Vermont Driving Laws 2026: Speed Limits, DUI BAC and Vermont DMV Road Rules for the Permit Test

What is the default speed limit in Vermont when no sign is posted? Vermont's general maximum speed is 50 mph unless a different limit is lawfully established and posted; the Vermont Driver's Manual lists 65 mph on Interstates or as posted. Vermont DUI: 0.08% for adults, 0.02% for under-21. Vermont prohibits handheld electronic device use while driving and while temporarily stationary because of traffic or a traffic-control device; a driver may use a device after safely and lawfully pulling to the side of or off the highway. Fire hydrant clearance in Vermont is 6 feet. Vermont also requires parking within 12 inches of the right curb on two-lane roads unless otherwise provided by local ordinance.

1. Vermont Speed Limits: 50 MPH Unless a Different Limit Is Established and Posted

What is the speed limit in a residential area in Vermont, and what happens if no sign is posted? Vermont law sets a general 50 mph maximum unless a different limit is lawfully established and posted. The Vermont Driver's Manual lists the following key rules:

Key test point: Vermont's general maximum is 50 mph unless a different limit is lawfully established and posted. The Driver's Manual lists 65 mph on Interstates or as posted. Drivers must still reduce speed when conditions or hazards make a lower speed reasonable and prudent. A speed-limit violation in a worksite established under Vermont law carries twice the civil penalty of a non-worksite speed-limit violation.

2. Vermont Right-of-Way: Pedestrians, T-Intersections & 4-Way Stops

Who has the right-of-way at a 4-way stop in Vermont, and when must drivers yield to pedestrians? At intersections, drivers must follow stop or yield controls and yield as Vermont law requires. When traffic-control signals are not operating, drivers must yield to pedestrians crossing within a crosswalk.

4-way stop (all arrive at once)

Driver to the right

4-way stop (one arrives first)

Driver who arrived first

Roundabout / traffic circle

Vehicles already inside the circle

Emergency vehicles (lights/siren)

Emergency vehicle, pull to the right and stop

Pedestrians in crosswalk

Yield to pedestrians crossing within a crosswalk when traffic-control signals are not operating; do not overtake a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk to let a pedestrian cross

T-intersection (no signs)

Through road traffic; drivers on the dead-end must yield

Yield sign

Slow and yield to traffic in or approaching the intersection that would be an immediate hazard; yield to pedestrians as required

Merging onto a highway

Traffic already on the highway

3. Vermont Turn Signal Law: 100 Feet Before Every Turn, Signal Intent to Change Lanes

Can you turn right on red in Vermont, and how far in advance must you signal a turn? Intersection and turn rules are heavily tested, including when left turns on red are legal and exactly how far in advance you must signal.

Right turn on red

Permitted after a full stop unless a sign prohibits it. Yield to pedestrians and cross traffic.

No right turn on red

When posted, you must wait for a green light before turning right.

Left turn on red

Only allowed from a one-way street onto another one-way street, after a full stop.

Left turn from two-way street

Start from the left lane; end in the left lane of the cross street.

Right turn

Stay as close to the right curb as possible; end in the right lane.

U-turns

Do not make a U-turn on a curve, or on the approach to or near the crest of a grade, where your vehicle cannot be seen by approaching drivers from either direction for 500 feet.

4. Vermont Lane Rules: Keep Right, No Passing at Curves or Hills & Center Lane Use

When can you use the center turn lane in Vermont, and what do solid versus broken yellow lines mean for passing? Lane rules determine where you drive and when you can cross a line, all commonly tested on the knowledge exam.

Center turn lane (CTSL)

On a three-lane, two-way roadway, use the center lane only for a permitted pass when clear, in preparation for a left turn, or when official traffic-control devices allocate it to your direction.

Solid white line

Do not cross; marks the edge of the road or a lane that should not be changed.

Solid yellow line (your side)

No passing allowed.

Broken yellow line

Passing allowed when safe.

Solid + Broken yellow centerline

Passing allowed only on the broken-line side.

Keep-right rule: A vehicle traveling slower than the normal speed of traffic must use the right-hand lane available for traffic, or stay as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge, except when passing or preparing for a left turn. A motor vehicle that impedes other traffic must pull off the highway at the first opportunity to allow traffic to pass.

