Vermont driving law, answered
Every answer here comes from 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual and, where the manual is silent, the Vermont Statutes: Title 23, Chapter 1: General Provisions, Title 23, Chapter 5: Provisions Common to Registration and Operator's Licenses, Title 23, Chapter 7: Registration, Title 23, Chapter 9: Operator's Licenses, Title 23, Chapter 11: Financial Responsibility and Insurance, Title 23, Chapter 13: Operation of Vehicles, Title 23, Chapter 17: General Offenses and Jurisdiction, Title 23, Chapter 21: Title to Motor Vehicles, Title 23, Chapter 24: Traffic Violations, Title 23, Chapter 25: Motor Vehicle Violations; Point System, Title 23, Chapter 33: Nonresident Violator Compact, Title 23, Chapter 37: Driver License Compact, Title 7, Chapter 21: Penalties, with the page or the section it is in.
Statutes fetched on 8 October 2026; manuals fetched on 14 September 2026. How the answers are made
How far from a fire hydrant must you park?
You may not park within 6 feet of a fire hydrant. A fire crew has to get a hose onto the hydrant in seconds, and a parked car makes that a job for a crowbar.
Within 6 feet of a fire hydrant
As of 14 Sep 2026
How far from a crosswalk at an intersection must you park?
You may not park within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection. A car parked on the corner hides the person stepping off it until they are already in the road.
Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection
As of 14 Sep 2026
May you park in or near an intersection?
You may not park on a sidewalk, within an intersection, on a crosswalk, on a bridge, in a tunnel, in front of a driveway, on a marked bicycle lane or in a marked disabled parking area. Every one of these is somebody else's route, and a parked car forces them out into traffic to get around it.
On a marked bicycle lane.
As of 14 Sep 2026
How far from a stop sign or traffic signal must you park?
You may not park within 30 feet of a flashing red or yellow light, a stop sign or a traffic light. Parking on top of a signal hides it from the driver who needs to read it while still far enough back to stop.
Within 30 feet of a flashing red or yellow light, stop sign, or traffic light
As of 14 Sep 2026
How far from a railroad crossing must you park?
You may not park on any railroad tracks, or within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing. A train needs the whole crossing and a good deal of the ground beside it, and it cannot swerve.
On any railroad tracks, or within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing
As of 14 Sep 2026
How far from a fire station driveway must you park?
You may not park within 20 feet of the driveway of a fire station, or across the street within 75 feet of that driveway where there are signs. An engine leaving a station needs the whole width of the street to swing out into.
Within 20 feet of the driveway of a fire station or across the street within 75 feet of the driveway, when there are signs
As of 14 Sep 2026
How close to the curb must you park?
A vehicle parked on a two-lane road must have its right wheels within 12 inches of the right side of the road or curb, and it must face the same direction as the traffic flow. A car left sticking into the lane is a wall that traffic has to swerve around in the dark.
A vehicle parked on a 2-lane road must have the right wheels within 12 inches of the right side of the road or curb.
As of 14 Sep 2026
When must you stop for a school bus with flashing red lights?
Once the bus has stopped and the alternately flashing red warning lights are on, you must stop your vehicle. This applies even in a school yard. A school yard feels like private ground, and the children crossing there are the same children.
Remember, even in a school yard, you must not pass a stopped school bus with its alternately flashing red warning lights activated.
As of 14 Sep 2026
What must you do when passing a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights?
Approaching a law enforcement, emergency or repair vehicle with a flashing light at the side of the road, you must proceed with caution and change lanes away from it as soon as it is safe. If you cannot change lanes you must slow to 20 mph below the speed limit. Where the lane change is impossible the law still wants a margin, and it names the number rather than leaving it to a judgment call.
If you are unable to change lanes you must slow down to 20 mph below the speed limit in order to go by the stopped vehicles.
As of 14 Sep 2026
How far behind a fire truck answering an alarm may you follow?
No operator of a motor vehicle, other than one on official business relating to the suppression of fire or the handling of an emergency, shall follow any fire apparatus traveling to an emergency closer than 500 feet, or in a manner to interfere with the suppression of a fire or the handling of the emergency, or so as to endanger the life of any occupant of the fire apparatus, or thereafter park his or her vehicle so as to interfere with the suppression of a fire or the handling of the emergency.
Vermont law, 23 V.S.A. § 1122
As of 8 Oct 2026
When must you turn on your headlights?
The law requires headlights to be turned 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.
The law requires headlights on vehicles to be turned on a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise.
As of 14 Sep 2026
Who must wear a seat belt?
The law requires all occupants of a motor vehicle to be restrained with a safety belt, or with a federally approved child passenger restraining system. An unbelted passenger is thrown around the inside of the car, and they hit the people who did belt up.
