The complaint form of the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is the Compliance and Investigations Unit Complaint Form, headed Complaint Voluntary Statement. A customer uses it to name a business or individual, describe the problem and swear to the facts, so the Division can decide whether to investigate. It is mostly used for matters involving DMV licensees such as vehicle dealers. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the form and its customer information pages are published by the Delaware DMV, and you return the form to a local DMV office.
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What is Delaware DMV Complaint Form: Compliance & Investigations?
The Complaint Form, printed as the Compliance and Investigations Unit Complaint Form with the heading Complaint Voluntary Statement, is the form a customer completes to ask the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to look into a complaint against a business or individual.
The form collects the complainant's contact details, the name, phone and address of the business or individual complained about, the name of a dealership representative if applicable, and vehicle details (VIN, year, make, model, color and plate number or U-title). A box covers other complaints not involving a motor vehicle sale or repair, and a narrative space lets you explain the complaint. It ends with an affidavit: you give the statement freely and voluntarily to the State of Delaware, Division of Motor Vehicles, certify that it is true and correct to the best of your knowledge, and agree to testify to these facts if asked in any action against the business or individual.
The form states that the Division does not represent private citizens seeking the return of money or other personal remedies in contractual disputes or civil actions. The customer information pages attached to the form list the matters the Division typically investigates: dealer failure to submit title documentation, dealer fraud, DMV employee misconduct, unlicensed dealers, counterfeit or fraudulent DMV documents, odometer fraud, violations of laws on the sale of motor vehicles, and identity theft.
Who needs to file Delaware DMV Complaint Form: Compliance & Investigations?
Customers who want the Delaware DMV Compliance & Investigations Unit to review a complaint against a business or individual complete this form. The customer information pages say that filing a complaint with the Division requires a DMV Complaint Form, and they list the kinds of matters the unit typically investigates, such as dealer fraud, unlicensed dealers, odometer fraud and DMV employee misconduct.
Do not expect the unit to act in these situations, according to the customer information pages:
- complaints against towing or impound services or body shops and garages, and insurance disputes;
- requests for a refund or the cancellation of a sale;
- most disputes over a vehicle sales contract or a repair;
- most private party sales, unless no Division licensee or employee is involved but document fraud is, or the Division believes a party should be licensed;
- Lemon Laws, which apply to brand new vehicles only and are handled by the Delaware Attorney General's office.
The unit does not investigate every complaint it receives. Assignment depends on legal jurisdiction, case priorities, severity of allegations, history of similar allegations and available personnel. The form is signed by the complainant; it names no representative who may sign for someone else.
When to file Delaware DMV Complaint Form: Compliance & Investigations
File the form when you have a complaint within the Division's jurisdiction and want the Compliance & Investigations Unit to review it. No due date is printed on the form or on the customer information pages, so timing is up to you.
Once the complaint is filed, the customer information pages say licensees often volunteer to resolve complaints once a DMV investigator contacts them. If violations of law are suspected, investigators take criminal or administrative action under Delaware law or refer the matter to the appropriate law enforcement agency, and you may be asked to testify in court or at an administrative hearing. Investigations may be lengthy depending on the situation.
Documents you need
- Copies of any documents you have that support your complaint, such as papers about the sale or title; the form asks you to attach them to the explanation of your complaint.
How to fill out Delaware DMV Complaint Form: Compliance & Investigations
Enter your contact information
Under Customer Filing Complaint, enter your name, day time phone, email address, address, city, state and ZIP.
Identify who the complaint is against
Enter the name of the business or individual, then its phone, address, city, state and ZIP.
Add the dealership representative
If applicable, enter the Dealership Representative's Name.
Describe the vehicle involved
If applicable, enter the VIN in the boxes, then Year, Make, Model, Color and Plate Number/U-title.
Mark other complaints if needed
Check the box for other complaints NOT involving a motor vehicle sale or repair when that is your situation.
Explain the complaint
Write your explanation under Explain Complaint and continue on page 2 if you need more room. Attach copies of any documents that support it.
