Vermont DMV Permit Practice Test

Vermont's written knowledge test is 20 questions, pass at 16 correct (80%). Don't let the short format fool you: with so few questions, you need to know the material cold before you sit down.

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  The exam20 questions for both under-18 and adult applicants. You need 16 correct to pass — an 80% threshold.
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  Test and permit fees$63 total: a $39 knowledge test fee plus a $24 learner's permit fee. The knowledge test is taken online. Fees can change, so confirm the current amounts on the Vermont DMV website.
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  What to bringProof of identity (passport or certified birth certificate), proof of your Social Security number (such as your Social Security card), and proof of Vermont residency and street address (such as mail or a utility bill showing your name and address). Under-18 applicants also need a parent or guardian signature.
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  Driver education requirementIf you're under 18, you must complete a Vermont-approved driver education course before you can get a junior driver's license — not just the permit. Adults can skip driver ed.
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  Test format20 questions sounds easy, but the handbook covers traffic laws, road signs, safety, and DUI rules. Study all of them rather than guessing which topics to skip.
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  Study from the official sourceThe Vermont Driver's Manual (Form VN-007) is the official handbook to study from. Download it free at dmv.vermont.gov before you start.

The handbook covers traffic laws, safety and road signs in detail. Nail those three categories and you've covered the core. Drugs/alcohol, vehicle rules, and parking round out the rest.

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  Road signsSign recognition matters: lane-use signals, curve warning signs, pavement markings (white lines divide same-direction lanes), and standard regulatory signs. On the road you see the sign, not its name, so drill visually.
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  Right-of-way at uncontrolled intersectionsAt an intersection with no signs or signals, two vehicles arriving together are sorted out this way: the driver on the LEFT gives way to the driver on the RIGHT.
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  Left-turn yield ruleA left turn means giving way to every oncoming vehicle and also to any pedestrians already in the intersection. Yielding to only one of those groups isn't enough.
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  Turn signal — 100 feet minimumVermont law requires a signal at least 100 feet before a turn, and the Driver's Manual applies the same 100 feet to lane changes. Not 50 ft, not 30 ft — know 100 ft cold.
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  Railroad crossing — 15 feetWhen warning lights are flashing at a railroad crossing, stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail.
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  BAC limit — 21 and olderIt is illegal for a driver 21 or older to drive with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. Under 21, the limit is 0.02%.
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  Alcohol effects to knowAlcohol slows reflexes and reaction time; the only way to lower BAC is time — not coffee, exercise, or cold showers. Alcohol combined with prescription drugs multiplies the effect of both.
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  Speed limitsPosted limits show the maximum safe speed under ideal conditions. Driving significantly below the limit when it disrupts normal traffic flow is also illegal. Focus on the legal principle behind speed limits, not just memorized numbers.
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  Bicycle passingSlow your speed and leave the biggest gap you can when going around a bicyclist. A cyclist is entitled to the same rights as motorists and carries the same responsibilities.

These rules are easy to mix up — usually because the correct answer feels counterintuitive or a wrong answer sounds safer than it is.

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  Right-of-way direction confusionAt a four-way uncontrolled intersection, yield to the car on your RIGHT — not your left. This rule is easy to mix up.
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  Left-turn yielding scopeWhen turning left, you must yield to oncoming traffic AND pedestrians already in the crosswalk — both, not just the cars. Yielding to only one of them is not enough.
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  School bus: two-lane highway ruleOn a two-lane highway, you must stop when a school bus ahead has its red warning lights flashing — regardless of direction. You are never allowed to pass an active school bus with red lights on.
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  Hill parking — two separate rulesDownhill (any street): turn wheels to the RIGHT toward the curb. Uphill with a curb: turn wheels AWAY from the curb (to the left) so the car rolls back into the curb if the brake fails. These are opposite directions — know both.
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  Alcohol impairment vs. BAC thresholdThe legal limit (0.08% for 21+) and impairment are not the same thing. Alcohol slows reflexes even below the legal limit, so "it's only a problem at 0.08%" is wrong.
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  Coffee does not sober you upTime is the only way to lower BAC. Coffee, exercise, and cold showers have no effect.
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  Bicycle passing: give space, don't rushPass a bicyclist by slowing down and giving maximum space, not by honking or rushing past. Cyclists may swerve to avoid road hazards — always give extra room.

Vermont's 20-question format rewards focused preparation over marathon cramming. Three focused loops in 48 hours beats a week of scattered reading.

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  Loop 1: Read the Vermont Driver's Manual (Form VN-007)Download it free from dmv.vermont.gov. Read it once straight through — flag anything with a number (feet, seconds, percentages) for review.
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  Loop 2: Drill the practice examsWork through at least 80-100 practice questions before your test. Focus on traffic laws and safety.
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  Loop 3: Listen along on YouTubeWatch our Vermont Full Practice Test video the night before. The questions are read aloud — put it on while you're doing something else and let the repetition do the work.
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  Study road signs visuallyOn the road you see the actual sign, not just its name. Drill signs by looking at the image and recalling the meaning — don't just read the label. Pay particular attention to warning shapes (yellow diamonds) vs. regulatory shapes (white rectangles).
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  Read every answer choiceRead every answer choice before you pick. The first option that sounds right isn't always the best one, so read them all before you decide.
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  Sleep beats last-minute crammingThe test is only 20 questions. If you've drilled 100+ practice Qs and slept well, you're ready. Fatigue impairs recall more than any gap in your studying at this point.

Vermont's graduated driver licensing program includes a 12-month permit hold, 40 supervised hours, and supervision by a parent or guardian, a driver education instructor, or a licensed adult aged 25 or older. The payoff: Vermont has no nighttime curfew for junior intermediate license holders.

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  Permit supervisor ruleYour supervising driver must hold a valid license and be your parent or guardian, a driver education instructor, or another licensed adult at least 25 years old.
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  Minimum permit hold: 12 monthsYou must hold your learner's permit for at least 12 months before applying for a junior driver's license. You cannot shorten it.
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  Supervised driving hours40 hours of supervised driving total, including at least 10 hours at night. Log these hours — Vermont DMV may ask for documentation.
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  No nighttime curfewVermont has no nighttime driving curfew for junior intermediate license holders. Once you have your junior license, you can drive at any hour — no midnight or 1 AM restriction.
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  Passenger restrictionFor the first 3 months of your junior license you may drive alone, or with a licensed parent or guardian, a driver education instructor, or a licensed adult aged 25 or older. For the next 3 months you may also carry immediate family members. After 6 months, the passenger limits end.
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  When restrictions endYou become eligible for a regular driver's license at 18, as long as you have had no recalls, suspensions, or revocations in the previous 6 months. The passenger limits end earlier, after your first 6 months of junior driving.
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  Driver education still requiredCompleting your permit hold and supervised hours is not enough on its own if you're under 18 — you must also complete an approved driver education course to upgrade to a junior driver's license.