Vermont motorcycle laws require you to carry an “M” endorsement on your driver’s license, wear a DOT-approved helmet, maintain liability insurance, register and annually inspect your bike, and follow lane rules that are stricter than in many neighboring states. The rules apply the moment your tires touch a public highway, whether you live in Vermont or are passing through.
Getting Licensed to Ride
You need an “M” endorsement on your Vermont driver’s license before riding on public roads.1Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23-601 – License Required The path starts with a learner’s permit. You must already hold a valid Vermont driver’s license, then pass a 25-question knowledge exam based on the motorcycle manual with a score of 80 percent or better.2Department of Motor Vehicles. Motorcycle Endorsement The permit application fee is $24 and the exam fee is $11.3Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23-617 – Learners Permit
Once issued, the permit is valid for 120 days. You can ride on public highways in daylight only and cannot carry a passenger.4Department of Motor Vehicles. Motorcycle Learner’s Permit The permit can be renewed twice at $24 each, giving you three consecutive 120-day windows to pass the skills test. If you let all three expire without passing, you cannot apply for another motorcycle learner’s permit for 12 months unless you complete an approved rider training course first.3Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23-617 – Learners Permit
To get the full endorsement, you pass a hands-on skills test at the DMV. There is a shortcut: completing a Vermont Rider Education Program (VREP) course exempts you from both the written exam and the skills test.5Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Vermont Rider Education Program Vermont also issues separate permits and endorsements for three-wheeled motorcycles if you plan to ride only trikes.3Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23-617 – Learners Permit
Helmet and Eye Protection
Vermont has a universal helmet law. Every operator and every passenger must wear a helmet conforming to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards at 49 C.F.R. ยง 571.218, which is the DOT standard stamped on approved helmets.6Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23-1256 – Motorcycles Headgear The only exception is for occupants of fully enclosed autocycles. Novelty helmets without the DOT sticker do not satisfy the law.
Eye protection is a separate requirement. If your motorcycle has no windshield or windscreen, you must wear eyeglasses, goggles, or a face shield.7Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23-1257 – Eye Protection A full-face helmet with an integrated visor covers both rules at once.
Insurance Minimums
You must carry liability insurance before operating a motorcycle on public roads, and proof of insurance must be on you at all times. The statutory minimums are:
- $25,000 for bodily injury to one person
- $50,000 for bodily injury to two or more people in a single crash
- $10,000 for property damage
These apply to all motor vehicles, motorcycles included.8Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23-800 – Maintenance of Financial Responsibility Vermont also requires uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on motor vehicle policies. Riding uninsured can lead to fines and suspension of your registration.
Registering and Inspecting the Bike
Residents must register any motor vehicle they own or lease for more than 30 days. New arrivals have 60 days to register after moving to Vermont. You will need a properly assigned title or Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin, a bill of sale with odometer disclosure, and a completed Vermont Registration, Tax, and Title Application. Purchase and use tax is 6 percent, calculated on the greater of the purchase price or the J.D. Power clean trade-in value, minus any trade-in credit.9Department of Motor Vehicles. Registration, New
Every motorcycle registered in Vermont must pass a safety inspection once a year at a station designated as an Official Motorcycle Inspection Station.10Department of Motor Vehicles. Vermont Motorcycle Inspection Manual Not every auto inspection station is authorized for motorcycles, so call ahead. If you buy or import a motorcycle without a current Vermont sticker, you have 15 days from registration to get it inspected. Fees vary by station and must be posted.
Equipment Rules Riders Actually Trip Over
Every motorcycle on a Vermont highway must be in good mechanical condition and properly equipped.11Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23-1221 – Condition of Vehicle The inspection manual specifies adequate tires, brakes, headlamp, horn, lenses, an EPA-certified motor, muffler, rear-view mirror, and tail lamp.10Department of Motor Vehicles. Vermont Motorcycle Inspection Manual A handful of rules catch riders out most often.
Handlebars and Passenger Footrests
Handlebars cannot sit more than 15 inches above the portion of the seat where the rider sits, which rules out tall ape-hanger bars. If you carry a passenger on the main seat (not in a sidecar or enclosed cab), the motorcycle must have footrests for that passenger.12Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23-1117 – Footrests and Handlebars Vermont sets no minimum age for passengers, but a passenger who cannot reach the footrests cannot legally ride.
Lighting
From 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, you must run at least one lit headlamp and one lit tail lamp of an approved design, with turn signals and stop lights working as needed.13Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23-1243 – Lights The same lighting rules kick in during daytime whenever fog, rain, or snow drops visibility below 500 feet.
Mirror and Exhaust
A rear-view mirror is mandatory and is checked at inspection. A functioning muffler is equally required, and the motor must carry EPA highway-use certification for the model year. Aftermarket exhaust systems that remove or defeat the muffler will fail inspection.10Department of Motor Vehicles. Vermont Motorcycle Inspection Manual
Lane Use and Group Riding
Motorcycles have the full use of a traffic lane in Vermont, so no car or truck may crowd into your lane space. In return, three lane behaviors are banned:14Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23-1115 – Operating Motorcycles and Motor-Driven Cycles on Roadways Laned for Traffic
- Lane splitting between lanes of traffic or between rows of vehicles
- Overtaking another vehicle while sharing that vehicle’s lane
- Operating in the same lane alongside, or closer than 10 feet ahead of or behind, another motorcycle or motor vehicle
That last rule catches group riders off guard. Unlike states that allow two-abreast formation within a lane, Vermont requires each bike to occupy its own lane with at least 10 feet of spacing. A staggered single-file formation is the only legal way to ride together.
Impaired Riding and Crash Reporting
Vermont’s DUI statute applies to “any vehicle on a highway,” motorcycles included, and the blood alcohol limit is 0.08 for standard operators.15Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23-1201 Penalties track those for impaired car driving: license suspension, fines, and potential jail time for repeat offenses.
If you are involved in a crash with any injury, or with total property damage of $3,000 or more, you must file a written report with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles within 72 hours on forms the Commissioner provides.16Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23-1129 “Crash” here means actual physical contact between your vehicle and another person, vehicle, or object. At the scene, exchange names, contact information, insurance details, and vehicle information with other drivers, and collect witness names when you can. Repair estimates often come in higher than the damage looks, so file the report if you are anywhere near the $3,000 line.