Regulations

Driver Training School Regulations

DMV Rules

Operation of Commercial Driver Training Schools and Instructors Giving Driver Training Instructions for Hire

a compendium of Vermont state rules

(reference Administrative Procedures)

Advertising

Section (i) A licensee shall not publish, advertise or intimate that an operator's license is guaranteed or assured.

Section (j) Advertisements and promotional literature shall be devoid of false, misleading or exaggerated information or impressions. Advertisements shall contain the name, business address and telephone number of the school. No school shall use the term "accredited" or any of its synonyms unless it also indicates the agency or organization granting such accreditation. Driver Training Schools may use the words “licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles". Other wording which suggests compliance with state rules or statutes, or the word "approved" or any of its synonyms shall not be used.

Address

Section (c) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles must be notified of any change of address within thirty days. No Driver Training School may change the location of its facilities without prior approval from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Compliance Reviews

Section (u) Driver Training Schools shall be open to inspection and evaluation by authorized DMV personnel during reasonable business hours. Such inspection and evaluation may require that DMV personnel be present at actual classroom, range and on-the road training sessions.

Facilities

Section (n) Driver Training Schools must provide proof of zoning compliance or a signed statement from a municipal government agency upon application for initial licensure.

Section (o) Each driver training school shall provide a classroom facility which:

is free of distracting influences and is used exclusively for driver education instruction during the instructional period;
provides classroom space with a minimum of 30 square feet per student and an area of at least 180 square feet of useable space;
has adequate heat, light, ventilation, sanitary facilities and is in compliance with local fire and building codes;
has available supplemental teaching aids and audiovisual equipment necessary for effective classroom presentations.

Section (p) The training range area for commercial motor vehicle training must encompass an area of a minimum of 20,000 square feet suitable for commercial motor vehicle training, and must be posted or barricaded so as to prevent other vehicular traffic from entering the area. The configuration of the training range area must be approved by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.

Instructors

Section (a) Each school must have at least one licensed driver training instructor. The driver training instructor must, in addition to the driver training instructor license, hold a valid drivers license or CDL with the appropriate class and endorsement applicable for the type of instruction being given.

Section (l) An applicant for an instructor’s license will be required to submit to such physical, written, and road tests, or to furnish such other proof of his/her qualifications as an instructor as the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may require.

Section (m) An applicant for an instructor's license must be at least twenty-one years of age on date of application.

Section (s) Qualified persons who are contracted or employed as guest speakers or instructors, or those who provide specialized components of instruction only, are exempted from the general requirements pertaining to licensing of instructors. The use of these types of instructors or guest speakers must be approved by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.

License

Section (b) Driver Training School licenses are not transferable. In the event of any change of ownership or interest in the business, an application for a new license must be filed. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall be notified immediately in the event the school is sold or ceases operation and the existing license returned to the Department of Motor Vehicles, Montpelier, VT.

Section (h) Each person granted a Driver Training School license shall display the same conspicuously on the school premises.

Records and Reports

Section (e) Each licensee shall maintain the following records setting forth the name, date of birth, license or permit number, start and finish dates of instruction, total fees collected from each student and student's certificate number if applicable; instruction license number of the instructor who provided the instruction, and the number of hours and category of instruction provided. Such records shall be open to inspection by any properly identified employee of the Department of Motor Vehicles during reasonable business hours; but shall be for the confidential use of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Section (f) The loss, mutilation, or destruction of any records which a driver training school is required to maintain as outlined in paragraph (e) above, must be reported to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles immediately, stating the date and circumstances involving such loss, destruction, or mutilation.

Section (g) Any records required under these rules shall at all times be up-to-date and must be retained for the period which includes the present and immediate prior license period.

School Ownership

Section (d) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles must be notified in writing of any change in partners, or any change in officers or directors of any corporation holding a license. In such case, each new partner of a partnership or each new officer or director of a corporation must supply the same information as required on an original application of the partnership or corporation.

Training

Section (k) During instruction no one shall occupy the front seat of the motor vehicle except the instructor and the student operating the vehicle. No child under the age of fifteen shall be permitted to be in the vehicle while driving instructions are being given.

Section (r) Driver Training Schools shall meet the following'

All course offerings and curriculums must be approved by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.
Driver training administered in accordance with 23 V.S.A. § 607 may mirror the standards which are recommended or mandated by the Department of Education.
The training of commercial drivers shall follow a curriculum which is approved by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, and which is consistent with national commercial vehicle training standards, recommendations and guidance.
All classroom, behind-the-wheel and range training must be conducted with a licensed driver training instructor present.
Classroom training shall be conducted for groups not in excess of 30 students.
Classroom and behind-the-wheel training shall be conducted concurrently, except with specific approval of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.

Section (t) Instructors shall not use the Department of Motor Vehicles-designated road test routes as the basis for behind-the-wheel training.

Vehicles

Section (q) Each driver training school shall provide vehicles which;

meet the mechanical condition requirements of the Vermont Periodic Inspection Manual and, when applicable, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Vehicles are subject to inspection by DMV personnel at any time during normal business hours;
are properly registered, inspected and insured;
are equipped with a dual-control brake system, except school buses and those commercial vehicles which are used solely for range training;
are equipped with instructor's inside mirror/s which provides the instructor unobstructed vision to the rear of the vehicle and which enables the instructor to observe eye movements of the student driver, except commercial vehicles which shall be equipped with outside mirrors which afford the instructor enhanced vision to the sides and rear of the vehicle;.
are marked with sign/s identifying it as a driver training vehicle and which are visible for a distance of at least 100 feet. Passenger cars shall be marked on the rear of the vehicle, commercial vehicles shall be marked on both the front and rear of the vehicle.