Every automobile registered in Delaware must carry specific equipment in working order. The exam loves the distances: how far each light must be visible, how far your horn must carry and how quickly your parking brake must stop you.
Required lights
| Equipment | Rule |
|---|---|
| Headlights | At least 2 white multiple-beam, one each side |
| High beams | Reveal persons and vehicles at least 350 ft |
| Low beams | Reveal people at least 100 ft; not into eyes |
| Taillights | At least 2 red; visible from 500 ft |
| Parking lights | White/amber front, red rear; visible 500 ft |
| License plate light | White; plate readable from 50 ft |
| Stop lights | Red to amber; visible 100 ft in sunlight |
| Turn signals (post-1953) | 2 front + 2 rear; visible 100 ft in sunlight |
Know the rule
Headlights must be on whenever your windshield wipers are in use because of bad weather.
Handbook p. 59 ↗Know the rule
Front turn signals may be any shade from white to amber; rear ones any shade from amber to red. If a vehicle has two stop lights, both must work. The plate light must not shine toward vehicles traveling the same direction.
Handbook p. 59 ↗Know the rule
Reflectors: passenger vehicles made after 1953 need two red rear reflectors; those made after 1977 need at least six (2 amber front sides, 2 red rear sides, 2 red rear), visible to 500 feet with four square inches of reflective area.
Handbook p. 59 ↗Know the rule
Passenger vehicles made since 1972 need side marker lamps—two amber at the front sides and two red at the rear sides—visible to 500 feet.
Handbook p. 60 ↗Distance within which the parking/emergency brake must stop the vehicle from 20 mph
Handbook p. 60 ↗Distance at which the horn must be heard under normal conditions
Handbook p. 60 ↗Other required equipment:
- Brakes adjusted to work evenly on all sides and meeting federal requirements
- Automotive safety glass; no stickers except those required by law or approved by DMV
- Windshield wipers able to clear rain, snow or other moisture
- A rear-view mirror; outside left and right mirrors if the inside view to the rear is blocked
- A working muffler in constant operation; no loud or excessive noise
- Front seat belts in cars made after Jan. 1, 1968 (trucks, buses after July 1, 1971)
Put it into practice
You load the back seat with boxes that block your view through the rear window. That's legal only if your vehicle has outside mirrors on both the left and right sides.