West Virginia oversize permit rules

What West 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 2025-06-19.

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

From $20

Scales with distance and 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 West Virginia and you need a permit for this state.

Limit	Interstate	Off-interstate
Width	8'6"	8'6"
Height	13'6"	13'6"
Length	75'0"	70'0"
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

West 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.

4-lane (divided)

Width	Requirement
Over 12'0"	1 rear escortWidth 12'1"–14' on multilane: one REAR escort (≤12' takes none on multilane); seven-day travel at ≤14'. Escort vehicle (CSR §6.14): >2,000 lb curb, GVWR <26,001; 8"×12" ID placards both sides with phone; 360° amber rotating/strobe visible 500'; 5'×12" OVERSIZE LOAD sign; two 18" flags at 40–70°; for-hire adds CB/two-way, 2× 5-lb ABC extinguishers, 18" STOP/SLOW paddle, vest, red hand flag, banners, triangles. NO certification program; motor carriers may self-escort (6.14.g). Districts and the Parkways Authority 'may require additional... but never less.'
Over 14'0"	1 front escort + 1 rear escortWidth 14'1"–15' on multilane: front + rear escorts. Days of travel for this band: Monday–Friday only (the escort table's Days column IS the weekend rule). WINDOW: this front+rear row ends at 15' — at 15'1" the Interstate ladder DROPS the front (two rear only), so the band is bounded (the NH-window mechanism).
Over 15'0"	2 rear escortsWidth 15'1"–16': TWO REAR escorts on the Interstate (4-lane non-interstate routes take 2 rear + 1 front — those map to the 2-lane tier here). Days of travel for this band: Monday–Friday only (the escort table's Days column IS the weekend rule).
Over 16'0"	superload permitOver 16' wide = SUPERLOAD; escorts per permit; Sunday-morning-until-noon travel only. Turnpike: >16' wide must clear the 2'9" concrete barriers; 18'1"–24'6" runs Sundays before noon; >24'7" 'limited approval due to toll plaza limitations.'

Height	Requirement
Over 15'0"	1 front escort · height poleHeight EXCEEDS 15': front pole car 'in addition to any other escort' on 4-lane. Days of travel for this band: Monday–Friday only (the escort table's Days column IS the weekend rule). Yeager Bridge (I-77/64) 15'10" / 16' center; Wheeling Tunnel (I-70) takes NO overdimensional loads.

Length	Requirement
Over 95'0"	1 rear escortLength 95'1"–100' on multilane: one REAR escort only
Over 100'0"	1 front escort + 1 rear escortLength over 100' on multilane: front + rear escorts

Front overhang	Requirement
Over 10'0"	1 front escortFront overhang exceeds 10': front escort (both road types). Days of travel for this band: Monday–Friday only (the escort table's Days column IS the weekend rule). Permit cap 15' front.

Rear overhang	Requirement
Over 10'0"	1 rear escortRear overhang exceeds 10': rear escort (both road types). Days of travel for this band: Monday–Friday only (the escort table's Days column IS the weekend rule). Permit cap 30' rear.

Weight	Requirement
120,001 lbs and over	route survey · superloadOver 120,000 lb gross (or axles over the single-trip ceilings: 28,000 single / 45,000 tandem / 50,000 tridem / 55,000 quad) = SUPERLOAD — 'No limit on weight but all loads must pass a bridge analysis' (DOH). 48+ hours; District Bridge review; CSR 6.5: feasibility charge, bond, bridge strengthening at applicant's expense, traffic-control plan; $20 cancellation if unactivated 30 days. LOW-IMPACT MONITORS when assigned: $150 first bridge / $100 second / $50 each additional (max $750) — moving without the monitor is a violation. (The statutory §17C-17-11(b)(3)(B) 120k cap governs DIVISIBLE manufactured-commodity permits; the single-trip 120k is DOH policy.)

