§ 601. License required
(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided by law, a resident shall not operate a motor vehicle
on a highway in Vermont unless the resident holds a valid license issued by the State.
A new resident who has moved to Vermont from another jurisdiction and who holds a
valid license to operate motor vehicles under section 208 of this title shall procure a Vermont license within 60 days after moving to Vermont. Except as
provided in subsection 603(d) of this title, licenses shall not be issued to nonresidents.
(2) In addition to any other requirement of law, a nonresident as defined in section 4 of this title shall not operate a motor vehicle on a Vermont highway unless:
(A) he or she holds a valid license or permit to operate a motor vehicle issued by another
U.S. jurisdiction; or
(B) he or she holds a valid license or permit to operate a motor vehicle from a jurisdiction
outside the United States and:
(i) is at least 18 years of age, is lawfully present in the United States, and has been
in the United States for not more than one year; and
(ii) he or she possesses an international driving permit.
(b) All operator’s licenses issued under this chapter shall expire, unless earlier cancelled,
at midnight on the eve of the second or fourth anniversary of the date of birth of
the license holder following the date of issue. Renewed licenses shall expire at midnight
on the eve of the second or fourth anniversary of the date of birth of the license
holder following the date the renewed license expired. All junior operator’s licenses
shall expire, unless earlier cancelled, at midnight on the eve of the second anniversary
of the date of birth of the license holder following the date of issue. A person born
on February 29 shall, for the purposes of this section, be considered as born on March
1.
(c) At least 30 days before a license is scheduled to expire, the Commissioner shall mail
first class to the licensee or send the licensee electronically an application for
renewal of the license; a cardholder shall be sent the renewal notice by mail unless
the cardholder opts in to receive electronic notification. A person shall not operate
a motor vehicle unless properly licensed.
(d) The Commissioner may, in his or her discretion, determine that certain types of motor
vehicles require that an operator possess specialized skill or knowledge to operate
those vehicles so that the public safety may not be endangered. If the Commissioner
so determines, he or she may prescribe different classes of licenses for the operation
of particular types of vehicles. The Commissioner is authorized to make rules prescribing
forms and procedures for applications, license classifications, restrictions, endorsements,
examinations, driver training requirements, and disqualifications consistent with
this title as necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
(e) A motor-driven cycle may be operated only by a licensed driver at least 16 years of
age.
(f) Operators of autocycles shall be exempt from the requirements to obtain a motorcycle
learner’s permit or a motorcycle endorsement. The Commissioner shall offer operators
of three-wheeled motorcycles that are not autocycles the opportunity to obtain a motorcycle
endorsement that authorizes the operation of three-wheeled motorcycles only.
(g) A person who violates this section commits a traffic violation, except that a person
who violates this section after a previous conviction under this section within the
prior two years shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than 60 days or a fine
of not more than $5,000.00, or both. An unsworn printout of the person’s Vermont motor
vehicle conviction history may be admitted into evidence to prove a prior conviction
under this section. (Amended 1966, No. 38 (Sp. Sess.), § 1; 1967, No. 86, § 1; 1977, No. 20, § 10; 1981, No. 130 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1989, No. 51, § 34; 1989, No. 239 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1991, No. 88, § 2; 2003, No. 56, § 71, eff. June 4, 2003; 2003, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2005, No. 188 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2007, No. 153 (Adj. Sess.), § 40; 2007, No. 188 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 2009, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 19e, eff. Sept. 1, 2010; 2013, No. 189 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 33, 35; 2015, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 17; 2015, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), § 63; 2017, No. 71, § 10, eff. June 8, 2017; 2017, No. 206 (Adj. Sess.), § 17; 2019, No. 60, §§ 8, 13; 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 270, eff. July 1, 2024.)