The law requires all occupants of a motor vehicle to be restrained with a safety belt, or a federally approved child passenger restraining system.
As of 14 Sep 2026
When must a child ride in a car seat?
A child under 8 years of age who is not properly secured in a harnessed car seat must be properly secured in a booster seat. A booster lifts a child so the adult belt crosses their hips and chest instead of their stomach and neck.
A child under eight years of age who is not properly secured in a harnessed car seat must be properly secured in a booster seat.
As of 14 Sep 2026
What is the legal blood alcohol limit for adult drivers?
Vermont law says a person whose blood alcohol concentration is .08 or above is under the influence, or impaired. It is the line at which the law stops arguing about how you seem and simply calls you impaired.
Vermont law states that when a person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08 or above, he/she is “under the influence” or “impaired”.
As of 14 Sep 2026
What is the blood alcohol limit for drivers under 21?
A person under 21 who drives with an alcohol concentration of .02 or more can receive a civil traffic violation, has their license suspended and must complete an alcohol and driving education program at their own expense. Under 21 the limit is set near zero, because there is no lawful drink to explain the reading.
People under the age of 21 who operate a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .02 or more can receive a civil traffic violation.
As of 14 Sep 2026
What happens if you refuse a breath or blood alcohol test?
(6) If the person refuses to take an evidentiary test, the refusal may be offered into evidence against the person at trial, whether or not a search warrant is sought. The person may be charged with the crime of criminal refusal if the person: (A) has previously been convicted of a violation of section 1201 of this title; (B) is involved in a crash or collision resulting in serious bodily injury or death to another, in which case the court may issue a search warrant and order the person to submit to a blood test, the results of which may be offered into evidence against the person at trial; or (C) knowingly hinders the collection of an evidentiary blood sample when a warrant for that person’s blood is issued pursuant to subdivision (f)(1) of this section.
Vermont law, 23 V.S.A. § 1202(d)(6)
As of 8 Oct 2026
May you use a handheld phone while driving?
It is against the law for drivers to read or send messages while driving, and against the law to use a portable electronic device while operating a motor vehicle on a public highway in Vermont, including while the vehicle is stationary. Stationary in traffic is still operating, so waiting at a light is not a gap in the law.
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
As of 14 Sep 2026
May you text while driving?
A person shall not use any portable electronic device while operating a motor vehicle. That covers reading and writing text messages, instant messages and emails on a phone, tablet or laptop. A message read at 50 mph costs you the length of a football field with nobody watching the road.
A person shall not use any portable electronic device while operating a motor vehicle. This includes reading, and the manual composing or sending of electronic communications
As of 14 Sep 2026
How far before a turn must you signal?
The law says a driver must use a turn signal not less than 100 feet before making a turn or changing lanes. Signaling 3 to 5 seconds before covers that. The distance is what the law measures, but nobody can pace out 100 feet while driving, so the seconds are the usable version.
The law states that a driver must use a turn signal not less than 100 feet before making a turn or changing lanes.
As of 14 Sep 2026
May you turn right on a red light?
Right turns at circular red lights are usually allowed, but only after the driver has stopped completely, scanned the intersection and yielded to pedestrians and other vehicles. The turn is a favor the law does you, and it is conditional on a real stop and a real look.
only after the driver has stopped completely, scanned the intersection and yielded the right of way to pedestrians and other vehicles
As of 14 Sep 2026
May you turn left on a red light onto a one-way street?
(3) Steady red signal. (A) Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. (B) Except when a sign is in place prohibiting a turn, vehicular traffic facing any steady red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a one way street into a one way street, after stopping as required by subdivision (A) of this subdivision (3). This traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. No motorist shall turn right when facing a red arrow signal indication unless a regulatory sign is present that permits this movement.
Vermont law, 23 V.S.A. § 1022(a)(3)
As of 8 Oct 2026
What is the speed limit on a residential street when no sign is posted?
The maximum speed for any vehicle on all Vermont roads is 50 mph, or as posted. It is the ceiling wherever no sign says otherwise, so a road with no sign on it is not a road with no limit.
The maximum speed for any vehicle on all Vermont roads is 50 miles per hour or as posted.
As of 14 Sep 2026
What is the speed limit on a highway outside town when no sign is posted?
The maximum speed for any vehicle on all Vermont roads is 50 mph, or as posted. It is the ceiling wherever no sign says otherwise, so a road with no sign on it is not a road with no limit.
The maximum speed for any vehicle on all Vermont roads is 50 miles per hour or as posted.
As of 14 Sep 2026
When may you pass another vehicle on the right?
A driver may pass on the right of another vehicle on a multilane road. On roads that are not multilane, you may pass on the right of a vehicle or bicycle that is turning or preparing to turn left, if there is room to go by safely. The vehicle turning left has stopped and is not going to move into you, which is what makes the right side usable.
