What Virginia 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 2023-03-01.
Oversize permit
$20
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
Quoted per load
Scales with weight — there is no single figure.
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 Virginia 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
80,000 lbs
Single axle
20,000 lbs
Tandem axle
34,000 lbs
Trailer length
53'0"
What the permit costs
Virginia 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.
Interstate routes
Width
Requirement
Over 12'0"
1 rear escortOver 12' wide: one rear escort on interstates / front + rear on non-interstate routes (24VAC20-82-130 A.1–2 verbatim). ALL escort operators must be VA-CERTIFIED (8-hr course + 80% test, $25/5yr; reciprocity per §46.2-2907 — DMV lists FL/GA/MN/NC/OK/UT/WA, its FAQ says NC-only, unresolved watch). OFF-CENTERED LOADS (24VAC20-82-130 A.7–8, verbatim)
Over 14'0"
1 front escort + 1 rear escortOver 14' wide: front + rear on interstates / TWO front + one rear on non-interstate routes (-130 A.3–4 verbatim).
Over 15'0"
route survey · superloadOver 15' wide exceeds the ordinary single-trip maxima (legacy-official DMV 234: 15'W / 15'H / 150'L) = SUPERLOAD single-trip territory — case-by-case, ≥10 working days, VDOT review ('VDOT's determination is final'). $30 base + 30¢/mi if OW + the unpublished gross-weight damage fee.
Over 16'0"
1 front escort + 2 rear escortsOver 16' wide: one front + TWO rear on interstates / two front + two rear on non-interstate routes (-130 A.5–6 verbatim).
Over 18'0"
route surveyOver 18' wide: the codified detailed-travel-plan tier (24VAC20-82-60B — 11 elements incl. law-enforcement escort authorization, utility lift letters, VDOT structure-removal authorization, layover letters) AND >18'W is case-by-case per -130 A.15.
Height
Requirement
Over 14'5"
1 front escort · height poleExceeds 14'5" high (the odd-but-verbatim VA threshold — NOT 14'6"): one front escort 'equipped with a height pole, adjusted three inches above the load height' on ALL routes (-130 A.9). The pole mounts on the lead escort — one vehicle.
Over 15'0"
route survey · superloadOver 15' high: superload entry (the legacy-official single-trip max is 15'H); tunnel overheight carries a $1,000 mandatory minimum fine (§46.2-1110) — mind the facility caps (HRBT/ERT/CBBT 13'6").
Over 16'0"
Conditions applyOver 16' high: the -60B detailed-travel-plan tier.
Length
Requirement
Over 120'0"
1 rear escortOver 120' long: one rear escort on interstates (-130 verbatim;)
Over 150'0"
1 front escort + 1 rear escort · route survey · superloadOver 150' long: superload entry (legacy-official max 150'L) + front and rear escorts on all routes (-130 A.12).
Over 200'0"
Conditions applyOver 200' long: the -60B travel-plan tier AND case-by-case per -130 A.15.
Front overhang
Requirement
Over 10'0"
1 front escortFront overhang exceeding 10' (measured from the bumper): one front escort on all routes (-130 A.13). Legal front projection 3' (§46.2-1120B; utility pole-carriers to 10').
Rear overhang
Requirement
Over 15'0"
1 rear escortRear overhang exceeding 15' (measured from the bumper): one rear escort on all routes (-130 A.14). >4' rear projection = 18" flag by day / red light sunset–sunrise (§46.2-1121 — a marking rule DMV frames as the 4' legal); the trailer envelope (53' incl. load) binds first on long boxes.
Weight
Requirement
Over 115,000 lbs
route survey · superloadOver 115,000 lb gross exceeds the top of the no-engineering-review axle-spacing table (legacy-official: 115,000 @ 64'+ spacing, 7+ axles) = superload; permit axle maxima single 24,000 (850 lb/in tire) / tandem 44,000. Shorter-spacing rigs go superload at LOWER gross
Over 250,000 lbs
Conditions applyOver 250,000 lb: the -60B travel-plan tier; >400,000 adds the axle/tire schematic; >750,000 requires a Commonwealth-licensed engineer + possible surety bond (24VAC20-82-70).
Non-interstate routes
Width
Requirement
Over 12'0"
1 front escort + 1 rear escortOver 12' wide: one rear escort on interstates / front + rear on non-interstate routes (24VAC20-82-130 A.1–2 verbatim). ALL escort operators must be VA-CERTIFIED (8-hr course + 80% test, $25/5yr; reciprocity per §46.2-2907 — DMV lists FL/GA/MN/NC/OK/UT/WA, its FAQ says NC-only, unresolved watch). OFF-CENTERED LOADS (24VAC20-82-130 A.7–8, verbatim)
Over 14'0"
2 front escorts + 1 rear escortOver 14' wide: front + rear on interstates / TWO front + one rear on non-interstate routes (-130 A.3–4 verbatim).
Over 15'0"
route survey · superloadOver 15' wide exceeds the ordinary single-trip maxima (legacy-official DMV 234: 15'W / 15'H / 150'L) = SUPERLOAD single-trip territory — case-by-case, ≥10 working days, VDOT review ('VDOT's determination is final'). $30 base + 30¢/mi if OW + the unpublished gross-weight damage fee.
Over 16'0"
2 front escorts + 2 rear escortsOver 16' wide: one front + TWO rear on interstates / two front + two rear on non-interstate routes (-130 A.5–6 verbatim).
