Buying a Firearm Online in Delaware
You can purchase firearms online, but ordering a firearm is not the same as having an ordinary product shipped to your home. Learn how online firearm purchases, FFL transfers, background checks and Delaware handgun permit requirements work.
The Basic Rule
Shipping: To an FFL
Transfer: In person
Handguns: Delaware permit rules apply
Buying online is usually a three-part transaction
You order from the seller, the firearm is delivered to an FFL, and the FFL completes the legal transfer to you.
Order the firearm
Choose the firearm from an online dealer, manufacturer, auction site or other lawful seller.
Ship it to an FFL
Select a federally licensed firearms dealer who agrees to receive the firearm and complete the transfer.
Complete the transfer
Appear at the receiving dealer, provide identification, complete the required paperwork and satisfy the applicable background-check and Delaware requirements.
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Can an online firearm be shipped directly to my house?
Generally, no.
For an ordinary consumer purchase of a modern firearm, the firearm is normally sent to a federally licensed firearms dealer who performs the transfer to the buyer.
Accessories, ammunition and other non-firearm products involve different rules. This page addresses firearms that require an FFL transfer.
Choose your Delaware FFL before ordering
Before purchasing the firearm, identify the dealer who will receive it and confirm that the dealer is willing to handle the transfer.
Ask the receiving dealer:
Make sure the firearm can actually be transferred in Delaware
Do not assume that because an online seller will accept the order or ship the firearm, the receiving Delaware dealer can legally transfer it to you.
Check manufacturer and model number.
Features and magazine system can matter.
Check Delaware capacity restrictions.
The recipient must be legally eligible.
What happens when the firearm arrives?
The receiving FFL takes the firearm into inventory. You then complete the transfer in person before taking possession.
Wait until the receiving FFL has processed the shipment and says it is ready for transfer.
The dealer must verify identity and residency as required for the transaction.
The firearm transfer is documented through the federally required transaction record.
The dealer completes the applicable background-check and Delaware transfer requirements before releasing the firearm.
Buying a handgun online
Buying the handgun online does not avoid Delaware’s handgun-purchaser requirements.
Delaware residents generally need a Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit
A Delaware resident purchasing or receiving a handgun must generally have a valid Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit unless a statutory exemption applies.
Buying a rifle or shotgun online
A Delaware resident can order a lawful rifle or shotgun online and have it delivered to a Delaware FFL for transfer.
The firearm must still comply with Delaware law, including the state’s restrictions on certain assault weapons and magazine configurations.
What if the online seller lists a firearm Delaware does not allow?
Online inventory can be available nationally even when a particular firearm or configuration cannot legally be transferred in Delaware.
“Ships to Delaware” does not necessarily mean “legal to transfer in Delaware.”
The receiving dealer must evaluate the actual firearm and applicable law. If the firearm cannot lawfully be transferred, the dealer cannot simply release it because the buyer already paid the online seller.
What if the FFL cannot complete the transfer?
Paying for a firearm online does not guarantee that the receiving dealer can release it to you.
A transaction can encounter problems because of purchaser eligibility, identification or residency issues, the firearm’s configuration, magazine restrictions, missing required permits or other legal requirements.
Check the online seller’s return policy before ordering
If the transfer cannot be completed, return shipping, cancellation charges, restocking fees or other costs may depend on the seller’s policies and the receiving dealer’s policies.
Expect a transfer fee
The receiving FFL is providing a separate service from the online seller. Dealers commonly charge a fee for receiving the firearm, recording it in inventory, administering the transfer and maintaining the required records.
Ask before ordering
Transfer fees and dealer policies vary. Confirm the receiving dealer’s current fee and procedures before having a firearm shipped.
What if I do not live in Delaware?
Interstate purchases require additional analysis because federal law distinguishes between handguns and complete rifles or shotguns.
Transfer in buyer’s home state
A handgun purchased from a Delaware seller for an ordinary nonresident buyer generally must be sent to an FFL in the buyer’s state of residence for transfer.
Direct FFL transfer may be possible
Federal law permits qualifying over-the-counter transfers of complete rifles and shotguns to nonresidents when the transaction complies with federal law and the laws of both states.
Buying online doesn’t have to mean buying somewhere else
Coastal Firearms
DelawareGunLaws.com is supported by Coastal Firearms, a Delaware federally licensed firearms dealer.
Coastal Firearms operates an extensive online firearm and outdoor-products catalog and can also assist customers with firearms ordered from other sellers when an FFL transfer is required.
Before ordering a firearm elsewhere, compare the firearm and total transaction cost with Coastal Firearms’ available inventory. The same firearm—or another appropriate Delaware-compliant option—may already be available directly through the store.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to buy a gun online in Delaware?
Yes. A lawful firearm can be purchased online, but the firearm normally must be delivered to an appropriate federally licensed firearms dealer who completes the transfer to the buyer.
Can an online gun store ship a firearm directly to my Delaware home?
Not for an ordinary retail transfer of a modern firearm to a consumer. The firearm is generally shipped to an FFL, where the legal transfer takes place.
Do I need to contact the FFL before buying?
You should. Confirm that the dealer accepts outside transfers, will accept the firearm being purchased, and understand the dealer’s fee and procedures before placing the order.
Do I still complete a background check if I already paid online?
Yes. Paying the seller does not complete the firearm transfer. The receiving dealer completes the applicable transfer paperwork and eligibility requirements before releasing the firearm.
Do I need a Delaware purchaser permit if I order a handgun online?
If you are a Delaware resident receiving the handgun in Delaware, the state’s Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit requirement generally applies unless you qualify for an exemption.
What if I order an AR-15-style firearm online?
Confirm the exact model and configuration with the receiving Delaware FFL before ordering. Delaware’s assault-weapon law can restrict named firearms, copies and certain semiautomatic configurations.
What happens if the gun is illegal in Delaware?
The receiving dealer cannot lawfully transfer a prohibited firearm merely because it has already been purchased. Returning or otherwise disposing of the firearm will depend on applicable law and the seller’s and receiving dealer’s procedures.
Can I have ammunition or accessories shipped to my home?
Firearms, ammunition, magazines and accessories are not all governed by the same transfer rules. Before ordering regulated magazines, ammunition or other restricted items, check Delaware law and the seller’s shipping requirements.
Can I buy a firearm on GunBroker and have it transferred in Delaware?
Yes, if the firearm and transaction are lawful. Select a Delaware FFL willing to receive the firearm and complete the transfer, and confirm the firearm’s Delaware legality before bidding or purchasing.
Before you order
Official sources
Legal information, not legal advice.
DelawareGunLaws.com is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with the State of Delaware, ATF or any government agency. Online firearm transactions can involve federal law, Delaware law, the laws of another state and the policies of the seller and receiving FFL. Confirm that the firearm and transfer are lawful before placing an order.
Firearm Transfers in Delaware
Understand dealer transfers, private transfers, family transfers, background checks and other ways firearm ownership can legally change hands in Delaware.