Subchapter IV. Fees
TITLE 21
Motor Vehicles
Registration, Title and Licenses
CHAPTER 21. REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES
Subchapter IV. Fees
§ 2151. Fee schedule; time of payment.
At the time of application for the registration of a motor vehicle and prior to the issuance of the current registration plates required by this title, there shall be paid to the Department registration fees according to the following schedule:
(1) For the registration of any motorcycle, $15 per year;
(2) For the registration of each motor vehicle commonly used for pleasure or for the chief purpose of carrying persons (except motor vehicles commonly known as passenger buses) and including station wagons, $40 per year;
(3) For the registration of other motor vehicles, including those propelled by diesel engines, $40 per year if the gross load weight does not exceed 5,000 pounds, and an additional $18 per year for each 1,000 pounds or fraction thereof over and above 5,000 pounds. The gross load weight shall be the weight of the chassis, body, equipment and maximum allowable load as specified by the application;
(4) Such vehicles as are authorized to operate or to be moved as provided by § 4504 of this title shall be registered in the same manner as other vehicles. The fee for such registration shall be at the same rate required for trucks and semitrailers;
(5) For the registration of any recreational vehicle or recreational trailer, the fee shall be $40 per year if the gross load weight of the vehicle or trailer does not exceed 5,000 pounds, and in the event the gross load weight exceeds 5,000 pounds, $6.40 per year for each 1,000 pounds or fraction thereof over and above 5,000 pounds. The gross load weight shall be the weight of the chassis, body, equipment and maximum allowable load as specified by the application;
(6) A fee of $10, in addition to the registration fee, shall be imposed at the time of renewal of registration of a motor vehicle or semitrailer if the Delaware registration has expired. This fee shall not be imposed if the registration has expired over 12 months or if a permit has been purchased for the vehicle pursuant to § 2103 of this title. The fee shall not be imposed if a transfer of ownership on the vehicle has taken place or if the motor vehicle or trailer has been inspected prior to the expiration of registration;
(7) Of each of the motorcycle registration fees collected pursuant to paragraph (1) of this section the sum of $4 per year is appropriated to the Department of Transportation and shall be placed in a special account to be used only for the expenses incurred in the administration of the motorcycle rider education program and improved motorcycle licensing procedures;
(8) For the registration of motor farm trucks owned and used exclusively by farmers who derive at least $1,000 of their annual income from the operation of their farm and they own or rent at least 10 acres which are actively used in the farming operation from which they derive that income, the fee shall be $40 per year if the gross load weight does not exceed 5,000 pounds, and an additional $3.80 per year for each 1,000 pounds or fraction thereof over and above 5,000 pounds. The gross load weight shall be as calculated in paragraph (3) of this section, but in no case shall the required fee for motor vehicles, except trailers, under this paragraph be less than $40 per year;
(9) For the registration of trailers with a gross weight of 1,000 pounds or less the fee shall be $15 per year; if a trailer's gross load weight exceeds 1,000 pounds there shall be an additional fee of $5 per year for each 1,000 pounds or fraction thereof over and above the 1,000 pounds up to a maximum of 2,000 pounds. The fee for the registration of trailers with a gross weight exceeding 2,000 pounds shall be as provided in paragraph (3) of this section.
