Driving Tests

New to Vermont? How to Transfer Your Out-of-State License Within 60 Days

informational·how to guide·Published August 8, 2026

How long do I have to get a Vermont license after I move?

You must get a Vermont license within 60 days after you move to Vermont (23 V.S.A. § 601). If your out-of-state license expires before day 60, get the Vermont license before it expires. With a valid license, or one expired less than three years, the Vermont DMV lists an eye exam. A license expired three years or more means a retest.

Where the Vermont transfer rules come from

The 60-day rule is in 23 V.S.A. § 601. The Vermont DMV new license page gives the steps, the eye exam and the surrender of your old license. The Vermont DMV junior license page covers drivers under 18. The exam rule is in 23 V.S.A. § 632, and the meaning of "resident" is in 23 V.S.A. § 4. The documents, fees, REAL ID, CDL and vehicle details come from other Vermont DMV pages and 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 happens if you miss the 60 days?

Vermont law says a resident may not drive on a Vermont highway without a valid license issued by the State. A violation of that section is a traffic violation. A new violation within two years of an earlier conviction under the same section can bring up to 60 days in jail, a fine of up to $5,000 (U.S. dollars), or both. A free practice question on the new-resident deadline checks that you know the 60-day rule.

How to transfer your out-of-state license to Vermont

1
Note your deadline
Your Vermont license is due within 60 days after you move. If your out-of-state license expires sooner, it is due before that expiry date.
2
Gather your documents
Bring your out-of-state license and proof of identity, Social Security and Vermont residency. For REAL ID or an EDL, also bring proof of lawful status. Photocopies and faxes of identity documents are not accepted.
3
Make a DMV appointment
All Vermont DMV exams are by appointment only, so schedule your visit before you go.
4
Take the eye exam
With a valid out-of-state license, or one expired less than three years, the DMV requires an eye exam.
5
Pay the fee and hand in your old license
A REAL ID or non-REAL ID Vermont driver's license costs $39 for 2 years or $62 for 4 years. When Vermont issues your license, you must surrender the out-of-state license.

What to bring to the Vermont DMV

Your out-of-state license. It can be valid or expired less than three years. If it is not valid, have a licensed driver drive you to the DMV.
Proof of identity and date of birth. One document from the DMV list, such as a valid, unexpired passport, a birth certificate or a REAL ID-compliant license from another state.
Social Security proof. Your Social Security card, or a letter from the Social Security Administration that says you are not eligible for a number. Without the card, a W-2, an SSA-1099 or a pay stub with your name and at least the last 4 digits of your number can take its place.
Two proofs of Vermont residency. Each must show your name and current Vermont street address, for example a utility bill with the service address or a signed lease. A P.O. box does not count as your residential address.
Proof of lawful status, for REAL ID or an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) only. In most cases, your identity document also proves lawful status.

Will you need to retest?

Your out-of-state license is valid, or expired less than three years

You take an eye exam. Under 23 V.S.A. § 632, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may also waive the full examination (a written or oral test and a road test) when your license is in force, or was in the last three years, in a place with a similar exam.

Your out-of-state license expired three years or more ago

You must retest before Vermont issues a license: the vision, written and road tests. This also applies to an older Vermont license that expired that long ago.

You have no out-of-state license

You take the vision, written and road tests.

Transferring a junior license if you are under 18

Junior licenses from other states now transfer like a standard operator's license, with no retest and no 40-hour driving certification. You still need proof that you finished driver education. An out-of-state course counts only if a certified or licensed instructor taught it and it had classroom and behind-the-wheel training. If a state agency did not issue the certificate, bring a letter on state letterhead from the agency that confirms a recognized program issued it and lists the program's minimum requirements. If you held the out-of-state junior license less than six months, Vermont's Graduated License rules apply, including the passenger limits for junior drivers.

REAL ID or privilege card: which Vermont license to get

You can choose a REAL ID license or a driver's privilege card (DPC), and both cost the same. A DPC is not REAL ID compliant. Since May 7, 2025, air travelers 18 and older need a REAL ID-compliant license or ID, or another TSA-acceptable ID, for domestic flights and to enter certain federal facilities. An Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) is also REAL ID compliant, for an extra fee. The guide to choosing between REAL ID and the privilege card lists the documents for each.

CDL and vehicle rules for new Vermont residents

Commercial driver license (CDL). A CDL holder from another state must transfer the CDL within 30 days of establishing residency in Vermont.
Vehicle registration. Register your vehicle within 60 days after you move, or before your out-of-state registration expires if that comes first.
Vehicle inspection. After you register, you have 15 days to get the vehicle inspected at a Vermont-licensed inspection station (try the practice question on this rule).
Insurance. Each vehicle must have liability insurance of at least the statutory minimum.
A Vermont credential to register. A Vermont resident needs a Vermont license or non-driver ID to register a vehicle. Part-time residents, students and contract employees can register with other proof instead.

Key takeaways

Get a Vermont license within 60 days after you move, or before your old license expires if that comes first.
A valid license, or one expired less than three years, needs an eye exam. Expired three years or more means a retest.
Bring your old license and proof of identity, Social Security, two proofs of Vermont residency and, for REAL ID, lawful status. Vermont keeps the old license.
The license costs $39 for 2 years or $62 for 4 years. CDL holders have 30 days, and vehicles must be registered within 60 days.
Next step: practice Vermont road rules on the free Vermont practice test.

Vermont license transfer: common questions

Do I have to take a road test to transfer my license to Vermont?

For a valid out-of-state license, or one expired less than three years, you take an eye exam. State law also lets the Vermont Commissioner of Motor Vehicles waive the written and road tests if you held a license in the last three years in a place with a similar exam. If your license expired three years or more ago, you retest, and the retest includes a road test.

How much does a Vermont license cost for a new resident?

A Vermont driver's license costs $39 for 2 years or $62 for 4 years, the same for REAL ID and non-REAL ID. An Enhanced Driver's License costs $75 for 2 years or $98 for 4 years. If you must retest, the road test fee is $23. Your first Vermont license is valid for four birthdays, with some exceptions, so the first term can be shorter than four years.

I moved to Vermont for college. Do I have to switch my license?

Not if you live here only to study. Vermont motor vehicle law treats people who live in the state for a defined period, such as students, seasonal migrant workers and fixed-term contract employees, as nonresidents. A nonresident may drive in Vermont on a valid license from another U.S. state. A resident is a person who lives in Vermont and intends to make it their main home, permanently or for an indefinite number of years.

Can I get a Vermont license if my license is suspended in another state?

No. Vermont cannot issue a license while your driving privilege is suspended, revoked or refused in any state. The action must end, and you must get official written notice of reinstatement. A nationwide system tracks drivers to stop a license from going to a suspended person.

Do I need an appointment at the Vermont DMV?

For an exam, yes: all Vermont DMV exams are by appointment only. For other services, an appointment is recommended but not required. You can schedule at mydmv.vermont.gov or by phone at 888-970-0357.