Delaware law mandates that every vehicle operating on its highways must be registered and equipped with specific features to ensure safety and legal compliance. For new residents, registering and titling your vehicle is a must within 60 days of establishing residency in Delaware. This guide outlines the essential equipment your vehicle needs to meet these standards, focusing on the tools and materials that constitute a safe and road-legal car.
Understanding Required Motor Vehicle Equipment
Just like building a house requires essential materials, ensuring your car is road-ready involves understanding the necessary components. Delaware law specifies a range of equipment for automobiles to guarantee safety for drivers and others on the road. While older vehicles might have originally installed equipment that meets some of these requirements, it’s crucial to be aware of all the mandates. For those seeking information on equipment for other types of motor vehicles, supplementary details are available at the Division of Motor Vehicles office.
Every car registered in Delaware must be equipped with the following:
Visibility and Lighting: Seeing and Being Seen
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Headlights: Your car needs at least two white, multiple beam headlights, positioned at the front, one on each side. High beams should illuminate objects and people at least 350 feet ahead, while low beams must reach 100 feet without blinding oncoming drivers. Crucially, headlights must be switched on whenever windshield wipers are in use due to weather conditions.
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Taillights: At the rear, two original design red taillights are mandatory. These must be visible from 500 feet away, ensuring your vehicle is seen from a distance.
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Parking Lights: For parking, you need at least one white or amber light visible from the front and at least one red light from the rear, both from 500 feet. The rear parking light can be the same as the taillight.
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License Plate Light: A white light strong enough to make the license plate number visible from 50 feet is required. This light should illuminate the plate without projecting light onto vehicles behind.
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Stop Lights: An original design amber or red stop light at the rear is necessary. It must activate when the brake pedal is pressed and be visible in sunlight from at least 100 feet. If your car has two stop lights, both must be functional.
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Turn Signals: For vehicles made after 1953, two front and two rear turn signals are mandatory. Front signals can be white to amber, and rear signals amber to red. Both sets must be visible from 100 feet in sunlight. Older vehicles with turn signals must ensure they are working.
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Reflectors: Vehicles post-1953 must have at least two red rear reflectors, either separate or part of the taillight. (Motorcycles need one). Passenger cars from January 1, 1970, onwards, require front and rear side marker lights and reflectors, meeting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). This includes two amber front reflectors and marker lights and two red rear reflectors and marker lights, all at least 4 square inches and positioned within specific height ranges.
Braking Systems: Essential for Control
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Foot Brake: Your car’s foot brake must be capable of stopping the vehicle within 20 feet from 20 mph on dry pavement. Brakes must be evenly adjusted on both sides for balanced stopping power.
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Parking or Emergency Brake: This brake must halt the vehicle within 54 feet from 20 mph, providing a secure stop when parked or in emergencies.
Visibility and Protection: Clear View and Safety
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Windshield and Windows: Safety glass is mandatory for the windshield and all side and rear windows. No stickers or signs are allowed except for legally required certificates or those approved by the Division of Motor Vehicles, ensuring unobstructed visibility.
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Windshield Wipers: Functional windshield wipers are essential to clear rain, snow, and moisture from the windshield, maintaining clear vision in inclement weather.
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Rear Vision Mirror: A rear-view mirror must allow the driver to see vehicles behind. If the inside mirror view is blocked, side mirrors on both the left and right are required.
Other Essential Equipment: Sound and Safety Features
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Muffler: A working muffler in constant operation is required to minimize noise. Loud or excessive noise is prohibited, contributing to quieter roads.
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Horn: Your car must have a horn audible under normal conditions from at least 200 feet, necessary for signaling and safety alerts.
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Seat Belts: Front seat belts are mandatory in passenger cars made after January 1, 1968, and in trucks, buses, and multi-passenger vehicles made after July 1, 1971, protecting occupants in case of accidents.
Additional and Optional Equipment
Certain equipment can be added to your vehicle for enhanced functionality:
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Spotlights: Up to two spotlights can be mounted, but their intense beam must not be directed to the left or more than 100 feet ahead.
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Fog Lights: Two white or yellow fog lights can be mounted on the front, between 12 and 30 inches above ground, with the light beam angled downwards to improve visibility in fog.
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Back-up Lights: Rear-mounted back-up lights, white to amber in color, can be used to illuminate the area when reversing.
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Colored Lights: Apart from factory-equipped marker and turn signal lamps, colored lights are generally prohibited on the front, except for authorized emergency vehicles.
Prohibited Equipment: Restrictions for Safety and Compliance
Just as important as knowing what’s required is understanding what’s prohibited:
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Light Limitations: No more than four front lights of 300 candlepower or more can be lit at once. Headlights must be installed between 24 and 54 inches from the ground to the lamp center.
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Red Lights in Front: Regular vehicles cannot display red lights visible from the front, reserved exclusively for emergency vehicles.
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Flashing Lights: Generally prohibited, except for emergency vehicles, school buses, snow removal equipment, turn signals, and hazard lights.
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License Plate Additions: Unauthorized frames, accessories, designs, or symbols on license plates are not allowed, maintaining plate visibility and official appearance.
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Modifications Affecting Original Design: Any light, lamp, or reflector that alters the vehicle’s original design or performance is prohibited, ensuring vehicle integrity.
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Studded Tires: Legal only from October 15 to April 15; prohibited from April 16 to October 14. Regulations vary by state, so be aware when traveling.
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Muffler Cut-outs: Using a muffler cut-out is illegal, ensuring noise control.
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Noise Devices: Sirens or exhaust/compression whistles are prohibited on regular vehicles, maintaining public peace.
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Towing Restrictions: Towing more than one vehicle is prohibited (except for tractor-semitrailer combinations). Towing connections must be under 15 feet; chains, ropes, or cables must have a 12-inch square red flag.
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Tinted Windows: Window tinting is restricted on the windshield below the ASI marking and on front side windows. Tinting lights or license plates is also prohibited.
Conclusion: Maintaining Your Vehicle for Safety and Legal Compliance
Understanding and maintaining the required and permissible equipment on your vehicle is not just about legal compliance in Delaware; it’s fundamentally about ensuring your safety and the safety of everyone on the road. By ensuring all components, from headlights to brakes and seatbelts, are in working order and meet regulations, you contribute to safer driving conditions for yourself and your community. Regularly check your vehicle’s equipment to guarantee it meets these essential standards, and drive with confidence knowing you are both safe and compliant.
