Vermont Permit Test Cost and Retakes: Fees and Wait Times
How much is the Vermont permit test, and how soon can you retake it?
The Vermont knowledge test costs $39 (U.S. dollars) each time you take it. The learner's permit adds $24 for 2 years, so a first permit costs $63 if you pass on the first try. After a failed knowledge test, wait at least one day; there is no limit on tries. The road test costs $23, with a wait of at least seven days after a fail.
Where these Vermont fees and waits come from
Fees come from the Vermont DMV fee page and 23 V.S.A. § 634 (Vermont Statutes), which also sets the $29 road test scheduling fee. Permit and license fees and the junior license rules come from 23 V.S.A. §§ 607, 608 and 617. The retake waits, the pay-each-time rule and the permit steps come from the Vermont DMV learner's permit page and the DMV pages on the written test, appointments and the junior license. The question count, the pass score, the three-fail wait and the fee totals come from the Vermont Driver's Manual. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Vermont DMV (dmv.vermont.gov) before you drive.
What each Vermont test and permit costs
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge test (learner's permit) | $39 | You pay for each try, pass or fail. |
| Learner's permit | $24 for 2 years | You pay after you pass the test. |
| First permit, one pass | $63 | $39 test + $24 permit. |
| Road test | $23 | You also pay the license fee when you pass. |
| Junior license (16 and 17) | $39 for 2 years | With the road test: $62 in total. |
| Operator's license, 18 and older | $39 for 2 years or $62 for 4 years | With the road test: $62 or $85 in total. |
Do you pay again if you fail the Vermont permit test?
Yes. You pay the $39 knowledge test fee each time you take the test, pass or fail, and you pay the $24 permit fee only after you pass. A failed try costs $39. If you fail once and pass on the second try, you pay $39 + $39 + $24 = $102 in total.
How soon can you retake the knowledge test?
After a failed knowledge test, wait at least one day before you take it again. There is no limit on tries: you can keep taking the test until you pass. The Vermont Driver's Manual describes a 20-question test with four answer choices for each question, and you need at least 16 correct answers to pass. This practice question on the knowledge test waiting period shows how the one-day wait works. Our guide to the Vermont online permit test pass mark covers the test format.
How long you wait to retake each Vermont test
| Test | Wait after a fail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge test | At least one day | DMV learner's permit page and Driver's Manual |
| Road test | At least seven days (one week) | DMV learner's permit page and Driver's Manual |
| Road test, after three fails | A minimum of one month | Driver's Manual |
What happens after you pass the permit test?
The permit is not automatic. If you passed the test on or after May 1, 2025, you must also complete the permit application and pay the required fees. After you pay, keep the receipt: it acts as your temporary learner's permit for 90 days from its date, and you must have it with you when you drive. You must be at least 15 to take the test, and under 18 a parent or legal guardian must sign the application first.
Steps to the Vermont road test and its $23 fee
- 1Pass every other part of the exam first
The road test comes only after you pass all other parts of the exam.
- 2Log your practice hours
Every new driver should have at least 40 hours of driving with an experienced driver or instructor, at least five of them in traffic. For a junior license (16 and 17), the law requires a certified log of 40 hours, with at least 10 at night.
- 3Book an appointment
All Vermont DMV exams are by appointment only. Book at mydmv.vermont.gov or call 888-970-0357.
- 4Bring a registered, inspected and insured vehicle
The vehicle needs a valid inspection sticker. Without a valid insurance card and a registration certificate, you cannot take the test. Our guide to the Vermont road test vehicle rules has the full list.
- 5Pay the road test and license fees
The road test fee is $23. When you pass, you also pay the license fee: $39 for a 2-year junior or operator's license, or $62 for a 4-year operator's license.
What is the Vermont road test scheduling fee?
Under 23 V.S.A. § 634(b), the law provides a $29 scheduling fee, beginning on or before July 1, 2026. You pay it before you can schedule the road test. If you miss the appointment, you lose the $29, unless you told the DMV at least 48 hours ahead or the Commissioner accepts your good cause for the cancellation. If you take the road test as scheduled, the $29 goes toward the license examination fee.
Which wait and fee apply to you?
Reduced Vermont license fee for SSI, SSDI or a disability
From July 1, 2026, a person who receives SSI or SSDI, or who has a disability as 9 V.S.A. § 4501 defines it, pays a reduced fee for a Real ID or non-Real ID license: $20 for original issuance, $20 for each four-year renewal and $10 for a replacement. The reduced fee is for the license itself.
Permit time before a Vermont junior license
At 16 or 17, you must hold your learner's permit for at least one year before you can get a junior operator's license. You also need six months in a row with no permit suspension, revocation or recall before you get the license. This practice question on the junior license permit period tests the one-year rule.
Key takeaways
- The knowledge test costs $39 each try, and the permit costs $24 for 2 years: $63 if you pass the first time.
- After a failed knowledge test, wait at least one day. You may retake it until you pass, and you pay the test fee each time.
- The road test costs $23. After a fail, wait at least seven days; after three fails, wait at least one month.
- The law provides a $29 road test scheduling fee, paid before you schedule. You lose it if you miss the appointment without 48 hours' notice or good cause.
- Next step: practice on the free Vermont operator license permit practice test.
Vermont permit test cost and retakes: common questions
How much does it cost to replace a lost Vermont learner's permit?
A replacement Vermont learner's permit costs $24, as of 2026. A new permit and each renewal cost the same $24, and each permit lasts 2 years. The $39 knowledge test fee is separate: you pay it only when you take the test.
How many times can I take the Vermont permit test?
As many times as you need until you pass. After each fail, wait at least one day before the next try, and pay the $39 test fee again each time. The $24 permit fee comes only once, after you pass.
Can I retake the Vermont road test the next day?
No. After a failed road test, wait at least seven days before the next try. After three failed road tests, the Vermont Driver's Manual sets a minimum wait of one month. Book the next appointment for a day after your wait ends.
How much do the Vermont road test and license cost at 18 or older?
At 18 or older, the road test costs $23. When you pass, you also pay the license fee: $39 for a 2-year license or $62 for a 4-year license. So the road test and the license cost $62 or $85 in total, as of 2026. If you fail, wait at least seven days before the next road test.
How much does a Vermont junior license cost from start to finish?
If you pass each test on the first try, you pay $63 for the knowledge test and permit, then $62 for the road test and the 2-year junior license: $125 in total. Each failed knowledge test adds $39. The $29 road test scheduling fee goes toward the exam fee when you show up.
Are your Vermont practice questions the real test?
No. Our Vermont practice tests and question pages are free and in English only. They are practice questions, not the official test questions. The official knowledge test is online, and you need at least 16 correct answers out of 20 to pass.
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