Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte
Yes, you can take a Delaware defensive driving course online if the DMV has approved it, and the course must end with a final exam of at least 25 questions that you pass with 80% or better. The provider must also collect your driver license number and have you sign an online identity affidavit. According to the DMV, an online course must meet the same minimum time as a classroom course: 6 hours for Basic and 3 hours for Refresher.
Key Facts
- Online is allowed: Regulation 2224 sets rules for approved online courses. See online courses in Delaware.
- Final exam: at least 25 questions, with 80% or better to pass. See the final exam.
- Identity: the provider collects your license number, and you sign an online affidavit. See identity rules.
- Time: the DMV says the 6-hour and 3-hour minimums apply online. See course time.
- Approval: only courses on the DMV’s “Online Courses” list count. See checking approval.
Can You Take a Delaware Defensive Driving Course Online?
Yes. Regulation 2224 sets rules for online courses in section 4.2.2. Section 3.0 defines an online course as “instruction provided online or offline through the use of a computer.”
That definition is broad. It covers a course you take on a computer, whether the lessons run online or offline. What matters is that the course itself is approved.
Only courses approved by the Delaware DMV count. The DMV defensive driving page keeps a separate “Online Courses” list. A course that is not on it cannot bring the 3-point credit or the insurance reduction.
The Online Rules at a Glance
Regulation 2224 puts several duties on online courses. Some fall on the provider, and some fall on you.
| Online rule | Who handles it | Where it is written |
|---|---|---|
| Final exam of at least 25 questions | The provider builds it | Regulation 2224, 4.2.2.2.1 |
| Passing score of 80% or better | The student | Regulation 2224, 4.2.2.2.2 |
| Driver license number | The provider collects it | Regulation 2224, 4.2.2.3 |
| Online identity affidavit | The student signs it | Regulation 2224, 4.2.2 |
| Staffed toll-free support line | The provider | Regulation 2224, 4.2.2.1.3 |
| 6-hour and 3-hour minimums | The provider | DMV defensive driving FAQ |
The sections below explain each rule in plain terms.
Final Exam and Passing Score
Every approved online course ends with a final exam. Section 4.2.2.2.1 calls for “a final exam with a minimum of 25 questions.” So an exam can be longer, but not shorter.
You must reach “a passing score of 80% or better” (section 4.2.2.2.2). Here is simple math with those values: on a 25-question exam, 80% means at least 20 correct answers.
The law also sets one topic for the test. Under 18 Del. C. 2503(a)(6)a, the course must teach about traffic stops by a law-enforcement officer, with at least 2 test questions on it.
License Number and Identity Affidavit
An online course must confirm who took it. Section 4.2.2.3 requires the provider to collect your driver license number.
You also complete “an online affidavit with a verification that the student is the person who completed the course.” In other words, you state in writing that you did the course yourself.
Have your license number ready before you start, since the provider must collect it.
Toll-Free Support Line
Section 4.2.2.1.3 requires each online provider to keep a staffed toll-free support line. If something goes wrong during the course, that line is where to ask for help.
How Much Time an Online Course Takes
An online course has a minimum time, according to the DMV. The DMV defensive driving FAQ says Regulation 2224 “requires a minimum of six hours instructional time for a basic defensive driving course” “and three hours for a refresher course.”
The FAQ also gives providers room to plan. It says, “The defensive driving course provider has the flexibility to choose how to allocate the time.” So one course may use longer lessons, and another may use shorter ones.
These are minimums only. Regulation 2224 also says registration is not instructional time, and each instructional hour averages at least 50 minutes.
Basic or Refresher Online
Both course versions can be online. The Basic course is the first course, with at least 6 hours. The Refresher is for drivers whose first course was 2 years and 6 months to 5 years earlier, with at least 3 hours.
The same online rules apply to both. Each one ends with a final exam of at least 25 questions and the 80% pass mark. For help choosing, see our Refresher versus Basic guide.
What Online Courses Must Cover
An online course is held to the same topic rules as any other approved course. Regulation 2224, section 4.1, says the Basic course “must include all material from subsections 6.1.1 to 6.1.17.” The Refresher covers 6.1.1 to 6.1.7, plus at least seven of the other topics.
So moving a course online does not shrink what it must teach. The format changes how you take the lessons, not which topics they include.
What to Have Ready Before You Start
A few items make the online course go smoothly. Each one comes from an official rule:
- Your driver license number. The provider must collect it under section 4.2.2.3.
- A computer. The rule defines an online course as instruction “through the use of a computer.”
- Your first course date, for a Refresher. The DMV FAQ times the Refresher from your initial course, and your certificate shows that date.
- The provider’s support number. Each online provider must keep a staffed toll-free line.
How to Check That an Online Course Is Approved
Start with the DMV defensive driving page. It has a table called “Online Courses” and a separate table called “Classroom Courses.” An online course should appear in the online table.
Approval has an end date. Under Regulation 2224, section 4.5, course certifications “shall expire three (3) years after approval date.” So a course that was approved once still needs to be on the current list.
