the DMV.
• Drivers whose Class D privileges were canceled, expired, suspended or revoked for over a year.

Part one: signs and signals

You may be shown signs with the words removed and asked what they mean from their shape and color. For example, the eight-sided sign is always stop, the downward triangle is yield and the five-sided sign marks a school area. You may also be asked what each signal color means and what common symbols show, such as no U-turn or keep right.

Part two: rules of the road

These questions test Delaware law and safe driving. The manual gives examples such as the speed limit on two-lane roads (50 mph unless posted), what to do at a flashing red signal (stop fully, as at a stop sign), when you should not pass, how to handle a skid, and how close you may park to a fire hydrant (no closer than 15 feet).

The DMV's own web pages have given slightly different question counts over time, so check the current number and pass mark with the DMV before test day. If you need an accommodation for a disability, call the DMV office to make an appointment before you go.

Timing after you pass

The DMV's road test page says you can take the Class D road exam 10 days after passing the knowledge exam. Waiting periods can change, so confirm the current rule when you book. Our Delaware permit test guide and free practice test cover the numbers most people miss.

Common mistakes

• Studying only general U.S. sign facts. Delaware questions use Delaware numbers, such as the 50 mph two-lane limit.
• Guessing parking distances. Learn them: 15 feet from a hydrant, 20 feet from a crosswalk at an intersection, 30 feet from a stop sign or signal, 50 feet from a railroad crossing.
• Mixing up flashing red and flashing yellow. Red means stop fully; yellow means slow down and proceed with caution.
• Using an old manual. Make sure you study the current edition from the DMV.

Test yourself: The Delaware knowledge (permit) test

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Delaware Permit Test
• Delaware Permit Practice Test
• Learning to Drive in Delaware