This guide covers which credential may be available, what to gather, how the process generally runs, and why the card should never be confused with a standard license or federal ID.
Requirements change. Confirm details with the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and talk to a qualified immigration attorney about your specific situation.
Key Takeaways
- The DPC grants driving authority only. It does not prove immigration status.
- Expect to show identity, two residency proofs, tax compliance, and a background screening receipt.
- A standard license, REAL ID, or state ID follows different rules and requires legal presence.
- Prepare originals, confirm appointments, and get qualified help when something is unclear.
What Delaware Credential May Be Available?
The Driving Privilege Card
The Driving Privilege Card (DPC) was created by SB 59 in 2015 and has been available since December 27, 2015. It is for Delaware residents who cannot produce documents showing legal presence. U.S. citizens and people holding valid legal-presence documents are not eligible for it.
The card is printed with "Driving Privilege Only" and "Not Valid for Identification." Delaware law says it is not valid identification "for any purpose." It covers Class D driving, with a motorcycle endorsement after testing. It does not provide a commercial driver's license.
How It Differs From Other Credentials
| Credential | Who qualifies | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Privilege Card | Residents unable to show legal presence | Driving only; not ID; not REAL ID |
| Standard license | Applicants who establish legal presence | Driving; marked "Not for Federal Identification" |
| State ID card | Applicants who establish legal presence | Identification only; states it is not a driver's license |
| REAL ID license or ID | Legal presence, Social Security documentation, Delaware residence, SAVE verification | Driving or ID, plus federal use (star in upper right) |
Not every immigrant fits the same path. Asylum applicants with work authorization, for example, fall under the DMV's lawful-status definition, and an unexpired I-766 work permit is accepted as identity evidence. Their regular-license eligibility still depends on SAVE verification and other paperwork.
Valid legal-presence documents exclude you from the DPC.
What the Card Does Not Establish
Delaware's DPC provisions do not grant immigration status, employment authorization, voting eligibility, or benefits eligibility. Treat it strictly as driving authority.
What Documents and Eligibility Requirements Apply?
Identity and Date of Birth
According to Delaware's DMV regulations, you need a valid, unexpired foreign passport or valid consular ID. The DMV also lists Mexico's IFE Credencial para Votar as an alternative.
- Applicants under 18 need a birth certificate showing the birth parents' names, plus a passport or consular ID
- Foreign-language documents need a professional English translation
- Documents must be originals or certified copies; photocopied, altered, or expired ones are rejected
- Document every name change with marriage certificates, court orders, or qualifying divorce decrees
A foreign driver's license may help establish identity at the State Bureau of Identification (SBI), but it does not replace the DMV's passport or consular ID requirement.
Residency and Tax Evidence
You need two proofs of Delaware residency from separate sources, showing a physical address (no P.O. boxes). Accepted proofs include:
- Utility bills
- Bank statements
- Insurance records
- Rental agreements
- USPS address-change confirmations
USPS mail must be postmarked or received within 60 days.
The tax rule trips up many applicants. For each of the two preceding years, you must have filed a Delaware income tax return, or lived in Delaware and been claimed as a dependent by a Delaware filer.
The Division of Revenue issues a free Certification of Filing Compliance. Filers using an ITIN can request it online. Dependents and others need a Revenue appointment, with photo ID and an IRS ITIN letter or Social Security card.
The certificate lasts 12 months, and you must wait 24 hours before booking at the DMV. If records don't match, ask Revenue how to correct them first.
Screening, Tests, and Fees
- SBI screening: fingerprinting and a Delaware criminal database search, service code 27S424, $72. Allow five days before your DMV visit.
- Nationwide records check: the DMV may search national driver databases for multiple records or multiple valid credentials.
- Vision test: minimum 20/40, with or without correction.
- Knowledge test: 32 questions; you need 26 correct.
- Card fee: $20.
