Vermont DMV Exam FAQ 2026
How do I get my first driver's license in Vermont?
You apply through the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), a division of the Vermont Agency of Transportation. Teens start by getting a Learner's Permit at 15, then follow the graduated path to a Junior Driver's License, while adults 18 and older can go straight to a full Driver's License once they pass the exam. In every case you must pass the vision test and the online knowledge test, complete the required driving practice, and pass the road test. You also have to provide proof of identity, your Social Security number (or an ineligibility letter from the SSA), and proof of Vermont residency. All Vermont DMV office visits are by appointment only, and you can start many services online at mydmv.vermont.gov.
What is the minimum age to get a learner's permit in Vermont?
The minimum age for a Vermont Learner's Permit is 15. Applicants under 18 need a parent or legal-guardian signature and must have maintained a clean driving record for the previous two years. The permit is issued after you pass the online knowledge test and pay the required fees. Once you hold it, you may drive anywhere and anytime in Vermont only when a licensed, unimpaired parent or guardian, a licensed or certified driver-education instructor, or a licensed and unimpaired person 25 years of age or older is riding in the front seat.
What are the rules for driving with a Vermont learner's permit?
With a valid Learner's Permit you may drive anywhere and anytime in Vermont, but only if a supervising driver is in the front seat with you. That supervisor must be a licensed and unimpaired parent or legal guardian, a licensed or certified driver-education instructor, or a licensed and unimpaired individual who is 25 years of age or older. Vermont bans all hand-held portable electronic device use while driving, so the permit holder may not use a phone behind the wheel. The permit lets you build the supervised practice hours you need before the road test.
How do drivers under 18 get a Junior Driver's License in Vermont?
A Junior Driver's License is for people who are 16 or 17. To qualify you must have held a Learner's Permit for at least one year, maintained a clean record with no recalls, suspensions, or revocations for the six months before applying, and completed a state-approved driver education course of 30 hours of classroom, 6 hours behind the wheel, and 6 hours of observation. On top of the 6 behind-the-wheel hours you must also complete 40 hours of driving practice, at least 10 of them at night. Nighttime means the period from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.
What restrictions apply to a Vermont Junior Driver's License?
The Junior Driver's License is provisional. For the first three months you must drive alone, unless a licensed unimpaired parent or guardian, a licensed or certified driver-ed instructor, or a licensed unimpaired person 25 or older is in the front seat. During months four through six you may begin transporting family members, and after six months there is no limit on the number of passengers — though you may never carry more passengers than there are seat belts. You cannot drive in the course of employment (such as delivering pizza) for one year after issuance or until age 18, whichever comes first, and you may not use any portable electronic device while driving. A parent or guardian can withdraw permission, and the Commissioner can recall the license for unsafe driving.
How does an adult 18 or older get a Vermont driver's license?
Anyone 18 or older who passes the exam can be issued a full Driver's License, without going through the junior graduated steps. You still must pass the vision test and the online knowledge test, complete at least 40 hours of driving practice with at least 5 in traffic, and pass the road test. A full Vermont license lets you drive any noncommercial vehicle except a school bus or a motorcycle; a motorcycle requires a separate endorsement or permit. Remember to bring proof of identity, your Social Security number, and proof of Vermont residency, and to book an appointment since all offices are appointment-only.
What documents do I need to bring to the Vermont DMV?
For a new license, permit, or ID card you must provide proof of identity, your Social Security number (or an ineligibility letter from the Social Security Administration), and proof of Vermont residency. Choosing a Real ID or an Enhanced Driver's License requires additional federally compliant documents. If you do not want or cannot get a Real ID, Vermont offers a Driver Privilege Card, which is a license or permit that is not Real ID compliant and is available regardless of immigration status. Be aware that under the Problem Driver Pointer System an out-of-state suspension or revocation will block issuance until it is cleared.
How many questions are on the Vermont knowledge test and what score do I need to pass?
According to the 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, the knowledge test has 20 questions, each with four answer choices of which only one is correct. You must answer at least 16 questions correctly to pass, which is 80 percent, so you can miss no more than four. The test is taken online rather than in a DMV office. You must also pass a vision test, with a standard of 20/40 or better. The questions come directly from the official manual, and DriveVermont is the state's free online tutorial and practice exam to help you prepare.
Can I take the Vermont knowledge test online?
Yes. In Vermont the learner-permit knowledge test is no longer taken in a DMV office — it is taken online. The test has 20 questions with four choices each, and you need at least 16 correct to pass. To study, Vermont provides DriveVermont, a free online tutorial and practice exam that mirrors the official Vermont Driver's Manual (form VN-007, 2025 edition). The manual is published in 16 languages, including official Spanish and Russian PDF editions on the dmv.vermont.gov website.
What happens if I fail the Vermont knowledge or road test?
If you fail the online knowledge test, you must wait at least one day before taking another one. The road test is separate: before you can take it you must have completed at least 40 hours of driving practice, including at least 5 hours in traffic. If you fail the road test, you must wait at least one week before retrying, and if you fail it three times you must wait at least one month before another attempt. Using the DriveVermont practice exam and reviewing the manual between attempts is the best way to pass.
What is required for the Vermont road test?
