Category: Delaware

Delaware – General Emissions Information

Last updated on March 4th, 2021

Delaware General Emissions Information – The state of Delaware requires emissions testing on vehicles of Delaware residents.  There are many common questions that residents have about the Delaware emissions testing program and this section will look at some of the most frequently asked questions and their corresponding answers.

Can I apply for a waiver and if so, how?

There are certain criteria that must be met in order for a resident to apply for a waiver in regards to their vehicle’s emissions test.  Waivers are granted not to excuse a vehicle from an initial test, but for vehicles that have failed multiple tests even after repairs have been made on the vehicle to fix the issue found during the emissions inspection period.  In order to receive a waiver the following conditions must be met:

1.  Your vehicle must have failed the emissions inspection at least 2 times or more.

2.  The parameters of your vehicle’s engine are set to the specifications determined by the vehicle’s manufacturer.

3.  You have spent above a set limit in repairs on the vehicle in regards to items repaired specifically for emissions purposes.  If your vehicle is from 1981 or newer the threshold that must be reached is $810 in repairs.  Vehicles manufactured prior to 1981 have a threshold of $75 in repairs.

4.  The reasons for the emissions inspection failure was not due to visible smoke or missions emissions control equipment.

When you present the waiver application to the DMV you must have all the receipts for the repairs you had done along with the vehicle inspection reports from your failed emissions tests.

Who sets the emissions standards for exhaust levels?

This exhaust levels set for the emissions inspection are set by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

How much does emissions testing cost?

In the state of Delaware, residents get their vehicle’s emissions tested for free.

How often do I need to get my vehicle’s emissions tested?

Vehicles are required to get their emissions tested once every two years.  You must get your emissions tested before you are able to renew your vehicle’s registration.

How will I know if I need to get my emissions tested?

The DMV will send you a registration renewal notice about ninety days prior to when your current registration will expire.  At this point you should begin to consider getting your emissions tested.

Filed under: Delaware, Articles, State Emissions TestingTagged with: ,

Delaware – Emissions Testing Locations

Last updated on April 26th, 2018

Residents of Delaware must get their emissions tested at a Department of Motor Vehicles office.  There are currently four offices with a total of 21 testing lanes.  The emissions test in Delaware is free for residents.  Below are the locations of the DMV offices.  It is recommended you call ahead to ensure the office is open.

New Castle Division of Motor Vehicles
Airport and Churchmans Road
New Castle, Delaware 19720

302.326.5000

Greater Wilmington Division of Motor Vehicles
2230 Hessler Boulevard
New Castle, Delaware 19720

302.434.3200

Dover Division of Motor Vehicles
303 Transportation Circle
P.O. Box 698
Dover, Delaware 19903

302.744.2500

Georgetown Division of Motor Vehicles
23737 DuPont Blvd.
Georgetown, Delaware 19947

302.853.1000

Filed under: Delaware, Articles, State Emissions Testing

Delaware – Emissions Testing Hours & Schedule

Last updated on April 26th, 2018

The emissions testing for the State of Delaware is done at four Department of Motor Vehicle testing locations.  The hours for these testing locations are all the same, they are as follows:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 P.M.

Wednesday from 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m.

The DMV is closed on the following holidays:

New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Election Day, Return Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, Christmas Day.

If you need to get in contact with the DMV concerning emissions questions on the hours/schedule/or otherwise the contact email is:

[email protected]

Filed under: Delaware, Articles, State Emissions Testing

Exemptions for Vehicles in Delaware

Last updated on April 26th, 2018

In the state of Delaware, residents are required to have their vehicle pass an emissions test before the vehicle can be registered. In some cases though, vehicles will be exempt from emissions testing, do you know if your vehicle is exempt? This is the criteria that needs to be met for your vehicle to be exempt:

  • Vehicle was manufactured within the past five years
  • Vehicle weighs less than 10,000 pounds
  • Vehicle is being titled in the state for the first time

If your vehicle meets these requirements you are exempt for testing, however, you can be ordered by law enforcement to have your vehicle perform an emissions test, if they deem it necessary.

If your vehicle meets the requirements, all you need to do to register your vehicle is your VIN number when you go to register the vehicle.

