Vermont DMV · Quick Reference 2026

Vermont DMV Test Cheat Sheet

Every key number, rule, and fact from the Vermont Driver's Manual (2025) — on one page. Bookmark it or print it.

🏎️ Speed Limits

Vermont interstate65 mph

All other Vermont roads (default)50 mph

Posted limitAlways obey — it overrides default

School zoneAs posted — "when flashing" / "when children present"

Reasonable for conditionsReduce in rain / fog / ice / heavy traffic

Even 10 mphCan be unsafe in some conditions

Work zone finesDOUBLED MEMORIZE

Slow-moving traffic behind youRequired to pull over and let traffic pass

💡 The Vermont manual states: "The maximum speed for any vehicle on all Vermont roads is 50 miles per hour or as posted. The maximum speed for any vehicle on an Interstate in Vermont is 65 miles per hour or as posted." (p.28). Fines are doubled in work zones (p.35).

🅿️ Parking Distances

From fire hydrant6 feet MEMORIZE

From crosswalk at intersection20 feet

From fire station driveway (same side)20 feet

Across street from fire station drive (with signs)75 feet

From stop sign / signal / flashing red-yellow30 feet

From nearest rail at RR crossing50 feet

From curb (parallel parking)Within 12 inches

Rural highway — must be visible forAt least 150 feet in either direction

In front of any drivewayNever — always prohibited

On a marked bicycle lane / disabled spaceNever — always prohibited

💡 Vermont parking distances are listed in Chapter 7 of the manual (p.29). The rural-highway "150 feet visibility" rule is unique and frequently tested.

🍺 Alcohol & DUI Laws

BAC limit — drivers 21+0.08

BAC limit — under 210.02 Zero tolerance

BAC limit — CDL / commercial0.04 (federal)

Refuse chemical test (Implied Consent)At least 6 months license loss

Time to process 1 drink~ 1 hour (only time works)

Below 0.08 BACCan still be impaired / charged

Under-21 BAC ≥ 0.02Civil traffic violation + license suspension + paid alcohol-ed program

DUI conviction (any)License suspension + large fine + lawyer + alcohol-ed + possible jail + insurance ↑

Administrative suspensionCivil — can take effect BEFORE criminal conviction

Drugs (Rx, OTC, controlled)Driving impaired by ANY drug = illegal

⚠️ Vermont uses the Implied Consent law (p.53): by holding a Vermont license you've already agreed to take a chemical test. Refusing = at least 6 months license loss. Vermont also has an administrative suspension that runs alongside the criminal DUI process.

⚖️ DUI Consequences (Vermont)

Trigger	What Happens
BAC 0.08+ (21+)	"Under the influence" / "impaired" — DUI charge (p.52)
BAC 0.02+ (under 21)	Civil traffic violation, license suspension, paid alcohol-ed program (p.52)
Refuse chemical test	License loss for at least 6 months under Implied Consent (p.53)
DUI conviction	License suspension, large fine, lawyer fees, alcohol-ed (paid by you), possible jail, increased insurance (p.53)
Administrative suspension	Civil suspension can apply BEFORE criminal DUI conviction (p.53)
Driving while impaired by drugs	Same penalties as alcohol DUI — including prescription/OTC drugs that impair (p.53)

⚠️ The Vermont manual does not publish fixed dollar fines or jail-day ranges. Final penalties are set by the court based on your record and the facts. For current fee schedules, contact the VT DMV at 802.828.2000.

📏 Key Distances & Rules

Turn signal before turn / lane changeNot less than 100 feet (3-5 sec)

Following distance (default)4 seconds

Following — rain/snow/fog/iceMore than 4 seconds

Following a motorcycle / animalAt least 4 seconds

Stop at RR crossing (when required)Not less than 15 feet from nearest rail

Reaction time (avg driver)~ 3/4 of a second

Stopping distance @ 30 mph (dry)~ 75 feet

Stopping distance @ 60 mph (dry)~ 240 feet

Headlights — required hours30 min after sunset to 30 min before sunrise

Headlights — visibility triggerLess than 500 feet ahead

Pass a bicyclist — clearanceAt least 4 feet

Move Over (4-lane, can't change lanes)Slow to 20 mph below the speed limit

Pass / return to laneWhen you can see the entire FRONT of the passed vehicle in your inside rearview mirror

"Over-driving headlights" speed~ 40 mph at night with low beams

💡 Vermont uses the 4-SECOND following-distance rule (p.27) — increase to MORE than 4 seconds in poor conditions or behind motorcycles, slow-moving vehicles, or animals.

🔷 Sign Shapes

Shape	Meaning	Example
Octagon (8 sides)	STOP	Stop sign
Inverted triangle	YIELD	Yield sign
Diamond	WARNING	Curves, merges, hills
Pentagon (5 sides)	SCHOOL	School zone/crossing
Circle	RAILROAD	Advance RR warning
Pennant	NO PASSING	No passing zone (left side)
Vertical rectangle	REGULATORY	Speed limits, rules
Horizontal rectangle	GUIDE	Directions, distances
Crossbuck (X)	RR CROSSING	At the crossing itself

🎨 Sign Colors

Color	Meaning
🔴 Red	Stop, yield, do not enter, prohibition
⬜ White	Regulatory — rules and laws
🟡 Yellow	Warning — hazards ahead
🟢 Green	Guide — directions, distances
🔵 Blue	Services — gas, food, hospital
🟠 Orange	Construction / work zone
🟤 Brown	Parks, recreation, historic
💛 Yellow-Green	Pedestrian, school, bicycle

↗️ Right-of-Way Rules

→At a 4-way stop: first to arrive goes first. If tied, driver on the RIGHT goes first.
→At an uncontrolled intersection: yield to the vehicle on the RIGHT.
→Turning left: always yield to oncoming straight-through traffic.
→Entering from alley, driveway, or private road: stop and yield to ALL traffic.
→At a T-intersection (no signs): the vehicle on the terminating road yields.
→Pedestrians in a crosswalk: ALWAYS yield — marked or unmarked.
→Emergency vehicles with lights/sirens: pull to the RIGHT and stop. On a 4-lane highway, change lanes if safe; if not, slow to 20 mph below the limit (p.31, p.51).
→Blind pedestrian (white cane / guide dog): always stop and yield (p.38).
→State, city, town maintenance vehicles working on a highway (e.g., snowplow): yield the right of way (p.31).

