How to Register an Out-of-State Car in Delaware: Fees & Steps

Registering Your Out-of-State Car in Delaware: The Complete Guide

Welcome to the First State! Delaware is famous for its tax-free shopping and pristine beaches, but when it comes to the DMV, there are a few strict rules you need to follow.

If you have just moved, Delaware law gives you exactly 60 days to transfer your out-of-state driver's license and register your vehicle. Unlike other states where you can manage registration entirely online, transferring an out-of-state car to Delaware requires a physical trip through the DMV's inspection lanes.

Here's a verified, step-by-step guide to navigating the Delaware DMV on the first try.

1. Secure Delaware Auto Insurance

Before driving to a DMV facility, update your auto insurance. Delaware requires an active policy from a provider licensed in the state, meeting these minimums:

• $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person
• $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more persons in an accident
• $10,000 for property damage

Have proof of this Delaware-specific coverage ready, the DMV clerk verifies it immediately.

2. Pass the Free DMV Inspection (or Claim Your Exemption)

Delaware requires out-of-state vehicles to pass a safety inspection and emissions test before titling and registration. Unlike neighboring states that route you through private mechanics, Delaware runs its own inspection lanes right at the DMV, at no charge. Drive your vehicle into the inspection lane at your local DMV branch; if it passes, the technician hands you Form MV-212 to bring to the registration counter.

The Model Year Exemption: If your vehicle is within the seven newest model years and weighs 10,000 lbs or less, it's exempt from full safety and emissions testing. You'll only need a quick, free VIN verification in the recheck lane before heading inside.

3. Prepare the Paperwork

Once you clear the inspection lane, bring this to the clerk:

• Form MV-212, the Certificate of Title application, completed and signed
• Your original out-of-state title. If a bank holds your title because of an active loan, bring your current out-of-state registration card, and file Form MV-35, the DMV's form letter requesting the title directly from your lender. This typically takes 2-4 weeks to process, so start it as early as possible if you're financing.
• Your valid driver's license. Your new Delaware license is preferred, which requires two independent proofs of physical residency to obtain.
• Proof of valid Delaware liability auto insurance.
• Your passed inspection certificate or VIN verification form.

4. How Much Will This Cost? Understanding the 5.25% Document Fee

Delaware has no general state sales tax, so many newcomers expect a cheap trip to the counter. Instead, the state collects an upfront Vehicle Document Fee. Your bill breaks down as:

• Annual Passenger Registration Fee: $40
• Title Fee: $35 (higher if your vehicle has an active lien)
• Vehicle Document Fee: 5.25% of the vehicle's established value

This one-time 5.25% fee offsets the lack of a traditional sales tax. For a relocated vehicle previously registered out of state, the DMV bases this on the current NADA clean trade-in book value. If you're registering a newly purchased car from a dealer, it's calculated on the purchase price instead.

Use our Delaware Vehicle Registration Fees Calculator to generate an exact out-the-door total before your visit.

5. EV and Hybrid Registration Surcharges

Moving an electric or hybrid vehicle to Delaware means an additional annual surcharge on top of your base $40 registration fee. For alternative fuel passenger vehicles under 6,000 lbs:

• Fully Electric Vehicles (EVs): an extra $110/year
• Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs): an extra $85/year
• Standard Non-Plug-In Hybrids: an extra $60/year

6. License Plates: Rear Only

Delaware is a rear-plate-only state for standard passenger vehicles, confirmed directly by Delaware Code Title 21 §2126. You'll be issued a single plate to mount on the rear of your vehicle; no front plate is required. The only exception is truck tractors towing trailers or semitrailers, which must display a plate on the front specifically to help identify whether they're coupled or uncoupled.