Crashes, insurance and registration in Vermont

By the end of this topic you can

• You can follow the right steps at a crash scene.
• You can say when a written crash report to the DMV is required.
• You can state Vermont's minimum liability insurance amounts.
• You can describe the registration and inspection rules.

What you need to know and understand

• Drivers in a crash must stop and give any assistance reasonably needed.
• If anyone is injured, or damage is over $3,000, you must send a written report to the DMV within 72 hours.
• Minimum liability insurance is $25,000 for one person's injury or death, $50,000 for two or more people and $10,000 for property damage.
• You must carry proof of insurance when driving (a card, or on a phone). If you are insured but cannot show it, sending proof to the police agency within seven business days avoids a conviction.
• Driving uninsured brings a fine and 2 points.
• Vehicles must be inspected once a year, and within 15 days of registration unless they have a valid Vermont sticker.
• Proof of registration must be in the vehicle whenever it is used.

At the crash scene

1. Stop. Leaving the scene of a crash is a serious offense worth 10 points.
2. If you can, move the vehicles out of the travel lanes onto the shoulder to prevent another crash.
3. If anyone is hurt, call 911. Do not move an injured person unless they are in danger; keep them warm and calm.
4. Show your license, registration and insurance to the police, and your license to anyone injured or whose property was damaged.
5. Swap names, addresses, license and registration numbers with the other driver, and get witness names.
6. Note the exact location: road name or route number, nearest town and crossroad, and any mile marker.

Hitting a parked car and reporting

If you damage an unattended vehicle and cannot find the owner, leave your name, address and phone number in or on the vehicle.

Any crash with an injury or more than $3,000 of damage needs a written report to the DMV within 72 hours. Crash report forms are available from police departments, DMV offices and online. If a Vermont driver crashes in another state, it is reported in the state where it happened.

Insurance: the financial responsibility law

Vermont's law on 'maintenance of financial responsibility' means every vehicle you drive must have liability insurance of at least 25/50/10. If you drive uninsured and are in a crash (even one that is not your fault), or are convicted of offenses such as DUI or driving while suspended, the DMV takes your license until you show insurance, and you must keep proving it for three years.

Registration, title and inspection

• Register any vehicle you drive in Vermont; new residents have 60 days.
• Keep plates clean, secure and unobstructed, with the rear plate lit so it can be read from 50 feet.
• Tell the DMV within 30 days if you change your name, address or the color of your vehicle.
• Purchase and use tax is 6% of the price paid or the current fair market value, whichever is greater.
• Annual inspection checks safety equipment and emissions, including the catalytic converter and gas cap.

Common mistakes

• Leaving vehicles in the travel lane after a minor crash when they could be moved safely.
• Driving away from a parked car you scraped without leaving a note.
• Forgetting the 72-hour written report because the police attended.
• Letting the inspection sticker expire, which also stops you using the car for a road test.

Test yourself: Crashes, insurance and registration in Vermont

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

Go deeper

• Learning to Drive in Vermont
• Vermont Driver’s Ed and the 40-Hour Practice Certification
• Vermont Junior Driver’s License Rules