Vermont motorcycle laws: helmets, licensing and inspection

This page explains Vermont motorcycle laws in plain English so you know what to look up. It isn't legal advice, it may not cover every condition or exception, and laws change. Vermont's vehicle rules are in Title 23 of the Vermont Statutes, Motor Vehicles, and the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles handles licenses, permits, registration and the inspection program. For the bigger picture on riding here, see the Vermont motorcycle rides hub.

Vermont requires a helmet for every rider and every passenger, at every age. It's one of the states with a universal helmet law, and it applies to visiting riders too, including riders coming over from New Hampshire, which has no helmet law. Wear a helmet that meets the federal DOT standard, and check Title 23 for the exact wording.

Eye protection: Vermont law also addresses eye protection. Check whether your windshield counts, and wear glasses, goggles or a face shield either way. On a gap road in June, the black flies alone make the case.

As of 2026, Vermont law doesn't allow lane splitting or filtering. Splitting means riding between lanes of moving traffic. Filtering means moving up between stopped cars at a light. Neither is legal here. Several states are changing their laws, so check before you ride.

For context: California allows lane splitting. Utah, Montana, Arizona and Colorado allow filtering past stopped traffic under conditions, Oregon passed a filtering law in 2023, and Minnesota legalized lane splitting and filtering in 2025. Vermont traffic rarely makes it an issue, but foliage weekends on VT 100 and US 4 can crawl. Take your lane, be patient, and pass only where it's legal and clear.

To ride in Vermont you need a motorcycle endorsement on your license from the Vermont DMV. The usual path starts with a knowledge test and a motorcycle learner permit, which comes with limits that commonly include no passengers; check the DMV for the exact list. Vermont's rider education program runs basic courses, and completing an approved course can count in place of the DMV skills test. Check the DMV for the current steps.

Take the course even if you don't strictly need it. Steep gaps, tight hairpins and frost-heaved pavement on the roads in our Vermont road guide reward good braking and slow-speed control.

A passenger needs a helmet, just like the rider, and the bike needs a proper passenger seat and footrests. Check Title 23 for the details. On steep gap roads, a passenger changes how the bike brakes and climbs, so practice on easier roads first.

Keep the bike street legal: working headlight, taillight, brake light, turn signals, mirrors and horn. The annual inspection checks equipment like this, so a dead signal, worn tires or a modified exhaust can cost you a sticker.

Vermont requires liability insurance on registered vehicles. Check the DMV or your insurer for the current minimums, since they can change.

Vermont also requires an annual safety inspection, and motorcycles are included. Inspections are done at licensed stations, and the DMV publishes what gets checked. Carry your license, registration and proof of insurance on every ride.

Vermont riders cross borders all the time, and the rules change at each one. New Hampshire has no helmet law, New York requires helmets for every rider, and Canada's provinces, including Quebec, require helmets too. The safe habit is simple: wear a helmet everywhere and you never have to think about it.

Crossing into Canada means a passport or other accepted border document, and your insurance and registration with you. Check the rules for crossing before you go. For the New Hampshire side, see our New Hampshire motorcycle guide.

Vermont bans drivers from using handheld phones and other portable electronic devices while driving. Check the law for the details on mounts and hands-free use. Set up your route before you roll and leave the phone alone while you're moving.

Rippin' works that way. Tap Record Ride once, mount or pocket the phone, and ride; recording runs in the background until you tap Stop. Rippin' never rewards speed on public roads, so points, turf and segment boards come from riding, not riding fast. Set a home privacy safe zone to keep the part of your rides near home hidden from other riders.