How to Pass the Vermont DMV Exam 2026
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility and Gather Your Documents
Make sure you qualify before you begin
Vermont licenses drivers through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), a division of the Agency of Transportation. You may apply for a Learner's Permit at 15, a Junior Driver's License at 16 or 17, and a full driver's license at 18. All DMV office visits are by appointment only, so gather your paperwork before you book.
- Proof of identity, such as a certified birth certificate or valid U.S. passport
- Your Social Security number, or an ineligibility letter from the Social Security Administration
- Proof of Vermont residency; Real ID and Enhanced Driver's License options require additional federal-compliant documents
- If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must sign your application, and you must have kept a clean driving record for the previous 2 years
A Driver Privilege Card is available regardless of immigration status but is not Real ID compliant. An out-of-state suspension flagged in the Problem Driver Pointer System will block issuance until it is cleared.
Step 2: Study the Official Vermont Driver's Manual
Prepare for the knowledge test
The Vermont knowledge test is written directly from the official Vermont Driver's Manual published by the DMV. Every question comes from that manual, so studying it is the single best preparation you can do. It is available in English, Spanish, Russian, and more, and DriveVermont offers a free online tutorial and practice exam.
- Learn the sign shapes and colors, traffic signals, and pavement markings
- Memorize the Vermont numbers: the four-second following distance, the 50 mph maximum on all roads and 65 mph on Interstates, the right wheels within 12 inches of the curb, and the 150-foot visibility rule for rural parking
- Review Vermont-specific rules such as the 0.02 limit for drivers under 21, the 25/50/10 insurance minimums, the 10-point suspension threshold, and the requirement to move right and stop for emergency vehicles
Work through Vermont practice tests until you consistently score above 80%, and pay special attention to any question you get wrong twice.
Step 3: Pass the Vision and Knowledge Tests
Take the tests that unlock your permit
Every applicant takes a vision test, and beginning drivers must pass the knowledge test. In Vermont the knowledge test is now taken online rather than in a DMV office.
- The knowledge test has 20 multiple-choice questions, each with four answers of which only one is correct
- You must answer at least 16 questions correctly to pass, meaning you may miss no more than 4
- If you fail, you must wait at least one day before taking another test
- The vision standard is 20/40 or better; corrective lenses may be noted as a restriction on your license
The combined exam and Learner's Permit fee is $63.00, which covers the $39.00 knowledge test and the $24.00 permit. A passing result lets you move on to being issued your permit.
Step 4: Get Your Vermont Learner's Permit
Start practicing legally
Once you pass the vision and knowledge tests and pay the fees, the DMV issues your Learner's Permit. You must be at least 15 years old, and applicants under 18 need a parent or guardian signature.
- You may drive anywhere in Vermont, anytime, only when a licensed, unimpaired supervising driver is riding in the front seat
- That supervisor must be a parent or guardian, a licensed or certified driver-education instructor, or any licensed, unimpaired person 25 years of age or older
- To later earn a Junior Driver's License, you must hold the permit for at least 1 year and keep a clean record for the 6 months before applying
- Applicants under 18 must have maintained a clean driving record for the previous 2 years
Use this stage to build steady, supervised experience before you tackle the driver education requirements and the road test.
Step 5: Complete Driver Education and Log Your Practice Hours
Build real experience behind the wheel
Applicants 16 or 17 who want a Junior Driver's License must complete a state-approved driver education course and log substantial supervised practice before the road test.
- The approved course is 30 hours of classroom, 6 hours behind the wheel, and 6 hours of in-car observation
- You must also complete 40 hours of driving practice in addition to the 6 behind-the-wheel hours, with at least 10 of those hours at night
- Nighttime is the period from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise
- Every applicant must complete at least 40 hours of driving practice, with at least 5 hours in traffic, before taking the road test
Keep your record clean throughout this period, since a junior operator who accumulates just 2 points faces a 90-day recall of driving privileges.
Step 6: Pass the Road Test
Prove you can drive safely
Road tests are given by appointment. Bring a safe, legal vehicle and proof that it is covered by liability insurance stating the carrier, effective and expiration dates, the insured's name, and the vehicle description or VIN.
- You will be tested on vehicle control, entering traffic, lane use, speed control, turns, parking, backing, stopping, and attention to traffic situations
- Vermont expects a four-second following distance, right turns on red only after a full stop, and correct use of the Move Over law for emergency vehicles
- The road-test-plus-Junior-Driver's-License fee is $62.00, and a road test with a 4-year full license is $85.00
- If you fail, you must wait at least 1 week to retest; fail three times and you must wait at least 1 month
Drive smoothly, obey every posted limit and signal, and never use a hand-held phone during the test.
Step 7: Receive Your Vermont Driver's License and Get Insured
Get licensed and drive responsibly
Once you pass the road test and meet all remaining requirements, the DMV issues your Vermont driver's license. Licenses are issued for 2-year or 4-year terms, and the photo stays valid for 8 years. Renewals are available online at mydmv.vermont.gov.
- The vehicle you drive must carry at least Vermont's minimum liability insurance of 25/50/10: $25,000 for injury or death of one person, $50,000 for two or more people, and $10,000 for property damage
- A Junior Driver's License is provisional: for the first 3 months you drive alone unless a qualifying adult is in the front seat, family members may ride in months 4 through 6, and full passenger freedom comes after 6 months
- Junior operators may not drive for employment for 1 year or until age 18, whichever comes first
- Never use a hand-held electronic device while driving, even when stopped in traffic; a first offense is fined $100 to $200
Keep your record clean: reaching 10 points triggers a suspension notice, and a license expired more than 14 days may not be driven on, while one expired over 3 years requires testing again.
These links should help guide you through the application and testing process. Each official state agency page contains the latest requirements and resources to ensure you have everything needed to obtain your Vermont driver’s license.
