Vermont Learner’s Permit: Requirements, Costs, and Rules

A Vermont learner’s permit is available to residents age 15 and older, costs $63 total, and is valid for two years of supervised practice driving. The $63 breaks down as a $39 knowledge test fee and a $24 permit fee. It’s the first stage of Vermont’s graduated licensing system, followed by a junior driver’s license and then a full license.

Who Can Apply

You need to be at least 15 years old and a Vermont resident.1Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code Title 23 Chapter 9 Section 617 – Learner’s Permit Applicants under 18 need written consent from a parent, legal guardian, or person acting in that role, filed with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles before the permit is issued.2Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23 V.S.A. 617 – Learner’s Permit

If you’re under 18, your record has to be clean: no permit recalls, suspensions, or revocations in the two years before applying. When it isn’t, the DMV may add a waiting period.3Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Learner’s Permit Applicants 18 and older can apply regardless of prior record, though any active suspension or revocation has to be resolved first.

Documents You Need to Bring

Vermont issues REAL ID-compliant permits, so you’ll bring original documents from four categories:4Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Identity Documents

  • Proof of identity and date of birth, such as a U.S. passport or certified birth certificate.
  • Proof of your Social Security number, such as your Social Security card or a W-2.
  • Two documents showing Vermont residency and your current address, such as utility bills, a lease, or a bank statement.
  • Proof of lawful status in the United States for REAL ID and Enhanced Driver’s License applicants.5Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Real ID

You’ll also complete Form VL-021, the Application for License/Permit, available as a PDF on the DMV website.6Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. License/Permit Application It asks for your legal name, address, and medical history questions relevant to safe driving. Applicants under 18 need a parent or guardian signature on the form before testing.3Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Learner’s Permit

The Knowledge Test

Vermont offers the permit knowledge test online through the myDMV portal. It covers traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices, and the passing score is 80%. If you’d rather test at a DMV office, appointments can be scheduled at mydmv.vermont.gov or by calling 888-970-0357.7Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Appointments

Passing doesn’t automatically get you the permit. You still submit your documents, pay the fees, and complete a vision screening at the DMV.1Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code Title 23 Chapter 9 Section 617 – Learner’s Permit

Fail the test and you have to wait at least a day to retake it. There’s no cap on retakes, but each attempt costs the full $39 test fee, so preparation pays off.3Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Learner’s Permit

The test is offered in 16 languages, including English, ASL, Arabic, Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian, Burmese, Dari, French, Kirundi, Mandarin Chinese, Nepali, Pashto, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, and Ukrainian, and every DMV office provides free on-demand interpreter services.8Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Interpreter Services For an in-person ASL interpreter, call 802-828-2000 before your visit. Parents of applicants on an Individualized Education Program (IEP) may read test questions aloud but may not supply answers.3Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Learner’s Permit

Cost and What You Receive

The total is $63: $39 for the knowledge test plus $24 for the two-year permit.9Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s License Fees The DMV accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover; mail-in paperwork can be paid by check or money order.10Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Can I Pay Using a Credit Card?

Once your documents check out and payment is processed, the receipt you leave with is your temporary permit for 90 days. Carry it whenever you drive. The permanent card usually arrives in the mail within 7 to 10 business days.3Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Learner’s Permit

Rules While You’re Driving on the Permit

The permit is good for two years, and you can never drive alone during that time.1Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code Title 23 Chapter 9 Section 617 – Learner’s Permit A qualifying supervisor has to be in the seat beside you at all times, meaning one of the following:11Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23 V.S.A. 615 – Operation With Learner’s Permit

  • A licensed parent or guardian.
  • A licensed or certified driver education instructor.
  • A licensed DMV examiner.
  • Any licensed driver at least 25 years old.

The supervisor can’t be under the influence of alcohol or drugs; if they are, the law places responsibility on them rather than on the permit holder.11Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23 V.S.A. 615 – Operation With Learner’s Permit

Portable electronic devices are off-limits entirely for permit holders and junior license holders, even hands-free. That’s stricter than the rule for fully licensed adults.12Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Junior Driver’s License Your permit has to be with you any time you’re behind the wheel. Breaking these rules can delay your move to a junior license.

Insurance

Vermont law requires anyone issued a learner’s permit to be covered by auto liability insurance. Minimum coverage is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for bodily injury, plus $10,000 for property damage.13Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23 V.S.A. 800 – Insurance Required Most teen permit holders are added to a parent’s policy. Some insurers do this automatically when a household member reaches driving age; others need a call. Adding the new driver early also starts their insurance history.

Moving On to a Junior Driver’s License

The permit is the first stage of graduated licensing. To advance to a junior driver’s license, you’ll need to:14Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Graduated License Laws

  • Hold the permit for at least one year.
  • Complete 40 hours of supervised driving, at least 10 of them at night (from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise), and submit proof to the DMV.
  • Keep a clean driving record for the six months before applying, with no permit recalls, suspensions, or revocations.
  • Pass a state-approved driver education course if you’re 16 or 17. The course is 30 hours of classroom study, 6 hours behind the wheel, and 6 hours of observation, and your instructor logs completion in the Driver Education Certification Service before a road test can be scheduled.12Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Junior Driver’s License

A junior license carries its own graduated restrictions on passengers and employment driving that ease over the first year.12Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Junior Driver’s License

Driving in Other States

No federal rule requires other states to honor a learner’s permit the way they honor a full license. Whether you can practice on a trip depends on the state you’re visiting; some accept out-of-state permits with conditions, some don’t accept them at all. Driving where your Vermont permit isn’t recognized can mean being treated as unlicensed, with fines and insurance consequences to match. Check the destination state’s DMV site before you cross the border.