2023 Delaware Code › Title 21 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 21. REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES › Subchapter III. Inspection of Vehicles › § 2143. Inspection of motor vehicle before registration; exception; vehicles outside State.

§ 2143. Inspection of motor vehicle before registration; exception; vehicles outside State.
(a) Before the Department registers, renews the registration of or reregisters a motor vehicle required to be registered under this title, such vehicle shall first be inspected by the Department and determined to be safe and fit for operation and found equipped according to law. The Department may waive all inspection requirements with respect to the registration of new motor vehicles and the initial registration or renewal of vehicles no older than 7 model years. Upon application, subject to approval by the Secretary, the Department may assign to a motor vehicle dealer the authority to perform safety and vehicle identification number (VIN) inspections on motor vehicles, 7 model years old or newer, as such inspections relate to the motor vehicle's registration or reregistration, provided that the motor vehicle is owned by that motor vehicle dealer and such inspection occurs at a motor vehicle dealer facility.
(b) Upon application, subject to approval by the Secretary, the Department may waive such inspection requirements with respect to the renewal of registration of a vehicle registered in this State which is not in this State at the time the inspection is required, provided that an out of state inspection, certified on forms prescribed by the Secretary, is submitted to the Department. It shall be the duty of the owner of any vehicle so inspected to submit such vehicle for inspection by the Department within 10 days after the date the vehicle is returned to this State.
(c) Upon application, subject to the approval by the Secretary, the Department may waive such registration requirements with respect to new or used motor vehicles where a fleet account is involved. A fleet account shall consist of 10 or more vehicles. The inspection requirements may be waived provided there are adequate inspection and repair facilities at the fleet headquarters located in this State. Such fleet account waiver shall not apply to fleets of school buses which transport pupils of any public, parochial or private school of the State. For the purposes of this subsection only, any trailer which requires inspection shall qualify as a motor vehicle.
(d) The Department shall waive the requirement for inspection for those small trailers with a gross weight of vehicle and load of 4,000 pounds or less, which are not required to be equipped with brakes.
(e) The Department shall waive the requirement for inspection for fire trucks, fire engines, rescue trucks, ladder trucks, tank trucks, tank trailers and ambulances which are used by fire companies, and volunteer ambulance and rescue services in this State; provided, that at the time of the renewal of registrations for these vehicles, the principal officer of such company shall present a certification that each vehicle has been inspected by the officer or the officer's designee and that it is safe to operate on the streets and highways and equipped according to law. The waiver shall not apply to passenger cars owned or used by fire companies.
(f) The Department shall waive the requirement for inspection for all vehicles or motor vehicles registered under the International Registration Plan pursuant to Chapter 4 of this title. The Department may adopt rules and/or procedures to implement this subsection.
36 Del. Laws, c. 10, §  24;  37 Del. Laws, c. 10, §  7;  Code 1935, §  5562;  43 Del. Laws, c. 244, §  13;  21 Del. C. 1953, §  2143;  53 Del. Laws, c. 6;  55 Del. Laws, c. 273;  56 Del. Laws, c. 392, §  1;  57 Del. Laws, c. 670, §  8A;  60 Del. Laws, c. 442, §  1;  64 Del. Laws, c. 260, §  1;  66 Del. Laws, c. 98, §  1;  70 Del. Laws, c. 28, §  1;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  72 Del. Laws, c. 18, §  4;  78 Del. Laws, c. 82, §  1;  79 Del. Laws, c. 252, §  1;  81 Del. Laws, c. 184, § 3;  84 Del. Laws, c. 11, § 1;