Last Update: August 24, 2026

Temporary Permits for Private or Commercial Vehicles in Vermont

Vermont issues temporary credentials through the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), whose Commercial Vehicle Office administers credentials for motor carriers. Temporary registration and temporary plates authorize limited vehicle operation while the owner completes the documentation required for a title and permanent registration or, for commercial carriers, while apportioned registration, fuel tax licensing, and movement permits are arranged.

What Is a Temporary Vehicle Permit in Vermont?

Under the temporary registration provisions of 23 V.S.A. § 312, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may issue a temporary registration certificate to a person required to obtain a certificate of title upon payment of the registration fee and the title fee. The temporary registration certificate and the number plate are valid for 60 days and are not renewable. At expiration, a permanent registration certificate and a set of number plates are issued, provided that all documents and information required by law have been filed with the Commissioner. Fees paid in conjunction with the temporary registration are not refunded but are deemed the fees for the permanent registration or title, if one is issued.

Vermont temporary credentials take several forms, each with its own validity period:

• Temporary registration authorization, issued in person at a DMV office while title, VIN verification, odometer, or other documents are completed
• Electronically issued temporary plate and temporary registration, printed by the owner under 23 V.S.A. § 518
• In-transit plates, issued for the movement of a newly purchased vehicle
• Dealer-issued temporary number plates or decals, provided at the point of sale under 23 V.S.A. § 458
• Commercial trip, fuel, and oversize or overweight permits, administered by the Commercial Vehicle Office

Who May Need a Temporary Permit

A temporary permit may be required in the following situations:

• The vehicle is title-required, and the current title is not in the applicant's possession at the time of registration
• The vehicle identification number has not been verified, and the vehicle is not present
• The vehicle requires an odometer disclosure statement that is not yet available
• Registration is sought for a vanity plate, or a rebuilt title, and the required documents are incomplete
• A newly purchased vehicle must be moved to another point in Vermont or to another state before a new registration is obtained
• A vehicle is sold by a person other than a registered motor vehicle dealer
• A commercial vehicle subject to the IRP or IFTA enters Vermont without apportioned credentials
• A vehicle or load exceeds Vermont's legal size or weight limits

Private Vehicle Temporary Plates in Vermont

For private vehicles, a temporary registration and plate may be issued when the vehicle's permanent registration cannot be completed at the time of application. The authorization is granted at the DMV office when the stated conditions are met, and the temporary registration and plate are valid only for 60 days. The temporary plate cannot be renewed or extended, and the owner remains responsible for obtaining the documents required to complete the registration process; a delay may result in the plate's expiration. Temporary plates will not be issued when a temporary registration for the same vehicle was previously issued and the process was not completed, when transferring plates that have expired, or when the transaction requires the title, a signature, or a bill of sale.

An electronically issued temporary plate and temporary registration may be printed by the owner when a motor vehicle is sold by a person other than a registered dealer. The applicant submits a sworn application attesting to compliance with the compulsory insurance provisions of Section 800 of Title 23, providing proof of the vehicle's identity, and pays a processing fee of $6.00. The temporary plate and registration are valid for 60 days from the date of issuance.

An in-transit plate permits legal movement of a newly purchased vehicle before a new registration is obtained and is valid only for travel to the destination listed on the application. The intrastate in-transit plate is valid for 10 days for movement within Vermont and is available only to Vermont residents. The interstate in-transit plate is valid for 30 days for movement from a point in Vermont to another state and is available only in person at DMV locations. In-transit plates cannot be renewed, and no additional permit may be issued for the vehicle. The applicant must present a bill of sale and, where applicable, a properly assigned title proving the vehicle was purchased in Vermont; the title need not be a Vermont title.

A dealer-issued temporary plate may be provided on the day of sale of a motor vehicle, motorboat, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle to be registered in Vermont, provided the purchaser deposits a properly executed registration application and the required fee for transmission to the Commissioner. The purchaser may operate the vehicle for up to 60 consecutive days following the purchase.

Commercial Vehicle Temporary Permits in Vermont

Commercial vehicles operating in Vermont without apportioned credentials must obtain temporary authority through the DMV's Commercial Vehicle Office. Under the IRP and IFTA programs, Vermont recognizes the following temporary commercial credentials:

• 72-hour trip permits, issued in lieu of apportioned registration or fuel tax licensing
• Single trip permits, including over-length single trip permits
• Blanket oversize permits, issued annually for repeated movements
• Low bed blanket permits for low-bed equipment
• Special excess weight permits for registered vehicles operating above legal weight
• Self-issue crane permits for crane movements

Permits meeting the Super Load thresholds — 150,000 pounds or more, 100 feet long or longer, 15 feet wide or wider, or 14 feet high or higher — require an engineering review that may take up to 10 working days, using Form CVO-106. Proof of insurance is required when requesting a Super Load permit or a blanket permit for a load 100 feet or longer. Unless stated on the permit, movement is restricted to daylight hours between 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset. New IRP and IFTA accounts additionally require verification of residency or an established place of business before credentials are issued.