Complete the affidavit
Enter your name on the line of the affidavit that begins "I, ...", which certifies the information is true and correct to the best of your knowledge.
Sign and date the form
Sign above Signature of Complainant and enter the date. Leave the DMV Representative, Supervisor and Internal Use Only areas for the DMV.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that names, addresses and the explanation are accurate and complete. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, add your supporting copies and return it as described under How to submit.
How to submit Delaware DMV Complaint Form: Compliance & Investigations
Return the completed form to your local DMV office, marked Attn: Compliance & Investigations Unit. The form is available at all DMV locations and on the Division's website, www.dmv.de.gov.
Offices listed on the form:
- Delaware City: 2101 Mid County Dr, New Castle, DE 19720, (302) 326-5000.
- Wilmington: 2230 Hessler Blvd, New Castle, DE 19720, (302) 434-3200.
- Dover: PO Box 698, Dover, DE 19903, (302) 744-2500.
- Georgetown: 23737 Dupont Blvd, Georgetown, DE 19947, (302) 853-1000.
Attach copies of any documents you have that support the complaint. The form has no email, portal or fax channel printed on it. The blocks for the DMV representative and the representative's supervisor, and the Internal Use Only box (case number, date received, investigator), are for the DMV to complete. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the form to try to get a refund, cancel a sale or recover property; the Division states it has no authority to represent private citizens in those disputes.
- Filing against a towing or impound service, a body shop or garage, or over an insurance dispute, which the unit does not investigate.
- Sending a Lemon Law complaint to the DMV; those apply to brand new vehicles only and are handled by the Delaware Attorney General's office.
- Leaving out information or entering inaccurate details; the form warns that this may delay or prevent an investigation.
- Not attaching copies of the documents that support the complaint, which the form asks you to include.
- Leaving the affidavit name line or the Signature of Complainant and Date blank.
- Writing in the DMV Representative, Supervisor or Internal Use Only blocks, which the DMV completes.
- Expecting action on a private party sale with no licensee, employee or document fraud involved; most such sales are not investigated.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Delaware DMV complaint form?
It is the Compliance and Investigations Unit Complaint Form, headed Complaint Voluntary Statement. You use it to name a business or individual, explain the problem and swear that the facts are true, so the Delaware DMV can decide whether to investigate.
Can the Delaware DMV get me a refund or cancel a sale?
No. The form and its information pages state that the Division does not represent private citizens seeking the return of money or personal property, and will not try to change the terms of a valid sales contract, lease or warranty. Civil action through the courts is listed as an alternative.
Where do I return the Delaware DMV complaint form?
Return it to your local DMV office, Attn: Compliance & Investigations Unit. The form lists offices in Delaware City, Wilmington, Dover and Georgetown with their addresses and phone numbers. It prints no email or online submission option.
What complaints will the DMV not investigate?
The unit does not investigate towing or impound services, body shops or garages, insurance disputes, Lemon Laws, or most private party sales. It also does not investigate every complaint it receives; assignment depends on jurisdiction, priorities, severity and available personnel.
Do I need to attach documents to the complaint form?
The form asks you to attach copies of any documents you have to support your complaint. It does not list specific required documents, so include whatever relates to the sale, title or other matter you describe.
How long does a DMV complaint investigation take?
The customer information pages give no timeframe and say investigations may be lengthy depending on the situation. Licensees often volunteer to resolve complaints once a DMV investigator contacts them.
Might I have to testify after filing a complaint?
Possibly. In the affidavit you agree to testify to the facts if asked in any action against the business or individual, and the information pages say you may be asked to testify in court or at an administrative hearing if violations are suspected.
Where else can I file a complaint besides the DMV?
The information pages list local police agencies (stolen vehicles, other criminal charges), the Better Business Bureau, the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit at 1-800-220-5424, and a Chamber of Commerce. You can also seek a remedy in court.
Can I fill out the Delaware DMV complaint form online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the complaint with the DMV; you return the completed form to a local DMV office.
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