Insurance
Car Insurance in Delaware
Published September 24, 2026 · Last updated October 1, 2026
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The short answer
Delaware drivers paid about $1,252 a year on average in 2023, the 9th highest in the country. And Delaware is strict about keeping coverage: driving without insurance brings a fine of at least $1,500, plus a six-month license suspension.
Here's what Delaware requires, the plate rule to follow before you cancel a policy, and what to compare.
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What Delaware requires
| Coverage | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per crash |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | $15,000 per person / $30,000 per crash |
Your policy must come from an insurer authorized in Delaware.
PIP pays your own medical bills and lost wages after a crash, for you and your passengers, regardless of fault. That's on top of the liability coverage that pays for other people.
$10,000 for property damage is low. A crash with a newer car can cost more, and the rest could come from you.
Return your plates before you cancel
If your car is registered in Delaware, it must be insured, even if it's parked and not being driven.
So if you sell a car, stop driving it, or switch to a car you're not insuring:
- Turn in your plates to the DMV first. You can mail them to the Uninsured Motorist Section in Dover.
- Then cancel the insurance.
Your insurer tells the DMV when a policy ends. If your plates are still active, you may get an audit, and if you can't show coverage, you'll owe:
| Time uninsured | Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 to 30 days | $100 per vehicle |
| After 30 days | $5 more per vehicle, per day |
If you ignore the audit, the DMV suspends the registration and every owner's driver license. Reinstatement costs $50 per registration, on top of the fees.
Got an audit letter? Ask your insurer to send the DMV a Form FR-19, which certifies that you've been covered continuously.
Driving without insurance
| Penalty | |
|---|---|
| First offense | Fine of at least $1,500 |
| Another offense within 3 years | Fine of at least $3,000 |
| Both | License or driving privileges suspended for 6 months |
About 17.6% of Delaware drivers were uninsured in 2023, the 13th highest rate. That's a good reason to look at uninsured motorist coverage for your own protection.
Why Delaware car insurance costs more
Delaware's average premium ranks in the top 10, and in 2021, Delaware households spent about 1.83% of their income on car insurance, the 10th least affordable state.
Ways to lower your price:
- Compare several insurers with the same coverage.
- Raise your collision and comprehensive deductibles if you can cover them.
- Keep a clean record and continuous coverage. A lapse can cost you at the DMV and with insurers.
Not a quote or an offer. Your price comes from the insurance company.
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Related services
Need to prove coverage after a suspension? See SR-22 insurance. Want more liability protection? See umbrella insurance.
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Sources
- Delaware DMV, Vehicle liability insurance FAQs
- Delaware DMV, Uninsured motorist
- Delaware Department of Insurance, Instant insurance guide: auto insurance
- NAIC auto insurance data (2023) and IRC affordability index, via Insurance Information Institute
- Insurance Information Institute, Uninsured motorists (IRC 2023 data)