What Kentucky charges for a single-trip OS/OW permit, the limits that trigger one, and the escort thresholds — read from the state’s own publication. This rule has been in effect since 2026-06-24; we last read the source on 2026-07-10.
Oversize permit
$60
One price for a single-trip permit, whatever the dimensions. A 9-foot-wide load and a 16-foot-wide load pay the same.
Overweight permit
$60
One price for a single-trip overweight permit.
A load that is both oversize and overweight pays this fee only, not both.
+ $20 Permigo service fee per permit, state fees at cost.
Legal limits
Exceed any one of these in Kentucky and you need a permit for this state.
Limit
Interstate
Off-interstate
Width
8'6"
8'0"
Height
13'6"
13'6"
Length
65'0"
65'0"
Gross weight
80,000 lbs
80,000 lbs
Single axle
20,000 lbs
Tandem axle
34,000 lbs
Tridem axle
48,000 lbs
Trailer length
53'0"
What the permit costs
Kentucky prices a single-trip permit as flat rate. One price for a single-trip permit, whatever the dimensions. A 9-foot-wide load and a 16-foot-wide load pay the same.
Escort requirements
Thresholds by road class. Where two classes differ, the road you are actually on governs.
Multi-lane (4+)
Width
Requirement
Over 12'0"
1 rear escortOver 12' wide on MULTI-LANE roads: 1 REAR escort only (601 KAR 1:018 §14(4)(a); page verbatim: '1 - Rear escort required when Width exceeds 12-FT.'). The front escort joins at >14' (§14(3)(a)).Over 12' wide: no movement 'if a wind advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service' or when conditions are dangerous (601 KAR 1:018 §10(4)); annual permits over 12' wide are limited to 4+-lane highways plus designated shortest/best 2-lane connectors (§10(5)).Rush-hour curfew: no movement 7–9 a.m. and 4–6 p.m. Mon–Fri in Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Fayette, and Jefferson (Louisville) counties or at the Owensboro KY-2155 bridge (§5(5)(a)). EXEMPTION: loads originating in Fayette County are exempt on I-64/I-75 + connecting routes within 3 miles (§5(5)(b)); emergency override available (§5(6)).
Over 14'0"
1 front escort + 1 rear escortOver 14' wide on multi-lane roads: 1 front + 1 rear escort (KAR §14(3)(a) lead >14' + §14(4)(a) trail >12').
Over 16'0"
2 front escorts + 2 rear escorts · superloadOver 16' wide: 2 front + 2 rear escorts on all road types (KYTC page verbatim: '2 – Front and 2 – Rear escorts are required when Width exceeds 16-FT.'). Provenance: KYTC Escort Requirements page / permit practice — this tier is NOT in the current or proposed KAR (the regulation gives the Division discretionary special-provision authority, §14(5)). 16' is the annual-permit statutory cap (KRS 189.270(3)(b)); single-trip loads beyond it go to individual review.
Height
Requirement
Over 14'11"
1 front escort · height poleHeight exceeds 14'11": ONE front escort carrying the height pole, all road types (KAR §13(1)(d) verbatim: 'Use a height pole front escort if the escorted load is in excess of fourteen (14) feet eleven (11) inches' + §14(1)(c)/(3)(b)). FIXED 2026-07-10: the flag previously billed ZERO vehicles — the pole rides a real, billed front escort (the inverse of the pole double-bill).
Over 15'6"
route surveyHeight over 15'6": completed Proposed Route Survey, TC Form 95-625, accepted by the Division of Motor Carriers before the permit issues (KAR §6(4) verbatim). Single-trip permits have no statutory height cap — maximum height is set per route by the cabinet (§6(3)); annual permits cap at 13'6" (§6(2)); A10 manufactured homes 15' (KRS 189.270(7)(b)).
Length
Requirement
Over 110'0"
1 rear escortOver 110' on multi-lane roads: 1 rear escort (KAR §14(4): 4-lane trail when 'length is in excess of 110 feet'; page: '1 – Rear escort required when Length exceeds 110-FT.'). Below 110' multi-lane roads take NO length escort.