Some vehicles may be required to undergo safety inspections, but not emissions testing. Here is the criteria that needs to be met:

  • Vehicle that was manufactured in 1968 or older
  • Diesel vehicles that were manufactured in 1997 or older
  • Any type of motorcycle
  • Vehicles that have been manufactured in the last five years
Filed under: Delaware, Articles, State Emissions Testing

Delaware Car Insurance

Last updated on April 26th, 2018

Delaware State law requires that all residents of the state must maintain a certain level of liability coverage on their vehicle in order for it to be legally drivable. The first type of coverage that the state requires is individual bodily injury coverage which will pay for injuries sustained by a single individual in an accident where the policyholder was at fault. All Delaware residents are required to have at least $15,000 in individual bodily injury coverage in order to meet state requirements though drivers are free to exceed that amount and purchase more if they wish. The second type of coverage required by Delaware is per accident bodily injury coverage which will pay a specified amount towards the injuries sustained by all other in an accident and not just a single person. At $30,000 the amount of per accident bodily injury coverage required to meet state regulations is exactly double the amount of individual bodily injury insurance required.  The last type of coverage that is required by the state is property damage insurance, which at $10,000 is the lowest of all three figures. Property damage insurance will help pay for any damage to a vehicle or other property resulting from an accident caused by the policyholder.

Unlike most other states, which only require drivers to maintain a minimum level of liability insurance on their vehicle the state of Delaware also requires its residents to purchase personal injury protection coverage. This type of coverage is designed to protect the policyholder and anyone driving with the policyholder should there be injuries resulting from an accident. Personal injury protection coverage typically pays for the medical bills and any loss of income that resulted from an accident up to the amount of coverage purchased. The minimums set for this type of coverage are the same as the minimum amounts of bodily injury liability coverage that drivers in Delaware are required to purchase. Since the only types of insurance required by the state of Delaware are personal injury and liability coverage vehicle owners are not required to carry insurance that will cover their own vehicle should they be involved in a wreck that was either their fault or the fault of an underinsured or uninsured motorist. If Delaware residents wish to purchase these types of insurance they are generally free to do so, though their insurance company may not offer them this coverage if they have a history of accidents or a less than the stellar driving record. Because Delaware is a tort state, which means that the driver found to be responsible for an accident is financially responsible for all injuries and damages that are caused in the process, drivers often carry more coverage on a vehicle than is required by state law.

To ensure that the residents of Delaware have enough incentive to abide by state car insurance regulations the penalties for failing to do so tend to be rather harsh, especially in comparison to other states. A driver in Delaware that is caught driving without insurance, whether they are caught through a routine traffic stop or were involved in an accident, will typically receive a citation and an order to appear in court. If the driver of convicted of driving without insurance they will be fined a minimum of $1,500 for a first offense and $3,000 for each subsequent offense that occurs within a three year period. In most cases, the driver’s license will also be suspended for a period of six months and they will be required to pay all fines and show proof of insurance before the suspension can be lifted at the end of the period. Delaware is also a proactive state when it comes to catching vehicle owners that allow their insurance to lapse. Throughout the year the Delaware Department of Motor Vehicles constantly audits drivers to ensure that their insurance is still active an up to date. The DMV will send out random requests for proof of insurance in order to make sure that a vehicle’s insurance has been maintained and kept up to date. This proof can be obtained from the insurance company in the form of an FR-19, which states that coverage on a vehicle has been continuous and the policy is currently active. If a resident of Delaware ignores this request or cannot provide sufficient proof they will be at risk of having both their license and vehicle registration suspended until proof of a car insurance policy that meets Delaware requirements can be furnished. In addition to any other fees or penalties incurred the driver will also have to pay a reinstatement fee in order to have their license and registration reinstated. These high fees, fines and lengthy suspensions are intended to dissuade drivers in the state of Delaware from taking the risk of driving around uninsured.

Find Smog Check Stations Near Me

Delaware was one of the original 13 colonies and was the first state created in the United States. It is the second smallest state by geography in the country, has only 3 counties, and has a population of 950,000.  Check out our DMV & Emissions Testing Locations in Delaware pages below to find a local Delaware DMV office or smog check location in your area.

Filed under: Delaware, Articles, Car Insurance