Does Delaware require a front license plate?

No. Passenger cars display one plate, on the rear.

What does a Delaware plate number look like?

Numbers only, up to six digits, like 123456. Lower numbers have fewer digits.

How long is a Delaware temporary tag good for?

Ninety days from the date the dealer prints it, or 30 days when issued by an auction.

Can I keep my Delaware tag number when I sell my car?

Yes, if you put it into retention at a DMV office before the sale, or online if you sold the car out of state. Otherwise the number is lost with the car.

Can I get a VIN from a Delaware tag?

Yes. Enter the tag number with Delaware selected and the lookup returns the VIN of the vehicle it is registered to, with the year, make, model and trim.

Can I find the owner of a Delaware tag?

Not through a public lookup. Owner details in Delaware vehicle records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act and released only for purposes the law allows, such as by court order or to an insurer handling a claim.

Delaware License Plate & Tag Lookup

Enter a Delaware tag number to get the vehicle’s VIN, year, make, model and trim.

Delaware plates are numbers only, gold on dark blue, and go on the rear of the car only. The DMV itself calls them tags, from temporary tags to tag retention. A Delaware tag number belongs with the car unless the owner retains it before selling, and retained numbers can be moved to another car or given to someone else.

Delaware tag to VIN

A Delaware tagnumber points to one current registration, and the registration records the vehicle’s 17-character VIN. Enter the tag above to get the VIN with the year, make, model, trim, body and engine. It is the quickest way to get the VIN of a car you are not standing next to: one in a listing, one you are quoting a repair for, or your own when the title is in a drawer somewhere.

Delaware license plate formats

Standard passenger plates use these formats. Personalized, specialty, commercial and motorcycle plates follow their own rules, and every format works in the lookup.

Format	What it is
123456	Numbers only, up to six digits with no leading zeros, on the gold-on-blue plate. The current version with a beveled edge dates from 2008.

Delaware issues one plate, for the rear of the vehicle.

Who issues plates in Delaware

Plates and registrations in Delaware come from the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, and people go in person to DMV offices in Wilmington, Delaware City, Dover and Georgetown. Plate Decoder is an independent service and is not affiliated with the DMV or any other government agency.

Temporary tags in Delaware

Delaware dealers issue temporary tags valid for 90 days from the date they are printed. Since September 14, 2026, dealers must issue them through the state’s online Quick Tags system.

Personalized and specialty plates

Delaware no longer issues new vanity plates, after a federal court decision on May 14, 2024. Vanity plates issued before then can still be renewed.

Sell the car, lose the tag

If you sell a car without first putting its tag into retention, the tag number goes with it. A retained tag can go on your next car, be held for later, or be given to someone else.

What a Delawareplate lookup can and can’t show

You get the vehicle: VIN, year, make, model, trim, body and engine. You do not get the person. See what a plate lookup shows for the full list.

What we don’t show, and why

No owner names, addresses, phone numbers or photos. Owner details in DMV records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, and looking someone up out of curiosity is not a purpose it allows. Any site that promises the owner of a plate for a few dollars is either breaking that law or not going to deliver.

Who can get owner records, and what to do instead

FAQ

Delaware plate lookup questions

Does Delaware require a front license plate?: No. Passenger cars display one plate, on the rear.
What does a Delaware plate number look like?: Numbers only, up to six digits, like 123456. Lower numbers have fewer digits.
How long is a Delaware temporary tag good for?: Ninety days from the date the dealer prints it, or 30 days when issued by an auction.
Can I keep my Delaware tag number when I sell my car?: Yes, if you put it into retention at a DMV office before the sale, or online if you sold the car out of state. Otherwise the number is lost with the car.
Can I get a VIN from a Delaware tag?: Yes. Enter the tag number with Delaware selected and the lookup returns the VIN of the vehicle it is registered to, with the year, make, model and trim.
Can I find the owner of a Delaware tag?: Not through a public lookup. Owner details in Delaware vehicle records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act and released only for purposes the law allows, such as by court order or to an insurer handling a claim.