Driving Tests

Vermont Permit at 15: Who Can Ride With You and How Long to Hold It

informational·how to guide·Published August 24, 2026

Who can ride with you on a Vermont learner's permit at 15?

You can take the Vermont permit test at 15 once a parent or guardian signs your application. With the permit, a licensed, unimpaired supervisor must ride beside you: your parent or guardian, a driver education instructor, a DMV examiner, or any licensed person 25 or older. The permit lasts two years, and you hold it at least one year before a junior operator's license.

Where these Vermont permit rules come from

The rules come from the Vermont DMV learner's permit page and two sections of the Vermont Statutes Annotated: 23 V.S.A. § 615 (who may supervise) and 23 V.S.A. § 617 (who may get a permit). The DMV graduated license, junior license and fee pages, 23 V.S.A. § 607 and the Vermont Driver's Manual (2025 edition) add the holding time, practice hours and fees. Where the law and a DMV page differ, this guide follows the law. This guide is for Vermont and reflects the rules as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Vermont DMV (dmv.vermont.gov) before you drive.

Who can get a Vermont learner's permit at 15?

You must be at least 15 years old to take the Vermont permit test. If you are 15, 16 or 17, you need the permission of a parent or legal guardian, unless you are an emancipated minor.
Under 18, you also need a clean driving record for the previous two years. If you have had a recall, suspension or revocation, contact the DMV first: you may have to serve an additional waiting period. A student from another state who is enrolled in a Vermont driver education course can also get a Vermont permit, with a letter from the school that confirms enrollment.

How to get the permit after you turn 15

1
Get a parent or guardian signature
If you are under 18, your parent or legal guardian signs the application before you take the test.
2
Pass the online permit test
Take the permit test online. The knowledge test costs $39 (U.S. dollars), and you pay that fee for each attempt. After a fail, wait at least one day before you try again.
3
Apply for the permit and pay
Passing the test does not issue the permit by itself. Complete the permit application and pay the $24 permit fee, so the test and the permit cost $63 in total.
4
Keep your receipt with you
The payment receipt is your temporary learner's permit for 90 days from the date on it. Have it with you on every drive. The DMV checks your application information before it sends the permit. If you paid but have no permit, call the DMV at 802-828-2000.

Who may supervise a Vermont permit holder

Who may supervise a Vermont permit holder
Supervisor	Vermont law (23 V.S.A. § 615)	DMV permit page
Parent or guardian	Yes, if licensed	Yes, if licensed
Driver education instructor	Yes, if licensed or certified	Yes, if licensed or certified
DMV examiner	Yes, if licensed	Not listed
Any other driver	Yes, if licensed and 25 or older	Yes, if licensed and 25 or older
Not under the influence of alcohol or drugs	Required for all four	Required for all three
Where the supervisor sits	Beside you	In the front seat

Rules for every Vermont permit drive

With a valid permit you may drive anywhere in Vermont, at any time, when one of these supervisors rides with you. Test yourself with a practice question on choosing a qualified supervisor.
Your supervisor must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If the supervisor is impaired, the law does not treat you as the violator, but the supervisor can face penalties.
The age rule does not change when you turn 18: a permit holder who is 18 or older still needs a licensed, unimpaired supervisor who is 25 or older.
Driving without meeting these rules can bring a penalty of up to $50 and a 90-day recall of your permit. An officer can enforce it only after stopping you for another suspected traffic violation.

How long must you hold a Vermont permit?

To get a junior operator's license at 16 or 17, you must have held the permit for at least one year. The DMV ties the same year to the road test. A practice question on the one-year permit period shows the rule for a 16-year-old with a 7-month permit.
You also need 40 hours of practice behind the wheel, at least 10 of them at night, certified on a DMV-approved form. All 16- and 17-year-olds must also pass a driver education course: 30 hours of classroom study, 6 hours behind the wheel and 6 hours of observation. The guide to driver education and the practice log covers these steps.

What can get a Vermont permit recalled?

A learner's permit is a provisional license that can be recalled. A single 3-point speeding violation, or 6 points in total, brings a 90-day recall, and so does a conviction for driving without a qualified supervisor. Before a junior operator's license, you need six consecutive months with no permit recall, suspension or revocation, so a recall can push back your license date. Once you hold a junior license, new passenger limits apply: see the guide to junior operator passenger rules.

Key takeaways

You can take the Vermont permit test at 15. A parent or guardian signs your application, and under 18 you need a clean record for the previous two years.
Passing the online test does not issue the permit by itself. Apply and pay the $24 permit fee; the receipt is your temporary permit for 90 days.
A licensed supervisor who is not under the influence must ride beside you: a parent or guardian, a driver education instructor, a DMV examiner, or a licensed person 25 or older.
The permit lasts two years and can be renewed. You hold it at least one year before a junior operator's license.
Next step: practice on the free Vermont operator license permit practice test. It is in English only and is not the official test.

Vermont learner's permit at 15: common questions

Can my 18-year-old friend supervise my permit drive?

No. Your supervisor must be a licensed parent or guardian, a licensed or certified driver education instructor, a licensed DMV examiner, or another licensed person who is at least 25. A friend who is 18 does not qualify, even with a full license. Every supervisor must also not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Can I drive at night with my Vermont permit?

Yes, when a qualified supervisor rides beside you. A valid permit lets you drive anywhere in Vermont at any time with a supervisor. Night driving also counts toward a junior license: at least 10 of your 40 practice hours must be at night.

Can I drive in another state with a Vermont permit?

Check first. Before you drive in any other state, contact that state's motor vehicle department or a law enforcement agency there and ask if driving with a Vermont learner's permit is legal. Make the call for each state on your route before the trip.

How long is a Vermont learner's permit good for?

Two years from the date of issue. If your permit expires before you are ready for a license, renew it: the law lets you renew any learner's permit. A renewal costs $24, the same as a new permit.

Can I practice driving at 14 with my parent?

No. The permit law, 23 V.S.A. § 615, does not let a person younger than 15 drive, even with a parent beside them. Once you turn 15, your parent or guardian can sign your application and you can take the online permit test.