🚌 School Bus Rules

→2-lane road: STOP from ANY direction when red warning lights are flashing (p.39).
→Yellow flashing = bus is slowing to pick up or discharge students. Be prepared to stop (p.39).
→Even on school grounds, never pass a stopped school bus with red lights flashing (p.40).
→Exception: on a DIVIDED highway with a median, you do NOT have to stop if the bus is traveling in the OPPOSITE direction (p.40).
→Penalty for illegally passing a stopped school bus: substantial fine + 5 points on your license (p.40, p.64).
→10 points = letter from DMV warning of suspension (p.64).

🎓 Teen / GDL Laws (Vermont)

Minimum age for Learner's Permit15 years

Hold Learner's Permit forAt least 1 year (12 months)

Supervised practice hours40 hrs (10 at night)

Driver-ed classroom30 hours

Behind-the-wheel (driver-ed)6 hours

Driver-ed observation6 hours

Junior Driver's License age16 (after meeting all above)

Full Driver's License age18+ (no recalls in prior 6 mo)

Junior — first 3 monthsDrive ALONE only (or authorized adult in front)

Junior — second 3 monthsImmediate family only (siblings + parents)

Junior — after 6 monthsNo passenger limit (≤ # of seat belts)

Junior — drive for employerNot for 1 year (or until age 18)

Carrying passengers for hire (Junior)Never

Junior Operator texting (JRT)30-day recall + $100+ fine + 2+ points

Nighttime defined30 min after sunset to 30 min before sunrise

Supervisor (Permit phase)Licensed parent/guardian, certified driver-ed instructor, OR licensed person 25+

Knowledge test + Learner's Permit fee$63 ($39 test + $24 permit)

Clean record required (under 18 applicant)Previous 2 years

💡 Vermont does NOT impose a state-mandated nighttime curfew on Junior License holders. Parents are urged to set family rules around driving after 9 PM (p.73).

🛡️ Child Restraint & Safety Belts

Under 2 yearsRear-facing car seat — never in front of an active airbag

Over 2 but under 5Rear- or forward-facing harnessed car seat

Under 8 (not in harnessed seat)Booster seat

Under 13Back seat if practical

Under 18 (not in harnessed/booster)Must wear a seat belt

All occupantsRequired by law to be restrained with a safety belt or federally approved child restraint (p.62-63)

🏦 Insurance & Financial Responsibility

Bodily injury (per person)$25,000

Bodily injury (per accident, 2+ persons)$50,000

Property damage (per accident)$10,000

Insurance cardMust be in the vehicle

No card at stop15 days to show proof

No insurance + ticketFine + 2 points + license loss until insured

After certain offenses (DUI, crash, no consent, etc.)License revoked until you prove insurance for a full 3 years (p.67)

📋 License Fees & Administration (Vermont, July 2024)

4-year Driver's License$62

2-year Driver's License$39

Knowledge test fee$39

Road test fee$23

Learner's Permit$24

Junior Driver's License$39

Replacement (lost / name / address change)$24

Enhanced Driver's License (EDL)+$36 in addition to other fees

Motorcycle endorsement add-on (renewal)+$4 per year

Address / name change deadlineWithin 30 days

New residents — get VT licenseWithin 60 days

CDL transfer (new VT residents)Within 30 days

Vehicle inspectionOnce a year (within 15 days of registration)

Crash report to DMV (if > $3,000 or injury)Written report within 72 hours

Online servicesmydmv.vermont.gov · dmv.vermont.gov · main line 802.828.2000

🚗 Other Must-Know Vermont Rules

→Handheld phone / portable electronic device while driving: illegal even when stationary (e.g., red light). Fine $100–$200 first; $250–$500 subsequent (p.55).
→Texting / reading messages while driving: illegal for ALL drivers (p.55).
→Headlights required: 30 min after sunset to 30 min before sunrise, AND any time visibility is less than 500 ft (p.46, p.49).
→Hill parking — DOWNHILL with curb: wheels RIGHT (into curb). UPHILL with curb: wheels LEFT (away from curb). NO curb (either way): wheels RIGHT (off road) (p.29).
→Skidding: don't hit brakes, steer in the direction you want the vehicle to go (p.48).
→Hydroplaning: take foot off gas, hold steering steady, do NOT brake hard (p.48).
→Stalled in a flooded area: abandon the vehicle as soon as possible (p.46).
→Stranded in a blizzard: stay in the vehicle; run engine and heater ~10 minutes each hour with a downwind window cracked (p.47).
→Tires must have at least 2/32 inch tread depth — use the penny test (p.60).
→Rear license plate must be lit and readable from at least 50 feet behind (p.60).
→Nothing may hang from the rearview mirror or sun visors (p.61).
→Vision standard: 20/40 (with or without correction) — referred to an eye doctor if you fall short (p.18).
→Knowledge test: 20 questions, 16/20 correct (80%) to pass; online at mydmv.vermont.gov (p.18).
→Fail the road test 3 times: minimum 1-month wait before retaking (p.19).

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