True Ticket CostIndependent · not a court or government site

Texting while driving ticket in Delaware

A texting ticket in Delaware costs $205 on the state schedule.

Fine$205state schedule
PointsSee state rules
Defensive Driving CourseYes

Add up my ticket All Delaware rules

What does the Delaware state schedule charge for a texting ticket?

TicketYou pay
Using a handheld phone while driving, first offenseEstimate: the minimum fine set by law plus standard court fees.$205[7][11]

Will a texting ticket raise your insurance in Delaware?

Probably, once it is on your record. Insurers rate a texting ticket as a moving violation. In Delaware one speeding ticket raised a full-coverage premium about 35% on average[1], or about $3,805 over three years. A texting ticket usually lands in the same range.

Estimate based on the state's speeding average, not a quote.

How long do you have to respond to a texting ticket in Delaware?

You have 30 days to pay or respond to a texting ticket in Delaware. These are the dates that matter:

  1. 30daysPay or respondfrom the ticket date[3][12]
    Details

    Pay by mail or online, or ask for a hearing. If you miss it: The court reports you to the DMV. Delaware drivers can't renew their license, and drivers from other states can have their Delaware driving privileges suspended. Paying late also loses the minimum fine.

  2. 15daysLast day to appealfrom conviction[12]
    Details

    Appeal a Justice of the Peace Court conviction to the Court of Common Pleas. If you miss it: Only allowed if the fine is more than $100 or you were sentenced to jail.

  3. Date on noticePlead not guilty on a mail-in ticketset by the court[12]
    Details

    Plead not guilty on a mail-in ticket. If you miss it: Sign the ticket and mail or fax it by the court date printed on it.

Can you keep a texting ticket off your Delaware record?

Every way to handle a Delaware ticket, from paying to contesting →

Texting tickets in other states →

What else do people ask?

Will a texting ticket raise my insurance in Delaware?

Probably, if it goes on your record. Insurers rate it as a moving violation. In Delaware a speeding ticket raised full-coverage premiums about 35% on average (ValuePenguin State of Auto Insurance in 2026), and a texting ticket tends to land in the same range.

How long do I have to respond to a texting ticket in Delaware?

30 days from the date on the ticket. If you don't pay, ask for a hearing within 30 days or show up for trial, the court reports you to the DMV.

Sources

Delaware law and DMV sources (6)
  1. 2 Del. Admin. Code 2208 Concerning Driver Improvement Problem Driver Program (Formerly Reg. No. 45), Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles.
  2. 21 Del. C. ch. 7 (§ 702 Failure to answer summons, § 703 Jurisdiction, § 709 Payment of motor vehicle fines), Delaware General Assembly (Delaware Code Online).
  3. 21 Del. C. § 4176C Electronic communication devices, penalties, Delaware General Assembly (Delaware Code Online).
  4. Explanation of Fines, Costs and Assessments, with sample traffic cases, Delaware Justice of the Peace Court.
  5. Traffic Frequently Asked Questions, Justice of the Peace Court, Delaware Judiciary.
  6. Defensive Driving Frequently Asked Questions, Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles.
Insurance sources (4)
  1. State of Auto Insurance in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
  2. Car Insurance Rate Increases with a Speeding Ticket in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
  3. How Does a DUI Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
  4. How Much Will My Car Insurance Rates Go Up After a Crash in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).