Vermont Permit Test Cheat Sheet (2026)
The Vermont rules and numbers to know for the DMV knowledge test, on one page. Every line was checked against the official Vermont driver's handbook. It is a study sheet: you cannot use notes during the real test.
The Vermont test at a glance
- Questions on the test
- 20
- To pass
- 16 of 20 correct (80%)
- Time limit
- We found no published time limit for the Vermont knowledge test.
- Minimum permit age
- 15 years old
- Hold the permit for
- 1 year for applicants under 18 (junior operator's license, 23 V.S.A. § 607); permit is valid 2 years (23 V.S.A. § 617)
- Alcohol limit under 21
- 0.02% BAC
Vermont rules and numbers
From the official Vermont handbook (2025); PDF page numbers in brackets.
Rules of the road
- Vermont junior license, first 3 months: drive alone unless a qualified adult rides. [p.16]
- Vermont junior license: 40 hours of practice driving, 10 of them at night. [p.15]
- Vermont: 50 mph maximum on all roads unless posted otherwise. [p.29]
- Vermont Interstate: 65 mph maximum unless posted otherwise. [p.29]
- Vermont: signal 100 feet (about 3 to 5 seconds) before turning or changing lanes. [p.27]
- Vermont: no parking within 6 feet of a fire hydrant. [p.30]
- Vermont: no parking within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing. [p.30]
- Vermont: no parking within 30 feet of a stop sign, traffic light or flashing light. [p.30]
- Vermont: park with your right wheels within 12 inches of the curb or edge. [p.30]
- Vermont rural parking: all wheels off the road, visible for 150 feet each way. [p.30]
- Vermont railroad crossing: stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail. [p.38]
- Vermont Move Over: if you cannot change lanes, slow to 20 mph below the limit. [p.52]
- Vermont: yield to highway maintenance vehicles, such as snowplows, that are working. [p.32]
- Vermont: leave at least 4 feet when passing a bicyclist. [p.41]
- Vermont: headlights on when you cannot clearly see 500 feet ahead. [p.47]
- Vermont: speeding fines are doubled in work zones. [p.36]
- Work zone: yellow markings should be on your left, or you are in the wrong lane. [p.37]
- Divided highway: a yellow edge line on your right means you are going the wrong way. [p.52]
- Vermont divided highway: no stop needed for a school bus going the other way. [p.41]
- Unmarked two-lane roundabout: left lane turns left or goes straight. [p.31]
- Vermont crash with injury or over $3,000 damage: report to DMV within 72 hours. [p.59]
- Vermont handheld use in a staffed work zone: 2 points first time, 5 after. [p.56]
- Vermont: 10 points brings a license suspension notice. [p.65]
Safe driving & emergencies
- Vermont: all drivers are banned from using handheld phones and portable devices. [source]
- Vermont: a first handheld-device violation costs $100 to $200. [p.56]
- Vermont following distance: at least 4 seconds, more in poor conditions. [p.29]
- Vermont: follow motorcycles by more than 4 seconds; they may slow with no brake light. [p.43]
- Vermont: near horses, never honk or rev; pass with the full lane. [p.46]
- Moose are tall and dark; their eyes may not reflect headlights. [p.46]
- Stranded in snow: run engine and heater about 10 minutes each hour. [p.48]
- Vermont winter driving: keep at least a half tank of gas. [p.48]
- Interstate breakdown: breakdown lane, raise hood, white cloth, stay in the vehicle. [p.52]
- Vermont: tires need at least 2/32 inch of tread. [p.61]
Rules learners miss most
The rules behind the most-missed questions on our practice tests. Some details, such as parking distances, can differ by state - your handbook has the final word.
- At 60 mph a car travels about 88 feet per second.
- Measure following distance in seconds, counted from a fixed roadside object.
- Most states: no parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.
- A yellow curb signals a stopping or parking limit - check signs and local rules.
- Uncontrolled T-intersection: the terminating road yields to the through road.
- Uphill with a curb: turn wheels away from the curb; downhill: toward it.
- KEEP RIGHT: pass to the right of the island, median or obstruction.
- Point of no return: past it you cannot stop safely on yellow, so proceed.
- Zipper merge: use both lanes up to the merge point, then alternate.
- In heavy rain use low beams, slow down and increase following distance.
- Parallel park close to and parallel with the curb, within your state's limit.
- Yellow pennant on the left side of the road: a no-passing zone begins.
- Car with skid marks: the road is slippery when wet.
- Diamond-shaped signs are warning signs.
- 4-way stop tie: the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
- ABS keeps wheels from locking in hard braking so you can still steer.
- A round yellow sign warns of a railroad crossing ahead.
- Merging onto a highway: yield to traffic already on the highway.
- An upward-pointing pentagon marks a school zone or school crossing.
- Steady yellow: the light is about to turn red - stop if you can do so safely.
- Basic speed law: never drive faster than is safe for conditions, even under the limit.
- Use high beams on open roads; dim them for oncoming or followed vehicles.
- Arrows pointing up and down warn of two-way traffic ahead.
- Orange diamond signs warn of construction and work zones.
- Adult (21+) BAC limit is 0.08% in most states.
- Implied consent: by driving you agree to chemical tests if arrested for DUI.
Now test yourself
Reading rules is a start; answering questions is what makes them stick.