§ 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.)