Vermont Permit Practice Test — DMV Written Test, 20 Questions

Free 10-question Vermont permit practice test, then full 20-question tests like the DMV exam (16 to pass), each question cited to the 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual.

The exam

The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles knowledge test is 20 questions, and 16 correct is a pass. Everything on it comes out of 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual. Officially it is the knowledge test; most people call it the written test, or the permit test.

How this works

Most practice tests hand you a bank of questions and leave the manual somewhere else. This one puts them together.

You read one law and the reason behind it, then answer a question on that law while it is still fresh. Get it right and you move on; get it wrong and you have found the gap while it is cheap to fix, not on the morning of the exam.

Learning one rule at a time, and proving it immediately, is what turns a manual you skimmed into something you actually know — and it makes studying feel like getting somewhere rather than like waiting to find out.

Ask a question about Vermont road law

Easier than searching the manual: ask in your own words — how far from a fire hydrant you may park, when you must stop for a school bus — and the answer comes from 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual or Vermont’s code, with the page or the section it is in. When neither says, the answer says so rather than guess. Or tick Nationwide and compare every state on one question.

Ask a question

Vermont driving law, answered

Vermont driving questions, answered

What it costs

  • One payment, once — not a subscription. Nothing renews and there is nothing to cancel, for an exam you sit one time.
  • Free to start: a 10-question test and the first section of cards. No sign-up and no account.
  • Paying opens the rest of the cards, unlimited full-length practice tests, and retests built from exactly the questions you got wrong.
  • Every level up to Prepared — 3 tests passed in a row.
  • Do the work, fail the real exam, and we refund you.

What Vermont tests

128 concepts, 504 separate rules. Each one is a page of its own.

Questions from the Vermont test

How does a driver get seen at a Vermont DMV office?

By booking an appointment before going to the office. Turning up at the counter buys you nothing. There is no line to join, so a trip without a booking is a wasted trip. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.6: “All office visits are by appointment only.”

How long does a ticketed minor have to contact the Teen Alcohol Safety Program?

15 days from being ticketed. Diversion is the way out of the ticket. Let the window close and a court process starts instead. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.7: “failure to contact the diversion board within 15 days will result in the case being referred to the judicial bureau”

How many categories of documents does the Vermont DMV ask an applicant for?

Documents from 4 separate categories. Each group answers a different question about you. One piece of paper cannot answer them all. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.8: “You will need documentation from each of the 4 categories below”

What does an applicant with no Social Security number have to bring?

A letter from Social Security stating they cannot have one. The number is checked with Social Security before a license is printed. A mismatch stops the whole application. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.9: “You must present your Social Security card or a letter from the Social Security Administration indicating ineligibility to receive a Social Security number”

What does an Enhanced Driver's License require that an ordinary license does not?

Proof of US citizenship. The enhanced card gets you back across a land border, so it has to prove the thing a border asks about. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.9: “An EDL requires proof of US Citizenship in addition to proof of Identity, SSN and Vermont Residency.”

How long does a new Vermont resident have to get a Vermont license?

60 days from moving into the state. The state cannot act on your record, or reach you about it, while you are driving on somebody else's card. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.12: “A person who has moved into the state from another jurisdiction with a valid license from that state shall obtain a Vermont license within 60 days of moving into the state.”

How old must a Vermont resident be to take the Learner's Permit test?

At least 15 years old. The age is the floor the whole graduated system is built on. Nothing before it counts as practice. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.12: “You must be at least 15 years old to take the test.”

When may a Vermont Learner's Permit holder drive?

Anywhere in Vermont at any hour, with a supervisor beside them. Vermont sets no curfew and no banned roads for a permit. The one condition is the person beside you. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.13: “With a valid Learner’s Permit, you may drive anywhere, anytime in Vermont if there is a licensed and unimpaired parent or guardian, or a licensed or certified unimpaired driver education instructor or a licensed and unimpaired individual 25 years of age or older riding in the front seat.”

Who is issued a Vermont Junior Driver's License?

A person of 16 or 17 who passes the required examination. It is the middle step of the graduated system: a real license, with the limits an inexperienced driver still needs. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.13: “A Junior Driver’s License is issued to persons 16 or 17 years old who pass the required examination.”

What does a Vermont state approved driver education course consist of?

