(a) A nonresident over the age of 16 years who has been duly licensed under a law requiring the licensing of operators in the nonresident’s home state or country and who has in the nonresident’s immediate possession a valid operator’s license issued to the nonresident in the nonresident’s home state or country shall be permitted without examination or license under this chapter to drive a motor vehicle upon the highways of this State.

(b) No nonresident whose home state or country does not require the licensing of operators and who has not been licensed as an operator in the nonresident’s home state or country shall operate any motor vehicle upon any highway in this State without first making application for and obtaining a license as an operator as required under this chapter, except that any unlicensed nonresident who is over the age of 16 years and who is the owner of a motor vehicle which has been duly registered for the current registration year in the state or country of which the owner is a resident may operate such motor vehicle upon the highways of this State for a period of not more than 30 days in any 1 year without making application for or obtaining an operator’s license under this chapter upon condition that the motor vehicle shall at all times display the license number plate or plates issued therefor in the home state or country of the owner and that the nonresident owner has in the nonresident’s immediate possession a registration card evidencing such ownership and registration in the nonresident’s home state or country.

36 Del. Laws, c. 10, § 53; Code 1935, § 5591; 42 Del. Laws, c. 171, § 1; 21 Del. C. 1953, § 2705; 62 Del. Laws, c. 237, §§ 6-11; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.