Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte
The Basic course is the initial Delaware defensive driving course, and the Delaware defensive driving refresher course is for drivers whose first course was 2 years and 6 months to 5 years earlier. The Basic course runs at least 6 hours, and the Refresher runs at least 3 hours. Both are approved by the Delaware DMV, and both can bring the same 3-point credit.
Key Facts
- The first course: the Basic course, with at least 6 hours of instruction. See which course fits.
- The repeat course: the Refresher, with at least 3 hours of instruction. See course length.
- The Refresher window: from 2 years and 6 months to 5 years after your first course. See the timing window.
- Insurance timing: a Refresher in the 180 days before your 3-year discount ends earns 15%. See insurance timing.
- No “advanced” course: Regulation 2224 names the Basic and Refresher courses, and the DMV FAQ uses “refresher.” See “advanced” course.
Basic or Refresher: Which Course Fits?
The answer depends on one date: when you finished your first approved course. If you have never finished one, the Basic course is the starting point. The Refresher is built for drivers coming back to the topic.
The DMV defensive driving FAQ sets the Refresher timing. It says the refresher “can be completed no less than two years and six months after the initial defensive driving course” “but no more than five years after the initial course.”
So here is the short version:
- No approved course yet: the Basic course.
- First course 2 years and 6 months to 5 years ago: the Refresher fits the DMV window.
- Not sure of the date: check your certificate, which shows the completion date.
Your certificate is the easiest place to find that date. Under Regulation 2224, section 4.4.5, every certificate shows the completion date, your name, the provider and the course name.
Delaware Defensive Driving Refresher Course vs Basic Course
The two courses share the same purpose but differ in length, content and timing. This table puts the official rules side by side.
| Feature | Basic course | Refresher course |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum hours | At least 6 | At least 3 |
| Required topics | All of 6.1.1 to 6.1.17 | 6.1.1 to 6.1.7, plus at least 7 others |
| When to take it | Your first approved course | 2 years 6 months to 5 years after the first |
| Insurance discount | 10% on part of the premium for 3 years | 15% if finished in the 180 days before the 3 years end (or from completion, if within 2 years after) |
The topic numbers come from Regulation 2224, section 6.1. The timing comes from the DMV FAQ, and the discount comes from Regulation 607.
How Long Each Course Runs
Regulation 2224, section 4.2.1.2, sets minimum time, not maximum time. Each student must receive “a minimum of six hours of instructional time for the Basic Course.” The Refresher needs “a minimum of three hours of instructional time.”
Two more rules shape that time:
- Each instructional hour must average at least 50 minutes.
- Registration does not count as instructional time.
The same minimums apply online, per the DMV FAQ. It also says, “The defensive driving course provider has the flexibility to choose how to allocate the time.” So a provider decides how to spread the hours across lessons, as long as the minimum is met.
For the online exam and identity rules, see our guide to the Delaware defensive driving course online.
What Each Course Covers
Regulation 2224 lists the required topics in section 6.1, numbered 6.1.1 through 6.1.17. The Basic and Refresher courses draw on that same list in different amounts.
- Basic course (section 4.1.1): it “must include all material from subsections 6.1.1 to 6.1.17.”
- Refresher course (section 4.1.2): it must include 6.1.1 to 6.1.7, plus at least seven of the topics in 6.1.8 to 6.1.17.
One topic is set by statute. Both courses must teach about traffic stops by a law-enforcement officer, with at least 2 test questions on it (18 Del. C. 2503(a)(6)a).
So the Refresher repeats the core topics. It then covers part of the remaining list. It also has a shorter minimum: at least 3 hours.
The Refresher Timing Window
The DMV FAQ sets a window with two edges. The earliest point is 2 years and 6 months after your first course. The latest point is 5 years after it.
Here is simple math with those official values. Say your first course was finished on a given date. The Refresher window opens 30 months later and closes 60 months later.
Regulation 2224 itself sets no Refresher window. The timing comes from the DMV FAQ, and it lines up with the insurance rule in Regulation 607. The insurance timing section shows how the two fit.
Is There an “Advanced” Defensive Driving Course in Delaware?
People search for a Delaware advanced defensive driving course. Regulation 2224 does not define an “advanced” course. The DMV FAQ uses the word “refresher” for the repeat course.
Among the course types it defines, Regulation 2224 names the “Basic Course” and the “Refresher Course.” Those are the names to look for when you choose a course.
The Refresher is the shorter course, at least 3 hours. It fits drivers inside the DMV timing window.
How the Refresher Fits the Insurance Discount
The Refresher also ties into the premium reduction. Under Regulation 607, a first course earns 10% on the bodily injury, property damage and PIP premiums for 3 years.
Section 4.2 then sets the Refresher rules:
- On time: a Refresher taken within the 180 days before the 3-year discount ends earns 15%, effective at the next renewal.
- Late: the 10% or 15% discount ends on the expiration date.
- Within 2 years after: a Refresher finished then brings 15%, effective on the completion date.
Your insurer must also send a notice at the renewal before the discount expires. That notice tells you a Refresher is needed.
The two windows match. The 180 days before the 3-year mark begin about 2 years and 6 months after the first course.
Two years after the 3-year mark is 5 years. Our insurance discount guide covers proration and who qualifies.
The 3-Point Credit Works the Same for Both
Both courses are approved defensive driving courses, so both can bring a 3-point credit. Under Regulation 2208, section 4.2.2, the credit is effective on the date of course completion.
The credit has the same limits either way. The DMV’s Point and Speed System page says it is “only applied to future violations, in certain circumstances.” It adds, “This does not decrease your overall point values.”
