What Maine 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 2010-07-11; we last read the source on 2026-07-10.
Oversize permit
$6–$27.50
Each dimension has its own table, and you pay the highest one — not the sum. Being over on three dimensions costs the same as being over on the dearest.
Overweight permit
From $6
Scales with weight — there is no single figure.
+ $20 Permigo service fee per permit, state fees at cost.
Legal limits
Exceed any one of these in Maine and you need a permit for this state.
Limit
Interstate
Width
8'6"
Height
14'0"
Length
65'0"
Gross weight
80,000 lbs
Single axle
22,400 lbs
Tandem axle
38,000 lbs
Tridem axle
48,000 lbs
Trailer length
53'0"
What the permit costs
Maine prices a single-trip permit as worst dimension. Each dimension has its own table, and you pay the highest one — not the sum. Being over on three dimensions costs the same as being over on the dearest.
Band
State fee
Width up to 10'6"
$6
Width up to 11'6"
$8
Width up to 12'6"
$10
Width up to 13'6"
$12.50
Width up to 14'6"
$15
Width up to 15'6"
$18
Width up to 16'6"
$21
Width up to 17'6"
$25
Width over 17'6"
$27.50
Height up to 19'0"
$6
Height up to 20'0"
$8
Height up to 21'0"
$10
Height up to 22'0"
$12.50
Height up to 23'0"
$15
Height up to 24'0"
$18
Height up to 25'0"
$21
Height up to 26'0"
$25
Height over 26'0"
$27.50
Length up to 75'0"
$6
Length up to 80'0"
$8
Length up to 85'0"
$10
Length up to 90'0"
$12.50
Length up to 95'0"
$15
Length up to 100'0"
$18
Length up to 105'0"
$21
Length up to 110'0"
$25
Length over 110'0"
$27.50
State fee only. Permigo adds $20 per state permit and bills the state fee at cost.
Escort requirements
Thresholds by road class. Where two classes differ, the road you are actually on governs.
Divided highway
Width
Requirement
Over 12'0"
1 rear escortMore than 12' wide (to <16'): 1 pilot vehicle (Ch.157 §16 Table 1; Multi-State permits trigger at ≥12'). Position: 'Pilot vehicles must travel in front of the overdimensional vehicle(s), unless traveling on a divided highway in which case, the pilot vehicle must follow' (§16(2)(A) verbatim).Seasonal windows (Ch.157 §8, amended 2025): Apr 22–Nov 18 = Mon–Fri daylight + Saturday until 12 PM; Jun 3–Aug 26 Saturdays end at 9 AM on I-95 (noon elsewhere); Sundays in July/August and all holidays need MaineDOT Traffic Engineering pre-clearance (2 working days); holidays + holiday WEEKENDS blocked per the annual BMV letter. Fairs/festivals can preclude permits.Maine Turnpike: a SEPARATE MTA permit ($10/day cash at staffed over-limit lanes) is required in addition to the BMV permit (Ch.157 §19); hard 13'6" height (no 6-inch load allowance), width refused over 14'6", minimum speed 45 mph.
16'0" and over
1 rear escort · 1 police escort · route survey · superload16' wide or more (<20'): 1 pilot + 1 police escort — or 2 police when MSP/MaineDOT/BMV deems necessary (Table 1). Statutory floor §2382(9-A): ≥16' wide may not move without a police escort (STATE police on the Interstate). Width >16' is presumed Extreme (engineering review 2–5 business days). MSP: book ≥3 working days ahead; billed at actual cost, 4-hour minimum; police-escort permits generally NOT issued for Saturdays (Ch.156 §3).
20'0" and over
1 rear escort · 2 police escorts · route survey · superload20' wide or more: 2 police escorts + 1 pilot (Table 1) + §8 duties: utility and town notifications, clear-visibility-only movement, non-commuter/school-bus hours.
Height
Requirement
Over 15'0"
1 front escort · height pole · superloadOver 15' high: 1 POLE CAR ('A pole car is required when overall height exceeds 15 feet', Ch.157 §12(5)(E)) — the only height escort in Maine; no pilot below 15'. >15' is also an Extreme presumption. Legal height = structural 13'6" + 6-inch load allowance = 14' effective (§2380(2)); the Turnpike allows NO load allowance (hard 13'6").
Length
Requirement
Over 80'0"
1 rear escortMore than 80' long (to <125'): 1 pilot (front unless divided highway — §16(2)(A)); ≥200' following distance for overlength moves.
