Title 23, Title 23: Motor Vehicles

§ 3700. Definition; mail As used in this chapter, “mail,” “mails,” “mailing,” and “mailed” mean any method of delivery authorized by the Commissioner, which shall include by hand, U.S. mail, and electronic transmission. (Added 2019, No. 149 (Adj. Sess.), § 19, eff. July 13, 2020.…

§ 3701. International Registration Plan (a) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles is authorized to enter into reciprocal agreements or plans on behalf of the State of Vermont with the appropriate authorities of any of the states of the United States, the District of Columbia, or any…

§ 3702. Trip permit Any vehicle registered in a jurisdiction other than Vermont that is eligible for apportioned registration under the International Registration Plan that is not apportioned with Vermont must obtain a trip permit prior to entering this State. The fee for the per…

§ 3703. Temporary authorization Any International Registration Plan registrant based in this State may apply by mail and be issued temporary authorization to operate a vehicle not in the registrant’s fleet for a period not to exceed 45 days for a fee of $15.00. Any person to whom…

§ 3704. Permit for empty weight For a fee of $20.00, a permit may be issued to an owner-operator for a registered gross weight not in excess of the empty weight of the vehicle as provided for in Article IX(c) of the International Registration Plan for a period of 20 days. The per…

§ 3705. Collection of apportioned registration; credits and refunds (a) The Commissioner shall postpone the collection of apportioned registration fees until the fees have been computed and any credit available pursuant to subsection 3020(a) of this title applied. (b) The Commiss…

§ 3706. License suspension or revocation The Commissioner may suspend or revoke the license, the right to operate any vehicle, and any registrations of a person who fails to comply with any provisions of the International Registration Plan of this chapter or any rule adopted purs…

§ 3801. Definitions Except when the context otherwise requires, as used in this chapter: (1) “All-terrain vehicle” or “ATV” means any nonhighway recreational vehicle, except snowmobiles, motor-assisted bicycles, or electric bicycles, when used for cross-country travel on trails o…

§ 3802. Fees (a) The Commissioner shall be paid the following fees: (1) for filing an application for a first certificate of title, $27.00; (2) for each security interest noted upon a certificate of title, $14.00; (3) for a certificate of title after a transfer, $27.00; (4) for e…

§ 3803. Power and duties of Commissioner (a) The Commissioner shall prescribe and provide suitable forms of applications, certificates of title, notices of security interests, and all other notices and forms necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. (b) The Commissio…

§ 3804. Hearing A person aggrieved by the Commissioner’s act or omission to act by the Commissioner under this chapter is entitled, upon request, to a hearing in accordance with section 105 of this title. (Added 1987, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

§ 3805. Appeal A person aggrieved by the Commissioner’s act or omission to act by the Commissioner under this chapter may appeal to the Superior Court for Washington County in the same manner as is provided for in other civil actions. (Added 1987, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

§ 3806. Certificate of origin (a) When a new vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle is delivered in this State by the manufacturer to his or her agent or his or her franchised dealer, the manufacturer shall execute and deliver to his or her agent or his or her franchised deal…

§ 3807. Exempted vessels, snowmobiles, and all-terrain vehicles No certificate of title need be obtained for: (1) any vessel under 16 feet in length; (2) any snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle of a model year prior to 2004 or that is more than 15 years old; (3) any vessel that is …

§ 3808. Application for certificate (a) The application for the first certificate of title of a vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle in this State shall be made by the owner to the Commissioner on the form the Commissioner prescribes and shall contain: (1) the name, residen…

§ 3809. Commissioner to check identification number The Commissioner, upon receiving application for a first certificate of title, shall check the identification number of the vessels, snowmobiles, or all-terrain vehicles shown in the application against the records of vessels, s…

§ 3810. Issuance of certificate; records (a) The Commissioner shall file each application received and, when satisfied as to its genuineness and regularity and that the applicant is entitled to the issuance of a certificate of title, shall issue a certificate of title of the vess…

§ 3811. Information on certificate (a) Each certificate of title issued by the Commissioner shall contain: (1) The date issued. (2) The name and address of the owner. (3) The names and addresses of any lienholders, in the order of priority as shown on the application or, if the a…

§ 3812. Mailing certificate The certificate of title shall be mailed or personally delivered, upon proper identification of the individual, to the first lienholder named in it or, if none, to the owner. (Added 1987, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

§ 3813. Withholding of certificate; bond required If the Commissioner is not satisfied as to the ownership of the vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle or that there are no undisclosed security interests in it, the Commissioner may register the vessel, snowmobile, or all-ter…

§ 3814. Refusal of certificate The Commissioner shall refuse issuance of a certificate of title if any required fee is not paid or if he or she has reasonable grounds to believe that: (1) the applicant is not the owner of the vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle; (2) the ap…

§ 3815. Duplicate certificate (a) If a certificate is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed or becomes illegible, the first lienholder or, if none, the owner or legal representative of the owner named in the certificate, as shown by the records of the Commissioner, shall promptly…