30 hours of classroom, 6 behind the wheel and 6 observing. Watching somebody else make the decision teaches something the wheel does not, which is why the observation hours are counted too. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.13: “all 16- and 17-year old’s must have passed a state approved driver education and training course consisting of 30 hours of classroom study, 6 hours behind the wheel training and 6 hours of observation”

Who certifies that a Vermont learner has completed their practice hours?

The parent or guardian who supervised the driving. Nobody at the counter watched you drive. The signature is the only record that the hours happened. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.14: “Your parent or guardian must certify you have completed 40 hours of practice behind the wheel”

What makes a Junior Driver's License a provisional license?

It can be taken back by the Commissioner or by a parent. It was issued on somebody else's word. Either the state or that person can take the word back. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.15: “A Junior Driver’s License is considered a provisional license. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may take your license away if you show that you are an unsafe driver through your actions.”

Who may ride with a Junior Driver's License holder in the first 3 months?

Nobody, unless a qualified adult is in the front seat. Other teenagers in the car are the single biggest thing that raises a new driver's crash risk. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.15: “During the first three (3) months of operation under a Junior Driver’s License, the individual is restricted to driving alone.”

What must a Junior Driver's License holder show to move up to a full license?

Turning 18 with a clean record for the previous 6 months. The clean six months is the last thing the state checks, and a recall starts that six months over again. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.21: “An individual who holds a Vermont Junior Driver’s License must be eighteen (18) years of age and must not have any recalls, suspensions, or revocations during the previous six (6) month period, to be eligible to obtain a Driver’s License.”

What does it mean that a Vermont permit or junior license is provisional?

It can be recalled by the Department of Motor Vehicles. A recall is not a suspension of a full license. It is the state taking back a license it lent on conditions. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.21: “A Learner’s Permit or Junior Driver’s License is considered to be a ‘provisional license’, which is recallable.”

Which vehicles does an ordinary Vermont Driver's License not cover?

A school bus and a motorcycle. The card is broad but not unlimited. Two vehicles need their own exam before you may drive them. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.16: “This license allows a person to drive any noncommercial vehicle except a school bus or motorcycle.”

What does a driver who carries school children in a school bus need?

A license with a school bus endorsement. A bus full of children is a different job from driving a car, and the endorsement is how the state checks you can do it. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.17: “Every Vermont licensed driver, who transports school children in a school bus, must have a driver's license with a school bus endorsement.”

Who may get a Vermont motorcycle endorsement?

A licensed person of 16 or older who passes a test. The endorsement sits on top of a license you already hold, so the age floor is the license's own. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.17: “Any person 16 years old or older who has a license may get a motorcycle endorsement or a motorcycle permit by passing a test.”

What do the Vermont driving tests set out to establish?

That you can read the signs, know the law, see and drive safely. Each question stands on its own. Knowing the law does not prove you can see, and seeing does not prove you can steer. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.18: “Can you read and understand the road signs and lights used on the road?”

What is the vision standard the Vermont screening device checks against?

20/40. The screening only says there may be a problem. What can be done about it is a question for a doctor. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.18: “If the results of the screening determine that your vision does not meet the required standards of 20/40, you will be referred to an eye doctor of your choice and expense for further testing.”

How many questions does the Vermont knowledge test ask?

20 questions. Knowing the shape of the paper before you sit it is one less thing to work out on the day. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.18: “The knowledge test is online and has 20 questions. Each question has four answers to choose from, of which only one is correct.”

When is the Vermont road test given?

After all the other parts of the test are passed. There is no point putting an examiner in the car with somebody who has not shown they can see or read a sign. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.18: “The road test will not be given until you have passed all other parts of the test.”

Whose vehicle is the Vermont road test taken in?

One the applicant furnishes, registered and insured. The DMV keeps no cars, so the test happens in yours, and yours has to be legal on the day. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.19: “The vehicle must be registered and inspected. The state in which it is registered and inspected does not matter.”

Which model years must have safety belts and defrosters?

1964 and later models. The belt is the one piece of equipment that decides whether a crash on a test route is survivable. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.19: “Safety belts and defrosters are required in 1964 and later models. No road test will be given in a vehicle that does not have safety belts.”

What does a Vermont exam and Learner's Permit cost together?

$63.00. The test is charged for whether you pass it or not, so the second attempt is not free. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.23: “Exam and Learner’s Permit fee = $63.00 (knowledge test $39.00 + permit $24.00)”

When is a Vermont renewal application mailed out?

