Vermont DMV Permit Test FAQ

The passing score is 80% — you must answer at least 16 of 20 questions correctly. You can miss up to 4 and still pass. Road signs are integrated into the same test (no separate signs exam). (p.18)

If you fail, you must wait at least one day before retaking the test. The exam fee is $39 (combined with the $24 Learner's Permit fee = $63 total). The test is taken online at mydmv.vermont.gov, so you can retake from home. If you fail the road test three times, a minimum waiting period of one month is required before retaking (p.18-19, p.23).

The minimum age for a Vermont Learner's Permit is 15. Applicants under 18 must have maintained a "clean" driving record for the previous 2 years, and a parent/guardian must sign the application. The permit must be held for at least 1 year before applying for a Junior Driver's License (typically at age 16). To qualify for a Junior License you must complete 40 hours of supervised practice (with at least 10 at night), plus Vermont approved driver education (30 hours classroom + 6 hours behind-the-wheel + 6 hours observation) (p.12-13).

Junior Driver's License — phased restrictions:

• First 3 months: drive ALONE only (or with an authorized adult — parent/guardian, certified driver-ed instructor, or licensed person 25+ — in the front seat).
• Second 3 months: immediate family only (siblings + parents).
• After 6 months: no passenger limit, but never more passengers than there are safety belts.
• No driving for an employer for 1 year (or until age 18).
• No carrying passengers for hire — ever.

Vermont does NOT impose a state-mandated nighttime curfew on Junior License holders, though parents are urged to set family rules around driving after 9 PM. ALL Vermont drivers (Permit, Junior, Full) are prohibited from using a portable electronic device on a public highway, including when stopped at a red light (p.20-21, p.55, p.73).

Drivers under 21 with a BAC of 0.02 or more can receive a civil traffic violation. The Driver's License is suspended and the driver must complete an alcohol-and-driving education program at their own expense (Vermont Driver's Manual p.52).

• Drivers 21+: 0.08 — at or above this you are "under the influence" or "impaired" (p.52).
• Drivers under 21: 0.02 (Zero Tolerance) — civil traffic violation + license suspension + paid alcohol-ed program (p.52).
• CDL holders (operating a commercial vehicle): 0.04 (federal threshold).

Even below 0.08 you can still be impaired and arrested — the manual explicitly says "a person is impaired at blood alcohol concentration levels below .08. Even one drink impairs your judgment." Refusing a chemical test under Implied Consent = license loss for at least 6 months (p.53).

The default maximum speed on all Vermont roads (other than interstates) is 50 mph or as posted. Vermont interstates default to 65 mph or as posted. Many town and city streets are posted lower. School zones have signs that say "when flashing" or "when children are present" — the lower limit applies whenever those conditions exist. Always obey the posted sign — it is the maximum (p.28, p.38).

Vermont parking clearances (Vermont Driver's Manual p.29):

• Fire hydrant — within 6 feet: prohibited
• Crosswalk at intersection — within 20 feet: prohibited
• Stop sign / yield / flashing red-yellow / traffic light — within 30 feet: prohibited
• Railroad crossing — within 50 feet of the nearest rail: prohibited
• Fire station driveway — within 20 feet on the same side, or 75 feet across the street when signs are posted
• Parallel parking — right wheels within 12 inches of the curb
• Rural highway — must be visible for at least 150 feet in either direction
• Bicycle lane / disabled parking area — never

A DUI conviction in Vermont brings license suspension, a large fine, lawyer fees, a paid alcohol-and-driving education class, possible jail time, and significantly increased insurance rates. Vermont also uses an administrative suspension process — your license can be lost through a civil process before any criminal DUI conviction. Refusing a chemical test under Implied Consent = license loss for at least 6 months. The Vermont manual does not publish fixed dollar/jail ranges — final penalties are set by the court based on your record. For current reinstatement fees, contact the VT DMV at 802.828.2000 (p.53).

Vermont law ("Maintenance of Financial Responsibility") requires:

• $25,000 for death or injury of one person
• $50,000 for death or injury of two or more persons
• $10,000 for property damage

You must carry the insurance card in the vehicle. If stopped without it but you have insurance, you have 15 days to show proof. Driving without insurance = fine + 2 points + license loss until you prove insurance for a full 3 years (Vermont Driver's Manual p.67).

The Vermont manual permits right turn on red after a complete stop and yielding to pedestrians/traffic, unless a sign or symbol prohibits it (p.31). Do NOT turn right on a red ARROW. The manual does not explicitly cover left-on-red — generally the longstanding US convention is that a left turn on red is permitted only from a one-way street onto another one-way street, after a complete stop. Always obey posted signs. When in doubt, wait for the green (p.31, p.38).

About a month before your license expires, the DMV will mail a renewal application to your address on file. You can also renew online at mydmv.vermont.gov, by mail (Department of Motor Vehicles, 120 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05603-0001), or in person.

• 4-year license: $62 (with motorcycle endorsement: $78)
• 2-year license: $39 (with motorcycle endorsement: $47)
• License photo is valid for 8 years — your photo will be updated any time you renew in person.
• A Vermont license expired more than 14 days is not valid; expired more than 3 years requires re-testing.
• Notify the DMV of name or address changes within 30 days.

(Vermont Driver's Manual p.23-24)