Motor Vehicle Document Fee and Automobile Dealer Handling Fee and License Fee

Del. Code tit. 30, ch. 30

in effect

Del. Code tit. 30, § 3001 Definitions.

As used in this chapter: (1) “Motorcycle” — the definition of motorcycle shall be the same as that found in § 101 of Title 21. (2) “Motor vehicle” — the definition of motor vehicle shall be the same as that found in § 101 of Title 21. (3) “Motor vehicle dealer” includes every person in the business of buying, selling or trading new or used motor vehicles, trailers, truck trailers or motorcycles. (4) “Owner” — the definition of owner shall be the same as that found in § 101 of Title 21. (5) “Purchase price” means the value or any other consideration given by the owner to the seller for a motor vehicle; where trade-ins or allowances are given in conjunction with the purchase of any motor vehicle, the purchase price shall be the gross purchase price less any trade-in or allowance given by the seller of the motor vehicle to the owner of the motor vehicle; except that where a motor vehicle having been bought and registered outside the State and not subject to the limitation of § 3002(a)(4) of this title is first registered and titled in this State, “purchase price” shall mean the fair market value as of the date of such titling and registration. If the owner made no trade-in in conjunction with the purchase of any motor vehicle or trailer but 60 days prior to or subsequent to the date on which a certificate of title was issued in Delaware on such vehicle such owner sold privately the previously owned vehicle, credit shall be given in the same amount on the document fee as if the owner had made a trade-in of such previously owned vehicle in connection with the purchase of another vehicle. Credit shall be given for only 1 motor vehicle or trailer per application. Application for such credit in event of a prior sale shall be made at the time application is made for title of the purchased vehicle. In the event of a subsequent sale, application for such credit shall be made not later than 30 calendar days after such sale in person or by registered mail to the Division of Motor Vehicles. Proof of prior ownership and the amount of sale shall be furnished at the time the owner claims credit pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the Division of Motor Vehicles. For park trailers, the owner shall be allowed to submit an appraisal to be accepted by the Department to demonstrate the fair market value of the park trailer. The appraisal shall come from a Delaware dealer authorized to provide an appraisal for park trailer models. Furnishings, site modifications, geographical location, and other items that are not applicable to the documentation fee shall not be included in the purchase price or fair market value for purposes of calculating the documentation fee. (6) “Trailers” — the definition of trailers shall be the same as that found in § 101 of Title 21. (7) “Truck tractor” — the definition of truck tractor shall be the same as that found in § 101 of Title 21. (8) “Used vehicle” — the definition of used vehicle shall be the same as that found in § 101 of Title 21.

Del. Code tit. 30, § 3002 Motor vehicle document fee; claims for refunds [For application of this section, see 80 Del. Laws, c. 77, § 2; 85 Del. Laws, c. 40, § 15].

(a) There is imposed upon the sale, transfer or registration of any new or used motor vehicle, truck tractor, trailer or motorcycle in this State a motor vehicle document fee, which fee is to be paid by the owner and shall be collected by the Division of Motor Vehicles for deposit to the credit of the Transportation Trust Fund pursuant to Chapter 14 of Title 2, as amended, and any resolution or agreement of the Delaware Transportation Authority, authorizing the issuance of bonds to finance the costs of transportation facilities described in said title, to be used to finance the costs of roads, highways and other transportation facilities and not to defray the expenses and obligations of the general government of the State. This motor vehicle document fee shall not be imposed on the sale, transfer or registration of motor vehicles, truck tractors, trailers or motorcycles in the following circumstances: (1) Renewal registration in the name of the same owner; (2) Motor vehicles, truck tractors, trailers or motorcycles which are transferred or sold for the purpose of resale; (3) Trailers where the vendor thereof delivers the trailer outside the State to a nonresident of this State and where there is imposed upon the retail sales price of said trailer a sales tax; provided, however, that the vendor provides satisfactory evidence to the Division of Motor Vehicles that the trailer was so delivered and that the sales tax was in fact paid; (4) Motor vehicles, truck tractors, trailers or motorcycles which are bought by the owner and registered outside the State and then are subsequently registered or titled within the State pursuant to § 2102 of Title 21; provided, such owner had paid to such other state a sales tax, transfer tax or some similar levy on the purchase of such motor vehicles, truck tractors, trailers or motorcycles within 90 days prior to registration or titling in this State; (5) Truck tractors with truck trailers where the owner thereof has obtained a title in another state in the same name as applied for in this State, and where application for fleet registration and inspection is obtained pursuant to § 2143 of Title 21, and where registration fees are paid pursuant to the fee provisions of § 2152 of Title 21; (6) All motor vehicles, trailers or motorcycles purchased, transferred, registered, owned, operated or used by: This State, its agencies and departments; any political subdivision of the State; the American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars; any volunteer fire company and the Delaware Civil Air Patrol; the American Red Cross; and the Salvation Army; or (7) Any vehicle meeting the requirements of a school bus and specified in a contract with a public school district or the State Board of Education to transport public school pupils on a daily basis from home to school and return and for which the owner is reimbursed on the basis of a return of capital allowance provided in the transportation formula for school bus contracts. Any such vehicle that is older than the age specified in the capital allowance schedule at the time it is purchased shall be subject to the full document fee which shall not be reimbursable. (b) The amount of the purchase price shall be evidenced by a notarized bill of sale. (c) The document fee imposed herein shall be computed as follows: (1) Where the purchase price is less than $400, there shall be a uniform rate of $8.00; (2) Where the purchase price is $400 or more, up to and including $500, the document fee shall be $13.75; (3) The document fee payable thereafter shall increase in increments of $5.25 per each additional $100 of purchase price or any fraction thereof, rounded to the nearest dollar; except that the document fee thereafter for mobile homes shall increase in increments of $3.75 per each additional $100 of purchase price or any fraction thereof, rounded to the nearest dollar. (d) No action or claim that is otherwise permitted against the State or an agency or authority of the State to recover any fee, or portion of any fee, erroneously or illegally collected by or paid to the State or agency or authority hereunder, may be commenced or otherwise asserted after expiration of 1 year from the earlier of: (1) The date of the payment; or (2) The date the payment was required to be made.