Over 120'0"
1 front escort + 2 rear escorts · superloadOver 120': 1 front + 2 rear escorts, all road types (KYTC page verbatim: '1 - Front and 2 – Rear escorts required when Length exceeds 120- ft.'). Provenance: KYTC Escort Requirements page / permit practice — this tier is NOT in the current or proposed KAR (the regulation gives the Division discretionary special-provision authority, §14(5)). 120' (incl. towing vehicle) is the annual statutory cap (KRS 189.270(3)(b)); single-trip beyond = individual review.
Front overhang
Requirement
Over 0'0"
Not permittedFRONT OVERHANG IS PROHIBITED on combination vehicles under Kentucky permit (601 KAR 1:018 §9(1)); over 10' of front overhang on a single unit requires an amber strobe on the power unit (§11(3)). Transporter legals: auto/boat 3' front / 4' rear inside the 65'; stinger-steered 4'/6'; 48' trailers may carry 5' rear overhang on designated highways (603 KAR 5:070 §2).
Rear overhang
Requirement
Over 10'0"
Marking requiredRear overhang carries TWO warning flags (601 KAR 1:018 §11(1)(b)). The old '>10 ft rear overhang = 1 rear escort' band was
Weight
Requirement
Over 160,000 lbs
route survey · superloadGVW over 160,000 lb exceeds the 7-axle permit table ceiling (KAR §7(2)(h)) and the annual statutory cap — route + bridge analysis by the cabinet's Bridge Preservation Branch (§7(3)); no published fee or timeline (the filed 2026 amendment adds a $500 superload bridge-analysis fee). Permit axle ceilings: single 24k / steer 20k / tandem 45k (5-axle) or 48k (6+) / tridem 60k / 5-axle 96k / 6-axle 120k / 7-axle 160k; prerequisite: registered weight ≥80,000 lb (§7(1)(a)).
2-lane
Width
Requirement
Over 12'0"
1 front escort + 1 rear escortOver 12' wide on 2-LANE roads: 1 front + 1 rear escort (601 KAR 1:018 §14: lead when 'width is in excess of twelve (12) feet' + trail same).Over 12' wide: no movement 'if a wind advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service' or when conditions are dangerous (601 KAR 1:018 §10(4)); annual permits over 12' wide are limited to 4+-lane highways plus designated shortest/best 2-lane connectors (§10(5)).Rush-hour curfew: no movement 7–9 a.m. and 4–6 p.m. Mon–Fri in Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Fayette, and Jefferson (Louisville) counties or at the Owensboro KY-2155 bridge (§5(5)(a)). EXEMPTION: loads originating in Fayette County are exempt on I-64/I-75 + connecting routes within 3 miles (§5(5)(b)); emergency override available (§5(6)).
Over 16'0"
2 front escorts + 2 rear escorts · superloadOver 16' wide: 2 front + 2 rear escorts on all road types (KYTC page verbatim: '2 – Front and 2 – Rear escorts are required when Width exceeds 16-FT.'). Provenance: KYTC Escort Requirements page / permit practice — this tier is NOT in the current or proposed KAR (the regulation gives the Division discretionary special-provision authority, §14(5)). 16' is the annual-permit statutory cap (KRS 189.270(3)(b)); single-trip loads beyond it go to individual review.
Height
Requirement
Over 14'11"
1 front escort · height poleHeight exceeds 14'11": ONE front escort carrying the height pole, all road types (KAR §13(1)(d) verbatim: 'Use a height pole front escort if the escorted load is in excess of fourteen (14) feet eleven (11) inches' + §14(1)(c)/(3)(b)). FIXED 2026-07-10: the flag previously billed ZERO vehicles — the pole rides a real, billed front escort (the inverse of the pole double-bill).
Over 15'6"
route surveyHeight over 15'6": completed Proposed Route Survey, TC Form 95-625, accepted by the Division of Motor Carriers before the permit issues (KAR §6(4) verbatim). Single-trip permits have no statutory height cap — maximum height is set per route by the cabinet (§6(3)); annual permits cap at 13'6" (§6(2)); A10 manufactured homes 15' (KRS 189.270(7)(b)).
