How to Get Points Off Your License in Delaware

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

If you are looking up how to get points off your license in Delaware, the short answer is that no Delaware course removes points already on your record. An approved course gives a 3-point credit that “is only applied to future violations, in certain circumstances”. Points do fade on their own, since they count at full value for 12 months and at half value for the next 12.

Key Facts

  • No removal: no Delaware course takes existing points off your record. See the short answer.
  • The 3-point credit: an approved course adds a credit that applies only to future violations, in certain circumstances. See how the credit works.
  • Firm limits: the credit does not stop the 8-point advisory letter and is not considered for school bus operator eligibility. See limits on the credit.
  • Points fade: points count in full for 12 months and at half value for the next 12. See how points fade.
  • Some tickets add no points: a first speeding ticket of 1 to 14 mph over in 3 years, paid by mail or through the VAC, adds no points for Class D holders. See when no points are added.

How to Get Points Off Your License in Delaware: The Short Answer

You cannot take a course to remove points that are already on your Delaware record. The DMV defensive driving FAQ answers the question plainly: “No. The three-point credit is applied to future violations in certain situations”.

The DMV Point and Speed System page says the same thing in other words. It says the credit “is only applied to future violations, in certain circumstances”. It also says the course “does not decrease your overall point values”.

So the honest answer has two parts:

  • Points already on your record stay there. A course does not lower them.
  • Points lose weight over time. Under Regulation 2208, they count in full for 12 months, then at half value, and then they stop counting toward DMV action.

For the value of each violation, see our guide to the Delaware point system.

How the Delaware Defensive Driving Point Credit Works

The credit comes from Regulation 2208, the rule for the DMV’s Problem Driver Program. Section 4.2.2 sets out three rules for it:

  • It is entered after the course. The driver “shall have a 3-point credit entered on the licensee’s driving record following satisfactory completion of the course”.
  • It starts on the completion date. In the regulation’s words, “DDC credit is effective on the date of course completion”.
  • It does not reach back. “DDC credit will not be applied retroactively once an action item is in effect”.

Only a course approved by the Delaware DMV counts. Approved courses include a Basic course of at least 6 hours and a Refresher course of at least 3 hours. Our Delaware defensive driving course guide explains both.

How Long the Course Counts

The DMV Point and Speed System page says the course “remains valid for three years from the completion date”.

The DMV Driver Improvement FAQ gives the same time frame. It says, “Defensive driving courses are valid for three (3) years”.

What “Future Violations” Means for You

The credit looks forward, not back. It does not change the points that are on your record on the day you finish the course.

Instead, the DMV applies it to violations that come later, “in certain circumstances”. For how the credit applies to your own record, the DMV FAQ refers drivers to Driver Improvement at 302-744-2509.

Credit vs Removal: What the Course Does and Does Not Do

This short table sets the official answers side by side.

QuestionOfficial answer
Does a course remove points already on the record?No, per the DMV FAQ
Does it lower your overall point values?No, it “does not decrease your overall point values”
When does the credit take effect?On the course completion date
Can it undo a DMV action already in effect?No, it is not applied retroactively
How long does the course count?Three years from the completion date
Does it stop the 8-point advisory letter?No
How a Delaware defensive driving point credit is entered: finish an approved course, the credit starts on the completion date and it applies only to future violations

Limits on the Credit

The credit does not help in every case. Regulation 2208 names two limits.

The 8-Point Advisory Letter

At 8 points, the DMV sends an advisory letter. The action table in Regulation 2208, section 4.6, says, “DDC credits will not impact the issuance of an advisory letter”.

So a driver who reaches 8 points still gets the letter, even with a recent course. The letter is a warning, and Regulation 2208 says its purpose “is to express our concern about the operator’s driving habits”.

School Bus Operators

Regulation 2208, section 4.2.3, sets a separate rule for school bus operators. It says the point credits “shall not be considered when determining the eligibility of a school bus operator.”

Actions Already in Effect

Because the credit “will not be applied retroactively once an action item is in effect,” a course finished after a DMV action starts does not undo that action.

For example, 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”.

That required course is not the same as the voluntary defensive driving course. Our guide to the Behavior Modification course explains the difference.

How Points Fade Over Time

Points do not stay at full weight forever. Regulation 2208, section 4.13, sets the count:

  • Months 1 to 12: points count at “full point value for the first twelve months from the date of the violation”.
  • Months 13 to 24: they count at “(1/2) point value for the next 12 months”.
  • After 24 months: “The Division will only take action based upon convictions accumulated within the 24-month period following the date of the offense”.

