Vermont's Teen Driving Laws: A 2025 Guide for Parents and Junior Drivers

For teenagers in Vermont, getting a driver's license is a rite of passage symbolizing freedom and maturity. For their parents, it's a period of both excitement and significant concern. To help ensure this transition is as safe as possible, Vermont has a Graduated Driver License (GDL) program. This system is not meant to be an obstacle; it's a proven method for reducing teen driver crashes by introducing privileges in stages as they gain critical experience.

Understanding these laws is essential for both teens and parents to ensure safety, avoid violations, and protect that newly earned license. Here is a clear guide to Vermont's teen driving laws for 2025.

The Purpose of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)

Car crashes are a leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States. This is largely due to inexperience combined with high-risk factors, such as being distracted by friends in the car. Vermont's GDL program directly addresses these risks by placing common-sense limits on new drivers, allowing them to build skills in a safer, more controlled environment before granting full freedom.

The program consists of distinct stages, each with its own set of rules.

Stage 1: The Learner's Permit (Age 15+)

This is the very first step, where all on-road driving practice begins. A teen must be at least 15 years old to apply.

Key Permit Restrictions:

Constant Supervision: A permit holder must always be accompanied by a licensed and unimpaired parent or guardian, a licensed driving instructor, or another licensed individual who is at least 25 years old.
Front Seat Only: The supervising driver must be seated in the front passenger seat at all times.
Cell Phone Ban: It is illegal for a permit holder to use any handheld electronic device while driving.

The 40-Hour Driving Requirement

Before taking the road test, a teen's parent or guardian must sign a form certifying the completion of at least 40 hours of supervised driving practice.

Night Driving: At least 10 of these 40 hours must be completed at night, after sunset. This is to ensure the new driver gains experience in lower-visibility conditions.

Stage 2: The Junior Driver's License (Age 16+)

After holding a permit for at least one year with a clean record, completing driver's education, logging practice hours, and passing the road test, a teen can earn a Junior Driver's License. This is a major step, as it allows for unsupervised driving, but with critical safety restrictions in place.

Junior License Restriction 1: Passenger Limits

Research consistently shows that a teen driver's crash risk increases exponentially with each additional peer passenger in the vehicle. Vermont's law is designed to minimize this distraction in stages.

For the First 3 Months: A junior driver may not transport any passengers. The only exceptions are a licensed parent/guardian, a licensed driver education instructor, or a licensed individual 25 years of age or older.
From Months 4 to 6: The passenger limit is eased slightly. A junior driver may transport immediate family members (such as siblings).
After 6 Months: The passenger restriction is lifted, and a junior driver may transport other passengers.

Junior License Restriction 2: Cell Phones

Zero Tolerance: It is illegal for a junior license holder to use any handheld portable electronic device while driving. This includes for texting, talking, or using GPS. This is a primary offense, meaning an officer can pull a teen over just for this violation. The fines are significant.

Note on Curfews: Unlike many other states, Vermont's GDL law does not include a specific nighttime driving curfew. The focus is on limiting passenger-related distractions.

Consequences for Violations

Violating any of these GDL restrictions can have serious consequences.

Fines and Penalties: Violations can result in tickets and fines, which are often doubled for GDL-related offenses.
Delayed Full License: A conviction for a moving violation will delay a teen's ability to graduate to a full, unrestricted license.
License Suspension: Serious offenses or an accumulation of points can lead to a suspension of driving privileges.

The Final Step: The Senior License

A Junior Driver's License automatically converts to a full, unrestricted Senior Driver's License after holding the junior license for one year, or when the driver turns 18, whichever comes first, provided they have maintained a clean driving record.

By working together, parents and teens can navigate the GDL process, ensuring the new driver builds the safe habits needed for a lifetime behind the wheel.