VT Permit Practice Test 3

All 20 questions in test 3

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. What happens in Vermont to a driver under 21 who operates a vehicle with a BAC of .02 or more?

   1. Nothing, because .02 is below the .08 limit
   2. A criminal felony charge
   3. A civil traffic violation, license suspension, and an alcohol and driving education program at the driver's expense
   4. A warning letter to the parents only
   Show answer

   A civil traffic violation, license suspension, and an alcohol and driving education program at the driver's expense. Drivers under 21 with an alcohol concentration of .02 or more can receive a civil traffic violation. The license will be suspended, and the driver must complete an alcohol and driving education program at their own expense. The .08 adult limit is not a safe harbor for young drivers. The under 21 offense is civil, not a felony, and it does more than notify parents.

2. 2. Which violations do NOT add points to a Vermont driving record?

   1. Parking or defective equipment violations
   2. Texting while driving
   3. Speeding violations
   4. Failure to yield to a pedestrian
   Show answer

   Parking or defective equipment violations. Vermont does not assess points for parking or defective equipment violations. Speeding carries 2 to 8 points depending on how far over the limit, texting carries 2 to 5 points, and failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk carries 4 points. Points build toward the 10 point suspension notice, and the number received within 2 years sets how long the suspension lasts.

3. 3. Beginning with which model year does Vermont require safety belts and defrosters?

   1. 1964 and later models
   2. 1975 and later
   3. 1955 and later
   4. Every model year
   Show answer

   1964 and later models. Safety belts and defrosters are required in 1964 and later models under Vermont's equipment rules, while directional signals are required on vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1955. The model year cutoffs match when the equipment became standard, so genuine antiques are not forced to retrofit. Any vehicle that has belts must have them working, and all occupants must use them.

4. 4. If a vehicle begins to skid on a slippery Vermont road, what is the best initial response?

   1. Make a sudden steering change toward the shoulder
   2. Use cruise control to keep the wheels turning steadily
   3. Take your foot off the gas pedal to reduce speed and maintain control
   4. Brake hard immediately and lock the wheels
   Show answer

   Take your foot off the gas pedal to reduce speed and maintain control. The manual advises removing your foot from the gas pedal on a slippery road. That lowers speed without introducing a sudden change in direction and helps the vehicle remain under control. Cruise control is discouraged in conditions that can produce a skid. A sharp turn toward the shoulder can worsen the loss of control, while hard braking may lock the wheels. Use a smooth response first, then apply gentle, steady brake pressure only if more slowing is needed. Avoid abrupt inputs when rain, snow, ice, gravel, or wet leaves reduce grip.

5. 5. From what distance must a Vermont rear license plate be readable by its light?

   1. At least 50 feet from the back of the vehicle
   2. At least 10 feet
   3. At least 100 feet
   4. At least 500 feet
   Show answer

   At least 50 feet from the back of the vehicle. The back license plate must be lighted so it can be seen and read at least 50 feet from the back of the vehicle. A burned out plate light is a common reason for a traffic stop and an inspection failure. Plates must also be properly affixed so they do not become loose, and the number plates issued may only be used on the vehicle they were issued for.

6. 6. What does a warning sign with a downward arrow below a school or pedestrian symbol indicate?

   
   1. A crosswalk or crossing area
   2. A no-parking area for the next mile
   3. A railroad track hidden below the pavement
   4. A lane reserved for buses
   Show answer

   A crosswalk or crossing area. The manual explains that a downward arrow beneath a school or pedestrian sign identifies a crosswalk or crossing area. It does not establish a parking restriction, railroad track, or bus-only lane. Warning signs call for reduced speed because a hazard or crossing may be present. The arrow is the practical cue that the crossing is at or immediately below the sign location. Scan both sides of the road and be ready to yield to people crossing.

7. 7. What shape and colors are Vermont warning signs usually?

   1. Triangular and orange or purple
   2. Circular and blue or white
   3. Rectangular and red or black
   4. Diamond-shaped and yellow or green
   Show answer

   Diamond-shaped and yellow or green. Vermont warning signs are usually diamond-shaped and yellow or green. Their appearance helps a driver recognize a warning even when the wording is difficult to read. The other combinations describe shapes and colors that are not the manual’s usual warning-sign pattern. Do not treat the color and shape as permission to stop, pass, or turn by themselves. Use them as an early recognition cue, then read the message or symbol and slow down for the hazard ahead. This visual habit is especially useful when weather, dirt, or distance makes the lettering hard to see.

