Delaware Vehicle Inspection Requirements and Exemptions

A Delaware vehicle inspection is a free safety and emissions check performed at a state DMV lane, required every two years for most registered vehicles before you can renew your tags. Four DMV facilities handle the work, and the state does not accept inspections done elsewhere. If your car fails, you can’t renew your registration until it passes.¹

How Often You Need an Inspection

Every registered vehicle in Delaware must be inspected at least once every two years at an official DMV inspection lane.² Your registration sticker shows when the next one is due. Because the DMV ties inspection status directly to registration, an unpassed inspection blocks renewal.

Several categories skip some or all of the process:

The five most recent model years of light-duty vehicles are exempt entirely. In 2026, that covers model years 2022 through 2026.³
Antique vehicles (manufactured more than 25 years before the current year) and street rods must pass one initial inspection to receive antique registration, then are exempt from recurring inspections. They can only be used for club events, parades, exhibits, and similar purposes.⁴
Vehicles with “FV” farm plates used exclusively for farm operations are exempt.⁵
Reconstructed vehicles over 25 years old are exempt from emissions testing but still face safety and anti-tampering checks.⁶

What Inspectors Check

Inspections cover two areas: safety and emissions. Vehicles that aren’t exempt go through both.

Safety

Brakes are tested on a platform tester, and every wheel must show braking action. A single wheel’s reading must be at least 75 percent of the other wheel on the same axle. Tires are rejected below 2/32 inch of tread, or if they show cord exposure, bulges, or knots.⁷

Beyond that, inspectors look at headlights, brake lights, turn signals, the license plate light, mirrors, steering, wipers, seat belts, airbag indicator lights, horn, doors and hood latches, bumper height, shock absorbers, and body and glass condition. A cracked windshield in the driver’s line of sight, a deployed or missing airbag, or a missing side mirror will fail the vehicle. The VIN is verified against DMV records at every inspection.⁷

Emissions

Gasoline-powered vehicles (and some diesels) across all three counties get emissions tested. Model years 1968 through 1995 receive an idle exhaust test. Model year 1996 and newer vehicles go through an OBD-II scan that reads the on-board computer for emissions faults.² A check-engine light means a failure. The scan also confirms that emissions monitors have completed their readiness cycles, so clearing codes right before an inspection won’t help.

Electric vehicles skip emissions entirely because they produce no exhaust. They still take the full safety examination.⁷

Window Tint

Tint is a frequent reason for failure. Delaware currently requires front side windows to allow at least 70 percent visible light transmission, with no restriction on rear side windows or the rear window. A medical exemption is available with a signed statement from a licensed medical practitioner.⁸ Senate Bill 255, introduced in early 2026, would drop the front-window requirement to 35 percent transmission, but that bill has not been enacted.

Where to Go and What to Bring

Four DMV lanes handle inspections, at no charge:¹

Wilmington (New Castle County): (302) 434-3200
Delaware City (New Castle County): (302) 326-5000
Dover (Kent County): (302) 744-2500
Georgetown (Sussex County): (302) 853-1000

Bring your registration card or title so the technician can match the VIN to the plate on the vehicle.⁷ Insurance proof isn’t formally listed as a required inspection document, but keeping your card in the car is sensible any time you’re at a DMV facility.

If Your Vehicle Fails

A failure isn’t the end of the process, but it does require action. The DMV can issue a temporary tag, typically for 60, 30, or 5 days depending on the situation, so you can get the vehicle to a shop and back for re-inspection. Total temporary tag time will never exceed 90 days.⁹

Safety failures and emissions failures are treated differently. If the vehicle fails on a safety issue such as bad brakes, a cracked windshield, or non-functional headlights, lane staff may decide the vehicle isn’t eligible for a temporary tag, and you’ll need to tow it. Vehicles that fail only on emissions are more likely to receive a temporary tag because they don’t pose the same road hazard.⁹ If you’ve done some repairs and are waiting on parts, coming back to show progress can sometimes get you a second temporary tag when the remaining issues aren’t safety-related.

Emissions Repair Waivers

When a vehicle keeps failing emissions despite honest repair attempts, Delaware offers a waiver. It covers exhaust emissions failures only, not safety failures or missing emissions equipment.¹⁰

All of the following must be true to qualify:

The vehicle has failed the exhaust emissions test three times.
Engine settings match the manufacturer’s specifications.
Repair spending exceeds the minimum: $75 for pre-1981 vehicles, $450 for 1981 and newer vehicles through 2026.¹¹
The vehicle did not fail for visible smoke or missing emissions control equipment.

Bring your repair receipts and inspection reports to a DMV lane supervisor to apply.

Penalties for Skipping Inspection

The immediate consequence is that registration won’t renew until the vehicle passes.¹⁰ If your registration lapses, re-registering the vehicle adds a $20 fee on top of the normal cost. The fee is waived if ownership was transferred or if inspection was completed before the registration expired.¹²

Fines for driving without a valid inspection start at $115 for a first offense and go up to $345, with higher minimums for repeat violations. An expired inspection can also complicate an insurance claim after an accident, since some insurers treat driving out of compliance as a policy violation.

Out-of-State Vehicles

If you move to Delaware or buy a vehicle from another state, it must pass a Delaware inspection regardless of any inspection it received elsewhere. The state does not recognize other states’ inspections.¹³ Vehicles seven model years old or newer purchased out of state need VIN verification at a DMV recheck lane; new car dealers can handle VIN verification on brand-new vehicles and provide the MV212 title application.¹⁴ If your out-of-state registration has already expired, the DMV can issue a five-day temporary tag for $20 so you can legally drive the vehicle to the inspection lane.

1
Division of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Services Inspections
2
Cornell Law School. 7 Del. Admin. Code 1131-4.0 – Vehicle Inspection Requirements
3
Delaware State. 7 DE Admin. Code 1131 – Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program
4
Delaware Code Online. Delaware Code Title 21 Chapter 21 Subchapter VII – Registration, Title and Licenses
5
Delaware State Seal. 7 DE Admin. Code 1126 – Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program – Sussex County
6
Delaware Code Online. Delaware Code Title 21 Section 2147 – Reconstructed Motor Vehicles
7
Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Inspection Manual
8
Delaware General Assembly. Senate Bill 255
9
Division of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Services FAQs
10
Division of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Inspection Program FAQs
11
LII / Legal Information Institute. 7 Del. Admin. Code 1126-7.0 – Vehicle Emission Inspection Waivers
12
Delaware Code Online. Delaware Code Title 21 Section 2151 – Fee Schedule; Time of Payment
13
Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles. Guidelines For New Residents – Process to Title and Register a Vehicle
14
Division of Motor Vehicles. Vehicles Purchased from Out of State