For questions, write to DMV-DefensiveDriving@delaware.gov, the email on the DMV page. The Department of Insurance page lists (302) 744-2566 as the DMV phone number. Our guide to the Delaware DMV defensive driving course explains the lists in more detail.
What Happens After You Pass
You do not report your own completion. The provider does it for you. Regulation 2224, section 4.2.4, says the provider must notify the DMV “within fourteen days of the course completion.”
The DMV FAQ is faster. It says your completion “will be electronically loaded to your driving record within 48 hours of completing the course.”
The provider also issues a certificate. It is free for students with a valid Delaware driver license or ID card (Regulation 2224, section 4.4.5). Our certificate guide explains what it shows and how to replace it.
What an Online Course Can Do
An approved online course brings the same benefits as an approved classroom course. The format does not change the rules.
- 3-point credit: effective on the completion date under Regulation 2208. The DMV says it is “only applied to future violations, in certain circumstances” and “does not decrease your overall point values.”
- Insurance reduction: under 18 Del. C. 2503(a)(6) and Regulation 607, 10% on the bodily injury, property damage and PIP premiums for 3 years. If some named operators did not finish, the 10% is prorated. A Refresher taken on time can bring 15%.
The insurance reduction applies only to a course you chose to take. A course ordered by a court, or one the DMV requires for a Title 21 violation, does not earn the insurance reduction (18 Del. C. 2503(a)(6)d).
Our Delaware defensive driving course guide explains both in brief, and the insurance discount guide covers the 10% and 15% steps.
Online vs Classroom
Delaware also allows classroom courses, and a classroom course “may be offered in a virtual setting or environment.” A virtual class is still a classroom course under Regulation 2224, not an online course. Its sessions are recorded, attendance is confirmed by sight, and recordings are kept for 3 years.
The two have different rules, so it helps to know which one you are in. For classroom and virtual class rules, read Delaware defensive driving classes.
What We Found on the Official Pages
On the DMV pages we checked on October 28, 2026, the defensive driving page listed 23 online course listings and 6 classroom listings. The online rules sit in Regulation 2224, section 4.2.2.
The hour rule needs a closer look. In the current Regulation 2224, the 6-hour and 3-hour minimums are written under section 4.2.1, the classroom section. The DMV FAQ says the same minimums apply to online courses, so this guide follows the DMV.
Common Mistakes
These mistakes come from missing an official rule:
- Choosing a course that is not on the DMV “Online Courses” list. Only approved courses count.
- Thinking a virtual class is an online course. Regulation 2224 treats a virtual class as a classroom course.
- Expecting a pass below 80%. The rule sets 80% or better.
- Starting without your license number. The provider must collect it.
- Counting registration time. Registration is not instructional time under Regulation 2224.
- Having someone else finish the course. The affidavit confirms you are the person who completed it.
- 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
Is the online course accepted the same as a classroom course?
Yes, if it is approved by the DMV. An approved online course brings the same 3-point credit and can bring the same insurance reduction. Check the DMV “Online Courses” list first.
How many questions are on the online final exam?
At least 25. Regulation 2224 sets that minimum, so a course may use more. You need 80% or better to pass.
How long does the online course take?
The DMV FAQ says the minimums are 6 hours for Basic and 3 hours for Refresher. The provider chooses how to allocate the time. Registration does not count toward it.
Why does the course ask for my license number?
Regulation 2224 requires the provider to collect it. The rule also requires an online affidavit that you are the person who completed the course.
Who do I call if I have a problem during the course?
Call the provider’s staffed toll-free support line. Regulation 2224 requires each online provider to keep one. For questions about approval, the DMV lists DMV-DefensiveDriving@delaware.gov.
Do I get a certificate after an online course?
Yes. The provider gives a free certificate to students with a valid Delaware driver license or ID card. If you lose it, the DMV FAQ says to contact the provider, and “there may be a cost.”
Can I take the Refresher course online?
Yes, if the online Refresher is approved by the DMV. The DMV FAQ says the 3-hour minimum applies online. The Refresher fits drivers whose first course was 2 years and 6 months to 5 years earlier.
Does an online course count for the insurance discount?
Yes, if it is approved by the DMV and you chose to take it. Regulation 607 sets 10% on the bodily injury, property damage and PIP premiums for 3 years. A court-ordered course does not qualify.
Conclusion
An approved online course follows Regulation 2224, with a final exam of at least 25 questions, an 80% pass mark and an identity affidavit. If you need a course now, choose one from the DMV’s “Online Courses” 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 Certificate: Reporting and Proof
- Delaware Defensive Driving Classes: Classroom and Virtual
- Delaware Defensive Driving Insurance Discount: 10% vs. 15%
Sources
- 2 DE Admin Code 2224 — Defensive Driving Course, Providers and Instructors
- Delaware DMV — Defensive Driving FAQ (PDF)
- Delaware DMV — Defensive Driving Courses
- 2 DE Admin Code 2208 — Driver Improvement Problem Driver Program
- Delaware DMV — Point and Speed System
- 18 DE Admin Code 607 — Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Course Discount (PDF)
- Delaware Department of Insurance — Defensive Driving Discount
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.