Del. Code tit. 30, § 3003 Enforcement by Secretary of Transportation; rules and regulations.

The Secretary of Transportation shall have the power and authority to make, issue, promulgate and enforce such rules and regulations which shall not be inconsistent with the law as the Secretary of Transportation shall deem necessary for administration and implementation of § 3002 of this title.

Del. Code tit. 30, § 3004 Motor vehicle dealer handling fee and payment.

(a) Every motor vehicle dealer shall pay a handling fee of $2.00 on the sale of every new or used motor vehicle, trailer, truck tractor or motorcycle sold to the owner thereof. The handling fee shall be paid in quarterly installments payable to the Department of Finance on or before November 1, February 1, May 1 and August 1 of each year for the next preceding 3-month period ending on September 30, December 31, March 31 and June 30 of each year. The motor vehicle dealer handling fee shall not be imposed on the sale, transfer or registration of motor vehicles, trailers or motorcycles which are transferred or sold for the purpose of resale. (b) The Department of Finance shall prescribe the form of the returns necessary for the payment of the handling fee in such manner as it may deem necessary for the proper administration of this chapter. (c) The Department of Finance shall deposit all payments under this section in the Transportation Trust Fund, as described in Chapter 14 of Title 2.

Del. Code tit. 30, § 3005 Motor vehicle dealer license fee.

(a) Every motor vehicle dealer shall pay an annual license fee of $100 to the Department of Finance; provided however, that no dealer license fee shall be applicable for out-of-state new recreational dealers at industry-wide public vehicle shows or exhibitions at enclosed malls in this State when such out-of-state new recreational dealers participate as exhibitors with permission of the licensed manufacturer; and further provided, that: (1) Reciprocity is granted to such recreational dealers of this State; and (2) Providing that any participating out-of-state new recreational dealer is duly licensed and authorized by the state of residence to sell new recreational vehicles. (b) A motor vehicle dealer who is not required to provide a surety bond to the Banking Commissioner pursuant to Chapter 29 of Title 5 and who, as a retail seller, self-finances any sale of a motor vehicle to a retail buyer without charging interest to the buyer shall, as a prerequisite to obtaining an annual license, file with the Department of Finance an original surety bond in the principal sum of $25,000, payable to the State, with surety provided by a corporation authorized to transact business in this State. (1) The term of the bond shall be continuous or commensurate with the license period, with the expiration date of the bond not earlier than midnight of the date on which the license expires. (2) The bond is for the benefit of consumers injured by any wrongful act, omission, default, fraud or misrepresentation by the licensed retail seller in the course of activity as a licensed retail seller. Compensation under the bond shall be for amounts that represent actual losses, including reasonable attorney fees accrued by the consumer in pursuing a claim against the licensee. Compensation shall not be payable for claims made by business creditors, third-party service providers, agents or persons otherwise in the employ of the licensed retail seller. A consumer claim may be submitted to the Department of Finance in the form of a final judgment from a court of competent jurisdiction, a written settlement agreement, an admission, a binding arbitration decision or a binding order entered pursuant to any other method of voluntary alternative dispute resolution. Surety claims shall be paid to the Department of Finance by the insurer not later than 90 days after receipt of a claim. Claims paid after 90 days shall be subject to daily interest at the legal rate. The aggregate liability of the surety on the bond, exclusive of any interest that accrues for payments made after 90 days, shall in no event exceed the amount of the bond. (3) If the licensed retail seller changes the surety company or the bond is otherwise amended, the licensed retail seller shall immediately provide the Secretary of the Department of Finance with an original copy of the new or amended surety bond. No cancellation of an existing bond by a surety shall be effective unless written notice of its intention to cancel is filed with the Secretary at least 30 days before the date upon which the cancellation is to take effect. (4) The Secretary of the Department of Finance may require potential claimants to provide documentation and affirmations as the Secretary determines necessary and appropriate. In the event the Secretary determines that multiple consumers have been injured by a licensed retail seller, the Secretary shall cause a notice to be published for the purpose of identifying all relevant claims. (5) When a surety company receives a claim against the bond of a licensed retail seller, it shall immediately notify the Secretary and shall not pay any claim unless and until it receives notice to do so from the Secretary. (6) The Secretary shall have a period of 2 calendar years after the effective date of cancellation or termination of a surety bond by the insurer to submit a claim to the insurer. (c) The Department of Finance shall deposit all payments under this section in the Transportation Trust Fund, as described in Chapter 14 of Title 2.

Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title30/c030/index.htmlFetched: 10/4/2026