About a month before the license expires. It goes to the address on file, which is why an unreported move is how people miss their own renewal. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.24: “About a month before your license or permit expires, a renewal application will be mailed to your address as listed in our files.”

Where should a Vermont permit holder practice first?

In an empty parking lot or on roads with little traffic. Steering, braking and looking are three jobs at once. Learning them where nothing else is moving is how they become one. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.25: “A person with a Learner’s Permit should first practice driving in an empty parking lot or on roads that do not have much traffic.”

What should a driver do before the vehicle starts moving?

Adjust the seat and mirrors, test the brakes and belt up. Every one of these takes both eyes off the road once the car is moving. Doing them parked costs nothing. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.25: “Before you drive your vehicle you should do the following: 1. Adjust the seat properly. 2. Adjust all mirrors. 3. Test the foot and parking/emergency brakes 4. Adjust and fasten the safety belt. 5. Lock the doors. 6. Turn on the headlights.”

How many things have to happen for a vehicle to stop?

4 things. Three of the four happen before the car slows at all, which is why stopping takes so much more room than people expect. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.25: “To stop your vehicle, four things must happen”

How far before a turn does Vermont law require a signal?

Not less than 100 feet. The distance is what the law measures, but nobody can pace out 100 feet while driving, so the seconds are the usable version. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.26: “The law states that a driver must use a turn signal not less than 100 feet before making a turn or changing lanes.”

How far ahead of a left turn should a driver signal?

3 to 5 seconds in advance. A signal nobody has reacted to has not worked yet, and the mirror is the only way to find out. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.26: “you must signal 3 to 5 seconds in advance to warn others of your intention to turn”

How far from the right side of the road should a vehicle be for a right turn?

About 3 feet. The gap you leave on your right is the gap a bicyclist rides into, and swinging left invites a driver to pass on the inside. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.27: “At the approach to a right turn the vehicle should be about three feet from the right side of the road.”

What should a Vermont driver be constantly looking for?

Potential hazards, including people on foot and on bikes. A hazard you have already seen is a decision. One you have not is a surprise, and surprises are what crashes are made of. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.27: “A driver should be constantly looking for potential hazards, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vulnerable users.”

What following distance does Vermont teach?

4 seconds. Time absorbs speed the way distance cannot. Four seconds is four seconds at 25 mph and at 65. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.27: “Using the 4-second method, you should have enough space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you in case you must stop quickly.”

What is the maximum speed for a vehicle on Vermont roads where nothing is posted?

50 mph. It is the ceiling wherever no sign says otherwise, so a road with no sign on it is not a road with no limit. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.28: “The maximum speed for any vehicle on all Vermont roads is 50 miles per hour or as posted.”

Who does a driver yield to at an intersection they are entering?

Pedestrians, bicyclists and traffic already in it. Whoever is already in the box got there first, and arguing about it in the middle of an intersection is how crashes happen. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.28: “A driver on any road must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, bicyclists and other traffic already in the intersection.”

What does Vermont say about crossing the center line to park?

Do not cross the center line to park. Crossing the center line to reach a space puts you facing traffic in the wrong lane while you maneuver. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.29: “Don’t cross the center line to park.”

What two things does Vermont require when parking on a hill?

Turn the front wheels and set the parking brake. The parking brake holds until it does not. Turned wheels send the car into the curb rather than into the road. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.29: “Always turn the front wheels and set the parking brake to prevent the vehicle from rolling into traffic.”

How far from the nearest rail of a crossing may a vehicle park?

No closer than 50 feet. A train needs the whole crossing and a good deal of the ground beside it, and it cannot swerve. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.29: “On any railroad tracks, or within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing”

Which way does traffic move around a Vermont roundabout?

Counter clockwise, entering and leaving by right turns. Everything about a roundabout follows from that: there are no left turns across traffic to be hit in. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.29: “A roundabout is an intersection control feature where traffic enters and exits only through right turns and proceeds in a counter clockwise direction.”

Where should a driver being stopped by police bring the vehicle?

As close as they safely can to the right side. The officer has to walk to your window, and the further you are from the traffic lane the safer that walk is. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.30: “Drive as close as you safely can to the right side of the road.”

What must a driver do when an emergency vehicle approaches with lights and siren?

Pull over to the right side of the road and stop. An emergency crew is counting on one clear lane, and it has to be the same lane every time for that to work. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.31: “the law says you must pull over to the right side of the road and stop”

What should a driver do at a signal that has gone dark?