Before taking the road test you must have completed at least 40 hours of driving practice, with at least 5 of those hours in traffic. Junior license applicants complete those 40 practice hours in addition to the 6 behind-the-wheel hours from driver education, and at least 10 of the hours must be at night. You must bring a vehicle covered by liability insurance, and your proof of insurance must show the carrier, the effective and expiration dates, the insured's name, and the vehicle description or VIN. If you fail, you wait at least one week to retest, and at least one month after three failures.
How much does a Vermont driver's license cost?
As of July 1, 2024, the exam plus Learner's Permit package is $63.00, made up of a $39.00 knowledge test and a $24.00 permit. The road test exam plus a Junior Driver's License is $62.00. A road test with a 4-year license is $85.00, while a road test with a 2-year license is $62.00. Renewals are $62.00 for four years (or $78.00 with a motorcycle endorsement) and $39.00 for two years ($47.00 with an endorsement), and a Learner's Permit renewal is $24.00. A replacement for a lost card or a name or address change is $24.00, and adding the Enhanced Driver's License option costs an extra $36.00.
How often do I renew my Vermont license and when does it expire?
Vermont driver's licenses are issued for 2-year or 4-year terms, and the license photo is valid for 8 years, being updated at in-person renewals. You can renew online at mydmv.vermont.gov. A Vermont license that has been expired for more than 14 days is not valid and may not be driven on, so renew promptly. If your license has been expired for more than three years, you must be tested again before it can be reissued. New residents must register a vehicle within 60 days of moving to Vermont.
What is a REAL ID or Enhanced Driver's License in Vermont?
Vermont offers Real ID and Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) options, both of which require additional federally compliant documents beyond the standard proof of identity, Social Security number, and residency. Adding the Enhanced Driver's License option costs an extra $36.00. If you don't need federal compliance, Vermont also issues a Driver Privilege Card, a license or permit that is not Real ID compliant and is available to applicants regardless of immigration status. Whichever card you choose, all Vermont DMV visits are by appointment only, so plan ahead when applying.
How do I transfer an out-of-state license to Vermont?
New residents transferring a license from another state pay $62.00 for a 4-year license or $39.00 for a 2-year license. You must provide proof of identity, your Social Security number, and proof of Vermont residency, and choose whether you want a Real ID, Enhanced, or standard card or a Driver Privilege Card. Under the Problem Driver Pointer System, any out-of-state suspension or revocation will block issuance until it is cleared. New residents must also register a vehicle within 60 days of moving to Vermont, and appointments are required for all office visits.
How does Vermont's point system and license suspension work?
Points are assessed on conviction. Common examples include 2 to 8 points for speeding depending on how far over the limit, 2 to 5 points for texting while driving, 2 points for running a stop sign or red light, 4 points for failing to obey a police officer, 4 points for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, and 5 points for passing a stopped school bus with red lights flashing. When a driver reaches a total of 10 points, a suspension-notice letter is sent and a hearing may be requested; the number of points within a two-year period sets the length of suspension. There are no points for parking or defective-equipment violations. A junior operator faces a 90-day recall once at least 2 points appear on their record.
What are the alcohol and BAC rules for drivers in Vermont?
For adults 21 and over, a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or above is considered driving under the influence, though the manual stresses that impairment happens below 0.08 as well. Vermont has a zero-tolerance rule for drivers under 21: a BAC of 0.02 or more brings a civil traffic violation, license suspension, and a mandatory alcohol and driving education program at the driver's expense. Under the Implied Consent Law, holding a license means you agree to submit to a chemical test when an officer suspects impairment, and refusing costs you your license for at least six months. Only time sobers you up — it takes at least one hour to process each drink.
What are Vermont's cell phone and distracted driving laws?
Vermont bans all hand-held portable electronic device use while driving on a public highway, including when the vehicle is stopped in traffic. Reading, composing, or sending texts, emails, or instant messages is illegal. A first violation carries a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $200, and a second or subsequent violation is $250 to $500. In a marked work zone with workers present, a first conviction adds 2 points and a second adds 5 points. Junior Driver's License holders may not use any portable electronic device while driving at all.
What car insurance do I need to drive in Vermont?
The vehicle you drive must be covered by liability insurance. Vermont's minimum coverage is $25,000 for the death or injury of one person, $50,000 for the death or injury of two or more people, and $10,000 for property damage — often written as 25/50/10. Your proof of insurance must state the carrier, the effective and expiration dates, the insured's name, and the vehicle description or VIN. You will need this proof for the road test and for registering a vehicle, so keep a current card in the car.
What are the seat belt and child restraint rules in Vermont?
Vermont law requires all occupants of a motor vehicle to be restrained with a safety belt or a federally approved child restraint. The lap belt should sit snug across the hips, not the stomach, and the shoulder belt across the center of the chest — never tucked under the arm or behind the back. For children, those under 2 must use a rear-facing car seat with a harness (never in front of an active airbag), those over 2 but under 5 use a rear- or forward-facing harnessed seat, those under 8 who are not in a harnessed seat must use a booster, and children under 13 must ride in the back seat when practical. A child who is not in a harnessed seat or booster must wear a seat belt until age 18.