Weight

Requirement

120,001 lbs and over

route survey · superloadOver 120,000 lb gross (or axles over the single-trip ceilings: 28,000 single / 45,000 tandem / 50,000 tridem / 55,000 quad) = SUPERLOAD — 'No limit on weight but all loads must pass a bridge analysis' (DOH). 48+ hours; District Bridge review; CSR 6.5: feasibility charge, bond, bridge strengthening at applicant's expense, traffic-control plan; $20 cancellation if unactivated 30 days. LOW-IMPACT MONITORS when assigned: $150 first bridge / $100 second / $50 each additional (max $750) — moving without the monitor is a violation. (The statutory §17C-17-11(b)(3)(B) 120k cap governs DIVISIBLE manufactured-commodity permits; the single-trip 120k is DOH policy.)

2-lane (undivided)

Width	Requirement
10'6" and over	1 front escortWidth 10'6"–12' on 2-lane: ONE front escort (PERMIT INFORMATION rev 3-17-2023, the official ladder — the band starts AT 10'6"). Travel seven days when nothing else restricts. Escort vehicle (CSR §6.14): >2,000 lb curb, GVWR <26,001; 8"×12" ID placards both sides with phone; 360° amber rotating/strobe visible 500'; 5'×12" OVERSIZE LOAD sign; two 18" flags at 40–70°; for-hire adds CB/two-way, 2× 5-lb ABC extinguishers, 18" STOP/SLOW paddle, vest, red hand flag, banners, triangles. NO certification program; motor carriers may self-escort (6.14.g). Districts and the Parkways Authority 'may require additional... but never less.'
Over 12'0"	1 front escort + 1 rear escortWidth 12'1"–14' on 2-lane: front + rear escorts; travel still seven days a week at ≤14' wide.
Over 14'0"	1 front escort + 1 rear escortWidth 14'1"–15' on 2-lane: front + rear escorts. Days of travel for this band: Monday–Friday only (the escort table's Days column IS the weekend rule).
Over 15'0"	2 front escorts + 1 rear escortWidth 15'1"–16' on 2-lane: TWO front + one rear (3 escorts — the row)
Over 16'0"	superload permitOver 16' wide = SUPERLOAD (exceeds the single-trip width limit): escorts 'as required by permit', and travel only SUNDAY MORNING UNTIL NOON ('Loads more than 16 feet wide may move only on Sunday morning until noon'). Bridge/route analysis; 48+ hours to issue.

Height	Requirement
Over 15'0"	1 front escort · height pole

Length	Requirement
Over 75'0"	1 rear escortLength 75'1"–95' on 2-lane: one REAR escort. Days of travel for this band: Monday–Friday only (the escort table
Over 95'0"	1 front escort + 1 rear escortLength over 95' on 2-lane: front + rear escorts. Days of travel for this band: Monday–Friday only (the escort table's Days column IS the weekend rule).

Front overhang	Requirement
Over 10'0"	1 front escortFront overhang EXCEEDS 10': front escort ('No escort required until overhang exceeds 10 feet front or rear'). Days of travel for this band: Monday–Friday only (the escort table's Days column IS the weekend rule). Legal projection 3' (§17C-17-5); ALL-PERMIT cap 15' front.

Rear overhang	Requirement
Over 10'0"	1 rear escortRear overhang EXCEEDS 10': rear escort. Days of travel for this band: Monday–Friday only (the escort table's Days column IS the weekend rule). Legal projection 6' (§17C-17-5); ALL-PERMIT cap 30' rear; digger/derrick trucks 9'/11' sunrise–sunset; pole trailers legal to 80'.