125'0" and over
1 rear escort · 1 police escort · route survey · superload125' or more (<150'): 1 pilot + 1 police escort (statutory §2382(9-A); state police on the Interstate). ≥125' is presumed Extreme.
150'0" and over
1 rear escort · 2 police escorts150' or more: 2 police escorts + 1 pilot + §8 public-outreach duties (press release, municipal notification), utility/town notifications, non-commuter hours.
Rear overhang
Requirement
Over 4'0"
Marking requiredRear projection over 4': red light at night / clean fluorescent cloth ≥12"×12" otherwise (§2385(1)). Maine has NO general overhang legal caps — overhang is bounded by the length scheme (autotransporters +4' front/+6' rear).
Over 5'0"
1 front escort + 1 rear escortRear overhang over 5' (to 15'): TWO pilot vehicles — one precedes, one follows (Ch.157 §16 Table 1;)
Over 15'0"
1 rear escort · 1 police escortRear overhang over 15': 1 police escort + 1 pilot (Table 1 + §17)
1 front escortMore than 12' wide (to <16'): 1 pilot vehicle (Ch.157 §16 Table 1; Multi-State permits trigger at ≥12'). Position: 'Pilot vehicles must travel in front of the overdimensional vehicle(s), unless traveling on a divided highway in which case, the pilot vehicle must follow' (§16(2)(A) verbatim).Seasonal windows (Ch.157 §8, amended 2025): Apr 22–Nov 18 = Mon–Fri daylight + Saturday until 12 PM; Jun 3–Aug 26 Saturdays end at 9 AM on I-95 (noon elsewhere); Sundays in July/August and all holidays need MaineDOT Traffic Engineering pre-clearance (2 working days); holidays + holiday WEEKENDS blocked per the annual BMV letter. Fairs/festivals can preclude permits.Maine Turnpike: a SEPARATE MTA permit ($10/day cash at staffed over-limit lanes) is required in addition to the BMV permit (Ch.157 §19); hard 13'6" height (no 6-inch load allowance), width refused over 14'6", minimum speed 45 mph.
16'0" and over
1 front escort · 1 police escort · route survey · superload16' wide or more (<20'): 1 pilot + 1 police escort — or 2 police when MSP/MaineDOT/BMV deems necessary (Table 1). Statutory floor §2382(9-A): ≥16' wide may not move without a police escort (STATE police on the Interstate). Width >16' is presumed Extreme (engineering review 2–5 business days). MSP: book ≥3 working days ahead; billed at actual cost, 4-hour minimum; police-escort permits generally NOT issued for Saturdays (Ch.156 §3).
20'0" and over
1 front escort · 2 police escorts · route survey · superload20' wide or more: 2 police escorts + 1 pilot (Table 1) + §8 duties: utility and town notifications, clear-visibility-only movement, non-commuter/school-bus hours.
Height
Requirement
Over 15'0"
1 front escort · height pole · superloadOver 15' high: 1 POLE CAR ('A pole car is required when overall height exceeds 15 feet', Ch.157 §12(5)(E)) — the only height escort in Maine; no pilot below 15'. >15' is also an Extreme presumption. Legal height = structural 13'6" + 6-inch load allowance = 14' effective (§2380(2)); the Turnpike allows NO load allowance (hard 13'6").
Length
Requirement
Over 80'0"
1 front escortMore than 80' long (to <125'): 1 pilot (front unless divided highway — §16(2)(A)); ≥200' following distance for overlength moves.
125'0" and over
1 front escort · 1 police escort · route survey · superload125' or more (<150'): 1 pilot + 1 police escort (statutory §2382(9-A); state police on the Interstate). ≥125' is presumed Extreme.
150'0" and over
1 front escort · 2 police escorts150' or more: 2 police escorts + 1 pilot + §8 public-outreach duties (press release, municipal notification), utility/town notifications, non-commuter hours.
Rear overhang
Requirement
Over 4'0"
Marking requiredRear projection over 4': red light at night / clean fluorescent cloth ≥12"×12" otherwise (§2385(1)). Maine has NO general overhang legal caps — overhang is bounded by the length scheme (autotransporters +4' front/+6' rear).
Over 5'0"
1 front escort + 1 rear escortRear overhang over 5' (to 15'): TWO pilot vehicles — one precedes, one follows (Ch.157 §16 Table 1;)
Over 15'0"
1 rear escort · 1 police escortRear overhang over 15': 1 police escort + 1 pilot (Table 1 + §17)
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.
