Delaware Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney Form

What a Delaware Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney Covers

A motor vehicle power of attorney lets you hand vehicle paperwork to someone you trust. You name one person as your agent, and the document spells out the transactions your agent takes care of for you. Your agent then deals with the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on your behalf for the vehicle you describe on the form.

These transactions can include:

• Transferring the vehicle title.
• Registering the vehicle with the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
• Completing the sale of the vehicle.
• Managing liens on the vehicle.

Using Form MV386 can be especially helpful for individuals who cannot personally handle their vehicle-related matters for various reasons, such as being out of state or incapacitated.

Delaware Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney Form Details

The template is a PDF with three form pages. Page 1 names the principal and the agent and describes the vehicle. Page 2 adds a successor agent, the signing date, the signature and the printed name. Page 3 is an acknowledgment page for the notary. The table below sums up the key facts, and you can download the PDF from the top of this page.

When completing the Delaware motor vehicle POA Form MV386, follow each step so the document is executed correctly.^[1]

How to Fill Out the Delaware Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney Form

The steps below follow the FormsPal template that you can download from this page. Work through it from page 1 to page 3, in the order of the steps. Use the same spelling that appears on your ID and on the vehicle's title or registration paperwork, and keep the screenshots next to you to see where each answer goes.

The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Delaware Delaware Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney template filled with sample entries in blue, so you can see where each answer goes. The names, addresses, dates and amounts are examples only.

1. Principal and agent. In the opening paragraph on page 1, write your name and address as the principal. Then write your agent's name and address. Your agent, also called the attorney-in-fact, is the person who acts for you. This individual will have the authority to sign documents related to the transfer of your vehicle.

   

2. Describe the motor vehicle. Enter the Make, Model, Year, VIN Number and Odometer reading. Use the Other Identifying Characteristics line for anything else that identifies the vehicle, such as its color. This information must be accurate to ensure the correct vehicle is covered under the POA.

   

3. Social Security Number/Tax ID Number and date of birth. Enter your Social Security Number or Tax ID Number and your date of birth below the powers paragraph. The EFFECTIVE DATE statement under them is printed on the form and needs no entry.

   

4. Successor attorney-in-fact. At the top of page 2, repeat your agent's name. Then enter the alternate agent's name and address. The alternate agent is the backup person named in case your first choice cannot serve.

   

5. Date, signature and printed name. Fill in the day, month and year on the Signed this line. Then sign above (signature) and write your name above (printed name).

   

6. Acknowledgment: State of Delaware. The notary or other officer completes this block with you on page 3. It has places for the county, the date, the officer's name and title, and the name of the person who appeared.

   

7. Officer signature and seal. The notary or officer signs on the Signature line and adds the seal at the bottom of page 3, after you have signed on page 2.

   

How to Sign and Use the Delaware Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney

Under the Delaware Code, the power of attorney form must comply with specific legal requirements for validity. The principal must sign the form in the presence of a notary public.^[1] This notarization process confirms the principal’s identity and willingness to grant the specified powers to the agent. The FormsPal template you create with Create My Document is a different document. Delaware's Durable Personal Powers of Attorney Act covers only durable powers of attorney, and the template is a limited power for one vehicle that is not durable, so the act sets no signing formality for it.^[2] Having the template notarized is still common, and its page 3 is a notary acknowledgment. Here are all the steps to properly execute a Delaware motor vehicle POA:

1. Complete the form. Fill out all required sections, including the principal’s and agent’s details, and specify the powers granted.
2. Sign the form. The principal must sign the document in front of a notary public.^[1] As the principal, you must sign the form to validate it.^[1] This shows your consent to the powers granted in the document.
3. Co-owner. If the vehicle is co-owned, the co-owner must also sign the form. This part of the form ensures both owners agree to grant the attorney-in-fact the power to handle the vehicle’s title transfer.
4. Notarization. The notary public takes the owner's acknowledgment on Form MV386 and signs the acknowledgment block.^[1] The form must be notarized to confirm its authenticity.^[1] Take the document to a notary public. You (and the co-owner, if applicable) should sign the form in the notary’s presence.^[1] On Form MV386, the notary fills in the county and the date and signs the Notary Public line. The form does not have a seal field.^[1]

Failure to follow these steps may result in the POA being deemed invalid, complicating the execution of vehicle-related transactions. The principal and agent should also retain copies of the completed and notarized Delaware POA forms for their records.

Frequently Asked Questions

These are the questions that come up most often when people fill in a vehicle POA for a car, a truck or a motorcycle. Each answer points back to the steps above, so you can check the template as you read.

What is the difference between the principal and the agent?

The principal is the vehicle owner who names a helper. The agent, also called the attorney-in-fact, is the helper. On this template, the principal's details come first and the agent's come right after.

What information goes on the form?

Have these details ready before you start:

• The full names and addresses of the principal and the agent.
• The make, model, year, VIN and odometer reading from the title or registration.
• The principal's Social Security Number or Tax ID Number and date of birth.
• The name and address of a backup agent, if you want to name one.

The sample entries in the screenshots show where each detail goes.

Can I fill in the form on my computer?

Yes. Download the PDF, then fill in, edit and sign it with the FormsPal PDF editor, or print it and write in the details by hand.

Where does the successor agent go on the form?

The successor attorney-in-fact block is at the top of page 2. It names a backup agent and gives that person's address.

General information, not legal or tax advice.

Sources

1. Delaware DMV Form MV386, Power of Attorney to Transfer a Motor Vehicle Title. Accessed October 15, 2026.
2. 12 Del. C. § 49A-102. Accessed October 16, 2026.

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Mara Erlach

Writer & Attorney

Mara has been practicing estate planning and trust law in California since 2003, taking pride in helping clients of all backgrounds and asset profiles form a complete and customized estate plan. Her specialties are: estate planning, wills and trusts, trust and probate administration.