The Vermont road test
A plain-language guide, checked against the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (VT DMV): who the test is for, what to bring, how it is scored, and what a retake really costs.
The rule that decides your path
The Vermont road test, also called the behind-the-wheel or driving skills test, is the final exam the VT DMV gives before it issues a driver's license. New drivers can take the Vermont driving test at 18, after logging 40 hours of supervised driving. The drive includes parallel parking.
Vermont sets a specific pre-license education step every new driver has to clear. You need a current, unexpired permit for the road test. A permit for anyone under 18 requires parent permission and a clean record. Adults 18 and older are recommended to complete at least 40 hours of practice, including 5 in traffic.
Below you'll find the full Vermont road test requirements: who qualifies, what to bring, how examiners score the drive, and the retake rules if you don't pass the first time. On our Driving Index, Vermont's written knowledge test ranks tied for 28th-hardest of 51.
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Supervised hours before the Vermont road test
These are hours you spend driving with a licensed adult, usually a parent, before you can take the test. Keep a log as you go, on paper or in an app, because the state can ask to see it. Practice in a mix of conditions, day and night, highways and quiet streets, rain and clear weather, and get the night hours in early, since those are the ones most people leave to the last minute.
What to bring to the Vermont road test
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Documents
Your vehicle must have
Who comes with you. You come with a licensed, unimpaired parent or guardian, a driver's ed instructor, or a licensed, unimpaired driver who is at least 25. The examiner rides with you during the test.
If you fail the Vermont road test
Here's how a retake works in Vermont: At least 1 week (7 days); after 3 failures, at least 1 month. The retest fee is $23 per attempt.
Beyond any fee, a retry usually means another day off work or school, another ride to the office, and another car to borrow, so failing costs far more than it looks on paper.
Passing on the first try is the cheapest way through. A first license runs $39 for 2 years; $62 for 4 years.
How the Vermont road test is scored
Pass or fail, judged by the examiner on whether you drive safely, courteously, and correctly. There is no numeric score.
Vermont doesn't publish a point system or a set passing score, so the examiner simply judges whether you drive safely and follow the rules. In general, you fail for dangerous driving, breaking a traffic law, causing a crash, or not following the examiner's directions. Small mistakes add up too, so drive smoothly and predictably.
Before the road test
Pass the Vermont written test on your first try
Nearby road-test guides.
Six more states, neighbours first, then the closest matches on test difficulty.
Test specifications, fees and laws change. This guide was last verified July 2026; always confirm current requirements with the VT DMV (dmv.vermont.gov) before booking a test. DMV IQ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any state DMV, DPS, MVD, or BMV.
Spot an error? Email [email protected] and we'll get it corrected.
Sources for this guide (3 official VT DMV pages)
- Eligibility: https://dmv.vermont.gov/licenses/new/prepare-for-a-road-test
- What to bring: https://dmv.vermont.gov/licenses/new/prepare-for-a-road-test
- Test format: https://dmv.vermont.gov/sites/dmv/files/documents/VN-007-Drivers_Manual.pdf
- Scoring: https://dmv.vermont.gov/sites/dmv/files/documents/VN-007-Drivers_Manual.pdf
- Retakes: https://dmv.vermont.gov/sites/dmv/files/documents/VN-007-Drivers_Manual.pdf
- Fees: https://dmv.vermont.gov/licenses/fees
- Handbook (2025 (rev 07/2024)): https://dmv.vermont.gov/sites/dmv/files/documents/VN-007-Drivers_Manual.pdf
Current as of 2026-07-16. Official Vermont sources only; anything the state does not publish is left out rather than guessed.