8. 8. What should a driver do after seeing a warning for an unsafe intersection?

   
   1. Slow down and prepare for the intersection hazard
   2. Accelerate to clear the intersection before others arrive
   3. Ignore the sign if the pavement is dry
   4. Stop in the travel lane at the sign every time
   Show answer

   Slow down and prepare for the intersection hazard. An unsafe-intersection warning tells the driver to slow down and stay alert for the hazard ahead. Accelerating reduces the time available to search, while dry pavement does not remove the reason for the warning. The sign also does not automatically require a stop in the travel lane; the driver should respond to the intersection's actual controls and traffic. Reduce speed before the conflict area, scan all directions, and enter only when the path is clear and lawful.

9. 9. How far in advance may signaling before a turn or lane change cover Vermont's requirement?

   1. One second
   2. Three to five seconds
   3. Ten seconds
   4. Only after beginning the turn
   Show answer

   Three to five seconds. The manual says signaling three to five seconds before a turn or lane change covers the timing requirement. One second gives other road users too little notice, and ten seconds is not the interval stated in this guidance. Waiting until the maneuver has begun removes the warning altogether. Activate the signal early, continue checking mirrors and blind spots, and keep the indicator on while completing the movement. The same passage also identifies 100 feet as the minimum distance required by law.

10. 10. What must a Vermont insurance card show?

    1. Only the policy number
    2. The premium amount and agent's phone
    3. The driver's license number
    4. The carrier's name, effective and expiration dates, the insured's name, and the vehicle description including the VIN
    Show answer

    The carrier's name, effective and expiration dates, the insured's name, and the vehicle description including the VIN. Vermont requires the insurance card carried in the vehicle to state the name of the insurance carrier, the effective and expiration dates of coverage, the name of the insured, and a description of the vehicle including the vehicle identification number. An officer uses those details to confirm that this vehicle is covered on this date. A policy number alone, the premium, or a license number does not prove coverage.

11. 11. How far from the nearest railroad rail may a Vermont driver not park?

    1. Within 10 feet
    2. Within 50 feet
    3. Within 25 feet
    4. Within 100 feet only when gates are present
    Show answer

    Within 50 feet. Vermont lists parking on railroad tracks or within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing among prohibited locations. The 10-foot and 25-foot choices understate that protected area, while the 100-foot answer adds a condition the rule does not require. A concrete cue is to treat the crossing as a wide no-parking zone, not merely the steel rails themselves. Keep the full 50-foot clearance whether or not the crossing has gates or flashing lights.

12. 12. What is prohibited once a driver is inside a multi-lane Vermont roundabout?

    1. Yielding to pedestrians
    2. Using a turn signal to exit
    3. Checking mirrors before exiting
    4. Changing lanes
    Show answer

    Changing lanes. Drivers may not change lanes once they are in a multi-lane roundabout. Lane assignment signs and pavement markings should be read before entry so the correct lane is selected in advance. Signaling to exit, checking mirrors and blind spots, and yielding to pedestrians remain important actions. The lane-change choice is prohibited because a circulating vehicle can conflict with traffic beside it. Slow down before entry, commit to the assigned lane, and exit only when the path is clear.

13. 13. What can happen when a person obtains a Vermont license or permit by false representation?

    1. Only a written warning with no driving consequence
    2. A fine up to $1,000 or imprisonment up to two years, and a 90-day suspension
    3. An automatic lifetime license ban with no fine
    4. A required defensive driving class but no suspension
    Show answer

    A fine up to $1,000 or imprisonment up to two years, and a 90-day suspension. The manual describes false representation in a license or permit application as a serious offense. It lists a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment of not more than two years, or both, along with a 90-day suspension of the privilege to operate. A warning, class, or lifetime ban does not match that combination. The cue is that dishonesty about age or identity affects both criminal penalties and the driving privilege.

14. 14. What is required when a stopped emergency vehicle is on a four lane highway and a safe lane change is possible?