Stop as if there were stop signs in all directions. A dark signal tells nobody anything, so every driver has to behave as though the intersection were unsignalled. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.31: “If a signal light is dark, as in a power failure, stop as if there are stop signs in all directions.”

What does a flashing circular red light mean?

Stop, then go once the way has been yielded. It is used where the intersection is quiet but still has to be entered one vehicle at a time. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.32: “The flashing circular red light is like a stop sign. Stop, and proceed after yielding the right of way to all pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles.”

What tells a driver what a road sign means?

Its shape and color as well as its wording. You read a sign from further away than you can read its words, and the shape is what carries at that distance. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.32: “You can tell what road signs mean by the shape and color as well as the wording.”

What does a driver do at this sign?

Stop, scan the intersection, honor the right of way, then go. The stop is only the first half. What the stop is for is the look that comes after it. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.32: “It means you must stop scan the intersection, honor the right of way, and then proceed.”

What does this sign tell a driver is ahead?

A railroad crossing further along this road. It appears far enough back that a driver can be slowing before the tracks come into view. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.32: “Circular signs with a large X and the letters RR indicate there is a railroad crossing ahead.”

What is a driver approaching where this sign stands?

A school, or a school crossing. Children cross without checking, and they are hardest to see because they are short. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.38: “Signs or flashing lights warn you that you are approaching a school or school crossing.”

What does a sign like this one tell a driver?

What a driver must or must not do at that place. This family is the law itself rather than a warning, so ignoring one is an offense and not just a risk. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.34: “Rectangular signs with white backgrounds indicate what things a driver must or must not do. These signs display speed limits, turning and passing laws, and other directions.”

What does a sign like this warn a driver of?

Closed lanes, detours, rough pavement or flaggers. A work zone changes from day to day, so the signs are the only current map of it you get. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.36: “They warn the driver of hazards ahead, such as closed lanes, detours, rough pavement, or flaggers.”

What do highway markings do for a driver?

Position the vehicle, guide it and show where passing is allowed. The paint is doing the work of a sign on every foot of the road rather than at one point on it. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.34: “They help a driver correctly position their vehicle, help direct them through various situations, let them know when passing is allowed and warn drivers of upcoming conditions.”

What does a yellow edge line on your right mean on a divided highway?

You are going the wrong way and must get off. Yellow always faces oncoming traffic, so yellow on your right means you are the oncoming traffic. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.51: “You are going the WRONG WAY on a divided highway or Interstate. On a divided highway the line to your right should be white.”

What can a Vermont work zone be?

Stationary, or a slow mobile operation moving down the road. A moving work zone has no cones and no warning at its far end, which is why it catches drivers out. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.35: “A work zone may be stationary, or it may be a mobile operation that moves down the road slowly, as in the case of line striping, mowing, and snow removal.”

What authority does a flagger in a Vermont work zone have?

The legal authority to control traffic, and must be obeyed. The flagger can see the whole site, and they are standing where the signs cannot say what is happening right now. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.36: “A flagger has the legal authority to control traffic and must be obeyed.”

What is against the law at a railroad crossing in Vermont?

Going around a closed gate, or passing another vehicle. The gate is down because a train is coming, and there is no version of going round it that ends well. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.37: “It is against the law to drive your vehicle through, around, or under a closed railroad gate. It is also against the law to pass another vehicle at a railroad crossing.”

Which pedestrians should a Vermont driver be especially alert for?

Young, elderly, disabled or intoxicated pedestrians. These are the people least able to judge a gap or get out of the way once they have misjudged it. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.37: “Be especially alert for young, elderly, disabled or intoxicated pedestrians.”

What tells a driver when a school zone speed limit is in force?

The words "when flashing" or "when children are present". The wording is what tells you whether the low number is in force right now or only at certain times. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.38: “the speed limit signs will have the words “when flashing” or “when children are present” to let you know when the speed limit is in effect”

What should a driver expect of children near a street?

That they move quickly and do not check for traffic. A child chasing a ball is not looking at anything except the ball. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.38: “Children often move quickly and do not check for traffic.”

What must a pedestrian not do at the edge of the road?

Step out in front of a vehicle that is already close. The right to cross does not repeal physics. A car that is already close cannot stop at once. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.39: “pedestrians must not suddenly leave a curb or other safe waiting place and walk into the path of a vehicle if it is so close that it is an immediate hazard”

When is it against the law to pass a stopped school bus?