36 Del. Laws, c. 10, § 26; 37 Del. Laws, c. 10, § 8; 38 Del. Laws, c. 27, §§ 1, 2; 40 Del. Laws, c. 38, § 1; Code 1935, § 5564; 45 Del. Laws, c. 287, § 2; 46 Del. Laws, c. 123; 47 Del. Laws, c. 17, § 2; 47 Del. Laws, c. 159; 47 Del. Laws, c. 255, § 3; 47 Del. Laws, c. 332; 48 Del. Laws, c. 62, §§ 1, 2; 21 Del. C. 1953, § 2151; 49 Del. Laws, c. 360; 53 Del. Laws, c. 221, §§ 3, 4; 55 Del. Laws, c. 156, § 2; 55 Del. Laws, c. 176; 58 Del. Laws, c. 363; 59 Del. Laws, c. 57, § 3; 62 Del. Laws, c. 233, § 1; 62 Del. Laws, c. 337, § 1; 64 Del. Laws, c. 207, § 3; 65 Del. Laws, c. 27, §§ 3, 4; 67 Del. Laws, c. 260, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 411, §§ 5-9; 68 Del. Laws, c. 156, §§ 56(a)-(d), (g), 59(a); 69 Del. Laws, c. 77, §§ 59, 60; 69 Del. Laws, c. 217, § 3; 74 Del. Laws, c. 110, § 44; 74 Del. Laws, c. 166, § 2; 74 Del. Laws, c. 383, § 2; 76 Del. Laws, c. 76, §§ 5-10.;
§ 2152. Optional provision for tractor trailer units.
(a) The owner of every pickup truck, truck or truck tractor which is used to pull a semitrailer may elect to have the total gross load weight of the pickup truck, truck or truck tractor and semitrailer assessed against the pickup truck, truck or truck tractor and to pay the fees set forth in subdivision (3) of § 2151 of this title by filing with the Department an election form as provided by the Secretary.
(b) Upon election to have the total gross load weight assessed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, an owner may have not more than 3 semitrailers, as designated by the owner, registered upon the payment of a $40 per year fee for each designated semitrailer. No other fee for registration of the semitrailer shall be required.
(c) The Secretary shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate this section.
21 Del. C. 1953, § 2151A; 55 Del. Laws, c. 176; 57 Del. Laws, c. 670, § 8A; 60 Del. Laws, c. 192, § 1; 62 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 411, § 10; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 76, § 11.;
§ 2153. Fee for manufacturers', transporters', automotive recyclers' and dealers' plates.
Manufacturers, transporters, automotive recyclers and dealers who qualify under this chapter for special number plates shall pay to the Department for each calendar year $10 for each set of special plates. These special number plates may be issued for 1 or 2 years at a fee of $10 per plate for each year.
36 Del. Laws, c. 10, § 26; 38 Del. Laws, c. 27, §§ 1, 2; 40 Del. Laws, c. 38, § 1; Code 1935, § 5564; 45 Del. Laws, c. 287, § 2; 21 Del. C. 1953, § 2152; 53 Del. Laws, c. 221, § 5; 65 Del. Laws, c. 318, § 3; 67 Del. Laws, c. 411, § 11.;
§ 2154. Special number plates for towed stock cars and other motor vehicles.
(a) An owner of a stock car of the type used for racing may apply to the Department, upon appropriate forms provided by the Department, for a special plate which shall be displayed on the stock car when it is being towed upon the highways.
(b) A person whose business involves towing motor vehicles upon the highways may apply to the Department, upon appropriate forms provided by the Department, for a special plate or plates, which shall be displayed on motor vehicle(s) when being towed upon the highways by such person in the course of such person's business.
(c) Special plates issued pursuant to this section shall not be displayed on trailers, construction vehicles or vehicles being operated under their own power.
(d) Special plates issued pursuant to this section shall contain the words "towed vehicle" which shall distinguish them from other plates issued under this chapter.
(e) Special plates issued pursuant to this section shall not be assigned to a particular vehicle and may be used by the applicant on any towed vehicle except those vehicles excluded under subsection (c) of this section.
(f) The fee for each special plate issued pursuant to this section is $10 per year. The plate may be originally issued or renewed for 1 or 2 years, and shall expire at midnight on December 31st of the year of expiration.
(g) [Repealed.]
36 Del. Laws, c. 10, § 26; Code 1935, § 5564; 45 Del. Laws, c. 287, § 2; 21 Del. C. 1953, § 2153; 49 Del. Laws, c. 71; 64 Del. Laws, c. 367, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 411, § 12; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;
§ 2155. Fees for half-year and quarter-year registration.