So a Refresher does not take points off your record. Like the Basic course, it follows the credit rules in Regulation 2208.
Both Courses Come in the Same Formats
The Basic and Refresher courses follow the same format rules in Regulation 2224. Each one can be taken online or in a classroom. A classroom course “may be offered in a virtual setting or environment.”
Online versions of either course end with a final exam of at least 25 questions. You need a score of 80% or better to pass. For classroom and virtual sessions, see our guide to Delaware defensive driving classes.
Voluntary Courses and the Discount
The insurance step only works for a course you chose to take. State law gives the rate reduction to a person who “voluntarily attends and successfully completes” an approved course.
The same law sets two exclusions. A course ordered by a court does not count, and neither does a course the DMV requires for a Title 21 violation (18 Del. C. 2503(a)(6)d).
This applies to both versions. A Refresher taken because a court ordered it would not earn the 15% step.
After You Finish Either Course
The steps after the course are the same for both versions. The provider reports your completion to the DMV, so you do not send it yourself. Regulation 2224 gives the provider 14 days, and the DMV FAQ says completion loads “within 48 hours.”
You also get a free certificate if you have a valid Delaware driver license or ID card. Under Regulation 607, that certificate is conclusive proof for your insurer.
Keep it, since it also holds the date that starts your Refresher window. Our certificate guide covers lost copies and reporting.
What We Found on the Official Pages
On the official pages we checked on October 28, 2026, the Refresher rules sat in three places:
- Regulation 2224 sets the 3-hour minimum and the Refresher topics, but no timing window.
- The DMV FAQ sets the window of 2 years and 6 months to 5 years.
- Regulation 607 sets the 180-day and 2-year insurance rules.
The Department of Insurance page describes the same 15% step. It says a refresher “within 180 days of the end of the three-year period” makes a driver eligible for “up to a 15 percent discount.”
Common Mistakes
These mistakes come from mixing up the official rules:
- Signing up for a Refresher as a first course. The Refresher is timed from an “initial” course.
- Taking the Refresher too early. The DMV FAQ sets the earliest point at 2 years and 6 months.
- Waiting past 5 years. The DMV FAQ sets 5 years as the latest point.
- Looking for an “advanced” course. The DMV FAQ calls the repeat course a refresher.
- Missing the 180-day step. A Refresher in the 180 days before the 3 years end earns 15% at the next renewal.
- Expecting points to drop. The credit applies to future violations, in certain circumstances.
How Requirements Can Vary
Delaware’s point system, defensive driving course rules and insurance discount come from state law and state regulations (Regulations 2208, 2224 and 607, and section 2503 of Title 18 of the Delaware Code) and apply statewide. How your ticket is handled is up to the court on your ticket. The fines in the Delaware Code do not include court costs and assessments, so the amount due is on your ticket.
Laws, regulations and DMV fees can change. Check your ticket, any DMV letter, the Delaware DMV website and the Delaware Code before you take a course or pay a ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Basic and Refresher courses?
The Basic course runs at least 6 hours and covers all required topics. The Refresher runs at least 3 hours and covers the core topics plus at least seven others. The Refresher is timed from your first course.
When can I take the Refresher course?
The DMV FAQ says no less than two years and six months after your first course. It also says no more than five years after it. Your certificate shows your first completion date.
Is the Refresher course shorter online?
No. The DMV FAQ says the same 3-hour minimum applies online. The provider may choose how to allocate the time across the course.
Does the Refresher bring a bigger insurance discount?
It can. Regulation 607 sets 15% for a Refresher taken within the 180 days before your 3-year discount ends. A late Refresher within 2 years after that date brings 15% from its completion date.
Does the 3-point credit work the same for the Refresher?
Both are DMV-approved courses under Regulation 2224, so the credit rules in Regulation 2208 are the same. The credit is effective on the completion date and applies only to future violations, in certain circumstances. For your own record, call DMV Driver Improvement at 302-744-2509.
Is there an advanced defensive driving course in Delaware?
Regulation 2224 does not define an “advanced” course. It names the Basic Course and the Refresher Course, and the DMV FAQ uses “refresher.” Look for those names when you choose a course.
Does a court-ordered Refresher earn the 15% discount?
No. The rate reduction is for a course a driver chose to take. A course ordered by a court, or required by the DMV for a Title 21 violation, does not qualify.
Conclusion
The Basic course is your first approved course, and the Refresher fits drivers 2 years and 6 months to 5 years past it. If you need a course now, choose a Basic or Refresher course from the DMV’s approved list. The Delaware defensive driving course at Driving Logic is coming soon.
Related Articles
- Delaware Defensive Driving Course: Basic and Refresher Guide
- Delaware Defensive Driving Insurance Discount: 10% vs. 15%
- Delaware Defensive Driving Course Online: How It Works
- Delaware Defensive Driving Certificate: Reporting and Proof
Sources
- Delaware DMV — Defensive Driving FAQ (PDF)
- 2 DE Admin Code 2224 — Defensive Driving Course, Providers and Instructors
- 18 DE Admin Code 607 — Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Course Discount (PDF)
- Delaware Department of Insurance — Defensive Driving Discount
- Delaware DMV — Defensive Driving Courses
- 2 DE Admin Code 2208 — Driver Improvement Problem Driver Program
- Delaware DMV — Point and Speed System
Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, an online driver education course provider serving drivers in several U.S. states.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Delaware course rules, point values, fines and penalties depend on your ticket, court, DMV notice and case facts, and they can change. Use official Delaware DMV, Delaware Code and court sources, and consult a qualified Delaware attorney for advice about your own case.