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.
As of 14 Sep 2026
May you have an open container of alcohol in the car?
(b) A person operating a motor vehicle on a public highway shall not possess any open container that contains an alcoholic beverage or cannabis in the passenger area of the motor vehicle.
Vermont law, 23 V.S.A. § 1134(b)
As of 8 Oct 2026
How old must you be to get a learner's permit?
You must be at least 15 years old to take the Vermont Learner's Permit test. The age is the floor the whole graduated system is built on. Nothing before it counts as practice.
You must be at least 15 years old to take the test.
As of 14 Sep 2026
How long must you hold a learner's permit before a license?
You must hold a Learner's Permit for at least 1 year before a Junior Driver's License can be issued. Practice has to run through a whole year of weather. A summer of driving is not the same lesson.
An individual must possess a Learner’s Permit for at least one (1) year prior to obtaining a Junior Driver’s License.
As of 14 Sep 2026
Who must ride with you when you drive on a learner's permit?
The supervising driver must be a licensed, unimpaired parent or guardian, a licensed or certified unimpaired driver education instructor, or a licensed, unimpaired person of 25 or older. A beginner needs somebody who can see the mistake coming. A new driver of 19 cannot yet do that.
A licensed and unimpaired person at least twenty-five (25) years of age.
As of 14 Sep 2026
How many passengers may a new provisional driver carry?
For the first 3 months, a Junior Driver's License holder drives alone. A passenger is allowed only when a qualified supervising adult is riding in the front seat. Other teenagers in the car are the single biggest thing that raises a new driver's crash risk.
During the first three (3) months of operation under a Junior Driver’s License, the individual is restricted to driving alone.
As of 14 Sep 2026
How long is your license suspended for a first drunk-driving conviction?
(a) First conviction—generally. Except as otherwise provided, upon conviction of an individual for violating a provision of section 1201 of this subchapter, or upon final determination of an appeal, the court shall immediately forward the conviction report to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The Commissioner shall immediately suspend the operator’s operating license or nonresident operating privilege or the privilege of an unlicensed operator to operate a vehicle, as applicable, for a period of 90 days and until the operator complies with section 1209a of this title.
Vermont law, 23 V.S.A. § 1206(a)
As of 8 Oct 2026
When must you install an ignition interlock after a drunk-driving conviction?
(2) In the case of a second suspension, a license or privilege to operate shall not be reinstated until: (A) the individual has successfully completed an alcohol and driving rehabilitation program; (B) the individual has completed or shown substantial progress in completing a therapy program at the individual’s own expense agreed to by the individual and the Driver Rehabilitation Program Director; (C) after the individual operates under an ignition interlock RDL or ignition interlock certificate for 18 months or, in the case of someone subject to the one-year hard suspension prescribed in subdivision 1213(a)(1)(C) of this title, for one year, plus any extension of the relevant period arising from a violation of section 1213 of this title, except if otherwise provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection (a); and
Vermont law, 23 V.S.A. § 1209a(a)(2)
As of 8 Oct 2026
How many points on your license lead to a suspension?
When a driver reaches a total of 10 points, a letter is sent telling them their privilege to drive is to be suspended. A hearing may be requested to verify the convictions and the number of points. Ten is the whole budget, and two speeding tickets can be most of it.
When a driver receives a total of 10 points, a letter will be sent notifying the driver that their privilege to drive is to be suspended.
As of 14 Sep 2026
Who must wear a protective helmet while operating or riding a motorcycle?
A person may not operate or ride upon a motorcycle upon a highway unless he or she properly wears protective headgear of a type that conforms to the federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards contained in 49 C.F.R. § 571.218, as may be amended. The requirement of this section shall not apply to occupants of fully enclosed autocycles.
Vermont law, 23 V.S.A. § 1256
As of 8 Oct 2026
How much distance must you leave when passing a bicycle?
Leave at least four feet of passing space between the right side of your vehicle and a bicyclist. Four feet is what it takes for a rider to swerve around a pothole without ending up under your mirror.
Leave at least four feet of passing space between the right side of your vehicle and a bicyclist.
As of 14 Sep 2026
Must a vehicle driving slower than other traffic keep to the right lane?
(b) Upon all roadways, any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic, or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
Vermont law, 23 V.S.A. § 1031(b)
As of 8 Oct 2026
What is the minimum liability insurance coverage for bodily injury or death of one person and property damage?
Coverage must be at least $25,000 for the death or injury of one person, $50,000 for the death or injury of 2 or more people, and $10,000 for property damage. These are floors rather than recommendations, and a serious injury costs far more than any of them.
The amount of coverage MUST be at least $25,000 for death or injury of one person; $50,000 for death or injury of 2 or more persons; $10,000 for property damage.
As of 14 Sep 2026
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