Virginia Oversize/Overweight Permits

PERMITS: Virginia oversize permits are valid for 13 consecutive days. You must have a permit prior to entering the state.

OPERATING TIME: Operation is permitted from sunrise to sunset, Monday through Saturday. Overlength-only loads where the length is not over 85’ and rear overhang does not exceed 10’ may travel continuously. Overweight-only loads may travel continuously.

LEGAL DIMENSIONS

Width: Height: Length: Overhang: Weight:
8’6″ 13’6″
  • 48’ semitrailer/53’ semi-trailer, with 41’ kingpin to center of rear tandem
  • 65’ on non-designated highways
  • 3’ front
  • 4’ rear
 80,000 lbs. gross weight

  • Single – 20,000 lbs.
  • Tandem – 34,000 lbs.
  • Tridem – 42,500 lbs. (designated highways, 9 axle spacing)

PERMIT LIMITS

Width: 15’
Height: 15’
Weight:
  • Single – 24,000 lbs.
  • Tandem – 44,000 lbs.
  • Tridem – 60,000 lbs. on Interstates; 54,500 lbs. off Interstates
  • Quad – 63,000-65,000 lbs. depending on spacings

Only tridems have a different limit for Interstate-only travel.
Length: 150’
Overhang: Rear overhang cannot exceed 1/3 of the length of load. 2/3 of the load must therefore rest upon truck or trailer bed.

Loads exceeding these dimensions are treated as superloads. Allow 5 to 10 days for processing for superload permits.

ESCORTS FOR WIDE LOADS AND OVERSIZED SHIPPING

Generally, no escorts are required on divided highways. Escorts must be VA certified for loads over 12′ wide

When Escorts are Needed:

On Interstate Highways:
Length over 120’ 1 escort
Length over 150’ 2 escorts
Overhang Over 10’ front or 15’ rear – needs 1 escort
Width:

12’-14’ – 1 escort

14’-16’ – 2 escorts

16′-18’ – 3 escorts

Over 18’ – Determined on a case-by-case basis.
Height over 14’5″ 1 escort with a high pole

On 2-Lane Highways:
Length over 85′ 1 escort
Length over 150′ 2 escorts
Height over 14’5″ 1 escort
Overhang over 10′ or 15′ rear 1 escort
Width:

12’-14’ – 2 escorts

14’-16’ – 3 escorts

16’-18’ – 4 escorts

Over 18’ – Determined on a case-by-case basis.

 

SIGNS, FLAGS & LIGHTS

“Oversize Load” signs are required on the front and rear of the vehicle/load for all over-dimensional permit loads in Virginia. Flags must be displayed on all four corners of all oversize loads, and at the widest extremities of the vehicle or load on wide loads and at the extreme rear of overlength loads. Flags must also be used on rear overhangs exceeding 4 feet, and a red light visible for at least 500’ must be displayed if traveling at night. When a vehicle/load is wider than 12’ or longer than 75’, flashing amber lights visible for 500’ must be displayed on the tractor and at the upper rear end of the load or vehicle. However, amber lights are not needed if the load is accompanied by escort vehicles with amber flashing lights on each escort vehicle. Signs are not required for movements that are overweight only.

 

RESTRICTED TRAVEL

Except when travel is on the Interstate system, no travel is permitted within the corporate limits of cities or towns between the hours of 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. or 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. In addition, these curfew hours apply to Interstate routes in the Capital Beltway area (I-495, I-395, and I-95), in the Richmond area (I-64 between I-95 and I-295 east and west, on I-95 from Route 73 North of Richmond to I-295 South of Richmond), within the city limits of Petersburg (South of Richmond) on I-85 and I-95, on I-581 and Loop 419 in the Roanoke area, and in the Tidewater Area (Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth on I-64 south of US17, and on I-264, I-464, I-564, and I-664). There is no permitted travel on major holidays and holiday weekends.

Newport News-Portsmouth-Norfolk area note: Permits are required on all but the main Interstate Highways in this area. Fines are very high for unauthorized travel. Permit turnaround time is 24-72 hours, so planning ahead is recommended.

You can also obtain any trip and fuel permits you may need with our sister site!