§ 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 unaccompanied youth who has obtained a certification pursuant to 33 V.S.A. § 4908 or 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 unaccompanied youth who has obtained a certification pursuant to 33 V.S.A. § 4908 or 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 unaccompanied youth who has obtained a certification pursuant to 33 V.S.A. § 4908 and 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.
(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 unaccompanied youth who has obtained a certification pursuant to 33 V.S.A. § 4908 and 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.
(4) A replacement learner’s permit issued pursuant to subsection (g) of this section shall be issued for a fee of $0.00.
(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.
(g)(1) An individual sentenced to serve a period of imprisonment of six months or more in a correctional facility who holds an unexpired learner’s permit issued under the provisions of this section or who held a learner’s permit issued under the provisions of this section that expired not more than two years prior shall:
(A) be eligible to apply for a replacement learner’s permit pursuant to the provisions of this section; and
(B) upon proper application and submission of all required documentation in advance of release from a correctional facility, be provided with a replacement learner’s permit upon release.
(2) The application shall include the post-release mailing address of the individual and proof that the individual will be a resident of Vermont following release from the correctional facility.
(3) As part of reentry planning, the Department of Corrections shall inquire with each individual regarding whether the individual would like to obtain a nondriver identification card, operator’s license, or replacement learner’s permit, if eligible, and shall provide the individual with information regarding required documentation and any associated costs.
(4) If an individual would like to obtain a replacement learner’s permit pursuant to the provisions of this section and is eligible, the Department of Corrections shall coordinate with the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide a replacement learner’s permit to the individual at the time the individual is released from the correctional facility.
(h)(1) An individual who is detained for six months or more in a correctional facility shall be eligible to apply for a replacement learner’s permit pursuant to the provisions of this section if, at the time the individual submits an application to obtain a replacement learner’s permit pursuant to this subsection, the individual:
(A) holds an unexpired learner’s permit issued under the provisions of this section; or
(B) held a learner’s permit issued under the provisions of this section that expired not more than two years prior.
(2) If an individual who is detained for six months or more in a correctional facility is eligible for a replacement learner’s permit under the requirements of this section, the Department of Corrections, as soon as reasonably practicable, shall obtain the documentation required for a learner’s permit and shall provide the individual with the documentation at the time of release from the correctional facility.
(3) The application shall include the post-release mailing address of the individual and proof that the individual is a resident of Vermont following release from the correctional facility.
(4) Upon proper application and submission of all required documentation following release from the correctional facility, an individual who was detained for six months or more in a correctional facility shall be provided with a replacement learner’s permit for a fee of $0.00.
(5) The Department of Corrections shall coordinate with the Department of Motor Vehicles regarding the documentation required for an individual who is detained for six months or more in a correctional facility to obtain a replacement learner’s permit.
(i) As used in this section, “correctional facility” has the same meaning as in 28 V.S.A. § 3. (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. Jan. 1, 2024; 2025, No. 66, § 10, eff. July 1, 2025; 2025, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. July 1, 2026; 2025, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. Jan. 1, 2027; 2025, No. 136 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. July 1, 2026.)