The Vermont knowledge (permit) test

By the end of this topic you can

• You can describe the format and pass mark of the Vermont permit test.
• You can explain the rules for retaking a failed test.
• You can list the main topics the test covers.
• You can plan your study using the Vermont Driver's Manual and DMV study tools.

What you need to know and understand

• The test is online and has 20 multiple-choice questions.
• Each question has four answers and only one is correct.
• You need at least 16 correct answers (80%) to pass.
• If you fail, you must wait at least one day before trying again.
• The test fee is $39 and is charged for every attempt.
• You must be at least 15, and under-18s need a parent or guardian's signature first.
• The manual may not be used during the test.

What the test looks like

You will see 20 questions, each with four possible answers. Getting 16 right is a pass, so you can afford to miss no more than four. If your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), the DMV allows a parent to read the questions aloud, but not to give the answers.

Passing does not hand you a permit automatically. You still apply for the permit and pay the permit fee afterwards.

Topics to study

Questions come from the Vermont Driver's Manual. Spend the most time on Chapter 7, which covers driving safely, signs and signals, sharing the road, hazardous conditions and impaired and distracted driving. Learn the GDL rules too, because questions on permits and Junior licenses are common.

• Sign shapes and colors, traffic lights and arrows, pavement markings
• Right-of-way rules, four-way stops and roundabouts
• Vermont numbers: 50 mph default speed, 65 mph interstate maximum, 4-second following distance, signaling 100 feet before a turn
• Parking distances, such as 6 feet from a hydrant and 50 feet from a railroad crossing
• School buses, bicyclists (at least 4 feet when passing) and the move-over law
• Alcohol limits (.08, and .02 for under-21s), implied consent and phone laws

Preparing well

The DMV offers an online tutorial called DriveVermont, with quizzes and a practice exam built to look like the real test, plus an audio version of the manual. Our free Vermont permit practice test and our guide to the 16-out-of-20 online test are good extra practice once you have read the manual.

Study in short sessions, then quiz yourself on the numbers. Most wrong answers come from mixing up distances and ages.

Common mistakes

• Relying on rules from another state. Vermont has its own numbers, such as the 4-second following distance.
• Rushing through and missing words like 'not' or 'except' in a question.
• Forgetting the GDL section. Supervisor ages and passenger rules are tested.
• Assuming a pass means you can drive. You still need to apply for the permit and pay.

Test yourself: The Vermont knowledge (permit) test

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Vermont Permit Practice Test
• Vermont Permit Test Online
• Learning to Drive in Vermont