Over 18'0"
route surveyOver 18' wide: the codified detailed-travel-plan tier (24VAC20-82-60B — 11 elements incl. law-enforcement escort authorization, utility lift letters, VDOT structure-removal authorization, layover letters) AND >18'W is case-by-case per -130 A.15.
Height
Requirement
Over 14'5"
1 front escort · height poleExceeds 14'5" high (the odd-but-verbatim VA threshold — NOT 14'6"): one front escort 'equipped with a height pole, adjusted three inches above the load height' on ALL routes (-130 A.9). The pole mounts on the lead escort — one vehicle.
Over 15'0"
route survey · superloadOver 15' high: superload entry (the legacy-official single-trip max is 15'H); tunnel overheight carries a $1,000 mandatory minimum fine (§46.2-1110) — mind the facility caps (HRBT/ERT/CBBT 13'6").
Over 16'0"
Conditions applyOver 16' high: the -60B detailed-travel-plan tier.
Length
Requirement
Over 90'0"
1 rear escortOver 90' long: one rear escort on non-interstate routes (-130 verbatim;)
Over 150'0"
1 front escort + 1 rear escort · route survey · superloadOver 150' long: superload entry (legacy-official max 150'L) + front and rear escorts on all routes (-130 A.12).
Over 200'0"
Conditions applyOver 200' long: the -60B travel-plan tier AND case-by-case per -130 A.15.
Front overhang
Requirement
Over 10'0"
1 front escortFront overhang exceeding 10' (measured from the bumper): one front escort on all routes (-130 A.13). Legal front projection 3' (§46.2-1120B; utility pole-carriers to 10').
Rear overhang
Requirement
Over 15'0"
1 rear escortRear overhang exceeding 15' (measured from the bumper): one rear escort on all routes (-130 A.14). >4' rear projection = 18" flag by day / red light sunset–sunrise (§46.2-1121 — a marking rule DMV frames as the 4' legal); the trailer envelope (53' incl. load) binds first on long boxes.
Weight
Requirement
Over 115,000 lbs
route survey · superloadOver 115,000 lb gross exceeds the top of the no-engineering-review axle-spacing table (legacy-official: 115,000 @ 64'+ spacing, 7+ axles) = superload; permit axle maxima single 24,000 (850 lb/in tire) / tandem 44,000. Shorter-spacing rigs go superload at LOWER gross
Over 250,000 lbs
Conditions applyOver 250,000 lb: the -60B travel-plan tier; >400,000 adds the axle/tire schematic; >750,000 requires a Commonwealth-licensed engineer + possible surety bond (24VAC20-82-70).
Movement restrictions
Restriction
In Virginia
Night travel
Daylight hours only
Weekends
No blanket restriction
Holidays
Restricted
Movement hours
Situation
Window
Baseline
Sunrise → sunset; speed = posted ≤55 mph; superloads may be ORDERED to move at night (-110B)
Weekends
NO statewide ban (locality rules only — Harrisonburg bans, South Boston allows 24h)
Holidays (6)
New Year's, Memorial, Independence, Labor, Thanksgiving, Christmas: invalid from NOON THE PRECEDING WEEKDAY through the holiday (Monday holidays: from noon Friday through Monday) — -110A verbatim
City/town curfew (statewide)
No permitted travel inside corporate limits 7–9 AM + 4–6 PM — EXCEPT overweight-only and overlength-only ≤85' incl. rear overhang (and interstates, per MP227)
>15' W / >15' H / >150' L: travel ONLY 9 AM–2:30 PM in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William
Weigh stations
Permitted loads may NOT bypass; exceptions w/ 15-min call-ahead: Alberta I-85 (434) 949-7336, Dahlgren US-301 (540) 663-2651; MMMBT loads stop at the inspection station
Weather
No operation when hazardous; 'Law enforcement judgment shall prevail' (-110D)
Facility caps (MP227, rev. 6/3/2026)
Facility
Limits / rules
HRBT (I-64)
10'6" W / 13'6" H; over-width ≤10'6" only Tue–Thu 9:30–3:30; wider → MMMBT; overheight = $1,000 min fine; (757) 727-4830
MMMBT (I-664)
23' W / 15'8" H; OS window 9:30 AM–3 PM; authorized nights M–Sat 9 PM–4:30 AM w/ (757) 247-2100 ≥2h ahead; stop at inspection station
Elizabeth River Tunnels (private ERC)
Downtown 9'0" W · Midtown 10'4" W · both 13'6" H; >8' stops for inspection; >10' BANNED 5:30–9 AM + 3–6:30 PM M–F + ERT escort; (757) 556-8425
CBBT (US-13, own authority)
14' W / 13'6" H; >80,000 lb needs CBBT approval; >10'6" W or >100' L = 24-hr notice (757) 331-2960 x40; wind Level 2 bars empty tractor-trailers/towed/exterior cargo
I-77 tunnels (Big Walker / East River Mtn)
14' W / 16' H
James River Drawbridge (Rt 17)
PERMITTED LOADS BANNED — 'not authorized to cross drawbridge'
Narrow bridges (Coleman US-17 + Clarksville, South Boston, Tappahannock)
Chesapeake Expressway US-168 = city permit (757) 382-6300 · Dulles Access = MWAA · Jordan Bridge = SNJB advance travel permit (no size caps)
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.
