Everything you Need
To Verify and Control
Delaware Identity
Documents
Our printed I.D. Checking Guides and online versions are used by
DMVs, government agencies at all levels, and businesses.
Check Delaware Drivers Licenses & IDs
The Need for Accurate ID Verification in Delaware
From the Wilmington Riverfront to the boardwalks of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware's businesses, agencies, and law enforcement professionals face a challenge: fraudulent identification. Counterfeit and altered IDs are used to bypass Delaware laws regulating alcohol sales, commit financial fraud, and gain unauthorized access to secure areas.
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That's why having a trusted, proven resource like the I.D.Checking Guide is essential. For more than 50 years, our guides have given professionals in Delaware and across the country the tools to verify identity quickly and accurately—helping protect public safety, prevent costly mistakes, and maintain compliance with state and federal laws.
Whether you're a bartender in Newark, a teller in Dover, or an officer conducting a roadside stop in Sussex County, verifying that an ID is genuine and matches the person presenting it isn't just good practice—it's your legal responsibility.
How the I.D. Checking Guide Supports Delaware Professionals
Today's counterfeiters can produce IDs that look convincing at first glance. But most fakes fall short when compared to the detailed images and specifications in the I.D. Checking Guide. This resource equips you to:
- Confirm card orientation, color, and date placement on minor licenses.
- Compare the physical description and appearance of Delaware's license types, including commercial and non-commercial formats.
- Identify key security features, such as tactile elements, microprinting, holograms, and UV patterns, with clear, full-color reference images.
- Verify license number formats and spacing issued by the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles.
- Understand the term length for valid Delaware IDs and driver's licenses.
The Guide also includes samples from every U.S. state and territory and every Canadian province and territory, so you can check out-of-state licenses with the same accuracy.
What the Guide Helps You Verify
When you need to authenticate an ID in Delaware, the Guide helps you confirm:
- Minor's License – Orientation (often vertical for under-21), color patterns, and exact placement of birthdates and "under 21 until" notations.
- Physical Characteristics – The card's design elements, variations for different license types, and official formatting.
- Security Features – What images should appear under UV light, the location of holograms, and tactile features that can be felt by touch.
- Number Format – The precise sequence, length, and structure of Delaware license numbers.
- Validity Term – How long a Delaware license remains valid after issuance or renewal.
- All State-Issued Formats – Clear examples of Delaware's current and previous designs, plus every U.S. state and Canadian territory for cross-checking.
Understanding the Types of Fake IDs in Use
The I.D. Checking Guide prepares Delaware professionals to recognize:
- Altered or Borrowed IDs – Often used by underage individuals attempting to purchase alcohol or enter restricted venues. The Guide helps you verify the physical traits and expiration details that expose these tactics.
- Look-Alike Forgeries – Cards that copy surface design elements but fail to replicate security features like microprinting, UV overlays, or tactile embossing.
- Out-of-State Forgeries – Fake IDs from other states used to exploit unfamiliarity with their genuine formats. The Guide gives you accurate references for all 50 states and Canada.
Industries in Delaware That Rely on the I.D. Checking Guide
Law Enforcement
Officers use the Guide for traffic stops, DUI enforcement, and fraud investigations to confirm ID authenticity on the spot.
Financial Institutions
Banks, credit unions, and lenders depend on the Guide to stop account fraud and confirm new customer identities.
Retail and Hospitality
Restaurants, bars, and liquor stores face strict penalties for serving minors. The Guide supports compliance with Delaware alcohol laws.
Government Agencies
Departments issuing permits, processing benefits, or granting facility access rely on accurate ID verification to maintain integrity.
Human Resources
Employers use the Guide to confirm employee work authorization and verify that presented documents match the individual.
Alcohol Sales & Service Guidelines for Delaware
-Minimum age to consume: 21 -Minimum age to serve: 18 -Minimum age to bartend: 21 -Server/seller alcohol training required.
A person under 21 may not purchase alcoholic beverages as part of a law enforcement action.
Penalties for serving or selling to a minor: In Delaware, the penalty for selling alcohol to a minor is a fine of at least $250 and up to $500, plus the cost of any hearing. Failure to pay the fine can result in 30 days in jail. Licensees who are found guilty of violating the Liquor Control Act may also face license suspension or revocation.
The fine amount increases with subsequent violations, as follows:
- Second violation within five years: $500
Third and subsequent violations within five years: $1,000 or a mandatory hearing before the Commissioner
All voluntary fine assessments also include a 15% administrative cost.
FAQs About Spotting Fake Delaware IDs
Why is ID verification important in Delaware?
Delaware's active nightlife, coastal tourism, and financial sectors make it a target for underage access attempts and identity fraud. Accurate ID verification protects businesses from legal penalties and safeguards the public.
How does the I.D. Checking Guide help identify fake IDs?
It provides actual-size, full-color images of every valid Delaware license, along with detailed information on security features, number formats, and expiration standards—making it easier to spot discrepancies.
Who should be using the I.D. Checking Guide in Delaware?
Anyone who checks IDs—bartenders, servers, police officers, security personnel, bank tellers, and HR managers—can benefit from having the Guide on hand.
What are the risks of accepting a fake ID in Delaware?
Businesses can face fines, license suspension, or criminal liability, while individuals may face legal charges. Using a proven verification method reduces these risks significantly.
Can the Guide help identify borrowed IDs?
Yes. By reviewing physical descriptors, birthdates, and card security features, you can spot mismatches that indicate a borrowed or altered ID.
Defend Your Delaware Business with Trusted ID Verification Tools
Fake IDs pose real risks—from legal consequences to damage to your reputation. Without a reliable way to verify authenticity, your business or agency is vulnerable.
The I.D. Checking Guide gives your team the confidence to verify any U.S. or Canadian license, including the latest Delaware formats. Printed and digital versions are available, both backed by over 50 years of trust in preventing ID fraud.
Protect your business. Empower your staff. Order the I.D. Checking Guide today and take advantage of bulk pricing for team-wide access. Because when ID verification matters, professionals choose the guide they can trust.
How to Spot a Fake Delaware ID
For law enforcement officers, bank tellers, car rental agents, human resources professionals and others who must verify ID in a professional capacity, the recent surge in fake IDs is challenging. The liability and losses that result from accepting a fake ID are large. The I.D. Checking Guide assists in the ID verification process by showing what an actual, valid ID looks like at full-size, and highlights the details of the licenses, making it much easier to spot the fraud. Before approving an expensive car rental, opening a new bank account or hiring a new employee, make sure the driver’s license or ID card has the correct numbering, UV, microprint, ghost images, expiration, and other details that counterfeiters often miss.
Markets Served
Financial Services
Alcohol Control
Government
Law Enforcement
What the I.D. Checking Guide Includes:
- A full page or more for each U.S. state and Canadian province, showing driver’s licenses and ID cards.
- Security image information for ghost images, laser perforation, microprint, UV and other validation details.
- Explanation of what the proper alphanumeric sequencing of a Delaware ID or Driver’s License should be (how many letters, numbers, etc.).
- U.S. Federal documents including immigration, military ID, Visas and passport cards.
- “How to check driver’s licenses” techniques for training.