Here is a simple example using official values. A speeding ticket for 10 to 14 mph over carries 4 points. It counts as 4 points for the first 12 months and as 2 points for the next 12 months.

After the 24-month window ends, that ticket no longer counts toward DMV action. This is how points stop counting in Delaware: with time, not with a course. Our article on how long points stay on a Delaware license covers the time rules in more detail.

When No Points Are Added

Some cases never add points in the first place. Each official rule has limits.

A First Minor Speeding Ticket Paid by Mail

Regulation 2208, section 4.2.1, covers a speeding conviction of 1 to 14 mph over. It is not assessed points for the first such violation within any three-year period. The ticket must be paid through the Voluntary Assessment Center (VAC) or as a mail-in.

The DMV adds a key limit. This rule “Only applies to Class D license holders,” and “CDL holders will receive points”.

Paying through the VAC has its own effect. The law says payment “is an admission of guilt, a waiver of the right to a hearing, and a complete satisfaction of the violation” (21 Del. C. 709).

For more on speeding points, see our guide to Delaware speeding ticket points.

Probation Before Judgment

Probation before judgment (PBJ) is a court outcome. The JP Court Traffic FAQs say that under PBJ, “there is no conviction and no points are assessed”.

PBJ is not open to everyone. Under the law, it is not available to:

  • CDL holders charged with an offense involving a motor vehicle (11 Del. C. 4218).
  • Anyone with a PBJ in the last 5 years for an offense under the same title (11 Del. C. 4218).

Whether PBJ fits a case is up to the court. For your own case, ask the court on your ticket or a Delaware attorney.

Handheld Phone Tickets

A handheld phone ticket carries a fine but no points. The law says, “No motor vehicle points shall be assessed for a violation of this section” (21 Del. C. 4176C(e)).

Ways Delaware points stop counting or are never added: half value after 12 months, no DMV action after 24 months, the first minor speeding ticket, PBJ and phone tickets

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the official pages we checked on October 28, 2026, every source used the same idea. The credit applies to future violations, and it does not lower the points you already have.

  • The DMV FAQ answered the points question with “No”.
  • The Point and Speed System page said the credit “is only applied to future violations, in certain circumstances”.
  • Regulation 2208 set the start date, the no-retroactive rule and the two limits.
  • The Driver Improvement FAQ said courses “are valid for three (3) years”.

None of these pages described a course that removes points.

Common Mistakes

These mistakes come from misreading the official rules:

  • Expecting a lower point total. The credit “does not decrease your overall point values”.
  • Taking a course after an action starts. The credit is not applied retroactively once an action item is in effect.
  • Expecting to skip the advisory letter. The credit does not affect the 8-point letter.
  • Counting on the credit for school bus eligibility. The credit is not considered when the DMV decides whether a school bus operator is eligible.
  • Assuming a CDL holder gets the mail-in rule. The DMV says CDL holders will receive points.
  • Forgetting the half-value year. Points still count at half value in months 13 to 24.
  • Mixing up two courses. The voluntary defensive driving course is not the Behavior Modification course the DMV requires at 12 points.

Where to Get Answers About Your Record

The DMV is the place to ask about your points, since the DMV assigns them and the court does not. The DMV FAQ lists Driver Improvement at 302-744-2509.

You can also order a copy of your driving record. Our guide to the Delaware driving record explains the options. For a ticket that is still open, contact the court named on the ticket or a Delaware attorney.

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

Can a defensive driving course remove points in Delaware?

No. The DMV FAQ says the three-point credit “is applied to future violations in certain situations”. The course does not lower the points already on your record.

When does the 3-point credit start?

It starts on the date you finish the course. Regulation 2208 says, “DDC credit is effective on the date of course completion”. It is not applied retroactively once a DMV action is in effect.

How long does the course count for the credit?

The DMV says the course “remains valid for three years from the completion date”. The Driver Improvement FAQ also says courses are valid for three years.

Will the credit stop an 8-point advisory letter?

No. Regulation 2208 says DDC credits “will not impact the issuance of an advisory letter”. A driver who reaches 8 points still gets the letter.

Does a CDL holder get the mail-in speeding rule?

No. The DMV says the no-points rule “Only applies to Class D license holders” and “CDL holders will receive points”. PBJ is also not available to CDL holders.

Does the course also affect car insurance?

A voluntary course approved by the Delaware DMV can lead to a 3-year rate reduction. It is 10% on the bodily injury, property damage and personal injury protection premiums, prorated when not every named operator finished the course. Our defensive driving insurance discount guide covers the details.

Conclusion

No Delaware course takes points off your record, and points fade on their own over 24 months. An approved course adds a 3-point credit for future violations in certain circumstances, and 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.