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DELAWARE Scooter Registration
1) I don't work for the DMV

As it was explained to me, and through personal experience....

52cc or less is a "Moped" in DE. Have to get an appointment with DMV to either have the State Police inspection unit to check the bike for road worthiness and background check the VIN. They sign off and tell DMV to go with the registration and such. If no MCO, they conduct an investigation on why the dealer did not arrange for you to have one. (This can take a month or more). If they find the seller at fault (in my case he was, and apparently to another of other buyers) they can clear you anyway. You pay for five year registration and get tag for bike. Then you can ride.

If they find the seller not at fault, you have a scooter you can't ride.

GREATER THAN 50cc
The bike is treated as a motorcycle. Still the same procedure. Call DMV for a DSP visit to your home, or bring the bike on Friday to the inspection lanes (have to transport on truck, can't ride it there). DSP signs off on the VIN and general road worthiness and tells DMV. If you didn't truck it to the DMV you then go get a temp tag from the DMV to ride it to the DMV for inspection. Go through inspection and hope they pass it.

***MUST BE FULLY DOT COMPLIANT***
Which means no special pipes, lights, etc., et al. Any changes to the bike must fully conform to DOT and all the parts must be DOT allowable or certified. This isn't a big deal with 50cc scooter models. About the only thing they'll get you on with a 50cc is if they catch you on the main roads and decide to dyno your bike. If it can actually run faster than 35 they you get it impounded, you get a ticket for riding an unlicensed motorcycle, no insurance, etc. They also do this in Ocean City, MD -- A LOT.

The only problem most in this state run into is changing the lights out for LED/CREE versions. BIG NO-NO in this state. About the only thing you can change to LED are the blinkers, brake light, and to add lights for visibility that have no function other than that. Although they do allow addition of LED lights for brakes and turn signals in the rear.

Do not wait for your MCO in DE. Make sure the vendor sends it with the bike. Make sure you get bill of sale. If the bike qualifies for a motorcycle, it is possible they perform the PDI and put a temp tag on it from their state. They do that here in DE with their bikes. Then again, we are talking store front and not drop-ship mail order.

Overall the law use to ticket scooters riding on the shoulder of the faster roads. Eventually they just let them run as long as they ride the bike lanes and you have your helmet on or with you. Here in lower DE it is highly advisable to add strip lights on the sides and back for visibility. Especially if you ride at night.

No word if you can have a laser on your bike. Like the "bike lane/fog triangle" types. So far I have not been stopped. Even had one state trooper tail me at 40MPH on the main road just to look at the way I had it mounted, along with the rest of my lights. If you put on on +50cc bike, make sure you have an off switch for it. Don't want it to fail inspection. Not a DOT accessory....