VT Permit Practice Test 1

All 20 questions in test 1

Every question below comes from the Vermont question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. How early should you signal before a turn or lane change to meet Vermont’s timing guidance?

   1. Only after entering the intersection
   2. Three to five seconds before the action
   3. One second before moving the wheel
   4. After the lane change is complete
   Show answer

   Three to five seconds before the action. The manual explains that signaling three to five seconds before a turn or lane change covers Vermont’s not-less-than-100-foot requirement. Signaling after entry or after the maneuver gives surrounding road users little useful warning, and one second may not provide enough notice at ordinary speed. Begin the signal early, confirm mirrors and blind spots, and keep watching traffic while preparing to turn or move over. The timing cue is a short count of several seconds before the maneuver begins.

2. 2. What does a Vermont work zone arrow panel show when it is in caution mode?

   1. A straight line of blinking lights, or blinking lights on the four corners of the sign
   2. A flashing left arrow
   3. A flashing red X
   4. Nothing, the panel is turned off
   Show answer

   A straight line of blinking lights, or blinking lights on the four corners of the sign. Arrow panels tell you to merge in the direction shown. When the arrows are not in use, the panels are put in caution mode, with a straight line of blinking lights or blinking lights on the four corners of the sign. Caution mode means no lane is being closed, but you should still slow down and stay alert. A flashing arrow means move over now, well before the taper.

3. 3. What does a steady yellow traffic light warn a Vermont driver about?

   1. The intersection is reserved for left turns
   2. The driver may accelerate because cross traffic must stop
   3. The light is about to turn red
   4. The signal has failed and should be treated as a stop sign
   Show answer

   The light is about to turn red. A steady yellow light warns that the signal will soon become red. Assess distance and speed, stopping when that can be done safely. Accelerating to beat the change turns a warning into a risky maneuver, and the light does not reserve the intersection for a particular movement. A failed signal is handled differently from an ordinary steady yellow. With enough room to stop smoothly before the intersection, stop; if you are too close, continue through cautiously. Timing is the useful visual cue.

4. 4. When braking hard with an anti-lock brake system in Vermont, what should you avoid doing?

   1. Pumping the brake or lifting your foot, because that disengages the anti-lock system
   2. Steering while braking
   3. Pressing the pedal firmly
   4. Holding the pedal down
   Show answer

   Pumping the brake or lifting your foot, because that disengages the anti-lock system. With anti lock brakes, keep steady firm pressure on the pedal. Do not pump the brake or take your foot off the pedal, because that disengages the anti lock system and defeats its purpose. The system pulses the brakes for you, and you may feel the pedal vibrate. Steer around the hazard while braking, since ABS keeps the wheels rolling so steering still works.

5. 5. Which example does Vermont give for a warning sign that includes a distance?

   1. “Stop here for 15 seconds”
   2. “Deer Crossing, next 3 miles”
   3. “Parking allowed for 2 hours”
   4. “Passing lane begins in 1 mile”
   Show answer

   “Deer Crossing, next 3 miles”. Vermont uses “Deer Crossing, next 3 miles” as an example of a warning sign that supplies distance information. The message tells the driver that the hazard may continue through the stated stretch, so attention and speed control should continue beyond the sign itself. The other phrases are not the example given in the manual and describe unrelated stopping, parking, or passing ideas. When a distance appears with a warning, keep scanning for the named condition for the full indicated area rather than assuming it ends at the sign.

6. 6. What must a Vermont self-service gas station do for a driver with a disabled plate or placard who asks for help?

   1. Refuse service unless a full-service pump is available
   2. Charge the full-service price
   3. Have an attendant dispense the gasoline at the self-service price
   4. Provide a phone to call for help
   Show answer

   Have an attendant dispense the gasoline at the self-service price. Self service gasoline stations, when requested by a motor vehicle operator who holds a disabled plate or parking placard, must require an attendant to dispense gasoline at the self service cost. The driver pays the same price as anyone pumping their own fuel. The rule is part of Vermont's provisions for persons with disabilities, alongside reserved parking and possible exemption from the purchase and use tax for adapted vehicles.

7. 7. Which vehicles require a commercial driver's license in Vermont?