Weight	Requirement
120,001 lbs and over	route survey · superloadOver 120,000 lb gross (or axles over the single-trip ceilings: 28,000 single / 45,000 tandem / 50,000 tridem / 55,000 quad) = SUPERLOAD — 'No limit on weight but all loads must pass a bridge analysis' (DOH). 48+ hours; District Bridge review; CSR 6.5: feasibility charge, bond, bridge strengthening at applicant's expense, traffic-control plan; $20 cancellation if unactivated 30 days. LOW-IMPACT MONITORS when assigned: $150 first bridge / $100 second / $50 each additional (max $750) — moving without the monitor is a violation. (The statutory §17C-17-11(b)(3)(B) 120k cap governs DIVISIBLE manufactured-commodity permits; the single-trip 120k is DOH policy.)

Weight

Requirement

120,001 lbs and over

Movement restrictions

Restriction	In West Virginia
Night travel	Daylight hours only
Weekends	No blanket restriction
Holidays	Restricted

Movement hours

Situation	Window
Base (oversize)	Sunrise → sunset ('Oversize loads are not allowed to travel from sunset to sunrise')
≤14' wide	Seven days a week on all routes (weekend travel granted on request — note it on the application; Turnpike separately requested; low-impact loads excluded)
Over 14' wide	Monday–Friday only (CSR 6.4.j.2); the escort ladder's M–F bands (length >75' 2-lane, >95' multilane, height >15', overhang >10') carry the same days rule
Over 16' wide	SUNDAY MORNING UNTIL NOON only
Overweight-only (legal dims)	24/7 on request up to 110,000 lb Turnpike / 135,000 lb other routes (after dark: multilane; 2-lane case-by-case); above that only when an adjoining state requires night travel; §17C-17-11(f) (2024) mandates night/weekend/holiday permits on 4+-lane highways
Holidays (no travel)	Memorial Day Sat–Mon · July 4 · Labor Day Sat–Mon · Thanksgiving · Christmas · New Year
School-bus curfew	Escorted vehicles: no 2-lane travel M–F 7–9 AM + 2:30–4 PM during the school year
Charleston curfew	Escorted vehicles barred 7–9 AM + 4–6 PM (DST; EST = travel 9 AM–4 PM): I-64 Exits 39–85, I-77 Exits 85–106, US-119 Ruth→I-64, + 5 mi around the city
Weather / speed	No moves in ice/snow/fog/heavy-rain hazards (CSR 6.4.j.3); mobile homes ≤50 mph

Turnpike & facilities

Facility	Rule
WV Turnpike (I-77/64, Parkways Authority)	State permit covers it; weekend only if ≤95' L + ≤15' total OH + ≤14'6" H + ≤110,000 lb; width 14'1"–18' Mon–Thu / 18'1"–24'6" Sun before noon / >24'7" limited (toll plazas); >16' W must clear 2'9" barriers; OW-only ≤110k 24/7; (304) 926-1900
Yeager Bridge (I-77/64 Charleston)	Max height 15'10" (16' at bridge center)
I-70 Wheeling Tunnel	NO overdimensional loads; I-70 WB MP 1.23 = 14'2"
Low underpasses	US-11 Martinsburg RR 13'0" · US-52 Welch 13'9" · WV-16 Welch 12'11" · WV-28 Ridgeley RR 11'11" · WV-112 Oakvale 10'5"
I-79 SB MP 136.64 / 115.33	Overweight loads use the LEFT lane
Posted bridges	~60 statewide, 12–40 tons (Weight & Clearance Restrictions list); low-impact monitors $150/$100/$50 (max $750) when assigned
Event bans	WVU home games (Monongalia/Marion/Harrison/Preston) · State Fair (US-219) · Bridge Day (US-19) · 3 festivals (High Travel Days)
Blanket permits	Valid only on the Selected Routes list (2-10-2017 ed.)

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.

	West Virginia permit office
Permit office	(304) 558-9547
Email	[email protected]

WV Code ch. 17C art. 17 (verbatim; latest = 2024 HB5583 → §17C-17-11(f); no 2025/2026 acts) + 157 CSR 5 OFFICIAL emer… · regulations.justia.com · in effect since 2025-06-19. Fees and rules change; the linked document is always the authority.