Vermont § 617 - Learner’s permit

§ 617. Learner’s permit

• (a) Any Vermont resident 15 years of age or over, but under 18 years of age, who has no
  convictions under section 601, 674, 676, 1091, 1094, 1128, 1133, or 1201 of this title, suspensions under section 1205 of this title, or civil traffic violations under section 1216 of this title in the previous two years, or any Vermont resident 18 years of age or over, may apply
  to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles for a learner’s permit in the form prescribed
  by the Commissioner. A nonresident may be issued a learner’s permit if the permit
  is required for purposes of participation in a driver education and training course.
  After the applicant has successfully passed all parts of the driver’s license examination
  other than the driving test, the Commissioner may issue to the applicant a learner’s
  permit that entitles the applicant, subject to section 615 of this title, to operate a motor vehicle upon the public highways for a period of two years from
  the date of issuance. Any learner’s permit may be renewed. This section shall not
  affect section 602 of this title. (b)(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any licensed person
  may apply to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles for a learner’s permit for the operation
  of a motorcycle in the form prescribed by the Commissioner. The Commissioner shall
  offer both a motorcycle learner’s permit that authorizes the operation of three-wheeled
  motorcycles only and a motorcycle learner’s permit that authorizes the operation of
  any motorcycle. The Commissioner shall require payment of a fee of $24.00 at the time
  application is made, except that no fee shall be charged for an individual under 23
  years of age who was in the care and custody of the Commissioner for Children and
  Families pursuant to 33 V.S.A. § 4903(4) in Vermont after attaining 14 years of age. (2) After the applicant has successfully passed all parts of the applicable motorcycle
  endorsement examination, other than a skill test, the Commissioner may issue to the
  applicant a learner’s permit that entitles the applicant, subject to subsection 615(a) of this title, to operate a three-wheeled motorcycle only, or to operate any motorcycle, upon the
  public highways for a period of 120 days from the date of issuance. The fee for the
  examination shall be $11.00, except that no fee shall be charged for an individual
  under 23 years of age who was in the care and custody of the Commissioner for Children
  and Families pursuant to 33 V.S.A. § 4903(4) in Vermont after attaining 14 years of age. (3) A motorcycle learner’s permit may be renewed only twice upon payment of a $24.00 fee.
  An individual under 23 years of age who was in the care and custody of the Commissioner
  for Children and Families pursuant to 33 V.S.A. § 4903(4) in Vermont after attaining 14 years of age shall not be charged a fee for the renewal
  of a motorcycle learner’s permit. (4) If, during the original permit period and two renewals the permittee has not successfully
  passed the applicable skill test or motorcycle rider training course, the permittee
  may not obtain another motorcycle learner’s permit for a period of 12 months from
  the expiration of the permit unless: (A) the permittee has successfully completed the applicable motorcycle rider training
  course; or (B) the learner’s permit and renewals thereof authorized the operation of any motorcycle
  and the permittee is seeking a learner’s permit for the operation of three-wheeled
  motorcycles only. (5) This section shall not affect section 602 of this title. (c) No learner’s permit may be issued to any person under 18 years of age unless the parent
  or guardian of, or a person standing in loco parentis to, the applicant files written
  consent to the issuance with the Commissioner. (d)(1) An applicant shall pay $24.00 to the Commissioner for each learner’s permit or a duplicate
  or renewal thereof. (2) An applicant under 23 years of age who was in the care and custody of the Commissioner
  for Children and Families pursuant to 33 V.S.A. § 4903(4) in Vermont after attaining 14 years of age shall not be charged a fee for a learner’s
  permit or a duplicate or renewal thereof. (3) A replacement learner’s permit for the operation of a motorcycle may be generated
  from the applicant’s electronic account for no charge. (e)(1) A learner’s permit for the operation of a motorcycle shall contain a photograph or
  imaged likeness of the individual. A learner’s permit for a motor vehicle shall contain
  a photograph or imaged likeness of the individual if the permit is obtained in person. (2) An individual issued a permit under this subsection may renew the individual’s permit
  by mail or online, but a permit holder who chooses to have a photograph or imaged
  likeness under this subsection must renew in person so that an updated imaged likeness
  of the individual is obtained not less often than once every nine years. (f)(1) The Commissioner may authorize motorcycle rider training instructors to administer
  a motorcycle endorsement examination for three-wheeled motorcycles only or for any
  motorcycle, or a motorcycle skill test for three-wheeled motorcycles only or for any
  motorcycle, or any of these. Upon successful completion of the applicable examination
  or test, the instructor shall issue to the applicant either a temporary motorcycle
  learner’s permit or notice of motorcycle endorsement, as appropriate. The instructor
  shall immediately forward to the Commissioner the application and fee together with
  such additional information as the Commissioner may require. (2) The Commissioner shall maintain a list of approved in-state and out-of-state motorcycle
  rider training courses, successful completion of which the Commissioner shall deem
  to satisfy the skill test requirement. This list shall include courses that provide
  training on three-wheeled motorcycles. (Added 1963, No. 107; amended 1965, No. 177; 1981, No. 120 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. March 2, 1982; 1983, No. 8; 1983, No. 42, § 2; 1989, No. 51, § 38; 1989, No. 268 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 21, 1990; 1995, No. 120 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1997, No. 9, § 1, eff. July 1, 1996; 1997, No. 9, § 1, eff. July 1, 1996; 1997, No. 9, § 2, eff. May 6, 1997; 1999, No. 140 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 2001, No. 75 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 2001, No. 102 (Adj. Sess.), § 23, eff. May 15, 2002; 2003, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 10; 2005, No. 175 (Adj. Sess.), § 35; 2005, No. 188 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2009, No. 50, § 47; 2015, No. 159 (Adj. Sess.), § 36; 2017, No. 206 (Adj. Sess.), § 18; 2019, No. 149 (Adj. Sess.), § 43, eff. June 1, 2020; 2023, No. 78, § G.129, eff. January 1, 2024; 2025, No. 66, § 10, eff. July 1, 2025.)