   1. Any vehicle used for business
   2. Pickup trucks with trailers
   3. Any vehicle over 10,000 pounds
   4. Vehicles rated over 26,000 pounds, or carrying 16 or more passengers including the driver, or hazardous materials
   Show answer

   Vehicles rated over 26,000 pounds, or carrying 16 or more passengers including the driver, or hazardous materials. A commercial driver's license is required for operators of vehicles rated in excess of 26,000 pounds, vehicles transporting 16 or more passengers including the driver, or vehicles carrying hazardous materials. Using a vehicle for business does not by itself trigger the requirement, and a pickup with a light trailer stays under the weight line. Class A, B and C licenses divide the vehicles by weight and configuration.

8. 8. Under Vermont's equipment rules, which vehicles must have directional signals?

   1. All vehicles regardless of age
   2. Only vehicles built after 1980
   3. Only commercial vehicles
   4. Vehicles manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1955
   Show answer

   Vehicles manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1955. Vermont's list of proper equipment in good mechanical condition includes headlights, horn, windshield wipers, rearview mirror, tail lights, tires, steering, windshield, exhaust system, brakes, fenders, bumpers, and, if the vehicle was manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1955, directional signals. Older antique vehicles built without signals are exempt, but their drivers must use hand signals. Safety belts and defrosters are required on 1964 and later models.

9. 9. A Vermont driver should allow more than four seconds of following distance when:

   1. The vehicle ahead has just passed a checkpoint
   2. Road conditions or visibility are poor, or speed is higher
   3. The road is dry and traffic is moving slowly
   4. The driver is traveling on a familiar local street
   Show answer

   Road conditions or visibility are poor, or speed is higher. Four seconds is a baseline for normal conditions, but the manual calls for more space when road conditions are poor, visibility is poor, or speed is higher. The checkpoint choice describes how to measure the gap, not when to increase it. A useful cue is that less traction or less time to see creates a need for more time to react. Increase the interval before conditions become urgent, rather than waiting until the vehicle ahead brakes and discovering the original gap was too short.

10. 10. At a four-way stop, what should happen when two vehicles arrive at approximately the same time?

    
    1. Both drivers accelerate together
    2. The driver on the right yields to the driver on the left
    3. The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right
    4. The heavier vehicle goes first
    Show answer

    The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. When two vehicles reach a four-way stop at roughly the same time from different directions, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. The rule resolves the tie without relying on vehicle size, acceleration, or a race into the intersection. If one vehicle arrived clearly first, that earlier arrival controls instead. The useful visual cue is to identify your own position relative to the other vehicle before moving.

11. 11. How long before a turn or lane change must a Vermont driver use a turn signal?

    1. At least 100 feet
    2. At least 50 feet
    3. At least 25 feet
    4. Only after beginning the maneuver
    Show answer

    At least 100 feet. Vermont requires a turn signal not less than 100 feet before making a turn or changing lanes. Signaling only after the maneuver begins gives following traffic too little warning, while 25 and 50 feet fall short of the stated distance. The manual notes that signaling three to five seconds before the action covers the requirement. A concrete cue is to signal while still approaching the maneuver, then check mirrors and the blind spot before moving.

12. 12. What following distance should you use when conditions are poor or visibility is limited?

    1. Exactly one second
    2. More than four seconds
    3. Two seconds regardless of conditions
    4. No extra distance if headlights are on
    Show answer

    More than four seconds. The manual uses four seconds as a baseline for safe spacing, then calls for more than four seconds when road conditions are poor, visibility is poor, or speeds are higher. Extra space gives you time to perceive a hazard, react, and brake on pavement that may lengthen stopping distance. The one second and two second choices remove that needed margin, while headlights improve visibility but do not shorten the distance needed to stop. Pick a fixed object, count after the vehicle ahead passes it, and increase the gap whenever conditions deteriorate.

13. 13. When entering a roundabout, what must a driver do before proceeding?

    
    1. Yield to traffic already in the roundabout and enter only with a safe gap
    2. Enter immediately because entering traffic has priority
    3. Stop inside the circle before choosing an exit
    4. Change lanes after entering to reach the desired exit
    Show answer

    Yield to traffic already in the roundabout and enter only with a safe gap. Traffic already circulating has priority, so an entering driver must yield and wait for a safe opening. Entering immediately can conflict with vehicles already in the circle. Stopping inside disrupts the flow, and changing lanes within a multi-lane roundabout is prohibited by the manual. Reduce speed on approach, select the appropriate lane before entry, and maintain awareness of pedestrians and bicyclists as you enter and leave.

14. 14. A police vehicle stops on a dark roadside and approaches your car. Which action is recommended?

