Vermont Teen Driving Laws, Insurance Requirements & Drivers License

The State of Vermont Graduated Licensing Program

The Vermont graduated licensing program gives teen drivers the opportunity to begin practice driving with restricted driving privileges.

The restrictions help to minimize high risk driving situations and increase supervision and adult involvement.

As the teen driver matures they are allowed to graduate to a less restrictive license level and eventually on to a full unrestricted license.

The State of Vermont Learner Permit

Applicants for a Vermont learner permit must be a minimum of 15 years of age to qualify for a State of Vermont learner permit.

Applicants must provide valid proof of identity with name, birth date and proof of Vermont residency.

You must have a Social Security Number to apply for a learner permit or be in possession of a J2 Visa.

Teen drivers must pass a vision screening and a written test prior to receiving a learner permit. Applicants under the age of 18 must have their parents sign the application for permission prior to being tested.

Please use the links at the bottom of this page to verify qualifying identification documents.

After all of the application criteria have been met, the teen driver will receive a learner permit. Learner permit holders may only drive when accompanied by one of the following:

An unimpaired licensed parent or guardian

An unimpaired licensed and approved driver training instructor

An unimpaired licensed adult that is a minimum of 25 years of age

While holding the learner permit the teen driver must accrue 40 hours of driving practice. 10 of the 40 hours must be nighttime driving.

These practice driving hours must be documented to qualify for the Vermont Junior Operator License. The responsible adult must be seated in the front passenger seat next to the learner permit holder at all times.

Please use the links at the end of this page to download a practice log sheet from the State of Vermont website.

In addition to the requirements listed above, the learner permit holder may not apply for a Vermont Junior Operator License until they successfully complete an approved driver training course that consists of 6 hours of on-the-road training.

The teen driver must provide proof of completion to the Department of Motor Vehicles when applying for the junior operator license.

A Vermont Learner Permit must be held for a minimum of 1 year before the holder is eligible for a junior operator license.

The teen driver must have a clean driving record while holding a learner permit for the 6 months prior to receiving a junior operation license.

The State of Vermont Junior Operation License

Teen drivers that receive a junior operator license and are under the age of 18 are required to follow the State of Vermont rules for the graduated licensing program.

Drivers under the age of 18 that hold a junior operator license may not drive for purposes of employment within the first year. In addition junior operator license holders may not carry passengers for hire.

For the first 3 months that a teen driver holds the junior operator license they may only drive alone, or with any of the following:

An unimpaired licensed parent or legal guardian

An unimpaired licensed certified driver training instructor

An unimpaired licensed adult that is a minimum of 25 years of age

With any of the persons listed above a junior operator license holder may carry as many passengers as there are safety belts in the vehicle.

After 3 months has passed, a junior operator license holder may drive with immediate family members in the vehicle as long as the number does not exceed the number of safety belts in the vehicle.

After 6 months have passed the teen driver that holds a junior operator license may drive with any number of passengers even if they are not immediate family members as long as they do not exceed the number of safety belts in the vehicle.

A junior operator license is also known as a provisional license this license may be recalled if the operator commits violations of the rules posted above.

For more details on recalls please use the Junior Operator License Link at the bottom of this page.

The State of Vermont Operator License

You must be a minimum of 18 years of age to qualify for a Vermont Operator License. Applicants for an operator license must not have had any recalls, suspensions or revocations for 6 months prior to application.

Insurance Requirements in the State of Vermont

Under Vermont 's Financial Responsibility and Insurance laws you may not operate a motor vehicle in the State without a minimum liability policy in place.

Drivers who violate this law are subject to fines and points against their driving record. The amounts listed below reflect the minimum liability required by State law.

$25,000 Bodily Injury or Death of 1 Person

$50,000 Bodily Injury or Death for 2 or more Persons

$10,000 Damage to the Property of Others for any 1 Accident

A driver may also file evidence of self-insurance with the commissioner of motor vehicles for the amount of $115,000.

Keep in mind that the numbers listed above are the minimum amounts required by law; you may want to speak to your insurance agent about coverage above and beyond the legal minimum.