Vermont DMV Permit Practice Test

Vermont's written knowledge test is one of the shortest in the country — 20 questions, pass at 16 correct (80%). That's the same bar as Alaska, and lower than most states. Don't let the short format fool you: the Vermont DMV won't tell you which questions you missed if you fail, so 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. Tied with Alaska for the fewest questions of any US state.
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  Application fee$40 for a learner's permit. Bring cash or a check; card acceptance varies by DMV office. Confirm with your local office before you go.
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  What to bringProof of identity (birth certificate or passport), Social Security number, and Vermont residency documentation (utility bill, bank statement, or similar). 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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  Smallest test in the nation20 questions sounds easy, but the Vermont Q&A bank covers 350 unique practice questions spread across traffic laws, road signs, safety, and DUI rules. The test draws from the full pool — no topic is guaranteed to appear.
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  Study from the official sourceThe Vermont Driver's Manual (Form VN-007) is the only source the DMV tests from. Download it free at dmv.vermont.gov before you start. It's shorter than most state handbooks.

Traffic laws and safety together make up more than 70% of Vermont's 350-question bank — 132 traffic laws and 120 safety questions. Road signs add 57 questions (about 16%). Nail those three categories and you've covered the ground the test draws from. The remaining questions cover drugs/alcohol, vehicle rules, and parking.

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  Road signs (57 questions in the bank)About 1 in 6 bank questions tests sign recognition: lane-use signals, curve warning signs, pavement markings (white lines divide same-direction lanes), and standard regulatory signs. The test shows the sign image — not the name — so drill visually.
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  Right-of-way at uncontrolled intersectionsWhen two vehicles reach an intersection at the same time with no signs or signals, the driver on the LEFT must yield to the driver on the RIGHT. (Q23408, Q23484)
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  Left-turn yield ruleWhen turning left, you must yield to all oncoming traffic AND any pedestrians already in the intersection — not just one or the other. (Q23261)
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  Turn signal — 100 feet minimumVermont law requires a signal at least 100 feet before any turn or lane change. (Q23379) Not 50 ft, not 30 ft — 100 ft is the tested answer.
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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. (Q23210)
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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. (Q23259) The bank does not test a numeric under-21 threshold — Vermont enforces any-detectable-amount for minors, but that rule does not appear as a Q&A item.
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  Alcohol effects the bank tests directlyAlcohol slows reflexes and reaction time (Q23199); the only way to lower BAC is time — not coffee, exercise, or cold showers (Q23158). Alcohol combined with prescription drugs multiplies the effect of both (Q23190).
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  Speed limitsPosted limits show the maximum safe speed under ideal conditions (Q23424). Driving significantly below the limit when it disrupts normal traffic flow is also illegal (Q23263). No school-zone or residential specific MPH appears in the Vermont bank — the test focuses on the legal principles, not memorized numbers.
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  Bicycle passingTo pass a bicyclist, slow down and give them as much space as possible. (Q23281) Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle operators. (Q23201)

These are the categories that sink first-time Vermont permit takers — usually because the correct answer feels counterintuitive or the wrong option 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 is the single most commonly missed right-of-way question. (Q23408)
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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. Choosing only one yields a wrong answer. (Q23261)
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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. (Q23299) You are never allowed to pass an active school bus with red lights on. (Q23194)
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  Hill parking — two separate rulesDownhill (any street): turn wheels to the RIGHT toward the curb. (Q23427) 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. (Q23450, Q23463) These are opposite directions — both are tested.
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  Alcohol impairment vs. BAC thresholdThe test distinguishes between the legal limit (0.08% for 21+) and impairment. Alcohol slows reflexes even below the legal limit. Choosing 'it's only illegal at 0.08%' for an impairment question is wrong. (Q23176, Q23199)
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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. (Q23158, Q23337) This exact question — 'what helps?' — appears in the bank with coffee as a distractor.
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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. The bank specifically tests that cyclists may swerve to avoid road hazards — always give extra room. (Q23281, Q23494)

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. Vermont's handbook is shorter than most states'. Read it once straight through — flag anything with a number (feet, seconds, percentages) for review.
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  Loop 2: Drill the practice examsVermont's bank has 350 questions across 6 categories. Work through at least 80-100 practice questions before your test. Focus on traffic laws (132 Qs) and safety (120 Qs) — together they're over 70% of the bank.
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  Loop 3: Listen along on YouTubeWatch our Vermont Full Practice Test video the night before. 150 real Q&A questions 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 visuallyThe test shows you the actual sign image, not just the 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 all four optionsVermont's bank uses 4-option questions throughout. All 350 questions have A/B/C/D choices — and 'All of the above' appears frequently as the correct answer. Never skip reading option D.
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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 runs one of the stricter graduated driver licensing programs in the Northeast — a 12-month permit hold, 40 supervised hours, and a supervisor age requirement of 25+ that only Vermont and New Hampshire enforce. The payoff: Vermont has no nighttime curfew, which is unique among all 50 states.

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  Permit supervisor ruleYour supervising driver must be at least 25 years old and hold a valid driver's license. Vermont and New Hampshire are the only states with this age floor — most states set it at 21.
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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. This is one of the longer hold periods in the country — 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 curfew — Vermont is uniqueVermont is the only state in the country with 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: no passengers except immediate family members (solo driving only). From 3 to 6 months: no passengers at all without a licensed adult 25+ present. After 6 months: restrictions are lifted.
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  When restrictions endAll junior license restrictions (passenger limits, any remaining GDL conditions) lift at age 18. Not after a specific hold period — at the birthday. If you get licensed at 17½, your restrictions end 6 months later.
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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.