The registration fees for vehicles provided by this chapter shall be for a period of 12 months, but if the vehicle is registered or the registration renewed for a 6-month period, the applicant shall pay to the Department one half of the annual registration fee and an additional fee of $1. If the registration is renewed for a 3-month period, the applicant shall pay to the Department one fourth of the annual registration fee and an additional fee of $1. A renewal of a registration for a 3-month period shall be permitted only for a motor vehicle which has a gross registered weight of 18,000 pounds or more.
36 Del. Laws, c. 10, § 26; Code 1935, § 5564; 45 Del. Laws, c. 287, § 2; 21 Del. C. 1953, § 2154; 64 Del. Laws, c. 466, § 8.;
§ 2156. Fee for convertible vehicles, station wagons and suburbans; gross load weight of buses.
(a) The registration fee for all convertible vehicles shall be ascertained upon the basis of the vehicle's gross load weight. It shall be determined which is the greater, the gross load weight as a carrier of persons or the gross load weight as the carrier of property, and the greater gross load weight shall be the basis for calculating the required registration fees. The fee for all station wagons shall be the same as for vehicles used for pleasure as provided in § 2151 of this title.
(b) The gross load weight of buses used for carrying persons shall be ascertained by multiplying the maximum number of persons the vehicle is provided to carry by 150 pounds and adding the result thereby obtained to the weight of the vehicle as specified in the application.
36 Del. Laws, c. 10, § 26; 38 Del. Laws, c. 27, §§ 1, 2; 40 Del. Laws, c. 38, § 1; Code 1935, § 5564; 45 Del. Laws, c. 287, § 2; 21 Del. C. 1953, § 2155; 49 Del. Laws, c. 14, § 1; 55 Del. Laws, c. 156, § 3; 71 Del. Laws, c. 20, § 2; 74 Del. Laws, c. 166, § 3.;
§ 2157. Credit for registration fee on destroyed vehicle.
Whenever the Department is furnished with satisfactory evidence of the destruction of a motor vehicle, either complete or to such an extent as to render it impossible to operate such vehicle as a motor vehicle during the period for which it has been registered, and if the owner thereof desires to register another motor vehicle during the period for which such destroyed motor vehicle was registered, such owner shall be entitled to a credit on the new registration fee of the unexpired portion of the registration fee of the destroyed motor vehicle from the date of the new registration.
36 Del. Laws, c. 10, § 26; Code 1935, § 5564; 45 Del. Laws, c. 287, § 2; 21 Del. C. 1953, § 2156; 62 Del. Laws, c. 190, § 7.;
§ 2158. Fee for duplicate certificate of registration, registration plate or validation sticker.
(a) The fee for a duplicate certificate of registration shall be $2.
(b) The fee for a duplicate registration plate shall be $5.
(c) The fee for a duplicate registration validation sticker shall be $1.
36 Del. Laws, c. 10, § 26; Code 1935, § 5564; 45 Del. Laws, c. 287, § 2; 46 Del. Laws, c. 80, § 1; 47 Del. Laws, c. 121; 48 Del. Laws, c. 47; 21 Del. C. 1953, § 2157; 53 Del. Laws, c. 221, §§ 6, 7; 65 Del. Laws, c. 178, § 2.;
§ 2159. Motor vehicles exempt from registration fees; plates for ambulances and fire and rescue trucks.
