Oversize Vehicle Permits for Auto Transport: When You Need One and What It Costs

Width: The federal limit on interstates is 8 feet 6 inches (102 inches). Wider loads need permits.

Height: There's no single federal height limit; most states set 13 feet 6 inches, with some allowing 14 feet. Taller loads need permits and route surveys for bridges.

Weight: Federal limits cap gross vehicle weight at 80,000 pounds on interstates, with axle and bridge-formula limits.

Length: States set limits for the overall truck and trailer combination.

What matters is the height of the vehicle sitting on the trailer, not the vehicle on the ground. A trailer deck may sit two to five feet off the road. A tall SUV or lifted truck that's well under 13'6" on its own can exceed it when loaded high. That's why carriers often use low-deck trailers for tall vehicles — it can avoid the permit entirely.

• Stock cars, SUVs and pickups: Almost never.
• Lifted trucks: Usually not, if loaded in the right position. See shipping a lifted or modified truck.
• Class A motorhomes and large RVs: Often, especially when hauled rather than driven. See RV transport.
• Buses: Depends on size and method. See bus shipping.
• Heavy equipment: Frequently — excavators, dozers and large tractors. See heavy equipment shipping and lowboy trucking.
• Boats with a wide beam: Over 8'6" usually needs a permit. See boat shipping.

The carrier obtains the permits, not you. Permits are issued to the transportation company for each state on the route, through each state's own permitting system. The cost is passed through in your quote as an oversize surcharge.

A good quote includes that surcharge from the start, based on your vehicle's exact dimensions.

• Pilot or escort cars: Required in many states once a load passes certain widths or heights.
• Daytime-only travel: Many states limit oversize loads to daylight hours.
• Weekend and holiday restrictions: Some states ban oversize movement on weekends or holidays.
• Weather: High winds or storms can halt oversize loads.
• Route surveys: Very tall loads may need a planned route around low bridges.

These rules add time as well as cost, so build extra days into your plan.

For many consumer oversize shipments crossing one to three states, the permit-related surcharge is often roughly $150–$800. Longer routes through more states, or loads that need escorts, cost more. Heavy equipment and very wide loads are priced individually.

Give us the exact length, width, height and weight when you request a quote so it's right the first time.

Permits add planning time. Each state on the route issues its own permit, and some take a day or two to approve. Loads that need escorts also need escort cars scheduled. Combined with daytime-only and weekend restrictions, an oversize shipment can take a few days longer than a standard one of the same distance.

Book oversize shipments at least two to three weeks ahead.

• Remove accessories that add height or width, like light bars and wide mirrors.
• Lower air suspension or remove a windshield if possible.
• Use a lower-deck trailer, step-deck or lowboy to keep the loaded height legal.
• Choose a route with fewer states or fewer restrictions.

See lowboy trucking and heavy equipment shipping.

• Exact length, width and height
• Weight, if known
• Photos from the front, side and rear
• Whether it runs and can be driven onto a trailer
• Pickup and delivery addresses and access details

Federal rules for the National Network of highways, found in 23 CFR Part 658, set baseline limits that most car shipping falls under:

• Width: Commercial vehicles are limited to 102 inches (8 feet 6 inches) wide, not counting certain safety devices.
• Weight: Gross vehicle weight on the Interstate System is generally capped at 80,000 pounds, with axle limits and the federal bridge formula controlling how weight is spread.
• Length: Federal rules set minimum allowable trailer lengths that states must permit; overall length limits vary by state and configuration.
• Height: There's no federal height limit. States set their own, most commonly 13 feet 6 inches, with some allowing 14 feet or more.

Loads that go beyond these limits need permits from each state on the route.

Each state runs its own permitting system, usually online. Carriers apply for single-trip permits listing the load's dimensions, weight, route and dates. Some states also require route surveys for very tall loads, or special approvals for superloads that are extremely heavy or large. Permits can be issued the same day for routine oversize loads, but complex loads may take longer. When a route crosses several states, the carrier coordinates permits for each one.

• Daylight only: Many states allow oversize loads to move only between sunrise and sunset.
• Weekends and holidays: Some states restrict oversize movement on weekends and major holidays.
• Urban curfews: Large cities may ban oversize loads during rush hours.
• Designated routes: Permits often specify the exact highways the load must use.
• Weather: High winds, snow and ice can halt oversize loads for safety.

These restrictions add days, which is why oversize shipments need more lead time.

States require pilot or escort vehicles once a load passes certain widths, lengths or heights. A common pattern is one escort for moderately wide loads and front-and-rear escorts for wider ones, but thresholds vary by state and road type. Some escorts must be certified. Very tall loads may need a height pole on the lead vehicle to check clearances ahead. Escort costs are added to the quote when they're needed.

• Large motorhomes on a trailer: Often exceed height or width when hauled; driveaway can sometimes avoid permits.
• Boats with a wide beam: Any boat wider than 8'6" on its trailer usually needs a permit. Boats over 10–12 feet wide often need escorts.
• Excavators and dozers: Often over width and sometimes over weight, requiring permits and possibly escorts.
• Combines and large tractors: Usually over width, and frequently moved with headers removed.

See boat shipping, RV transport and lowboy trucking.

• Number of states crossed
• How far over the limits the load is
• Escort requirements in each state
• Route surveys for tall loads
• Extra travel days from time restrictions
• Special handling for superloads

A good quote breaks out or includes these costs from the start, based on your exact measurements.

A Chevy Tahoe stands about 6 feet 4 inches tall. On the top deck of a standard car carrier, where the deck may be about 7 feet off the road, the top of the Tahoe would sit well above 13 feet 6 inches. On the lower deck, perhaps a couple of feet off the road, it fits easily. Nothing about the vehicle changed — only where it rides. That's why carriers ask for exact heights and plan loads so every vehicle stays legal without permits.

• Measure length, width and height as the vehicle will sit on the trailer.
• Share the weight, or the manufacturer's operating weight.
• Send photos from the front, side and rear.
• Confirm whether accessories can be removed to reduce size.
• Plan two to three weeks of lead time for permits.
• Make sure both sites have room for a long truck and trailer to load and unload.

Does my lifted truck need an oversize permit to ship?: Usually not. Most lifted trucks stay within legal limits when loaded in a low trailer position. Very tall or wide builds may need a specialty trailer or a permit.

Do RVs and motorhomes need oversize permits?: Many large motorhomes do, especially Class A coaches being hauled. Smaller RVs often don't.

Who obtains oversize permits — me or the carrier?: The carrier obtains them for each state on the route and includes the cost in your quote.

How much does an oversize permit add to shipping?: Often roughly $150–$800 for consumer vehicles crossing a few states, and more for longer routes or loads needing escorts.

How long does it take to get an oversize permit?: Routine permits can often be issued the same day or within a day or two. Complex loads crossing many states can take longer.

Can I get the permit myself?: Permits are generally issued to the motor carrier operating the truck, so the carrier handles them.

Does an oversize load cost more to insure?: Insurance for oversize equipment can cost more, and carriers price that into their rates.

Do oversize permits cover the whole country?: No. Each state issues its own permit for travel within its borders.

What happens if a load is oversize without a permit?: The carrier can be fined and the truck held until the right permits are obtained, which delays your shipment. That's why accurate measurements matter.

Can permits be avoided by using a different trailer?: Often. A lower-deck trailer can keep a tall load under height limits, and removing accessories can bring width or height down.