Delaware Permit Test Cheat Sheet (2026)
The Delaware rules and numbers to know for the DMV knowledge test, on one page. Every line was checked against the official Delaware driver's handbook. It is a study sheet: you cannot use notes during the real test.
The Delaware test at a glance
- Questions on the test
- Not published by the DMV
- To pass
- 80% correct
- Time limit
- We found no published time limit for the Delaware knowledge test.
- Minimum permit age
- 16 years old
- Hold the permit for
- 12 months (first 6 months supervised only); adults 18+: road exam no sooner than 30 days after passing the knowledge exam
- Alcohol limit under 21
- 0.02% BAC
Delaware rules and numbers
From the official Delaware handbook (July 2026); PDF page numbers in brackets.
Rules of the road
- Delaware: signal at least 300 feet before you turn. [p.81]
- Delaware: no parking within 30 feet of a stop sign, signal, or flashing beacon. [p.93]
- Delaware: no parking within 50 feet of a railroad crossing. [p.93]
- Delaware: no parking within 20 feet of a fire station driveway. [p.92]
- Delaware: parallel park within 12 inches of the curb. [p.91]
- Uphill, no curb: turn front wheels toward the road edge. [p.92]
- Parked on a shoulder at night: parking lights or 4-way flashers on. [p.91]
- Delaware two-lane roads: 50 mph. [p.93]
- Delaware Route 1 and I-495: 65 mph. [p.93]
- Delaware school zones: 20 mph. [p.93]
- Delaware work zones: speeding fines are doubled. [p.79]
- Roundabout approach: slow to 10-15 mph. [p.86]
- Delaware: give bicyclists at least 3 feet when passing. [p.96]
- Narrow lane: change lanes fully to pass a bike, even across a double yellow. [p.97]
- Delaware cyclists may treat stop signs at minor roads as yield signs. [p.99]
- Delaware: you may pass a left-turning car on the right, even on the shoulder. [p.87]
- Divided 4+ lane highway: opposite traffic need not stop for a school bus. [p.95]
- School bus yellow lights flash about 10 seconds before the red lights. [p.89]
- Passing a stopped school bus, 1st offense: 1-month license suspension. [p.90]
- Delaware: wipers on means headlights on. [p.120]
- Delaware: report public-highway crashes with $500+ property damage to police. [p.141]
- Delaware GDL supervisor: age 25+, licensed at least 5 years. [p.29]
- Delaware GDL: 50 supervised hours, 10 at night, in the first six months. [p.29]
Safe driving & emergencies
- Delaware: texting while driving is prohibited for all drivers. [p.81]
- Delaware: no handheld phone use while driving; GDL drivers may not use one at all. [p.81]
- Delaware manual: take a rest break about every hour on long trips. [p.134]
- Behind a motorcycle above 40 mph: 4-second following distance. [p.100]
- Dim high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle. [p.119]
- Following another vehicle: low beams within 200 feet. [p.62]
- Off the pavement: slow to 15 mph or less, check behind, then steer back. [p.136]
- Stalled on tracks with a train coming: get out and run toward the train's direction. [p.138]
- Delaware studded tires: legal October 15 - April 15. [p.62]
Rules learners miss most
The rules behind the most-missed questions on our practice tests. Some details, such as parking distances, can differ by state - your handbook has the final word.
- At 60 mph a car travels about 88 feet per second.
- Measure following distance in seconds, counted from a fixed roadside object.
- Most states: no parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.
- A yellow curb signals a stopping or parking limit - check signs and local rules.
- Uncontrolled T-intersection: the terminating road yields to the through road.
- Uphill with a curb: turn wheels away from the curb; downhill: toward it.
- Most states: no parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant (a few use 10 feet).
- KEEP RIGHT: pass to the right of the island, median or obstruction.
- Point of no return: past it you cannot stop safely on yellow, so proceed.
- Zipper merge: use both lanes up to the merge point, then alternate.
- In heavy rain use low beams, slow down and increase following distance.
- Parallel park close to and parallel with the curb, within your state's limit.
- Yellow pennant on the left side of the road: a no-passing zone begins.
- Car with skid marks: the road is slippery when wet.
- Diamond-shaped signs are warning signs.
- 4-way stop tie: the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
- ABS keeps wheels from locking in hard braking so you can still steer.
- A round yellow sign warns of a railroad crossing ahead.
- Merging onto a highway: yield to traffic already on the highway.
- An upward-pointing pentagon marks a school zone or school crossing.
- Steady yellow: the light is about to turn red - stop if you can do so safely.
- Basic speed law: never drive faster than is safe for conditions, even under the limit.
- Use high beams on open roads; dim them for oncoming or followed vehicles.
- Arrows pointing up and down warn of two-way traffic ahead.
- Orange diamond signs warn of construction and work zones.
- Adult (21+) BAC limit is 0.08% in most states.
- Implied consent: by driving you agree to chemical tests if arrested for DUI.
Now test yourself
Reading rules is a start; answering questions is what makes them stick.