(a) The following motor vehicles shall be registered but shall be exempt from the payment of registration fees:
(1) All motor vehicles of the State or any governmental agency thereof, including school buses owned by private contractors holding valid pupil transportation contracts with a school district or with the State Board of Education, or of any fire department, fire engine company, police department or any county or incorporated city or town thereof, used exclusively in the performance of the principal's, official's, employee's or agent's respective functions or duties;
(2) All motor ambulances owned and used by any agency in this State for charitable purposes or for the benefit of any hospital or hospitals in this State;
(3) All motor vehicles owned by any veteran's organization and used by such organization in charitable or public welfare work;
(4) All motor vehicles owned and used by the Delaware Civil Air Patrol (CAP) registered in this State and used by such organization for its respective functions or duties;
(5) All motor vehicles owned by the American Red Cross and used by such organization in charitable or public welfare work;
(6) All motor vehicles owned by the Salvation Army and used by such organization in charitable or public welfare work;
(7) All motor vehicles owned by any organization exempt from tax under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3)] and used by such organization in charitable or public welfare work;
(8) All motor vehicles owned by a nonprofit educational foundation organized to promote instructional effectiveness and educational achievement.
The Secretary shall furnish, without cost, certain number and registration plates for all such vehicles, of such design as will distinguish them from other plates for which fees are paid. Number and registration plates for certain motor vehicles of the fire departments and fire companies of this State shall have such design and bear such numbers, words and letters as are provided in subsection (b) of this section. Nothing herein contained shall be construed as exempting such vehicles from the requirement of inspection.
(b) Number and registration plates furnished by the Secretary to fire departments and fire companies of this State for ambulances, fire trucks and rescue trucks shall have displayed thereon:
(1) The capital letter "A" followed by the fire station or fire company number for ambulance plates;
(2) The capital letter "FD" followed by the fire station or fire company number for fire truck plates; and
(3) The capital letter "R" followed by the fire station or fire company number for rescue truck plates.
In addition, such plates shall have displayed thereon the word "Delaware," the words "THE FIRST STATE," the expiration date of the plates, the vehicle number assigned to the vehicle by the fire company, department or other proper official or organization and red letters on white background.
36 Del. Laws, c. 11; Code 1915, § 236A; 36 Del. Laws, c. 10, § 27; Code 1935, § 5565; 43 Del. Laws, c. 244, § 16; 21 Del. C. 1953, § 2158; 57 Del. Laws, c. 342, §§ 1-3; 57 Del. Laws, c. 670, § 8A; 58 Del. Laws, c. 36; 65 Del. Laws, c. 262, § 1; 65 Del. Laws, c. 348, § 258; 66 Del. Laws, c. 41, § 1; 66 Del. Laws, c. 271, §§ 1, 2; 67 Del. Laws, c. 46, § 50(a); 75 Del. Laws, c. 33, § 1.;
§ 2160. Optional 5-year registration plates for trailers.
(a) The owner of a fleet of trailers, meeting the requirements specified under § 2143(c) of this title, may elect to register such trailers for a 5-year period, by making application to the Department in accordance with this section.
(b) The application shall be made on a form and contain information as prescribed by the Secretary. Upon payment of the required fees and upon meeting other requirements prescribed by the Secretary, there shall be issued, to each vehicle for which application has been made, a registration plate and validation sticker which shall be valid for 5 years, provided that all requirements of this section are complied with.
(c) At the time application for registration or renewal of registration is made under this section, the applicant shall pay all fees required under this title for the first year of the 5-year plate. The applicant shall submit acceptable evidence of a surety bond in a form and with a surety approved by the Secretary and in an amount equal to the total registration fees required for all vehicles registered pursuant to this section to the applicant for the remaining 4 years.
(d) The owner is required to pay all registration renewal fees for vehicles registered pursuant to this section on an annual basis prior to the expiration date of such registrations.
(e) The Secretary may adopt rules and regulations necessary for the administration and enforcement of this section.
60 Del. Laws, c. 294, § 1.;
§ 2160A. Issuance of vehicle registration expiration notice upon request.
Upon request by a vehicle owner, the Department shall mail a vehicle registration expiration notice 40 days prior to the expiration of the registration for the vehicle. A minimum fee of $1 per notice to cover the cost of this service shall be paid to the Department at the time the request is made. The amount of the fee shall be revised annually by the Department pursuant to § 6531 of Title 29 to reflect the true cost of this service.
60 Del. Laws, c. 381, § 1.;