Length
Requirement
Over 75'0"
1 front escortOver 75' on 2-LANE roads: 1 front escort (KAR §14: 2-lane lead when 'length is in excess of seventy five (75) feet'). Multi-lane roads take NO length escort until >110' — a real KY
Over 85'0"
1 front escort + 1 rear escortOver 85' on 2-lane roads: 1 front + 1 rear (KAR: 2-lane trail when 'length is in excess of eighty five (85) feet').
Over 120'0"
1 front escort + 2 rear escorts · superloadOver 120': 1 front + 2 rear escorts, all road types (KYTC page verbatim: '1 - Front and 2 – Rear escorts required when Length exceeds 120- ft.'). Provenance: KYTC Escort Requirements page / permit practice — this tier is NOT in the current or proposed KAR (the regulation gives the Division discretionary special-provision authority, §14(5)). 120' (incl. towing vehicle) is the annual statutory cap (KRS 189.270(3)(b)); single-trip beyond = individual review.
Front overhang
Requirement
Over 0'0"
Not permittedFRONT OVERHANG IS PROHIBITED on combination vehicles under Kentucky permit (601 KAR 1:018 §9(1)); over 10' of front overhang on a single unit requires an amber strobe on the power unit (§11(3)). Transporter legals: auto/boat 3' front / 4' rear inside the 65'; stinger-steered 4'/6'; 48' trailers may carry 5' rear overhang on designated highways (603 KAR 5:070 §2).
Rear overhang
Requirement
Over 10'0"
Marking requiredRear overhang carries TWO warning flags (601 KAR 1:018 §11(1)(b)). The old '>10 ft rear overhang = 1 rear escort' band was
Weight
Requirement
Over 160,000 lbs
route survey · superloadGVW over 160,000 lb exceeds the 7-axle permit table ceiling (KAR §7(2)(h)) and the annual statutory cap — route + bridge analysis by the cabinet's Bridge Preservation Branch (§7(3)); no published fee or timeline (the filed 2026 amendment adds a $500 superload bridge-analysis fee). Permit axle ceilings: single 24k / steer 20k / tandem 45k (5-axle) or 48k (6+) / tridem 60k / 5-axle 96k / 6-axle 120k / 7-axle 160k; prerequisite: registered weight ≥80,000 lb (§7(1)(a)).
Movement restrictions
Restriction
In Kentucky
Night travel
Night travel allowed
Weekends
Not specified
Holidays
No blanket restriction
Movement hours (KYTC Travel Provisions + 601 KAR 1:018 §5(5), verified 2026-07-10)
Load
Window
Any permitted load
24 hours, 7 days — 'unless specified otherwise on the permit'
Holidays & weekends
OPEN — 'There are no holiday travel restrictions in Kentucky' (statutorily backed, KRS 189.270(12)(a))
5 curfew counties + Owensboro KY-2155
no movement 7–9 a.m. / 4–6 p.m. Mon–Fri (Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Fayette, Jefferson; Fayette-origination exemption on I-64/75)
Manufactured / mobile homes
daylight only Mon–Sat; NO Sunday travel
House moves
midnight–5 a.m. only; barred from interstates/parkways
Wind (>12′ wide)
no movement under an NWS wind advisory
Where these permits come from
If you file yourself, this is the office you are dealing with. Check the linked page — some states issue OS/OW permits through their highway patrol or revenue department rather than the DOT.
Kentucky permit office
Permit office
(502) 564-7150
Permit portal
Kentucky Overweight/Over-Dimensional Portal — kyautomatedpermitsystem.com (annuals same-day on the portal per FAQ; the Permits page's '10–14 business days' applies to mail/fax)
601 KAR 1:018 (eff. 7-7-2017, full text) + KRS 189.221/.222/.270/.2713 + 603 KAR 5:066/5:070 + KYTC OWOD pages · drive.ky.gov · in effect since 2026-06-24 · source read 2026-07-10. Fees and rules change; the linked document is always the authority.
Other states
Colour shows how each state prices a permit. Alaska, Hawaii and DC are not served.