When a Temporary Permit Is Required

A private vehicle may require a temporary permit in the following circumstances:

• After purchase, when the title is not immediately available, and the vehicle must be operated before registration is completed
• When a vehicle identification number verification, odometer disclosure, or rebuilt-title documentation is outstanding
• When a vanity plate is pending
• When a newly purchased vehicle must be transported within Vermont or to another state before registration
• New residents must register their motor vehicles within 60 days after moving into Vermont under 23 V.S.A. § 301, and may require temporary authority while transferring out-of-state titles

A commercial vehicle may require a temporary permit when:

• The vehicle is subject to the IRP and is not apportioned for travel in Vermont
• The vehicle is subject to the IFTA, and fuel tax licensing is not active
• The movement involves a load or vehicle exceeding legal size or weight limits or requiring an engineering survey

How to Get a Temporary Permit in Vermont

Where To Apply

Private vehicle temporary credentials may be obtained through several channels:

• DMV offices, where a temporary registration authorization is issued in person while required documentation is completed
• The myDMV online portal, for certain registrations and renewals
• Direct printing by the owner, using the electronic issuance process authorized under section 518
• Registered dealers, which issue temporary plates and decals at the time of sale
• By mail, to the DMV's Montpelier office with the completed registration, tax, and title application

For commercial carriers, trip, fuel, oversize, and overweight permits are obtained through the Commercial Vehicle Office, which may be reached at (802) 828-2064. Permits cannot be issued for movements on holidays. New IRP and IFTA accounts require the submission of documentation establishing residency or an established place of business.

Documents Commonly Required

The documentation required to obtain temporary credentials varies with the transaction and may include:

• The Registration, Tax, and Title Application (VD-119), used for new registration, transfer, renewal, title, tax, and IRP
• The Bill of Sale and Odometer Disclosure Statement (VT-005), with the odometer disclosure required for model year 2011 or newer vehicles
• The Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin or a properly assigned certificate of title, with all owners signing as sellers and liens released
• A vehicle identification number verification for vehicles with a salvage-branded title
• Proof of insurance, which Vermont requires as a condition of registration and which must be presented at the time of inspection
• A J.D. Power valuation printout when registering by mail, and payment of the 6% purchase and use tax, together with all title and registration fees

Temporary Permit Fees in Vermont

The following table summarizes the principal permit and credential fees published by the DMV Commercial Vehicle Office and the Vermont Statutes.

Engineering survey fees apply to Super Load applications: $800 for loads under 150,000 pounds; $2,000 for loads from 150,000 to 200,000 pounds; $5,000 for loads from 200,001 to 250,000 pounds; and $10,000 for loads over 250,000 pounds, with a $48.00 permit fee for each survey and $60.00 charged for each hour of processing beyond eight hours. Fees paid in conjunction with a temporary registration are not refunded. Two weight tiers are listed on the published schedule; amounts should be confirmed with the Commercial Vehicle Office before use, and a $6.00 processing fee applies to electronic issuance.

Can a Vermont Temporary Permit Be Used Across State Lines?

An interstate in-transit plate is valid for 30 days for movement from a point in Vermont to a point in another state, and under 23 V.S.A. § 516, the Commissioner may issue an in-transit registration permit for a vehicle sold in Vermont by a person other than a registered dealer and transported to and registered in another state or province. Dealer sales of vehicles to be transported out of state are governed by the separate provisions of section 463 of Title 23. The intrastate in-transit plate is valid only for movement within Vermont.

Commercial trip permits authorize operation within Vermont for their stated period, and oversize and overweight permits authorize movement only over approved routes within the State. Vermont's 72-hour trip permit becomes void upon leaving the State, and carriers operating in other IRP or IFTA jurisdictions must hold valid credentials for each jurisdiction entered.

Penalties for Driving Without the Proper Temporary Permit

Vermont imposes penalties for operating a vehicle without valid registration or the required temporary authority.

• Under 23 V.S.A. § 301, a motor vehicle may not be operated on any highway unless it is registered, and a person attempting to register a vehicle of which that person is not the bona fide owner shall be fined not more than $500.00 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
• An operator cited for operating without the required registration certificate with respect to a pleasure car, motorcycle, or truck registrable at less than 26,001 pounds is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $5.00 if cited within 14 days following the expiration of the vehicle's registration.
• Fines for overweight violations are assessed per thousand pounds overweight and vary with the amount of the overweight, with enforcement tolerances ranging from zero to 10%, depending on the violation type and whether the operation is in conformance with a permit, under the penalty schedule established pursuant to 23 V.S.A. § 1391a.
• Under 23 V.S.A. § 511, a temporary or in-transit registration plate must be displayed horizontally in a conspicuous place on the rear of the vehicle, entirely unobscured, with the numerals and letters plainly legible at all times.
• The defendant on a ticket issued for an overweight violation may be the operator or the carrier, and fine amounts depend on the number of overweight convictions recorded against the defendant in the preceding 12 months.

Contact Information

Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles
120 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05603
Phone: (802) 828-2000
Official Website: Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles