Vermont DMV Practice Tests

Learning to drive is exciting, but it’s also a huge responsibility. The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires potential drivers to demonstrate knowledge and skills behind the wheel before allowing them the privilege of driving with no restrictions. This is required for all new drivers, as well as those moving to Vermont whose licenses have expired before arrival.

The requirements to obtain a VT driver’s license will vary slightly based on whether you are a minor or adult, as well as whether you’re applying for a standard license or a REAL ID-compliant license.

Learner’s Permits for Vermont Drivers

Before applying for your first Vermont driver’s license, all applicants—regardless of age—must first obtain a learner’s permit. You may apply for a VT learner’s permit when you are at least 15 years old.

The Vermont DMV is one of few state agencies that allows you to take your permit test online in lieu of visiting a DMV office. You can submit your application and payment for your permit and knowledge test during this process, as well, so long as you can provide copies of the required proofs of identity (see below for details). Otherwise, you may need to complete your application in person.

Generally, to earn your permit you will need to:

• Submit a completed Application for License/Permit (form VL-021), which you can do online as part of your permit test application.
  • If you’re younger than 18 years old, your parent/guardian must provide their consent within the application.
• Provide proof of your:
  • Identity.
  • Citizenship or authorized presence.
  • Social Security number.
  • Vermont residency.
    • Your acceptable documents will differ slightly based on whether you want a federally compliant REAL ID permit, an Enhanced ID (to cross land/sea borders), or a non-compliant permit. The VT DMV provides a guide to these different license types, along with the required documentation for each.
• Pass the online knowledge exam.
• Pay the following fees:
  • $32 testing fee.
  • $20 permit fee.

Your receipt will act as your temporary permit until your physical credential arrives in the mail, typically within 3 weeks.

With your Vermont permit, you may drive at any time as long as you are with a supervising licensed driver at least 25 years old seated next to you.

If you’re 18 years old or older, you can skip ahead to applying for your unrestricted license. If you’re under 18 years old, you must hold your permit for at least 1 year before you can move on to earning a Junior Driver’s License.

Vermont Junior Driver’s Licenses for Minors

For drivers under 18 years old, the first Vermont license you’ll receive (after your permit) is a Junior Driver’s License. Before applying for this provisional driver’s license, you must first have:

• Held your learner’s permit for at least 1 year with no moving violations within the previous 6 months.
• Completed a state-approved driver education course consisting of:
  • 30 hours of classroom learning.
  • 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction.
  • 6 hours of driving observation.
• Completed your required practice driving hours—40 total, with 10 hours driven at night.

This is the step in which you’ll also need to pass your road test. You’ll need a safe vehicle in which to take your test, along with its registration and insurance.

If you’ve satisfied all of the above requirements—and you’re at least 16 years old—make an appointment for your road test and bring:

• Your learner’s permit.
• Your driver education completion certificate.
• A completed:
  • Application for License/Permit (form VL-021), signed by your parent/guardian to provide their consent.
  • Driving Practice Log Sheet (form VN-210) that certifies your practice hours. You can also track your hours on the RoadReady app.
• Proof of your:
  • Identity.
  • Citizenship or authorized presence.
  • Social Security number.
  • Vermont residency.
    • Your acceptable documents will differ slightly based on whether you want a federally compliant REAL ID, an Enhanced ID (to cross land/sea borders), or a non-compliant license. The VT DMV provides a guide to these different license types, along with the required documentation for each.
• The registration and insurance for your testing vehicle.
• Payment for the applicable license fee:
  • 2-year license: $32
  • 4-year license: $51

Once you pass your road test, your Junior Driver’s License will be restricted for 1 year. During this time, you may only drive under the following rules:

• During the first 3 months, you may not carry any passengers while driving unsupervised.
• During the next 3 months, you may only carry your family members as passengers while driving unsupervised.
• During the final 6 months, you may carry as many passengers as there are safety belts in your vehicle.

These restrictions will end once the full year has passed without any violations, or until you turn 18 years old (whichever comes first), after which you will be considered a fully licensed driver.

Unrestricted Driver’s Licenses for Adult VT Drivers

For first-time drivers at least 18 years old, the next step after acquiring your Vermont learner’s permit is taking your road test and applying for your unrestricted driver’s license. There are no required practice hours for adult applicants.

Schedule an appointment to take your road test. At your road test appointment, you’ll need to provide:

• Your learner’s permit.
• A completed Application for License/Permit (form VL-021).
• Registration and insurance for your testing vehicle.
• Proof of your:
  • Identity.
  • Citizenship or authorized presence.
  • Social Security number
  • Vermont residency.
    • Your acceptable documents will differ slightly based on whether you want a federally compliant REAL ID, an Enhanced ID (to cross land/sea borders), or a non-compliant license. The VT DMV provides a guide to these different license types, along with the required documentation for each.
• Payment for the applicable license fee:
  • 2-year license: $32
  • 4-year license: $51

Driver’s License Requirements for New Vermont Residents

If you hold an out-of-state license and move to Vermont, you must apply for your VT driver’s license within 60 days of establishing residency in the state. If your current license has been expired for 3 years or longer, you must take the Vermont written knowledge exam and road test in order to obtain your new license.

To transfer your valid/unexpired license to Vermont, visit your local driver license station and:

• Hand in your out-of-state license.
• Pass a vision test.
  • If your out-of-state license is still valid, you won’t have to take a written test or road skills exam.
• Submit your:
  • Completed Application for License/Permit (form VL-021).
    • If you’re younger than 18 years old, your parent/guardian must sign your form to provide their consent.
  • Proof of your:
    • Identity.
    • Citizenship or authorized presence.
    • Social Security number.
    • Vermont residency.
      • Your acceptable documents will differ slightly based on whether you want a federally compliant REAL ID, an Enhanced ID (to cross land/sea borders), or a non-compliant license. The VT DMV provides a guide to these different license types, along with the required documentation for each.
• Pay the applicable license fee:
  • 2-year license: $32
  • 4-year license: $51
  • Enhanced driver’s license: Additional $30

Applying for a Vermont motorcycle endorsement mimics the process of applying for a VT driver’s license, including taking a knowledge test and on-cycle skills exam. You can bypass these tests by completing a Vermont Rider Education Program (VREP)—more on this option below.

You also have the option of first obtaining a motorcycle learner’s permit to practice riding before taking your on-cycle skills exam, but the permit is not required. You must have at least a Junior Driver’s License before you can add a motorcycle endorsement—if you’re under 18 years old, you must have your parent/guardian sign your application to provide their consent.

The fee for your endorsement is $3 per year that your license is valid.

Motorcycle Permits in Vermont

If you are not taking a VREP course, you can instead opt for a motorcycle learner’s permit to practice riding before your road test. To obtain your permit, you can either:

• Complete a 4-hour VT Motorcycle Awareness Program; or
• Take the motorcycle permit knowledge test.

If you opt for the DMV exam, you can take the written permit test in person or online. Bring all of the same documents you submitted for your initial driver’s license, as well as a completed Motorcycle Permit Application (form VL-027). You can also provide copies of these documents online during your application process. There’s a $20 fee for the motorcycle permit, as well as a $9 fee for the knowledge exam.

Your permit will be valid for 120 days, during which you can practice riding under the direct supervision of another licensed motorcyclist. You may not carry any passengers while holding a permit.

Vermont Rider Education Program (VREP)

The Vermont DMV highly recommends completing a VREP course. This 18-hour program provides a thorough education on the safety and skills required to operate a motorcycle on Vermont roads. Completing this course also allows you to waive the DMV’s written knowledge test and on-cycle road test, as you’ll be doing both during your program.

To drive a commercial vehicle in Vermont, you must be at least 18 years old. To drive across state lines or to carry hazardous materials you must be at least 21 years old.

Regardless of age, to get your commercial driver’s license (CDL), you must first:

1. Have a valid Vermont driver’s license.
2. Obtain and hold a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) for at least 2 weeks.

Getting Your VT Commercial Learner’s Permit

To get your CLP, visit the DMV office with:

• A completed:
  • Application for Commercial License/Permit (form VL-031).
  • CDL Medical Certification (form VL-033).
  • Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MCSA-5876) filled out by a medical professional, if you’re certifying as non-excepted interstate/intrastate, along with a Medical Examination Report (MCSA-5875).
• Proofs of your:
  • Identity.
  • Citizenship or authorized presence.
  • Social Security number.
  • Vermont residency.
    • Your acceptable documents will differ slightly based on whether you want a federally compliant REAL ID, an Enhanced ID (to cross land/sea borders), or a non-compliant license. The VT DMV provides a guide to these different license types, along with the required documentation for each.
• A TSA HAZMAT background check, if you’re applying for a hazardous materials endorsement.
• Payment for the:
  • $32.50 knowledge test fee.
  • $14 endorsement test fee (per test).
  • $20 CLP fee.

At your appointment, you’ll take the written knowledge test and a vision exam before receiving your commercial learner permit.

Your CLP will be valid for 1 year, during which time you can practice for your commercial driver’s license road test. You can only drive when accompanied by another CDL holder in the front seat next to you who has their own CDL of the appropriate class and proper endorsements for the vehicle you’re practicing in.

Applying for a VT Commercial Driver’s License

After practicing with your CLP and holding it for at least 2 weeks, you are eligible to apply for your full Vermont commercial driver’s license. Schedule a skills test with a qualifying branch that administers commercial road tests—there’s a $24 scheduling deposit that will go toward your testing and license fees.

At your test, bring:

• Your CLP and Vermont driver’s license.
• A vehicle representative of the class and type you’ll be driving, which meets all safety standards, plus its registration and insurance.
• Your required medical cards, if applicable.
• A completed Application for Commercial License/Permit (form VL-031).
• Proofs of your:
  • Identity—for CDL applicants, this must be your birth certificate.
  • Citizenship or authorized presence.
  • Social Security number.
  • Vermont residency.
    • Your acceptable documents will differ slightly based on whether you want a federally compliant REAL ID, an Enhanced ID (to cross land/sea borders), or a non-compliant license. The VT DMV provides a guide to these different license types, along with the required documentation for each.
• Payment for the:
  • $32 road test fee.
  • CDL fee:
    • 2-year license: $60
    • 4-year license: $90