§ 115. Nondriver identification cards
(a)(1) Any Vermont resident may make application to the Commissioner and be issued an identification
card that is attested by the Commissioner as to true name, correct age, residential
address unless the listing of another address is requested by the applicant or is
otherwise authorized by law, and any other identifying data as the Commissioner may
require that shall include, in the case of minor applicants, the written consent
of the applicant’s parent, guardian, or other person standing in loco parentis.
(2) Every application for an identification card shall be signed by the applicant and
shall contain such evidence of age and identity as the Commissioner may require,
consistent with subsection (l) of this section. New and renewal application forms shall include a space for the
applicant to request that a “veteran” designation be placed on the applicant’s identification
card. If a veteran, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(2) and including an individual disabled during active military, naval, air, or space
service, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(24), requests a veteran designation and provides a Department of Defense Form 214 or
other proof of veteran status specified by the Commissioner, and the Office of Veterans’
Affairs confirms the veteran’s status as an honorably discharged veteran; a veteran
discharged under honorable conditions; or an individual disabled during active military,
naval, air, or space service, the identification card shall include the term “veteran”
on its face.
(3) The Commissioner shall require payment of a fee of $29.00 at the time application
for an identification card is made, except that an initial nondriver identification
card shall be issued at no charge to:
(A) an individual who surrenders the individual’s license in connection with a suspension
or revocation under subsection 636(b) of this title due to a physical or mental condition; or
(B) 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.
(b) Every identification card shall expire, unless earlier canceled, at 12:00 midnight
on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the date of birth of the cardholder following
the date of original issue and may be renewed every four years upon payment of a $29.00
fee. A renewed identification card shall expire, unless earlier canceled, at 12:00
midnight on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the date of birth of the cardholder
following the expiration of the card being renewed. At least 30 days before an identification
card will expire, the Commissioner shall mail first-class to the cardholder or send
the cardholder electronically an application to renew the identification card; a cardholder
shall be sent the renewal notice by mail unless the cardholder opts in to receive
electronic notification. An individual born on February 29 shall, for the purposes
of this section, be considered as born on March 1.
(c) In the event an identification card is lost, destroyed, mutilated, or a new name is
acquired, a replacement may be obtained upon furnishing satisfactory proof to the
Commissioner and paying a $24.00 fee.
(d) The identification card shall bear the following notice: “For identification purposes
only.”
(e) The holder of an identification card shall notify the Commissioner, in writing, of
a change in address within 30 days after the change is made.
(f) The Commissioner shall cancel the identification card if the card is fraudulently
obtained, altered, or misused.
(g) An identification card issued to a first-time applicant and any subsequent renewals
by that person shall contain a photograph or imaged likeness of the applicant. The
photographic identification card shall be available at a location designated by the
Commissioner. An individual issued an identification card under this subsection that
contains an imaged likeness may renew the individual’s identification card by mail.
Except that a renewal by an individual required to have a photograph or imaged likeness
under this subsection must be made in person so that an updated imaged likeness of
the individual is obtained not less often than once every nine years.
(h) An identification card issued to an individual who is under 18 years of age shall
be distinguishable by color from an identification card issued to an individual who
is 18 years of age or older but under 21 years of age, and both cards shall be distinguishable
by color from an identification card issued to an individual 21 years of age or older.
An identification card issued to an individual under 21 years of age shall clearly
indicate, in prominent type, the date on which the individual will become 21. The
distinguishing colors shall be the same as those used to distinguish operator’s licenses
issued under section 610 of this title.
(i) An identification card issued under this subsection to an initial or renewal applicant
shall include data elements as prescribed in 6 C.F.R. § 37.19.
(j) Individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Income
and individuals with a disability as defined in 9 V.S.A. § 4501(2) shall be provided with nondriver identification cards for the following fees:
(1) Original issuance: $10.00.
(2) Renewal every four years: $10.00.
(3) Replacement of lost, destroyed, or mutilated card, or a new name is required: $5.00.
(k) At the option of the applicant, the applicant’s valid Vermont license may be surrendered
in connection with an application for an identification card. In those instances,
the fee due under subsection (a) of this section shall be reduced by:
(1) one-quarter of the four-year fee established by section 608 of this title for each remaining full year of validity; or
(2) one-half of the two-year fee paid for each remaining full year of validity.
(l)(1) The Commissioner shall issue identification cards to Vermont residents who are not
U.S. citizens but are able to establish lawful presence in the United States if an
applicant follows the procedures and furnishes documents as required under subsection 603(d) of this title and any applicable policies or adopted rules, and otherwise satisfies the requirements
of this section. The identification cards shall expire consistent with subsection 603(d) of this title.
(2) The Commissioner shall issue non-REAL ID compliant identification cards to Vermont
residents unable to establish lawful presence in the United States if an applicant
follows the procedures and furnishes documents as required under subsection 603(e) of this title and any applicable policies or adopted rules, and otherwise satisfies the requirements
of this section.
(3) The Commissioner shall issue non-REAL ID compliant identification cards to Vermont residents able to establish lawful presence in the United States but who otherwise fail to comply with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-13, §§ 201-202, if the applicant follows the procedures and furnishes documents as required under subsection 603(f) of this title and any applicable policies or adopted rules, and otherwise satisfies the requirements
of this section.
(4) A non-REAL ID compliant identification card issued under subdivision (2) or (3) of
this subsection shall bear on its face text indicating that it is not valid for federal
identification or official purposes.
(m)(1) An individual sentenced to serve a period of imprisonment of six months or more committed
to the custody of the Commissioner of Corrections who is eligible for a nondriver
identification card under the requirements of this section shall, upon proper application
and in advance of release from a correctional facility, be provided with a nondriver
identification card for a fee of $0.00.
(2) As part of reentry planning, the Department of Corrections shall inquire with the
individual to be released about the individual’s desire to obtain a nondriver identification
card or any driving credential, if eligible, and inform the individual about the differences,
including any costs to the individual.
(3) If the individual desires a nondriver identification card, the Department of Corrections
shall coordinate with the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide an identification
card for the individual at the time of release.
(n) The Commissioner shall provide a form that, upon the individual’s execution, shall
serve as a document of an anatomical gift under 18 V.S.A. chapter 110. An indicator shall be placed on the nondriver identification card of any individual
who has executed an anatomical gift form in accordance with this section. (Added 1981, No. 94, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1981; amended 1981, No. 120 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. March 2, 1982; 1989, No. 51, § 10; 1995, No. 120 (Adj. Sess.), § 7; 1999, No. 163 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2001, No. 102 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. May 15, 2002; 2003, No. 70 (Adj. Sess.), § 31, eff. March 1, 2004; 2003, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2005, No. 175 (Adj. Sess.), § 26; 2009, No. 50, § 36; 2011, No. 46, § 18, eff. July 1, 2012; 2011, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 10; 2013, No. 57, § 13; 2013, No. 74, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2014; 2013, No. 189 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2015, No. 47, § 3; 2015, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), § 58; 2015, No. 159 (Adj. Sess.), § 7; 2019, No. 60, § 12; 2019, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 137; 2019, No. 149 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2021, No. 20, § 227; 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 413, eff. July 1, 2022; 2023, No. 78, § G.102, eff. January 1, 2024; 2023, No. 159 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. July 1, 2024; 2023, No. 165 (Adj. Sess.), § 38, eff. June 6, 2024; 2025, No. 66, §§ 3, 5, eff. July 1, 2025.)