Whenever its red warning lights are on. Children cross the road in front of the bus, and the driver passing it cannot see them until they are out. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.39: “It is against the law to pass a school bus which has stopped and has its red warning lights on. Never pass from any direction when the red lights are on.”

Where may a bicyclist ride in Vermont?

On all roads except where they are specially prohibited. A bicyclist on a main road is where they are allowed to be, which is worth knowing before you get impatient. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.40: “Under state law bicyclists have the right to operate on all roads, unless they are specially prohibited, such as on limited-access highways like the Interstate.”

Which way must a bicyclist ride on a Vermont road?

With the traffic, on the right side of the road. A rider coming the wrong way arrives from a direction no driver is looking in. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.41: “Always ride with through traffic on the right side of the road.”

Which of these is one of the four common errors that strike a bicyclist?

Opening a vehicle door into the path of a bicyclist. Every one of them is a driver looking for a car and not seeing something narrower. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.41: “Opening a vehicle door into the path of a bicyclist.”

What should a driver expect of a skateboarder or scooter user on the road?

That they may be traveling at a significant speed. They look slow and are not, which is how a driver misjudges the gap in front of one. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.42: “People using the roadway with these types of devices can sometimes be traveling at a significant rate of speed.”

What rights does a motorcyclist have on a Vermont highway?

The same rights as the driver of any other vehicle. The narrow shape invites drivers to treat a rider as half a vehicle, and the law does not. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.42: “The motorcyclist has the same rights and responsibilities on the highway as drivers of other vehicles.”

What should a driver assume about the distance to an oncoming motorcycle?

That it is closer than it looks. The eye judges distance from size, and a small object reads as a distant one. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.42: “Because of its small size, a motorcycle may look farther away than it is. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection, predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks.”

How does a driver pass a motorcycle?

By changing lanes completely, as for any vehicle. Sharing a lane with a bike leaves the rider nowhere to go if the surface ahead turns bad. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.43: “Motorcycles are entitled to a full lane. When passing a motorcycle, change lanes completely.”

Who causes most fatal crashes between cars and large trucks?

The driver of the other vehicle, in more than 70% of them. The number is here because most drivers assume the opposite, and drive around trucks accordingly. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.43: “In more than 70% of fatal crashes involving automobiles and trucks, it was the driver of the other vehicle, not the truck driver, who caused the crash.”

How can a driver tell they are in a truck's blind spot?

They cannot see the truck's side mirrors. The mirror test works both ways, and it is the only check you can make from your own seat. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.43: “Remember, if you can’t see the trucks rear (side) view mirrors then the truck driver can’t see you.”

When is it safe to return to the right lane after passing a truck?

When the truck's cab is visible in the rearview mirror. Cutting back in early puts you where the truck driver cannot see you and cannot stop for you. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.43: “Be sure you can see the cab of the truck in your inside rearview mirror before returning to the right lane.”

How is a slow moving vehicle identified in Vermont?

By an orange and red triangular sign on the rear. The sign is the only warning you get that the thing ahead is traveling far below the 50 mph limit. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.44: “It is identified by an orange and red triangular sign mounted on the rear of the vehicle.”

What does Vermont say about the things an aggressive driver does?

They are unlawful and can result in traffic tickets. Naming them as unlawful matters, because each one on its own can read as impatience rather than an offense. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.45: “All these actions are unlawful and can result in traffic tickets or worse.”

What rights does a person riding a horse on a Vermont highway have?

All the rights of the driver of a motor vehicle. A horse and rider are traffic, which is why passing one is governed by rules and not by patience. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.45: “When on a public highway a person riding an animal, or driving an animal drawn vehicle, is granted all the rights of a driver of a motor vehicle.”

Why does Vermont treat a collision with a moose or deer as serious?

It can be fatal to the people in the vehicle. A moose is tall enough to come through the windshield rather than over the hood. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.45: “A collision with a moose or deer can be fatal not only to the animal, but to the driver and passengers of a vehicle.”

What share of flash flood deaths is vehicle related?

Nearly half of them. Most of the people who drown in a flood drive into it, which is the one part a driver controls. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.46: “Nearly half of these fatalities are vehicle related.”

Which headlights should a driver use in fog or heavy snow?

Low beam headlights. High beams bounce off the fog straight back at you and make the view worse, not better. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.46: “When visibility is poor, such as in fog, heavy rain, or heavy snow, use your low beam headlights.”

What should a driver check before the Vermont winter?

