What Rhode Island 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 2025-06-10.
Oversize permit
$40
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
$40
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 Rhode Island and you need a permit for this state.
Limit
Interstate
Width
8'6"
Height
13'6"
Length
80'0"
Gross weight
80,000 lbs
Single axle
22,400 lbs
Tandem axle
36,000 lbs
Trailer length
53'0"
What the permit costs
Rhode Island 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.
Divided highways
Width
Requirement
12'0" and over
1 rear escortWidth 12'0" OR MORE (verbatim: 'One (1) escort vehicle is required for overall width of between twelve (12) feet and fourteen (14) feet, six (6) inches'): one escort — over 14'6": two. Position rule (RICR §1.5.4(A) verbatim): 'When one (1) escort is required, it shall precede a load on undivided highways and follow the load on divided highways.' Loads over 12' wide must use the RIGHT lane where 2+ lanes per direction (§1.5.10). Cranes: TWO escorts already at 12'+ wide intrastate (§1.5.4(A)(5), commodity).
Over 14'6"
1 front escort + 1 rear escortOver 14'6" wide: two escorts (§1.5.4(A)(1) verbatim).
Height
Requirement
Over 13'6"
1 rear escortOver 13'6" high: escort required (RIDOT OSOW FAQ verbatim escort list: 'over 13 ft 6 in high') — a CURRENT-practice trigger the 1978-era RICR lacks. Rhode Island codifies NO height-pole rule. Position rule (RICR §1.5.4(A) verbatim): 'When one (1) escort is required, it shall precede a load on undivided highways and follow the load on divided highways.'
14'0" and over
route survey14' or higher: route survey required ('Any permit of 14 ft or higher will require a survey' — FAQ verbatim); 13'6"–14' on non-Interstate routes 'typically require a survey' at RIDOT discretion. Performer unspecified in official text (carrier-side in practice).
Length
Requirement
80'0" and over
1 rear escortLength 80' OR MORE (verbatim: 'One (1) escort is required for overlength between eighty (80) feet and ninety (90) feet. Two (2) escort vehicles are required for over ninety (90) feet.'). Position rule (RICR §1.5.4(A) verbatim): 'When one (1) escort is required, it shall precede a load on undivided highways and follow the load on divided highways.'
Over 90'0"
1 front escort + 1 rear escortOver 90' overall: two escorts (§1.5.4(A)(2) verbatim).
Front overhang
Requirement
15'0" and over
1 rear escortOverhang 15' OR MORE (front or rear): one escort (verbatim §1.5.4(A)(3)) — position by the divided/undivided rule, NOT by which end overhangs. Verbatim compound example: 'two (2) escorts will be required… when the overhang is fifteen (15) feet or more to the rear, on a two (2)-lane, undivided highway, where the width is twelve (12) feet or more' (reviewer applies it — not)
Rear overhang
Requirement
15'0" and over
1 rear escortOverhang 15' OR MORE (front or rear): one escort (verbatim §1.5.4(A)(3)) — position by the divided/undivided rule, NOT by which end overhangs. Verbatim compound example: 'two (2) escorts will be required… when the overhang is fifteen (15) feet or more to the rear, on a two (2)-lane, undivided highway, where the width is twelve (12) feet or more' (reviewer applies it — not)
Weight
Requirement
200,000 lbs and over
route survey · superload200,000 lbs OR MORE (route-dependent): 'will require an independent 3rd party analysis of all structures on the requested route' (FAQ verbatim) — RI
Undivided (2-lane)
Width
Requirement
12'0" and over
1 front escortWidth 12'0" OR MORE (verbatim: 'One (1) escort vehicle is required for overall width of between twelve (12) feet and fourteen (14) feet, six (6) inches'): one escort — over 14'6": two. Position rule (RICR §1.5.4(A) verbatim): 'When one (1) escort is required, it shall precede a load on undivided highways and follow the load on divided highways.' Loads over 12' wide must use the RIGHT lane where 2+ lanes per direction (§1.5.10). Cranes: TWO escorts already at 12'+ wide intrastate (§1.5.4(A)(5), commodity).
Over 14'6"
1 front escort + 1 rear escortOver 14'6" wide: two escorts (§1.5.4(A)(1) verbatim).
Height
Requirement
Over 13'6"
1 front escortOver 13'6" high: escort required (RIDOT OSOW FAQ verbatim escort list: 'over 13 ft 6 in high') — a CURRENT-practice trigger the 1978-era RICR lacks. Rhode Island codifies NO height-pole rule. Position rule (RICR §1.5.4(A) verbatim): 'When one (1) escort is required, it shall precede a load on undivided highways and follow the load on divided highways.'
14'0" and over
route survey14' or higher: route survey required ('Any permit of 14 ft or higher will require a survey' — FAQ verbatim); 13'6"–14' on non-Interstate routes 'typically require a survey' at RIDOT discretion. Performer unspecified in official text (carrier-side in practice).
Length
Requirement
80'0" and over
1 front escortLength 80' OR MORE (verbatim: 'One (1) escort is required for overlength between eighty (80) feet and ninety (90) feet. Two (2) escort vehicles are required for over ninety (90) feet.'). Position rule (RICR §1.5.4(A) verbatim): 'When one (1) escort is required, it shall precede a load on undivided highways and follow the load on divided highways.'
Over 90'0"
1 front escort + 1 rear escortOver 90' overall: two escorts (§1.5.4(A)(2) verbatim).
Front overhang
Requirement
15'0" and over
1 front escortOverhang 15' OR MORE (front or rear): one escort (verbatim §1.5.4(A)(3)) — position by the divided/undivided rule, NOT by which end overhangs. Verbatim compound example: 'two (2) escorts will be required… when the overhang is fifteen (15) feet or more to the rear, on a two (2)-lane, undivided highway, where the width is twelve (12) feet or more' (reviewer applies it — not)
Rear overhang
Requirement
15'0" and over
1 front escortOverhang 15' OR MORE (front or rear): one escort (verbatim §1.5.4(A)(3)) — position by the divided/undivided rule, NOT by which end overhangs. Verbatim compound example: 'two (2) escorts will be required… when the overhang is fifteen (15) feet or more to the rear, on a two (2)-lane, undivided highway, where the width is twelve (12) feet or more' (reviewer applies it — not)
Weight
Requirement
200,000 lbs and over
route survey · superload200,000 lbs OR MORE (route-dependent): 'will require an independent 3rd party analysis of all structures on the requested route' (FAQ verbatim) — RI
Movement restrictions
Restriction
In Rhode Island
Night travel
Daylight hours only
Weekends
Restricted
Holidays
Restricted
Movement hours
Situation
Window
Baseline (permitted loads)
Daylight: 30 min before sunrise → 30 min after sunset (RICR §1.5.8(A))
Night allowed
Overweight-ONLY envelope loads moving with traffic flow (§1.5.8(A)); annual blanket permits run day + night by statute (§31-25-21(e))
Weekends
NO moves sunset Friday → sunrise Monday (§1.4.15(A))
Peak curfew — loads >8'6" W or >80' L or >130,000 lbs
No travel 7–9 AM + 3–7 PM Mon–Fri on freeways/arterials (§31-25-21(f)(1))
Holidays (§31-25-21(f)(3))
Memorial, Victory Day, Labor, MLK, Columbus: no Sat/Sun/Mon travel · Thanksgiving: no travel Wed–Sun · July 4, Veterans, Christmas, New Year's: no travel that day + previous night · Easter: no Sat-night/Sunday
Commodity curfew (I-195 + I-95 north of Rt 37 ONLY)
Mobile/modular >12'W, construction >13'W, cranes: sunrise–7 AM and 9 AM–3:30 PM (§1.5.8(B))
Buildings
Tuesday–Thursday only; 7-day notice; 2 escorts + municipal police (§1.4.18)
Washington Bridge I-195 (to ~fall 2027)
96,000-lb cap; NO oversize except pre-arranged 11 PM–5 AM Sun/Mon/Wed crossings (time printed on the permit + emailed)
Weather
No travel in hazardous conditions; exit at the first opportunity (§1.5.9)
RITBA bridges (separate permit layer)
Bridge
Limits / permit
Newport Pell
80,000 lbs free; to 160,000 with RITBA permit ($40 ≤130k / $300 above); >26k commercial keeps right lane; toll-lane pinch 13'11"–14'10"; height 15'6"; 2-business-day lead; escorts by applicant
Mount Hope
60,000 lbs MAXIMUM — 'No Exceptions'; >8'6" wide = state + RITBA permits
Jamestown Verrazzano / Sakonnet River
State permit only (no RITBA permit); >80,000 needs the state permit
Contacts
RITBA admin (401) 423-0800; TMC (401) 423-0803 (blanket overwide: call ≥30 min before arrival); commuter-hour crossings discretionary (M–F 6:30–9, 3:30–6:30)
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.
290-RICR-40-00-1 (eff. 2022-01-04 refile · webserver.rilegislature.gov · in effect since 2025-06-10. 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.
