Delaware DMV Defensive Driving Course: How to Check Approval

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

To check a Delaware DMV defensive driving course, look for it on the DMV defensive driving page. The page has separate “Classroom Courses” and “Online Courses” tables. Only a course “approved by the Division of Motor Vehicles” earns the insurance reduction and the 3-point credit.

Key Facts

  • Where to check: the DMV defensive driving page lists approved classroom and online courses. See how to check.
  • Why it matters: only an approved course brings the insurance reduction and the point credit. See why approval matters.
  • Who approves: the DMV has approved courses since March 11, 2015. See who approves courses.
  • Approval ends: a course certification expires three years after its approval date. See provider rules.
  • Not the same course: the voluntary course is not the Behavior Modification course the DMV can require. See a different course.

How to Check a Delaware DMV Defensive Driving Course

The DMV does not teach the course; approved providers do. The DMV keeps the official list. Its defensive driving page has two tables:

  • “Classroom Courses.” Under Regulation 2224, a classroom course may be held in person or in a virtual setting.
  • “Online Courses.” Under Regulation 2224, online courses have their own exam and identity rules.

On October 28, 2026, the DMV page listed 6 classroom and 23 online course listings. The list can change, so check it close to your start date.

The list shows providers, not class dates. The DMV says, “Please contact a course provider for a list of classes being offered”.

Why Approval Matters

Each benefit depends on approval. Under 18 Del. C. 2503(a)(6), the insurance reduction is for a course “approved by the Division of Motor Vehicles”.

The benefits of an approved course are:

  • A 3-point credit that applies only to future violations, in certain circumstances (Regulation 2208).
  • A 3-year insurance reduction for a voluntary course: 10% on the bodily injury, property damage and personal injury protection premiums, prorated by the share of named operators who finished.
  • A 15% reduction for a Refresher taken within the 180 days before the 3 years end.

A course that is not on the DMV list does not bring these benefits. A course a court orders or the DMV requires does not get the insurance reduction either.

Who Approves Courses

Two state offices share the work. Since March 11, 2015, under SB 178, the DMV approves defensive driving courses.

The Department of Insurance kept authority over the insurance discount. So the DMV decides which courses are approved, and the Department of Insurance handles the discount.

WhoWhat it does
Delaware DMVApproves courses and lists approved providers
Department of InsuranceOversees the insurance discount and takes complaints
Approved providerTeaches the course, tells the DMV you finished and gives the certificate
How to check if a defensive driving course is approved by the Delaware DMV, from the DMV page to the provider

Rules Approved Providers Must Follow

Regulation 2224 sets the rules for providers and instructors. A few of them help you judge a course:

  • Approval ends. Course certifications “shall expire three (3) years after approval date” (section 4.5).
  • Hours. A Basic course is at least 6 hours, and a Refresher is at least 3 hours, with each hour averaging at least 50 minutes.
  • Disclosures. Providers must explain how and when the certificate is issued, the 10% and 15% discounts, and “how the administrative 3-point credit is applied on the driving record” (sections 4.4.2 and 4.4.3).
  • Online support. Online providers must keep a staffed toll-free support line (section 4.2.2.1.3).
  • Reporting. Providers notify the DMV of each completion “within fourteen days” (section 4.2.4).

If a provider cannot explain them, ask the DMV first.

Course Types in Regulation 2224

Regulation 2224, section 4.1, names five types of courses:

  • Basic
  • Refresher
  • Teen Basic
  • Experienced Driver
  • Demographic-specific courses

The hour rules in section 4.2.1.2 are for the Basic and Refresher. Regulation 2224 does not set the Refresher timing. The DMV FAQ says the Refresher can be completed “no less than two years and six months after the initial defensive driving course” and “no more than five years after the initial course”.

A Different Course: Behavior Modification

The voluntary defensive driving course is not the Behavior Modification course. At 12 points, Regulation 2208 calls for a Behavior Modification course within 90 days. A 2-month suspension applies if the driver does not finish it “or upon preference of the driver”.

The DMV requires that course, so it does not get the insurance reduction. Our guide to the Delaware Behavior Modification course explains how it works.

Checklist Before You Choose a Course

Confirm these points before you pick a course:

  • On the DMV list. The provider is in the Classroom Courses or Online Courses table.
  • Basic or Refresher. You know which one you need, based on the date of any earlier course.
  • Online or classroom. You know whether you want an online, in-person or virtual class.
  • Certificate. You hold a valid Delaware license or ID card. The free certificate goes to those students.
  • What you were told. The provider has explained the certificate, the discounts and the point credit.

For format details, see our guides to Delaware defensive driving classes and Delaware defensive driving online.

Delaware DMV course approval rules at a glance: approval since March 11, 2015, three-year certification and provider duties

Common Mistakes

These mistakes come from misreading the official rules:

  • Looking for a course taught by the DMV. Approved providers teach the course.
  • Assuming any course counts. Only a course on the DMV list brings the benefits.
  • Expecting the DMV list to show class dates. The DMV says to contact a provider for classes.
  • Mixing up two courses. The voluntary course is not the Behavior Modification course.
  • Using a required course for insurance. A course a court orders or the DMV requires does not count.

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the official pages we checked on October 28, 2026, the defensive driving page showed separate Classroom Courses and Online Courses tables. It listed 6 classroom and 23 online course listings.

The same page told readers to contact a provider for a list of classes. Regulation 2224, the rule for providers, was last changed on May 1, 2021.

Who to Contact With Questions

The DMV takes questions about approved courses. You can email DMV-DefensiveDriving@delaware.gov, the address on the DMV defensive driving page.

The Department of Insurance page lists the DMV phone number as (302) 744-2566. For a problem with an insurance discount, the Department of Insurance takes complaints at consumer@delaware.gov.

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

Does the Delaware DMV teach defensive driving?

No. The DMV approves and lists courses, and approved providers teach them. Contact a provider on the DMV list for its classes.

Where is the list of approved courses?

It is on the DMV defensive driving page. The page has separate “Classroom Courses” and “Online Courses” tables.

How long does a course approval last?

Regulation 2224 says course certifications “shall expire three (3) years after approval date”. That is one reason to check the list close to your start date.

Who handles the insurance discount?

The Department of Insurance. Since March 11, 2015, the DMV approves courses, and the Department of Insurance kept authority over the discount.

Do online courses on the list bring the same benefits?

Yes. An approved course on either list can bring the 3-point credit and the insurance reduction. Online courses also need a final exam of at least 25 questions, with 80% or better to pass.

What else must an approved online course do?

Under Regulation 2224, the provider collects your license number. You also sign an online affidavit that you took the course, and the provider keeps a staffed toll-free support line.

Is a Behavior Modification course the same thing?

No. The DMV can require a Behavior Modification course at 12 points. A required course does not qualify for the insurance reduction.

Conclusion

The DMV defensive driving page is the place to check whether a course is approved, and only approved courses bring the credit and the insurance reduction. If you need a course now, choose one from the DMV’s approved list. The Delaware defensive driving course at Driving Logic is coming soon.

Sources

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.