SC
South Carolina oversize permit rules
What South Carolina 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 2026-03-01.
Oversize permit
$30–$50
The fee steps up as the load gets wider. Height and length do not move it.
Overweight permit
$30
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 South Carolina and you need a permit for this state.
| Limit | Interstate | Off-interstate |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 8'6" | 8'6" |
| Height | 13'6" | 13'6" |
| Length | 65'0" | 65'0" |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs | 73,280 lbs |
| Single axle | 20,000 lbs | |
| Tandem axle | 35,200 lbs | |
| Trailer length | 53'0" |
What the permit costs
South Carolina prices a single-trip permit as by width. The fee steps up as the load gets wider. Height and length do not move it.
| Band | State fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 16'0" wide | $30 |
| Up to 18'0" wide | $35 |
| Up to 20'0" wide | $40 |
| Up to 22'0" wide | $45 |
| Wider than 22'0" | $50 |
Escort requirements
Thresholds by road class. Where two classes differ, the road you are actually on governs.
Multi-lane
| Width | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 14'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortWidth exceeding 14 feet up to and including 16 feet: one front and one rear escort on all roadways (Sec. Q). >14'–16' must use 4-lane highways where possible (N-8) and be the sole vehicle on bridges ≤18' wide (N-9). |
| Over 16'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escort · 2 police escortsWidth exceeding 16 feet (verbatim Sec. Q): 'One front and one rear civilian escort AND one front and one rear police escort is required on all roadways' — FOUR vehicles; written exceptions by the Permit Director; escorting officers may require more. >16' wide also routes through the Sec. R county-RME approval process (frame buildings: 9 AM–3 PM, ≤30 miles, Mon–Fri) and needs a Certificate of Insurance (M-5: ≥16' width or ≥180k). Permit-grantable width max = 16' (Sec. L) — beyond is the exception process. |
| Height | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 16'0" and over | 1 front escort · height pole · route surveyHeight 16 feet AND GREATER (inclusive, Sec. Q): one front escort with a height-measuring device on all roadways — the pole rides the front escort. Route survey: applicant-certified (Q) AND department-approved before issuance (L-3(c) verbatim: 'ALL loads 16 feet in height and above must provide a department approved route survey prior to permit issuance'). Permit-grantable height is 15' with route review (Sec. L) — 16'+ is survey territory. |
| Length | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 65'0" | Not permittedSouth Carolina length legality is CONFIG-BASED, not one overall number: §56-5-4070(E) sets none — 'Except where specifically prohibited in this article, there is no overall length limit on combination vehicles.' The binding limits are per-unit: the trailer/semitrailer in a two-unit combination caps at 53' measured 'inclusive of the load carried on it' (§4070(A)(1)), and rear overhang caps at 6' (§4080) — which together top a fully legal tractor-semi out around 75' overall. The 65' anchor is the |
| 125'0" and over | 1 rear escortOverall length 125 feet UP TO AND INCLUDING 150 feet (Sec. Q verbatim — INCLUSIVE at exactly 125'0",) |
| Over 150'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortOverall length greater than 150 feet: one front and one rear civilian escort on all roadways (Sec. Q). |
| Rear overhang | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 15'0" | 1 rear escortOverhang greater than 15 feet (to the 25' permit max): red flag ≥18" square at the end of the load AND one rear escort during the entire movement over all highways (Sec. Q verbatim). Permit rear-overhang maxima differ by trailer (L-2): 15' on <48' trailers, 10' on 48'/53' trailers; straight trucks 10' only if 40' bumper-to-bumper. |
| Weight | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 130,000 lbs | superload permitSUPERLOAD (weight-only, Sec. E-11 verbatim): 'Any non-divisible load exceeding 130,000 pounds and/or any single axle weight that exceeds 20,000 lbs. will require additional routing analysis. This process may take from 3 to 5 business days.' — a >20,000-lb SINGLE AXLE alone triggers superload review regardless of gross |
| Over 180,000 lbs | Conditions applyExceeding 180,000 lbs: Certificate of Insurance must accompany the application (E-11/M-5 — M-5 says '180,000 lbs. or greater'; the 1-lb conflict is cosmetic; $1M auto + $1M GL floor applies to all permits). |
| Over 300,000 lbs | Conditions applyExceeding 300,000 lbs: manufacturer's weight/dimension documentation + empty truck/trailer weights; SCDOT may require an independent structural analysis by a licensed engineer (E-11). Analysis fee tier $350 (>300k). |
| Over 500,000 lbs | Conditions applyExceeding 500,000 lbs (MEGALOAD): additional impact fee of $.05 per 1,000 lbs PER MILE 'assessed on the entire gross vehicle weight' (§57-3-130(B)(5)) — mileage-dependent, not |
Two-lane
| Width | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 12'0" | 1 front escortWidth exceeding 12 feet up to and including 14 feet: 'One front escort is required when traveling on a two-lane highway; the Department reserves the right to require a rear escort where it is deemed necessary' (Sec. Q verbatim) — NOTHING on multilane in this band. Load banners 12"×7' front+rear from 12' wide (inclusive); 18" fluorescent flags on 4 corners; amber strobe rear >12'–14' (both rear corners >14'–16'). Escort drivers: NO certification requirement exists in SC; equipment = amber 360° light visible 500', OVERSIZE/WIDE LOAD sign 12"×7', two-way radio (one escort per towing vehicle), headlights on. |
| Over 14'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortWidth exceeding 14 feet up to and including 16 feet: one front and one rear escort on all roadways (Sec. Q). >14'–16' must use 4-lane highways where possible (N-8) and be the sole vehicle on bridges ≤18' wide (N-9). |
| Over 16'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escort · 2 police escortsWidth exceeding 16 feet (verbatim Sec. Q): 'One front and one rear civilian escort AND one front and one rear police escort is required on all roadways' — FOUR vehicles; written exceptions by the Permit Director; escorting officers may require more. >16' wide also routes through the Sec. R county-RME approval process (frame buildings: 9 AM–3 PM, ≤30 miles, Mon–Fri) and needs a Certificate of Insurance (M-5: ≥16' width or ≥180k). Permit-grantable width max = 16' (Sec. L) — beyond is the exception process. |
| Height | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 16'0" and over | 1 front escort · height pole · route surveyHeight 16 feet AND GREATER (inclusive, Sec. Q): one front escort with a height-measuring device on all roadways — the pole rides the front escort. Route survey: applicant-certified (Q) AND department-approved before issuance (L-3(c) verbatim: 'ALL loads 16 feet in height and above must provide a department approved route survey prior to permit issuance'). Permit-grantable height is 15' with route review (Sec. L) — 16'+ is survey territory. |
| Length | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 65'0" | Not permittedSouth Carolina length legality is CONFIG-BASED, not one overall number: §56-5-4070(E) sets none — 'Except where specifically prohibited in this article, there is no overall length limit on combination vehicles.' The binding limits are per-unit: the trailer/semitrailer in a two-unit combination caps at 53' measured 'inclusive of the load carried on it' (§4070(A)(1)), and rear overhang caps at 6' (§4080) — which together top a fully legal tractor-semi out around 75' overall. The 65' anchor is the |
| 125'0" and over | 1 rear escortOverall length 125 feet UP TO AND INCLUDING 150 feet (Sec. Q verbatim — INCLUSIVE at exactly 125'0",) |
| Over 150'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortOverall length greater than 150 feet: one front and one rear civilian escort on all roadways (Sec. Q). |
| Rear overhang | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 15'0" | 1 rear escortOverhang greater than 15 feet (to the 25' permit max): red flag ≥18" square at the end of the load AND one rear escort during the entire movement over all highways (Sec. Q verbatim). Permit rear-overhang maxima differ by trailer (L-2): 15' on <48' trailers, 10' on 48'/53' trailers; straight trucks 10' only if 40' bumper-to-bumper. |
| Weight | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 130,000 lbs | superload permitSUPERLOAD (weight-only, Sec. E-11 verbatim): 'Any non-divisible load exceeding 130,000 pounds and/or any single axle weight that exceeds 20,000 lbs. will require additional routing analysis. This process may take from 3 to 5 business days.' — a >20,000-lb SINGLE AXLE alone triggers superload review regardless of gross |
| Over 180,000 lbs | Conditions applyExceeding 180,000 lbs: Certificate of Insurance must accompany the application (E-11/M-5 — M-5 says '180,000 lbs. or greater'; the 1-lb conflict is cosmetic; $1M auto + $1M GL floor applies to all permits). |
| Over 300,000 lbs | Conditions applyExceeding 300,000 lbs: manufacturer's weight/dimension documentation + empty truck/trailer weights; SCDOT may require an independent structural analysis by a licensed engineer (E-11). Analysis fee tier $350 (>300k). |
| Over 500,000 lbs | Conditions applyExceeding 500,000 lbs (MEGALOAD): additional impact fee of $.05 per 1,000 lbs PER MILE 'assessed on the entire gross vehicle weight' (§57-3-130(B)(5)) — mileage-dependent, not |
Movement restrictions
| Restriction | In South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Night travel | Daylight hours only |
| Weekends | No blanket restriction |
| Holidays | Restricted |
Movement hours
| Load | Window |
|---|---|
| ≤12' wide | Sunrise–sunset, Monday–SUNDAY (7 days; no half-hour buffers) |
| Over 12' to 15' wide | Sunrise–sunset, 7 days — near large urban areas: no 7–9 AM (weekdays), no 3–6 PM school days / 4:30–6 PM non-school days |
| Over 15' wide (MH >14' box) | 9 AM–3 PM school days / 9 AM–4 PM other days, 7 days |
| Over 16' wide (frame buildings, Sec. R) | 9 AM–3 PM, Mon–Fri, ≤30 miles; night/weekend only at RME discretion |
| Overweight-only ≤130,000 lbs, legal dims | 'Continuous travel upon request' — 24/7 (N-2 verbatim) |
| Holidays (2026) | NO travel: New Year's, Memorial (5/25), July 4, Labor (9/7), Thanksgiving (11/26), Christmas — Director may extend noon-before → noon-after by route/dims |
| Myrtle Beach summer weekends | NO Sat/Sun travel east of I-95, Memorial Day–Labor Day (US-501/SC-22/SC-31/SC-9/US-17 NC-line–Georgetown/US-378/SC-327/US-76/SC-576) |
| Weather | No movement: visibility <500', high winds, ice/snow/sleet (N-3) |
| Convoy / queue | Loads ≥2 miles apart; pull over when 5 vehicles queue behind (M-16) |
Permit-grantable maxima (Guidelines Sec. L)
| Dimension | Routine permit ceiling |
|---|---|
| Length | 125' (mobile homes 110'); beyond = exception process, drawings + route ≥5 days ahead |
| Width | 16' (beyond = Sec. R RME county approvals + 4-vehicle escort) |
| Height | 15' with route review; 16'+ = department-approved survey regime |
| Axles | single 20,000 / tandem 40,000 / tridem + quad 60,000 (quad above = engineering approval) |
| Gross (combos, 3–7 axles) | 55,000 / 70,000 / 90,000 / 110,000 / 130,000 — beyond 130,000 = superload |
| Rear overhang | 15' on <48' trailers / 10' on 48'–53' trailers; straight trucks 10' only at 40' bumper-to-bumper (L-2/L-7) |
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.
| South Carolina permit office | |
|---|---|
| Permit office | (877) 349-7190 |
| Filing notes | PO Box 191, Columbia SC 29202 |
SCDOT Guidelines Rev. 3/2026 (stamp confirmed on all 14 pp; the legacy OSOW_Guidelinesfor_movement.pdf URL serves sta… · scdot.org · in effect since 2026-03-01. Fees and rules change; the linked document is always the authority.