Vehicle lifts in Vermont: keeping the plate unobscured

For Vermont drivers, a hitch-mounted scooter lift raises a fair question: if the platform or the scooter on it hides the plate, is that a violation? Vermont's display statute uses firm words, "entirely unobscured," and we found no exception written into it for mobility carriers.

That does not rule out a hitch lift. It does mean choosing one that carries the plate where it can be seen, or a hoist that brings the device inside.

What 23 V.S.A. § 511 requires

Vermont's rule is in 23 V.S.A. § 511, "Manner of display." A motor vehicle on a highway must have its plate or plates "displayed in a conspicuous place," and where only one plate is issued it "shall be securely attached to the rear of the vehicle." Then:

• "Except as otherwise provided by law: (A) Number plates shall be kept entirely unobscured and the numerals and letters on the plates shall be plainly legible at all times."
• "(C) A person shall not cover or obscure any numerals or letters on a number plate with any material or substance."
• "Number plates shall be kept horizontal, shall be so fastened as not to swing."

Subsection (c) adds: "A person shall not operate a motor vehicle unless a number plate or number plates are displayed as provided in this section."

The opening words, "Except as otherwise provided by law," leave room for exceptions elsewhere in Vermont law. We did not find one for wheelchair lifts or carriers. Until someone in authority tells you otherwise, plan as if the plate must stay fully visible with the lift up and loaded.

Lights after dark

Vermont's lighting statute, 23 V.S.A. § 1243, requires a vehicle on a highway "from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise" to have lighted head lamps and "a lighted tail or rear lamp of a design so approved." We did not find a separate plate-lamp rule in the part we read, but a carrier that blocks the tail lamps creates its own problem. Lifts with their own lighting, or an added brake light, address that.

What we could not confirm

We found no Vermont statute naming wheelchair carriers, and we could not find a current Vermont Vocational Rehabilitation page describing help with vehicle modifications. For an official answer on a carrier, ask the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles; for funding, ask a VR counselor.

Lifts that keep the plate in view

Start with three numbers: the weight of the scooter or chair, the class of your hitch, and the tongue weight your vehicle is rated to carry. Then look at where the plate ends up. A lift that ships with its own plate mount solves the visibility question on the road, and a hoist that loads the device into a truck bed or cargo area avoids it altogether. Once a lift is on, load the scooter and walk behind the car to check that every letter and numeral is readable.

• Harmar AL100-DE. A powered hitch lift with a dual-entry platform built to carry nearly any three- or four-wheel scooter, rated to lift 350 lb. A license plate mount comes with it, so the plate rides on the lift where it can be read.
• Harmar AL010/AL050. Micro hitch lifts for smaller scooters, powerchairs and manual chairs up to 135 lb, needing a Class I or greater hitch. A license plate mount is included and a license plate riser is available.
• Bruno ASL-275L Out-Sider. A self-leveling hitch platform for lightweight power wheelchairs, with a third-brake light among its options. Bruno notes the vehicle's tongue weight rating often decides whether a hitch lift is suitable.
• Harmar AL825 Pickup Speed. A truck-bed hoist rated at 210 lb that loads a manual chair, small power chair or scooter into the bed and leaves the rear plate alone.

Vermont roads in snow, ice and flood

NOAA's Vermont climate summary says severe winter storms "are common in Vermont's cold winter climate and may include snowstorms, blizzards, nor'easters, and icing events." It also notes that annual average precipitation "has increased nearly 6 inches since the 1960s," and that when Tropical Storm Irene crossed the state in 2011, "Roughly 3 to 7 inches of rain fell in less than 18 hours."

Snow and slush build up quickly on anything mounted behind a car, and a plate that is covered in snow is not "plainly legible." Brush the plate and lights clear before driving, and consider a fitted cover for a scooter that rides outside. Harmar offers a scooter cover as an add-on for the AL100-DE, and Bruno offers a vinyl cover for the Out-Sider.

Trying equipment through Vermont's AT program

The AT3 Center lists the Vermont Assistive Technology Program for device loans, demonstrations, reutilization and financial loans. The program's own services page offers demonstrations and a loan program for 30 days, free of charge, which can help you settle on the scooter or chair before you choose the lift that carries it.

Ordering and delivery to Vermont

We work with a team of credentialed local specialists to guarantee timely, safe, and optimal delivery and installation. We ship to the lower 48 states and DC, with free shipping on orders over $500 ($15 under $500), and we cover the sales tax on every order. Most products are processed in 2-5 business days; some brands differ. Details are on our Vermont shipping page, and the vehicle lift fit check matches a lift to your vehicle and device.

Questions about vehicle lifts in Vermont

Can a scooter lift cover my plate in Vermont?

23 V.S.A. § 511 says number plates "shall be kept entirely unobscured" and plainly legible at all times, except as otherwise provided by law. We found no Vermont exception for wheelchair carriers, so choose a lift that relocates the plate onto its own mount, and ask the Department of Motor Vehicles if you are unsure.

Do Vermont rules say how the plate must be mounted?

Section 511 requires plates to be kept horizontal and "so fastened as not to swing," and a single plate must be securely attached to the rear of the vehicle. A lift's plate mount should hold the plate flat and firm, and the plate must stay readable with the scooter loaded.

Which lifts work for a pickup truck in Vermont?

Truck-bed hoists such as the Harmar AL825 Pickup Speed load a manual wheelchair, small power wheelchair or scooter into the bed, rated at 210 lb, and leave the rear plate where it is. Check the device's weight and whether a docking device is needed before ordering.

Does Vermont help pay for vehicle modifications?

We could not find a current Vermont Vocational Rehabilitation page that describes vehicle modification help, so we cannot say. A VR counselor is the right person to ask. The Vermont Assistive Technology Program can lend equipment for 30 days free of charge while you decide on a device.

Browse the vehicle lift collection, use the fit check, or take the full assessment. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• 23 V.S.A. § 511, manner of display (number plates)
• 23 V.S.A. § 1243, lights
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: Vermont (2022)
• AT3 Center: Vermont
• Vermont Assistive Technology Program: services
• Harmar AL100-DE product page, Harmar AL010/050 product page, Bruno ASL-275L product page, Harmar AL825 product page