Brakes, wipers, defroster, heater and exhaust. Every one of those is something you will need at once and cannot fix at the roadside in the cold. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.46: “Make sure your brakes, windshield wipers, defroster, heater and exhaust system are in top condition.”

What should a stranded driver hang from the vehicle?

A distress flag, from a handle, antenna or window. A snow covered car at the roadside looks like a snowbank, and the flag is what says somebody is in it. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.47: “Turn on hazard lights and hang a distress flag from the door handle, an antenna or window.”

What causes most skids?

Not adjusting speed to the road and traffic conditions. The skid starts before the wheels let go, at the moment the speed stopped matching the road. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.48: “Most skids are caused by the driver's failure to react in time to adjust the vehicle's speed to road and traffic conditions.”

What should a driver do when anti-lock brakes start to vibrate?

Hold steady pressure on the pedal. The pulsing in the pedal is the system working, and lifting off is the one thing that switches it off. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.48: “They allow you to brake and steer at the same time. Expect noise and vibration in the brake pedal.”

By how much do daytime low beams cut the risk of a head-on collision?

More than 20 percent. The lights are not there to help you see in daylight. They are there to make your car a thing somebody notices. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.49: “Studies have shown that driving with low beam headlights on during the daytime reduces the risk of head-on collisions by more than 20%.”

When does Vermont law require headlights to be on?

From a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise. It is the same window the night driving hours are measured in, and it is set by the clock rather than by how dark it looks. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.49: “The law requires headlights on vehicles to be turned on a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise.”

Where does Vermont say high beams belong?

In open country with few other vehicles about. High beams buy you distance, and the point of the distance is to be able to stop inside it. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.49: “Use high beam when driving in the open country with few other vehicles.”

What kind of road is an Interstate?

A multiple-lane, divided road built for high-speed travel. They carry six names and one design, and the design is what the rules for them follow from. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.50: “Interstates are multiple-lane, divided roads designed for high-speed travel.”

What distance rule applies on a Vermont Interstate?

The 4-second rule, with more space when wet. It is the same rule as everywhere else, and it is worth more here because everything is happening faster. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.50: “The easiest way to tell if you are a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you is to use the 4-second distance rule.”

On which side does a driver normally pass another vehicle?

On the left. The distance you need is the whole pass plus a gap, and it has to be there before you start. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.51: “change lanes and pass on the left”

When may a driver pass on the right on a road that is not multilane?

When the vehicle ahead is turning or about to turn left. The vehicle turning left has stopped and is not going to move into you, which is what makes the right side usable. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.52: “On roads that are not multilane, a driver may pass on the right of a vehicle or bicycle turning or preparing to turn left, if there is room to go by safely.”

Where does Vermont tell a driver not to pass?

At hills, curves, railroads and intersections. Each of these hides the oncoming vehicle until the pass is already committed. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.52: “DO NOT PASS AT THESE LOCATIONS”

What can leave a Vermont driver impaired?

Alcohol, drugs including prescribed ones, and drowsiness. A pharmacy label is not a permission slip, and the police test is about how you are driving. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.52: “Drugs, even prescription and over the counter drugs, can seriously affect your ability to drive safely.”

At what blood alcohol concentration is a Vermont driver under the influence?

0.08 or above. It is the line at which the law stops arguing about how you seem and simply calls you impaired. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.52: “Vermont law states that when a person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08 or above, he/she is “under the influence” or “impaired”.”

What kind of drug is alcohol?

A depressant, whatever lift it seems to give. The lift is what convinces a drinker they are fine to drive, and it is the first thing alcohol does. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.53: “Alcohol, in fact, is a depressant”

How long does it take a drink to be processed out of the body?

At least 1 hour per drink. An hour a drink means an evening out is still in you at midnight, whatever you have eaten since. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.53: “It takes at least an hour per drink for the alcohol and its effects to be processed out of your body.”

What follows a Vermont conviction for driving under the influence?

Suspension, a large fine, a class, jail and costlier insurance. The list is long because a single conviction reaches into money, freedom and the right to drive at once. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.53: “If you are convicted of DUI or driving after taking drugs, your license will be suspended.”

When should a driver make plans about drinking?

Before they start drinking. The plan has to exist before the first drink, because judgment is the first thing to go. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.53: “If you are going to drink, make plans before you start”

How does a drowsy driver look to other road users?

Much like a drunk driver. It looks the same from outside the car and it ends the same way. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.54: “Drowsy drivers can drive so poorly they may appear to be drunk.”

What does a distraction do to a driver?

Makes them react more slowly to what happens. The car does not slow down while your attention is elsewhere, and the road does not wait. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.54: “Distractions cause drivers to react more slowly to traffic conditions or events”

Why keep the stereo volume down while driving?

So a siren, a horn or a train whistle can be heard. Several of the warnings a driver gets arrive as sound, and a loud stereo removes all of them at once. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.55: “keep your stereo at a volume low enough so you can hear things outside of your vehicle, such as a siren, horn honking, or a train whistle”

What does Vermont say about driving while upset?

You may not drive well, so take time to calm down. A driver who is arguing in their head is not watching the road, whatever their eyes are pointed at. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.55: “Emotions affect safe driving. You may not be able to drive well if you are overly worried, excited, afraid, angry or depressed.”

Does Vermont's device ban apply while a vehicle is stopped in traffic?

Yes, it applies even while the vehicle is stationary. Stationary in traffic is still operating, so waiting at a light is not a gap in the law. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.55: “It is against the law for drivers to use a portable electronic device while operating a motor vehicle on a public highway in Vermont, including while the vehicle is stationary”

What does the examiner watch for on the Vermont road test?

Safe, courteous, correct driving and the rules of the road. The test is not a set of tricks. It is the ordinary driving you will do afterwards, watched. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.56: “the examiner will watch to see if you can drive a motor vehicle safely, courteously and correctly”

What does the examiner ask for after stopping on a hill?

The parking brake set and the vehicle in neutral. It is the one maneuver where getting it wrong sends the car backwards into whatever is behind. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.56: “You will be instructed to drive to the right side of the road, stop, and then set your parking/emergency brake and shift to neutral.”

How far from the curb should a vehicle stop before backing into a side street?

About 18 inches. Stopping close to the edge keeps the car out of the lane while you work out whether the side street is clear. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.56: “Drive just past the street and stop about 18 inches from the curb or edge of the road.”

How far from the front vehicle should you stop to start a parallel park?

About 2 to 3 feet. Two to three feet is the room the car needs to swing its tail in without touching the vehicle beside it. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.57: “Stop alongside the front vehicle, two to three feet away.”

What causes most crashes in Vermont?

Poor decisions made by drivers. Every item on that list is a choice, which is what makes most crashes preventable. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.58: “Poor decisions made by drivers cause most crashes.”

What does the law require of a driver involved in a crash?

To stop and give any assistance that is reasonably needed. Leaving is its own offense, and the first minutes are when help matters most. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.58: “A driver who has been involved in a crash is required by law to stop and give any assistance that is reasonably necessary.”

What does a police officer at a crash scene do?

Get the facts, without taking either driver's side. The report is a record rather than a verdict, which is why what you say at the scene is the facts and nothing else. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.58: “The police will not take sides for one driver or the other.”

How often must a Vermont vehicle be inspected?

Once a year. An annual check is a floor, and a fault that appears the week after it is still your problem. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.59: “Your vehicle must be inspected once a year.”

What happens to brakes used hard on a long hill?

They overheat and stop working properly. Brakes fail gradually, so the driver adjusts without noticing until the day they need all of them. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.59: “Using the brakes often on a long trip in hilly country will cause them to overheat, and then they will not work properly.”

How often should the steering and front end be looked over?

2 times a year. Steering gives no second chance: when it goes, it goes in the middle of a corner. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.60: “A good rule is to get your steering and what mechanics call "the front end" looked over two times a year.”

What does keeping the windshield clean do?

Improves vision by day and by night. A smeared windshield is invisible until low sun hits it, and then you cannot see anything at all. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.60: “Keep your windshield clean, as it improves your vision both for day and nighttime driving.”

Where must the speedometer and odometer be?

Working, and where the driver can see them. The speedometer is the only way to know your speed, and the odometer is what a buyer is being told about the car. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.61: “The speedometer and odometer in your vehicle must be working properly and must be where the driver can see them.”

What share of Vermont's air pollution comes from motor vehicles?

Over 50%. It is more than half, which is why the annual inspection looks at emissions and not just at brakes. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.61: “Collectively they account for over 50% of the air pollution generated in Vermont.”

Who must be restrained in a Vermont motor vehicle?

All occupants of the vehicle. An unbelted passenger is thrown around the inside of the car, and they hit the people who did belt up. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.62: “The law requires all occupants of a motor vehicle to be restrained with a safety belt, or a federally approved child passenger restraining system.”