5. Passing in Vermont: 200-Foot Oncoming Rule & 4-Foot Vulnerable User Clearance

When is it illegal to pass another vehicle in Vermont, and how close to an intersection can you pass? Passing is one of the most dangerous maneuvers on the road, Vermont law sets strict distance and visibility rules:

• Only pass on the left, using the oncoming lane, when it is safe and legal.
• Do not pass when approaching or on a crest or curve where your view is obstructed; within 100 feet of or while traversing an intersection or railroad grade crossing unless official traffic-control devices indicate otherwise; or when your view is obstructed within 100 feet of a bridge, viaduct, or tunnel. Obey posted No Passing Zone signs.
• The vehicle being passed must not speed up while you are overtaking.
• Return to an authorized lane before coming within 200 feet of an approaching vehicle or vulnerable user when the pass uses a lane for oncoming traffic.
• When approaching or passing a vulnerable user, reduce speed and provide at least 4 feet of clearance; cross the center only where Vermont passing law permits.
• When approaching or passing a stationary sanitation, maintenance, utility, or delivery vehicle displaying flashing lights, exercise due care, reduce speed, and increase clearance to a recommended distance of at least 4 feet.
• Never pass a stopped school bus with flashing red lights, this applies in both directions on undivided roads.
• You may pass on the right when the vehicle ahead is turning left, on a roadway wide enough for two or more lines of moving vehicles with unobstructed pavement, or on a one-way roadway wide enough for two or more lines of traffic. Never pass by driving off the pavement or main-traveled portion of the roadway.

6. Vermont Following Distance: 4-Second Safety Spacing

What is the safe following distance in Vermont, and how does weather change it? The Vermont Driver's Manual uses four-second safety spacing: if it takes less than four seconds to reach the same checkpoint as the vehicle ahead, increase your following distance.

7. Vermont School Bus & Move Over Laws

Do you have to stop for a school bus on a divided highway in Vermont, and when does the separate-roadway exception apply? Vermont law requires drivers meeting or overtaking a stopped school bus to stop while its flashing red signal lights are operating, subject to specific exceptions.

School Buses

• When a school bus stops to receive or discharge schoolchildren with flashing red signal lights operating, drivers meeting or overtaking the bus must stop immediately unless a statutory exception applies.
• On a highway with separate roadways, a driver need not stop for a school bus that is on a different roadway.
• On a controlled-access highway, the exception also applies when the bus is stopped in a loading zone at a point where pedestrians are not permitted to cross the roadway.
• You must keep the vehicle stationary while the school bus flashing red signal lights are operating.
• Illegal passing of a school bus is assessed 5 points on a Vermont driving record.
• Railroad crossings: A school bus must generally stop within 15-50 feet of the nearest rail before crossing, subject to Vermont statutory exceptions such as an exempt crossing or a direction to proceed by an attendant, enforcement officer, or traffic-control signal.

Emergency Vehicles

• When you see or hear an emergency vehicle (police, fire, ambulance) with lights or siren: pull to the right edge of the road and stop. Do not block intersections.
• Move Over Law (Vermont): When approaching a stationary law-enforcement, emergency, towing, or repair vehicle displaying required signals on a multi-lane highway, move into a lane farther away when safety conditions permit. If you remain in the adjacent lane, slow to a reasonable, safe, and prudent speed. In a work zone, slow down and, when workers are present on one side of a multi-lane highway and conditions permit, use a lane farther away from the workers.
• Highway maintenance vehicles: Yield the right-of-way to an authorized highway maintenance vehicle that is obviously and actually engaged in work on the highway and displaying the required flashing lights.

8. Vermont DUI: 0.08% Adults, 0.02% Under-21, 6-Month Refusal & Admin Suspension

What is the legal BAC limit in Vermont for drivers under 21, and can you refuse a breathalyzer? Vermont DWI laws cover every driver category with different limits and strict implied consent penalties.

9. Vermont Seat Belt & Child Restraint Laws: Rear-Facing Under 2, Booster Under 8

Who gets the ticket if a passenger is not wearing a seat belt in Vermont, and what child restraint is required? Vermont requires proper restraints by age and restraint type. For occupants age 18 or older, the safety-belt provision is secondary enforcement: it may be enforced only after the operator is detained for another suspected traffic violation.