    1. Turn off every light so the officer can see outside
    2. Turn on the vehicle's interior lights after stopping and before the officer approaches
    3. Leave the vehicle immediately to explain what happened
    4. Reach for documents before the officer comes to the window
    Show answer

    Turn on the vehicle's interior lights after stopping and before the officer approaches. During a stop in a dimly lit area, the manual advises turning on the vehicle's interior lights after stopping and before the officer approaches. The cabin light improves visibility for both people and makes movements easier to understand. Turning off all lights reduces that visibility. Exiting without being asked or reaching for documents early can create unnecessary concern. Remain inside, keep your movements limited, and wait for instructions before retrieving anything.

15. 15. Under Vermont law, which drivers may not use a portable electronic device, such as a phone, while driving?

    1. Only junior operators
    2. Only drivers under 21
    3. Only commercial drivers
    4. Any person operating a motor vehicle
    Show answer

    Any person operating a motor vehicle. The manual states that a person shall not use any portable electronic device while operating a motor vehicle, including reading, composing, or sending texts, instant messages, and emails. The rule is written for any person, not only junior operators, drivers under 21, or commercial drivers. Devices include cell phones, PDAs, tablets, and laptops. Texting while driving carries 2 to 5 points under the point system.

16. 16. A Vermont teen is ticketed for underage possession of alcohol and sent to the Teen Alcohol Safety Program. How soon must the teen contact the diversion board?

    1. Within 15 days
    2. Within 30 days
    3. Within 90 days
    4. Only after a court hearing
    Show answer

    Within 15 days. The manual says a ticketed minor must contact the Teen Alcohol Safety Program of Vermont Court Diversion, and failing to contact the diversion board within 15 days sends the case to the judicial bureau. There, a person found liable faces a $300 penalty and a license suspension, plus likely higher insurance rates. Thirty and ninety days are too late, and the teen does not wait for a court hearing first.

17. 17. If a Vermont road sign is covered by dirt or snow, what should a driver still be able to recognize?

    
    1. The vehicle that last passed it
    2. Its exact distance from the next town
    3. Its general meaning from its shape
    4. The weather expected tomorrow
    Show answer

    Its general meaning from its shape. Even when dirt, snow, or another obstruction covers a sign, Vermont expects a driver to recognize its general meaning from the shape. That recognition can identify a warning, regulatory instruction, or information sign before every word is visible. The obstruction does not reveal a town distance, identify a passing vehicle, or forecast tomorrow’s weather. Slow down when the sign category signals a possible hazard and look for clearer wording or roadway clues as you continue. Shape recognition is a backup skill for poor visibility, not a replacement for reading the complete message when possible.

18. 18. What two actions help keep a parked vehicle from rolling into traffic on a hill?

    1. Leave the transmission in neutral and release the brake
    2. Turn off the engine but leave the wheels straight
    3. Turn the front wheels and set the parking brake
    4. Park with one wheel on the travel lane
    Show answer

    Turn the front wheels and set the parking brake. On a hill, the manual calls for turning the front wheels and setting the parking brake so the vehicle will not roll into traffic. Leaving the transmission in neutral or leaving the wheels straight removes two layers of protection. Placing a wheel in the travel lane is itself hazardous. The practical cue is to finish the parking maneuver by checking the wheel direction and physically setting the brake before stepping away from the vehicle.

19. 19. How can a driver identify the general meaning of a road sign when its wording is difficult to read?

    
    1. By the number of passengers
    2. By the vehicle’s fuel level
    3. By the time shown on the clock
    4. By its shape and color
    Show answer

    By its shape and color. Vermont explains that a driver can use a road sign’s shape and color, along with its wording, to understand its general meaning. This matters when dirt, snow, or another obstruction hides part of the message. It does not depend on the vehicle’s fuel, the time of day, or how many people are riding. Use the visible design to classify the sign as regulatory, warning, or information, then respond to the readable details and roadway conditions. The cue is to recognize the sign category before the full wording is clear.

20. 20. How often must a Vermont vehicle be inspected?

    1. Every six months
    2. Only when it changes owners
    3. Every two years
    4. Once a year
    Show answer

    Once a year. Vermont requires a vehicle inspection once a year. The inspection checks the vehicle at least annually, but the owner must continue keeping it in working condition between inspections. A two-year cycle or an ownership-only trigger would leave a vehicle unchecked for too long. The manual also provides a registration cue: motor vehicles must be inspected within 15 days of registration unless they already carry a valid Vermont inspection sticker.