The Driving Privilege Card lets Delaware residents who can't prove legal presence in the U.S. drive legally. It is a valid driver license for driving only—you can't use it as identification, and U.S. citizens or people with valid legal presence documents can't get one.
Fee for a Driving Privilege Card
Handbook p. 23 ↗How long a Driving Privilege Card is valid
Handbook p. 23 ↗Know the rule
The DPC permit and card carry the words 'Driving Privilege Only' and 'Not Valid for Identification.' DPC holders must obey all Delaware driving laws, rules and regulations.
Handbook p. 23 ↗How to apply:
- Schedule an appointment with the Delaware State Bureau of Identification (SBI)
- At SBI: fingerprints and identity check, plus a $72 fee; bring the SBI receipt to DMV
- Get a Certification of Filing Compliance from the Division of Revenue (DE taxes filed for the prior two years)
- Bring original or certified documents; foreign-language documents need a professional English translation
- Sign the DPC application and surrender any license from another state
- Pass an eye screening, then the written and road skills exams
Required documents:
- SBI receipt
- Division of Revenue's Certification of Filing Compliance
- Valid proof of name and date of birth
- Proof of any and all name changes, if applicable
- Two separate valid proofs of Delaware residency
Know the rule
Proof of identity must be a valid, unexpired foreign passport or a consular ID from your country of citizenship (Mexico also accepts the IFE voter card). Applicants under 18 also need an original and translated birth certificate.
Handbook p. 25 ↗Accepted consular cards:
- Brazil (Carteira de Matricula Consular)
- Colombia (Consular Registration)
- Ecuador (Tarjeta De Identification Consular)
- Guatemala (Tarjeta de Identificacion Consular)
- Mexico (Matricula Consular)
Know the rule
Name-change and residency proofs follow the regular rules: a government-issued marriage certificate with a raised seal, and two separate residency proofs delivered by USPS and postmarked within the last 60 days.
Handbook p. 26 ↗Put it into practice
Maria lives in Dover but has no legal presence documents. She books an SBI appointment and pays the $72 fee, gets her tax filing certification, and brings her passport and two utility bills to DMV. After passing the eye, written and road tests, she pays $20 for a DPC good for 4 years.