DMV
← Back to Vermont Permit

How to Get Your Vermont Permit License

The actual step-by-step process, from application to full license — not just what's on the exam. Confirm anything time-sensitive (fees, forms) with Vermont DMV directly.

  1. Apply for a learner's permit at 15

    Apply with parent or guardian consent (required under 18) through the state's online portal, mydmvlearnerspermit.vermont.gov — Vermont's written knowledge test is taken online rather than in person. Pass the 20-question knowledge test (80%, 16 correct) and a vision screening. The test fee is $39, and an applicant under 18 must have a clean driving record for the prior 2 years.

    • Birth certificate or equivalent
    • Proof of Social Security number and Vermont residency
    • Parent or guardian signature

  2. Drive only with a qualifying supervisor

    A supervisor must be a parent, guardian, licensed driving instructor, or an adult at least 25 years old, seated in the vehicle at every drive.

  3. Log 40 hours of supervised driving

    Complete at least 40 hours of supervised driving, including at least 10 hours at night.

  4. Hold the permit for 1 year with a clean final 6 months

    Hold the learner's permit for at least 1 year, with no permit recalls or suspensions in the final 6 months before applying for a Junior License.

  5. Apply for a Junior License at 16

    Pass the road test once the hold period, clean-record requirement, and supervised hours are complete to receive a Junior License.

Notes

  • For the first 3 months with a Junior License, only a qualifying supervising adult may ride along — no other passengers. For the next 3 months, family members may ride without that supervisor present. After 6 months total, passenger restrictions lift entirely.
  • Vermont sets no statewide nighttime driving curfew for a Junior License holder — its graduated-license restrictions focus on passengers rather than the clock.
  • A driver under 18 may not use a cell phone at all while driving, hand-held or hands-free. A driver 18 or older may use a securely mounted, hands-free device, but not a hand-held one.
  • Vermont's licensing agency is the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Exact fees and current procedures change over time — confirm the current process with the official Vermont DMV website before your appointment.

Last reviewed: 2026-07-24