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Vermont driving lesson · Graduated Driver's License Rules

Driving on a Learner's Permit

A 3-minute lesson from the Vermont course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Graduated Driver's License Rules
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
21, 22

Vermont's Graduated Driver's License (GDL) law covers everyone who holds a Learner's Permit or a Junior Driver's License. It lets new drivers build experience step by step, with an experienced adult beside them first and fewer limits later.

Know the rule

Anyone 15 or older with a valid Learner's Permit may drive only when one qualifying person rides beside the driver.

Handbook p. 21 ↗

A qualifying person riding beside a permit driver:

  • A licensed and unimpaired parent or guardian
  • A licensed or certified and unimpaired driver education instructor
  • A licensed and unimpaired person at least 25 years old
Handbook p. 21 ↗
2 years

Clean driving record required in the previous 2 years to apply for a Learner's Permit

Handbook p. 21 ↗
1 year

Minimum time holding a Learner's Permit before you can get a Junior Driver's License

Handbook p. 21 ↗
40 hours

Extra supervised practice before a Junior License, at least 10 at night, with a qualifying person beside you

Handbook p. 21 ↗

Know the rule

The 40 practice hours are in addition to the 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction in driver training, and one of the qualifying people must certify them.

Handbook p. 21 ↗

Nighttime driving

Driving from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
6 months

Clean record with no permit recalls, suspensions or revocations before you can get a Junior License

Handbook p. 21 ↗

Provisional license

A Learner's Permit or Junior Driver's License. It can be recalled (taken back) for certain violations.

Handbook p. 22 ↗

Put it into practice

You're 16 with a permit and want to drive yourself to the store. You can't go alone, whatever your age. Your licensed, sober 26-year-old neighbor riding beside you makes the trip legal.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

Under Vermont's GDL law, who may accompany a 15-year-old permit holder while driving?
  1. Any licensed adult of any age
  2. A friend with a Junior License
  3. A licensed, unimpaired parent, guardian, instructor, or person 25+
  4. A licensed sibling of any age

Answer: A licensed, unimpaired parent, guardian, instructor, or person 25+

GDL law requires a licensed, unimpaired parent/guardian, driver ed instructor, or person 25+ beside the driver.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
What driving record standard must be met in the two years before applying for a Vermont learner's permit?
  1. A record with no more than 2 points
  2. No more than one moving violation
  3. A completed defensive driving course
  4. A clean driving record

Answer: A clean driving record

To apply for a permit, an individual must have maintained a clean driving record in the previous two years.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
A permit holder logs practice hours with a licensed, unimpaired 30-year-old neighbor beside them. Do those hours count toward the required 40?
  1. Yes; a licensed, unimpaired person 25+ qualifies
  2. No; only a parent or guardian may supervise
  3. No; only a driver-ed instructor's hours count
  4. Only the daytime hours count

Answer: Yes; a licensed, unimpaired person 25+ qualifies

The 40 hours must be driven with one of the listed companions, which includes a licensed, unimpaired person at least 25, and certified by one of them.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
The 40-hour extra practice requirement under GDL law is in addition to which driver-ed component?
  1. The 30 hours of classroom study
  2. The 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction time
  3. The 6 hours of observation time
  4. The final driver-ed exam

Answer: The 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction time

The 40 hours of practice is specifically in addition to the 6 behind-the-wheel driver-ed hours.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
GDL law lets a permit holder drive alone as soon as they turn 16, even without an accompanying adult.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

Permit holders must always be accompanied by a qualifying adult, regardless of age, under GDL law.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
Can a permit holder ever legally drive completely alone under Vermont's GDL law?
  1. Yes, after holding the permit for 6 months
  2. No, a qualified adult is always required
  3. Yes, but only during daylight hours
  4. Yes, if they've completed driver ed

Answer: No, a qualified adult is always required

Permit holders must always have a qualifying adult present; there's no solo-driving exception.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
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