    
    1. Drive onto the median to create space
    2. Keep the same speed and lane
    3. Stop beside the emergency vehicle
    4. Change lanes away from it and proceed cautiously
    Show answer

    Change lanes away from it and proceed cautiously. When a stopped police or emergency vehicle displays flashing lights on a four lane highway, Vermont requires a lane change if it can be completed safely, along with cautious progress. Staying in the same lane ignores the extra protection required for roadside workers. Stopping beside the vehicle or entering the median creates unnecessary exposure and may block traffic. Check your mirrors and blind spot, signal, and move over only when the adjacent lane has enough space. If the lane change cannot be made safely, reduce speed and pass with heightened care rather than forcing a sudden move.

15. 15. When preparing for a left turn, where should a Vermont driver position the vehicle before turning?

    1. Across the centerline before the turn
    2. Against the right curb
    3. Within one foot of the centerline, when safe
    4. In whichever lane has the most traffic
    Show answer

    Within one foot of the centerline, when safe. For a left turn, Vermont's manual directs the driver to position the vehicle within one foot of the centerline when it is safe to do so. The vehicle must still wait for oncoming traffic and keep its wheels straight until the turn begins. Moving against the right curb leaves the vehicle poorly positioned, and crossing the centerline early creates a conflict with opposing traffic. A good cue is position first, scan, then turn only through a clear path.

16. 16. How does Vermont's graduated license law define nighttime driving?

    1. From sunset to sunrise
    2. From 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise
    3. From 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
    4. From dusk until dawn as judged by the driver
    Show answer

    From 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. For the graduated driver's license program, nighttime driving is defined as driving during the period of thirty minutes after sunset to thirty minutes before sunrise. The definition matters because permit and junior license holders face limits on unsupervised night driving, and the half hour buffer gives an objective line instead of a judgment call. The same window is used for when headlights are needed.

17. 17. When driving near a deer or moose crossing area, when are these animals most likely to be on the highway?

    1. Only when snow is falling
    2. Only during the middle of the afternoon
    3. Late evening, nighttime, and early morning
    4. Only after a highway warning light flashes
    Show answer

    Late evening, nighttime, and early morning. Vermont's manual identifies late evening, nighttime, and early morning as the periods when deer and moose are most likely to be on highways. Slow down, scan the roadside, and be ready for a second animal because animals often travel in pairs. Afternoon only, snowfall only, and warning light conditions are too narrow and could create false confidence. Headlights can reveal reflective deer eyes, but a moose may be harder to see because it is darker and taller. Treat a crossing sign as a prompt for sustained caution during those hours.

18. 18. When does Vermont law require a driver to turn on headlights because of limited visibility?

    1. Only when the windshield wipers have been running for ten minutes
    2. Whenever the road is wider than two lanes
    3. Only after sunset on roads with a speed limit above 40 mph
    4. When people or vehicles cannot be clearly seen 500 feet ahead
    Show answer

    When people or vehicles cannot be clearly seen 500 feet ahead. The visibility threshold is 500 feet. If fog, heavy rain, heavy snow, or another condition prevents you from clearly seeing people or vehicles that far ahead, headlights must be on. Road width and the posted speed limit do not create this particular trigger. Waiting for a fixed period of wiper use is also not the rule. Scan the road ahead whenever visibility deteriorates, and treat the inability to see 500 feet as the practical reminder to switch on headlights.

19. 19. During a Vermont police stop, when may you get out of your vehicle?

    1. Whenever you want to explain the traffic offense
    2. Only when the officer requests it
    3. As soon as the officer turns on flashing lights
    4. Only after another driver stops nearby
    Show answer

    Only when the officer requests it. Vermont’s police-stop guidance says to stay in the vehicle unless the officer requests that you get out. Leaving to argue, explain, or approach the officer can create a safety problem for everyone at the roadside. Flashing lights announce the stop but do not authorize an unrequested exit. Keep movements limited, remain calm, and have your license, registration, and insurance available when asked. The simple cue is to stay seated until the officer gives a different instruction.

20. 20. What is the maximum speed for a vehicle on Vermont roads unless a different limit is posted?

    1. 35 miles per hour
    2. 55 miles per hour
    3. 50 miles per hour
    4. 65 miles per hour
    Show answer

    50 miles per hour. Vermont's general maximum for roads is 50 miles per hour unless a different limit is posted. The 65 mile per hour figure is reserved for an Interstate in Vermont or applies when posted there, so it is too high for the broad road rule. A driver must still reduce speed when traffic, weather, curves, intersections, construction, pedestrians, or bicyclists make the posted maximum unsafe. Think of 50 as the general ceiling, not a guarantee that speed is always appropriate.