Vermont Road Test: Vehicle Rules, Maneuvers and Failing
What is on the Vermont road test and what car can I use?
The Vermont road test is by appointment only, and you bring the car. The Vermont DMV tests you only in a car that is registered, inspected, insured and in good mechanical condition. The examiner has you stop and start on a hill, turn around using a side street and parallel park. The road test fee is $23 (U.S. dollars). After a fail, wait at least seven days.
Where these rules come from
This guide uses the Vermont DMV page on preparing for a road test, the Vermont Driver's Manual (2025 edition) and two sections of the Vermont Statutes Annotated: 23 V.S.A. § 634 (fees) and 23 V.S.A. § 632 (examinations), as of 2026. It also uses the Vermont DMV pages on appointments, fees, driver education, DECS, the junior driver's license and the learner's permit. Confirm the rules with the Vermont DMV (dmv.vermont.gov) before you drive.
What your car needs on test day
- The car needs a valid inspection sticker. The state where the car is registered and inspected does not matter.
- Bring proof of valid registration and a valid insurance card. Without them, you are not tested.
- The insurance card must show the insurance company, the start and end dates of coverage, the name of the insured and the vehicle, including its vehicle identification number (VIN).
- These parts must be in good working order: headlights, tail lights, turn signals, horn, wipers, defrosters, rearview mirror, windshield, safety belts, brakes, steering, tires, exhaust, fenders and bumpers.
- The parking brake must hold the car in neutral on any grade where you drive, facing uphill or downhill.
- Check the registration, the inspection sticker and the insurance before you leave for the test.
- No animals are allowed in the car during the road test.
Reasons the DMV rejects a road test car
| Problem with the car | What the DMV says |
|---|---|
| Bad tires | Less than 2/32 inch of tread, exposed cords, or cut sidewalls that expose cords |
| Exhaust | A leak in the exhaust system |
| Front seat belts | Ripped, missing or not working, on the left or the right |
| Driver's window | The window to the driver's left cannot open for hand signals |
| Window tint | Tint that the manufacturer did not install on the windshield or the front side windows |
| Dual controls | No test until the extra controls (normally a passenger-side brake) are disconnected or made inoperable |
| Special plates | Agricultural, antique or exhibition plates |
| Dealer plates | Not accepted unless you are an immediate family member of the dealership |
| Rental car | Not accepted without a letter from the rental company that expressly permits its use for the road test |
| Interior | The examiner can refuse a car that is not clean or has an odor |
More problems that stop the test
The DMV list of reasons to reject a car is longer than the table. It also names doors that do not work, loose front seats, a parking brake pedal or lever that does not work, and a hole that lets exhaust fumes into the car. A cracked or damaged windshield is on the list too, but the inspection rules allow some cracks. Read the full list on the DMV road test page before you book.
What the examiner checks
The examiner rides with you and watches whether you drive safely, courteously and correctly. Follow the examiner's directions. You will not be asked to do anything against the law, and there are no trick instructions. The road test comes only after you pass all other parts of the exam.
The three maneuvers, step by step
- 1Stop and start on a hill
Pull over to the right side of the road when the examiner tells you, signal right, stop, set the parking brake and shift to neutral. The parking brake must keep the car from rolling back. To start, put the car in gear, signal left, check your mirrors and the left blind spot, then drive up the hill without rolling back. With hill assist or a parking brake that releases on its own, do the hill start the way your car is designed to.
- 2Turn around using a side street
Drive just past the side street on your right and stop about 18 inches from the curb or edge of the road. When the side street is clear, back in slowly, stay on your own side and look mostly through the rear window. Stop when the car is fully in the side street, past any crosswalk or stop line. Then signal left, shift to drive and make a proper left turn when no traffic comes. Never back across an intersection. Our free question on how to watch while you back up covers the same rear-window habit.
- 3Parallel park
Signal right and stop beside the car in front of the space, two to three feet away. Back in slowly: steer fully right, then fully left, and look through the rear window. On the test, you may have to park with only a front car, and the steps stay the same. Try the free question on where to stop before you back up.
Booking the road test and what it costs
All exams are by appointment only. Book at mydmv.vermont.gov or call 888-970-0357. The road test fee is $23. If you cannot keep the appointment, cancel or reschedule as soon as possible.
Under 23 V.S.A. § 634, the law provides a $29 scheduling fee, beginning on or before July 1, 2026. The applicant pays it before the road test can be scheduled. If you come to the test, the $29 goes toward the exam fee. If you do not come, you lose it, unless you gave at least 48 hours' notice or the Commissioner accepts good cause.
If you fail: how long you wait
| Source | Wait before the next road test |
|---|---|
| Vermont DMV learner's permit FAQ | At least seven days |
| Vermont Driver's Manual | At least one week. After three fails, at least one month |
Who gives your test and who can help
Key takeaways
- Book the road test by appointment at mydmv.vermont.gov or at 888-970-0357. The fee is $23.
- Bring a registered, inspected and insured car with working brakes, belts and lights, good tires, and proof of registration and insurance. Leave pets at home.
- Expect a hill stop and start, a turnaround using a side street and parallel parking.
- After a fail, wait at least seven days. The Manual sets at least one month after three fails.
- Next step: practice on the free Vermont operator license permit practice test.
Vermont road test: common questions
Can I use a rental car for the Vermont road test?
Only with a letter from the rental company that expressly permits you to use the car for the road test. Without that letter, the DMV rejects the car. Ask for the letter before your appointment, and bring the registration and the insurance card that shows the car's VIN.
Does my car need a Vermont inspection sticker if it is from another state?
No. The car needs a valid inspection sticker, but the state where it is registered and inspected does not matter. You still need proof of valid registration and an insurance card that shows the vehicle identification number (VIN). Check the sticker date before your appointment.
Can I bring my dog to the road test?
No. No animals are allowed in the car during a road test, so leave your pet at home. The examiner can also refuse a car that is not clean or has an odor, so clean the inside of the car before you go.
Can I drive myself to the road test on my learner's permit?
Not alone. A permit holder may drive only with a qualified supervisor beside them, for example a licensed and unimpaired parent or guardian, or a licensed and unimpaired person 25 or older. If the DMV decides that you reached the exam office by illegal operation of a vehicle, you are not tested that day.
Can I get an interpreter for the road test if I am hearing impaired?
Yes. Ask for an interpreter when you schedule the appointment, and the DMV provides one. Vermont Relay Service (TTY) is available at 711. You can also bring a person of your choice to interpret the examiner's spoken directions during the road test.
Can I take the junior road test with an expired learner's permit?
For a junior driver's license, yes, if the permit expired not more than 3 years ago and you renew it before the exam. If it expired more than 3 years ago, you must pass a written exam first. Check the date on your permit before you book.
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