How must a child under 2 travel in Vermont?

In a rear-facing car seat with a harness. A small child's neck cannot hold their head in a crash, and facing backwards is what spreads the force across the back. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.62: “A child under two years of age must be properly secured in a federally approved rear-facing child car seat with a harness.”

When do points go on a Vermont driving record?

Each time the driver is found guilty of an offense. The points are what turn a run of small offenses into the loss of a license. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.64: “Points are put on your driving record each time you are found guilty of breaking a motor vehicle law.”

How many points does speeding carry in Vermont?

2 to 8 points, depending on the speed. The range is what makes the difference between a mistake and a decision, and the speedometer decides which. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.64: “Speeding, 2 - 8 points depending on your speed over the speed limit.”

How long does a new Vermont resident have to register their vehicle?

60 days from moving into the state. Registration is what ties a vehicle to an owner, and without it there is nobody to answer for the car. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.65: “If you are moving to Vermont from another state, you must register your vehicle within 60 days of moving into the state.”

What must a bill of sale for a Vermont vehicle carry?

The buyer, the seller's signature, the date and the price. The bill of sale is what proves the car stopped being yours on a particular day. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.65: “Give the new owner a bill of sale that includes the purchaser(s) name, seller(s) signature, date of sale, and the year, make, serial number and amount of money you were paid for the vehicle.”

What is the Vermont Purchase and Use Tax on a vehicle?

6% of the price or fair market value, whichever is greater. Taking the greater of the two stops a sale being written down to a dollar to dodge the tax. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.66: “This is called a Purchase and Use Tax and is 6% of the price you paid for the non-leased vehicle or the current fair market value, whichever is greater.”

Which trailer does not need a Vermont title?

One with an empty weight of 1,500 pounds or less. The title is the proof of ownership, and the exceptions are for vehicles too small for the paperwork to be worth it. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.66: “Some exceptions are: a motorcycle with less than 300 cc's of engine displacement and a trailer with empty weight of 1,500 pounds or less.”

Who holds the title to a Vermont vehicle bought with borrowed money?

The lien holder, until the loan is paid back. The lender holds the title because the car is the security for the loan. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.67: “The title to your vehicle, when issued, will be sent to the lien holder and will not be given to you until you pay back the money you borrowed.”

What does Vermont's Maintenance of Financial Responsibility law require?

That the vehicle you drive carries liability insurance. The insurance is there for whoever you hit, which is why it is a condition of driving at all. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.67: “Vermont has a law called "Maintenance of Financial Responsibility." This means that the vehicle you drive MUST be covered by liability insurance.”

What does dropping from 65 to 55 on the Interstate save?

Up to 15 percent in fuel economy. Air resistance grows sharply with speed, so the last few miles an hour cost the most fuel. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.68: “On the interstate, drive 55 or 60 miles per hour instead of 65 to save fuel. EPA estimates up to a 15 percent improvement in fuel economy by following this tip alone.”

What makes a Commercial Driver's License necessary in Vermont?

Over 26,000 pounds, 16 or more passengers, or hazardous materials. Any one of the three is enough on its own, which is why a small van carrying placarded materials needs one. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.70: “A Commercial Driver’s License is required for operators of vehicles rated in excess of 26,000 pounds or transporting 16 or more passengers (including the driver) or hazardous materials.”

What does Vermont say about a driver with a disability?

They may still be licensed, with equipment that fits and works. A disability is a question about what equipment the car needs, not about whether the person can drive. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.71: “A person who has a disability may still be able to get a license.”

How long may a disabled driver park in a time-limited space?

For 10 days, without a fee. The limit on an ordinary space assumes you can walk back to move the car, which is the thing being accommodated. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.71: “A person who has trouble walking may park without a fee, for 10 days, in a parking place where other drivers can only park a set time.”

What rate does a disabled driver pay where self-service costs less?

The lesser, self-service rate. Working a pump is the barrier being removed, so the help is not charged for on top. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.72: “at full-service gasoline stations offering self-service pumping at a lesser cost, shall receive the lesser rate”

What is the leading cause of death and injury for teenagers?

Motor vehicle crashes on the road. The habits formed in the first year last, and the person watching them form is usually a parent. 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.73: “Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and injury for teenagers.”

Where these come from

Every rule here is checked against 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, published by the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles, and against the state code itself. Last checked 2026-09-15.