Official sample tests appear in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, but the full list of live-exam languages isn't published. Translators are allowed: you choose, schedule, and pay for one. They may read questions but cannot coach.
Never submit altered, borrowed, or false documents. The DMV can refuse issuance, confiscate documents, and investigate. A false SBI identity affidavit can lead to prosecution. With a complicated identity, tax, or immigration history, consult the DMV or a legal professional first.
How to Prepare for and Complete the Application
Before Visiting the DMV
Start with the official DMV DPC page. Then work through this sequence:
- Book SBI fingerprinting and keep the receipt.
- Get Revenue certification. The appointment line is 800-292-7826 or 302-577-8200. Revenue says no walk-ins.
- Gather identity, name-change, and residency documents, with translations where needed.
- Check that names match across every document.
- Schedule your DMV visit. Revenue requires a DMV appointment, and the DPC page does not list a separate booking link. Call the DPC help desk at 877-477-7117 if you need help scheduling.
Delaware's offices are in New Castle (two locations), Dover, and Georgetown. General hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Wednesday 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
At the DMV and During Testing
Bring your SBI receipt, Revenue certificate, identity documents, and two residency proofs. Vision and knowledge testing may happen at the first visit. Passing the knowledge test earns a permit, good for six months.
For the road test, wait at least 10 days after getting the permit and book an appointment. Bring:
- Your permit
- A vehicle with working safety features
- Current registration and a valid insurance card
- A licensed accompanying driver
DMV materials describe the accompanying driver as "at least 21" in one place and "over 21" in another, so bring a driver who is 21 or older.
Failed the road test? Wait at least 10 days before a retake. A $25 no-show fee may apply.
Protect your progress at every step:
- If the application stalls, ask which document or step is missing
- Keep copies of everything you submit and every notice you receive
- Skip paid ads that promise shortcuts; adults 18 and over do not need formal on-road training
Broader Relocation Support
Moving2US helps newcomers organize paperwork and appointments and coordinates office visits as part of wider relocation support. It does not replace the DMV or an immigration attorney.
Confirm service availability directly through its complimentary intake call at 240-994-5394.
Using the Card and Understanding Its Limits
Responsibilities After Issuance
- Carry Delaware liability insurance of $25,000/$50,000/$10,000, plus personal injury protection (PIP) of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident
- Keep your vehicle registered; the card is not a registration
- Renew in person every four years; there is no remote renewal
- Replace a lost card in person for $20, or a name-change replacement for $10
Driving Outside Delaware
The DMV guarantees the card's privileges only inside Delaware. Each other state decides whether to accept it, so check before driving across state lines.
The REAL ID Question
The DPC is not REAL ID-compliant. Since May 7, 2025, non-REAL ID licenses are not accepted as airport ID. TSA's identification rules list foreign passports and I-766 work permits as acceptable alternatives.
TSA ConfirmID, a $45 option since February 1, 2026, is not guaranteed to verify you, and the DPC does not become acceptable ID through it. Check current TSA guidance before any flight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents do undocumented immigrants need to get a driver's license in Delaware?
You need an SBI screening receipt, a Revenue compliance certificate, a foreign passport or consular ID, any name-change records, and two residency proofs. Bring originals and translations, and expect vision and knowledge tests plus a $20 fee. See the DMV document list.
Can undocumented immigrants get a driver's license in Delaware?
Eligible residents can get a Driving Privilege Card, not a standard license. They must meet the identity, tax, screening, and testing requirements.
Are Delaware driver's licenses REAL ID?
Standard licenses can be REAL ID-compliant if the applicant proves legal presence. The Driving Privilege Card is not, so it can't be used for federal purposes such as boarding flights.
What is a Delaware Driving Privilege Card?
It is a Delaware credential for driving only. It is not general identification and does not establish immigration status.
Can I use a Delaware Driving Privilege Card as identification?
No. It is marked "Not Valid for Identification." Use a passport or work permit instead, and confirm with the agency or organization that it will accept it.