10. Vermont Parking Rules: 6-Foot Hydrant Distance, 12-Inch Curb Rule & Rural Road Rules

How far from a fire hydrant must you park in Vermont, and is it legal to park on a bridge? These distance rules are frequently tested and easy to miss if you have not studied the specific numbers. Know where you cannot park:

• Within 6 feet of a fire hydrant
• Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection
• Within 30 feet upon the approach to a flashing signal, stop sign, or traffic control light
• Within 50 feet of a railroad crossing
• On a sidewalk, in front of a driveway, or on a bridge
• In a no-parking zone or alongside a curb painted yellow or red
• Double parking (alongside a vehicle already parked at the curb)
• On a two-way roadway, park with the right-hand wheels parallel to and within 12 inches of the right curb or roadway edge unless a local ordinance provides otherwise. On a one-way roadway, park within 12 inches of a curb or roadway edge in the direction of authorized traffic.
• Headed downhill: turn wheels toward the curb. Headed uphill with a curb: turn wheels away from curb. Uphill without a curb: turn wheels toward the shoulder.

11. Driving in Vermont Winter, Ice & Green Mountain Fog: Use Low Beams Under 500 Feet

When are headlights required in bad weather in Vermont, and what should you do if your car starts to hydroplane? Vermont weather can change fast, especially in winter and mountain areas; the 500-foot visibility rule applies when weather reduces how clearly you can see persons or vehicles.

• Headlights required in Vermont from 30 min after sunset to 30 min before sunrise and any time you cannot see persons or vehicles clearly at 500 feet.
• In heavy fog, use low beams, high beams reflect off fog and reduce visibility.
• If you start to hydroplane, ease off the gas gently. Do not brake hard or turn sharply.
• In icy conditions, brake gently well in advance. Start slowing earlier than normal. Leave extra following distance.
• If your car goes into a skid, steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. Do not overcorrect.
• Never use cruise control on wet, icy, or slippery roads.

12. Vermont License Points: 10 Points in 2 Years Triggers Suspension

How many points does a speeding ticket add to your Vermont license, and at what point do you lose it? Vermont points remain assessed for 2 years from the date of conviction; reaching at least 10 points in a two-year period triggers suspension proceedings.

Note: Vermont law allows a Superior judge or Judicial Bureau hearing officer to waive points only when the statutory conditions for a waiver are satisfied.

13. Vermont Headlight Law: Required Under 500 Feet Visibility, Dim When Meeting or Following

When are headlights required in Vermont, and when should high beams be dimmed? Vermont law uses a 500-foot visibility trigger for turning headlights on, while the Vermont Driver's Manual tells drivers to promptly dim headlights when meeting or following another vehicle.

Key test point: Headlights are required when persons or vehicles cannot be clearly discerned at 500 feet. Promptly dim high beams when meeting or following another vehicle.

14. Night Driving in Vermont: Moose vs Deer Eyes, Dark Rural Roads & Headlight Range

What does "overdriving your headlights" mean in Vermont, and why is it dangerous? Driving at night significantly increases crash risk; these rules cover visibility, speed, and wildlife hazards specific to Vermont roads.

15. Vermont Cell Phone Law: Handheld Ban Applies at Red Lights, $100-$500 Base Fines

Is it legal to use your phone while driving in Vermont, including while stopped at a red light? Vermont prohibits handheld portable electronic device use while operating on a public highway, including temporary stops caused by traffic or traffic-control devices; drivers under 18 are subject to a stricter portable-device rule.

Key test point: Stopping at a red light or in traffic does not make handheld use legal. The statutory exception applies after the vehicle is moved to the side of or off the public highway and halted where it can safely and lawfully remain stationary.

16. Vermont Railroad Crossings: Stop 15-50 Feet from the Nearest Rail

How far from the tracks must you stop at a railroad crossing in Vermont, and what vehicles must always stop even when no train is coming? Railroad crossing rules are tested on the Vermont knowledge exam; know exactly when to stop and how far back.

Key test point: Never drive around or under a lowered crossing gate, it is illegal and extremely dangerous. Wait until gates are fully raised and all tracks are clear.

17. Vermont Roundabouts: Yield on Entry & Follow Lane Markings

Vermont has roundabouts throughout the state, including in Burlington, Montpelier, St. Johnsbury, and along US-2 and VT-15 upgrades. The DMV test covers them. Entering traffic yields to vehicles already circulating inside.

Key test point: The most common wrong answer on roundabout questions is thinking you have right-of-way when entering. You never do, yield to traffic already inside.