Delaware Permit Next Steps: Supervised Practice, Road Test Readiness, and Class D Upgrade

After receiving your Delaware Level One Learner's Permit, follow a set sequence of GDL milestones to reach your Class D license.

What do I do after I get my learner's permit in Delaware?

After receiving your Delaware Level One Learner's Permit, follow a set sequence of GDL milestones to reach your Class D license. You cannot drive unsupervised until you have held your permit for six months and submitted your certified driving log to the Department of Education.

Practice Requirements and Hour Logging

Log 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night, using the official log sheet.

• Supervisor Rules: A parent, guardian, or licensed driver at least 25 years old with a Class D license for 5+ years must be in the front seat.
• Passenger Limit: Passenger rules for the full 12 months:
  • Months 1-6: Supervisor plus one other passenger max at all times.
  • Months 7-12 (unsupervised): Driver plus one passenger only. No family exception without supervisor present.
• Zero Tolerance: No cell phone use of any kind while driving.

Submit your 50-hour log to the Department of Education, not the DMV. After six months, your sponsor signs the log. Submit it to your school's Driver Education teacher or mail/fax it to the DOE: 35 Commerce Way Suite 1, Dover, DE 19904; fax 302.739.1770. Download the GDL certification form before starting. A common mistake is sending the log to the DMV, which causes a 4-6 week delay in processing.

Waiting Period and Behind-the-Wheel Training

Wait six months from your permit issue date before driving unsupervised or taking the road test. Most Delaware teens complete their behind-the-wheel training and road test through a school Driver Education course and receive a 'Blue Certificate.'

• With a Blue Certificate, you do not need a DMV road test.
• Without it, schedule a road skills exam at the DMV via the GDL page.

A student from Newark who didn't get their Blue Certificate had to schedule a road test at the Wilmington DMV. They failed for not fully stopping at a stop sign in a quiet neighborhood off Limestone Road, a common automatic failure. Practice complete stops, not rolling stops.

The Delaware learner's permit guide has full eligibility details.

All Delaware permit requirements are covered in the Delaware permit guide.

Preparing for the Driving Test and Next Steps

After six months and a submitted log, you enter the second phase. You may drive alone from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

• Curfew: Driving from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM requires a supervisor, with exceptions for work or school.
• The one non-family passenger limit continues.

Practice in varied locations. In Kent County, new drivers often fail for hesitating too long in Dover's traffic circles, practice smooth merges into the circle's flow. In Sussex County, practice scanning for wildlife on rural roads near Georgetown; hitting a simulated object during the test is an automatic failure.

Check your log for two sponsor signatures (one for total hours, one for night hours) before submission to avoid DOE rejection. Missing a signature means resubmitting by mail, adding weeks to your timeline. Violations of Level One permit restrictions are treated as driving without a license, first offense: 2-month suspension; subsequent offenses: 4-month suspension. Always carry the physical permit while driving. All passengers must wear a seatbelt. The sponsor can withdraw their endorsement at any time during the 12-month GDL program, canceling driving privileges immediately. See road test prep at dmv.de.gov.

Final Upgrade to a Class D License

Your permit automatically converts to a full Class D license after 12 months of valid driving authority, provided you have no suspensions. If your permit is suspended, revoked, or canceled, that time does not count toward your 12 months. Once the suspension ends, you must also complete additional driving time equal to the suspension period, and undergo complete testing.

You only need to visit the DMV to get a new physical card. Road tests are not offered on Wednesdays at any Delaware DMV location. Go to the Dover DMV on a Tuesday or Thursday morning for the shortest waits. Bring your old permit and payment. The standard license fee is $50.00. If your permit is damaged or the photo is unclear, bring a certified birth certificate and proof of address to avoid being turned away. For Delaware learner's permit next steps after getting your card is covered in the Delaware learner's permit guide at shoro.ai.