A new Delaware law quietly opens DSU specialty plates to small business vehicle owners—but it comes with a mandatory fee most don't expect.
Most Delaware transportation and trucking business owners don't realize that a provision buried in SB305—An Act To Amend Title 21 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Special License Plates—has quietly expanded who can purchase a popular specialty plate. And if you own qualifying vehicles, that expansion could mean a direct cost you weren't planning for.
Under the new law, artificial entities—which includes businesses, LLCs, corporations, and other business structures—can now apply for Delaware State University (DSU) specialty plates for their vehicles. Previously, this option was limited to individuals.
The catch: if your business qualifies and you elect to purchase the plate, you'll pay a one-time $65 fee on top of your standard vehicle registration costs. That $65 includes a $15 administrative processing fee and is mandatory for any covered vehicle owner who chooses the DSU plate.
The provision applies to businesses that own qualifying vehicles—specifically those with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 26,000 pounds or less and that are not registered under the International Registration Plan (IRP). If your fleet includes smaller commercial vehicles that fall outside IRP registration, this could apply to you.
The key word here is "elect." Purchasing the DSU specialty plate is optional. But if you choose to do so, the $65 fee is not optional—it's a direct, one-time out-of-pocket cost per vehicle plate.
For small transportation operations, every registration and licensing cost adds up. This provision means that if you want to display DSU support through a specialty plate, you need to budget an additional $65 per vehicle beyond standard registration fees. For a fleet of even five qualifying vehicles, that's $325 in new costs.
The provision also clarifies that businesses—not just individuals—now have access to this option. If your company has an affiliation with DSU or wants to support the university through a specialty plate, you now have that choice. But understanding the fee structure upfront helps you make an informed decision about whether it makes sense for your operation.
This provision is codified in § 2140V(b)(2)(a) under Section 1 of SB305. The law is effective as specified in the bill's implementation timeline. Delaware business owners should review the full bill language to confirm effective dates and any transition provisions that may apply to existing registrations.
If you operate qualifying vehicles in Delaware and are considering a specialty plate, factor the $65 fee into your registration budget. If you're unsure whether your vehicles qualify—based on GVWR and IRP status—contact the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles for clarification before applying.
Source: SB305, An Act To Amend Title 21 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Special License Plates, § 2140V(b)(2)(a), Section 1.