§ 3816. Transfer of interest in vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle (a) If an owner transfers his or her interest in a vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle, other than by the creation of a security interest, he or she shall, at the time of delivery of the vessel, sno…

§ 3817. Resale by dealer If a dealer buys a vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle and holds it for resale and obtains the certificate of title from the owner or the lienholder within 10 days after receiving the vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle, the certificate need…

§ 3818. Involuntary transfers (a) If the interest of an owner in a vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle passes to another person, other than by voluntary transfer, the transferee shall, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, promptly mail or deliver to the Co…

§ 3819. Fee to accompany applications (a) An application for a certificate of title shall be accompanied by the required fee when mailed or delivered to the Commissioner. (b) An application for the naming of a lienholder or his or her assignee on a certificate of title shall be a…

§ 3820. Issuance of new certificate (a) The Commissioner, upon receipt of a properly assigned certificate of title, with an application for a new certificate of title, the required fee, and any other documents required by law, shall issue a new certificate of title in the name of…

§ 3821. Suspension or revocation of certificate (a) The Commissioner shall suspend or revoke a certificate of title, upon notice and reasonable opportunity to be heard in accordance with section 3804 of this chapter, if he or she finds: (1) the certificate of title was fraudulent…

§ 3822. Certain liens and security interests not affected This chapter does not apply to or affect: (1) a lien given by statute or rule of law to a supplier of services or materials for the vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle; (2) a lien given by statute to the United Stat…

§ 3823. Perfecting security interest (a) Unless excepted by section 3822 of this title, a security interest in a vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle of a type for which a certificate of title is required is not valid against creditors of the owner or subsequent transferees…

§ 3824. Duties on creation of security interest If an owner creates a security interest in a vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle: (1) The owner shall immediately execute the application, in the space provided on the certificate of title or on a separate form the Commission…

§ 3825. Assignment of security interest (a) A lienholder may assign, absolutely or otherwise, his or her security interest in the vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle to a person other than the owner without affecting the interest of the owner or the validity of the securit…

§ 3826. Release of security interest (a) Upon the satisfaction of a security interest in a vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle for which the certificate of title is in the possession of the lienholder, he or she shall, within 10 days after demand and, in any event, within …

§ 3827. Lienholder to furnish information A lienholder named in a certificate of title shall, upon written request of the owner or of another lienholder named on the certificate, disclose any pertinent information as to his or her security agreement and the indebtedness secured b…

§ 3828. Method of perfecting security interest exclusive The method provided in this chapter of perfecting and giving notice of security interests subject to this chapter is exclusive. Security interests subject to this chapter are exempted from the provisions of law that otherwi…

§ 3829. Altering, forging, or counterfeiting certificates (a) No person shall with fraudulent intent: (1) alter, forge, or counterfeit a certificate of title; (2) alter or forge an assignment of a certificate of title, or an assignment or release of a security interest, on a cert…

§ 3830. Other offenses (a) No person shall: (1) with fraudulent intent, permit another, not otherwise entitled, to use or have possession of a certificate of title; (2) willfully fail to mail or deliver a certificate of title or application to the Commissioner within 10 days afte…

§ 3831. Report of theft; recovery of unclaimed vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle (a) An enforcement officer, sheriff, or constable who learns of the theft of a vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle not since recovered, or of the recovery of a vessel, snowmobile, or …

§ 3832. False report A person who knowingly makes a false report of the theft or conversion of a vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle to an enforcement officer or to the Commissioner shall be fined not more than $500.00 or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both. (…

§ 3833. Dismantling or destruction of vessels, snowmobiles, or all-terrain vehicles (a) Except for vessels, snowmobiles, or all-terrain vehicles for which no certificate of title is required pursuant to section 3807 of this title, any person who purchases or in any manner acquire…

§ 3834. Issuance of salvage title The Commissioner shall file and maintain in the manner provided in section 3010 of this title each application received and when satisfied as to its genuineness and regularity and that the applicant is entitled to the issuance of a salvage certif…

§ 3835. Salvaged, totaled, and rebuilt vessels, snowmobiles, or all-terrain vehicles (a) If a vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle upon which a salvage certificate of title, a parts-only certificate, or other document indicating the vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicl…

§ 3836. Records; inspection (a) Each person who purchases or in any manner acquires a vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle as salvage shall keep and maintain for a period of not less than five years such records as may be prescribed by the Commissioner that are reasonably n…

§ 3837. Penalty (a) A person who violates any provision of section 3836 of this chapter shall be fined not more than $500.00 or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both. (b) A person who violates section 3833 or 3835 of this chapter shall be fined not more than $1,000.00 …

§ 3901. The compact The Driver License Compact, hereinafter called “the compact,” is entered into with all other jurisdictions legally joining, in the form substantially as follows. (Added 1987, No. 62, § 1.)

§ 3902. Findings and declaration of policy—Article I (a) The party states find that: (1) the safety of their highways is materially affected by the degree of compliance with state and local laws relating to the operation of motor vehicles; (2) violation of state law or municipal …