Delaware Truck Mud Flap Law
Delaware is a tight-clearance state. Any bus or commercial vehicle at 8,000 pounds gross or more, including trailers and semitrailers, needs metal protectors or flexible flaps behind the rearmost wheels, hung within 8 inches of the road loaded and no higher than 15 inches empty (21 Del. C. 4317). Each flap has to be at least as wide as the tire it covers. Farm tractors and bare truck tractors are exempt. Fines run $10 to $28.75 first offense, correctable, not out-of-service.
What Delaware makes you run
Delaware is a tight-clearance state. Any bus or commercial vehicle at 8,000 pounds gross or more, including trailers and semitrailers, needs metal protectors or flexible flaps behind the rearmost wheels, hung within 8 inches of the road loaded and no higher than 15 inches empty (21 Del. C. 4317). Each flap has to be at least as wide as the tire it covers. Farm tractors and bare truck tractors are exempt. Fines run $10 to $28.75 first offense, correctable, not out-of-service.
Coverage and clearance
- Required: Yes
- Coverage: Flap must extend laterally at least the width of the tire it protects.
- Ground clearance: Fixed number. The protector or flap must hang down to no more than 8 inches above the road surface, and no more than 15 inches when the vehicle is unloaded (21 Del. C. 4317). One of the tightest clearance standards in the country.
- Fine: First offense $10 to $28.75; subsequent offenses $28.75 to $100 (21 Del. C. 4317). Correctable equipment charge, not out-of-service.
Delaware Mud Flap FAQ
Are mud flaps required on trucks in Delaware?
How low can mud flaps hang in Delaware?
What is the mud-flap fine in Delaware?
Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed July 2026. Source: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c043/sc01/index.html. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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