TX
Texas oversize permit rules
What Texas 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 2026-06-24.
Oversize permit
$60
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 $60
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 Texas and you need a permit for this state.
| Limit | Interstate |
|---|---|
| Width | 8'6" |
| Height | 14'0" |
| Length | 125'0" |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs |
| Single axle | 20,000 lbs |
| Tandem axle | 34,000 lbs |
| Tridem axle | 42,000 lbs |
| Trailer length | 59'0" |
What the permit costs
Texas 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 / 4+ lanes
| Width | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 14'0" | 1 rear escortExceeding 14' to 16' wide: ONE escort — '1 Front – two-lane hwy / 1 Rear – divided hwy' (43 TAC §219.11(k) / Handbook table verbatim; the old single-tier front-everywhere was wrong). Escort flaggers who DIRECT TRAFFIC must hold TCOLE traffic-direction training (§623.008); equipment: single-unit vehicle 1,000–10,000 lb GVW, two flashing ambers (or amber+blue, or one ≥8" rotating beacon), OVERSIZE/WIDE LOAD sign 5–7'×12–18", two-way radio. |
| Over 16'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortExceeding 16' wide: 1 front AND 1 rear on all roads. Over 20' wide: ROUTE INSPECTION — 'a representative of your company must physically inspect the proposed route' + written certification to TxDMV (carrier self-survey); district restrictions may add law-enforcement escorts (Houston: >20' wide = front AND rear law enforcement, restriction #17830). |
| Over 20'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escort · route surveyOver 20' wide: carrier route inspection + certification; district law-enforcement escorts possible. |
| Height | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 17'0" | 1 front escort · height poleExceeding 17' high: ONE front escort EQUIPPED WITH a height pole (nonconductive) — the pole rides the escort, one vehicle |
| Over 18'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escort · height poleExceeding 18' high: 1 front-with-pole + 1 rear (TWO vehicles). Exceeding 18'11": route inspection (carrier self-survey + written certification) before issuance. |
| Over 18'11" | route surveyExceeding 18'11": route inspection (carrier self-survey + written certification) before the permit issues. |
| Length | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 65'0" | Conditions apply65' is the statutory cap for combinations OTHER than truck-tractor + semitrailer (§621.205; tractor-semi overall is UNLIMITED — the 59' semitrailer governs, §621.204). A truck+trailer rig over 65' needs a permit even at legal width/height |
| Over 110'0" | 1 rear escortExceeding 110' to 125': ONE escort — front on two-lane / rear on divided (Handbook verbatim; the old front-everywhere was wrong). Convoy sharing: 110–150' → up to 4 loads share 1F+1R; 150'1"–180' → 2 loads; spacing 1,000–2,000 ft, amber beacon at the top rear of each load. |
| Over 125'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escort · route surveyExceeding 125': 1 front and 1 rear on all roads + ROUTE INSPECTION (carrier self-survey + written certification). |
| Front overhang | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 20'0" | 1 rear escortFront overhang exceeding 20': one escort — front on two-lane / rear on 4+ lanes (Handbook verbatim; the old rear-everywhere was wrong). HARD CEILING: 'A permit will not be issued' with more than 25' front overhang. |
| Rear overhang | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 20'0" | 1 rear escortRear overhang exceeding 20': 1 rear escort on all roads. HARD CEILING: no permit beyond 30' rear overhang. Night: load >4' beyond the rear takes 2 red lamps (500'), 2 red reflectors + side reds (§547.382); 12" red flags by day. |
| Weight | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 254,301 lbs and over | route survey · superloadSUPERHEAVY (43 TAC §219.12(b) / Handbook verbatim) when ANY of: gross exceeds 254,300 lb; any axle GROUP exceeds the permit caps (single 25k / tandem 46k / tridem 60k / quad 70k / quint 81,400) |
Two-lane
| Width | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 14'0" | 1 front escortExceeding 14' to 16' wide: ONE escort — '1 Front – two-lane hwy / 1 Rear – divided hwy' (43 TAC §219.11(k) / Handbook table verbatim; the old single-tier front-everywhere was wrong). Escort flaggers who DIRECT TRAFFIC must hold TCOLE traffic-direction training (§623.008); equipment: single-unit vehicle 1,000–10,000 lb GVW, two flashing ambers (or amber+blue, or one ≥8" rotating beacon), OVERSIZE/WIDE LOAD sign 5–7'×12–18", two-way radio. |
| Over 16'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortExceeding 16' wide: 1 front AND 1 rear on all roads. Over 20' wide: ROUTE INSPECTION — 'a representative of your company must physically inspect the proposed route' + written certification to TxDMV (carrier self-survey); district restrictions may add law-enforcement escorts (Houston: >20' wide = front AND rear law enforcement, restriction #17830). |
| Over 20'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escort · route surveyOver 20' wide: carrier route inspection + certification; district law-enforcement escorts possible. |
| Height | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 17'0" | 1 front escort · height poleExceeding 17' high: ONE front escort EQUIPPED WITH a height pole (nonconductive) — the pole rides the escort, one vehicle |
| Over 18'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escort · height poleExceeding 18' high: 1 front-with-pole + 1 rear (TWO vehicles). Exceeding 18'11": route inspection (carrier self-survey + written certification) before issuance. |
| Over 18'11" | route surveyExceeding 18'11": route inspection (carrier self-survey + written certification) before the permit issues. |
| Length | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 65'0" | Conditions apply65' is the statutory cap for combinations OTHER than truck-tractor + semitrailer (§621.205; tractor-semi overall is UNLIMITED — the 59' semitrailer governs, §621.204). A truck+trailer rig over 65' needs a permit even at legal width/height |
| Over 110'0" | 1 front escortExceeding 110' to 125': ONE escort — front on two-lane / rear on divided (Handbook verbatim; the old front-everywhere was wrong). Convoy sharing: 110–150' → up to 4 loads share 1F+1R; 150'1"–180' → 2 loads; spacing 1,000–2,000 ft, amber beacon at the top rear of each load. |
| Over 125'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escort · route surveyExceeding 125': 1 front and 1 rear on all roads + ROUTE INSPECTION (carrier self-survey + written certification). |
| Front overhang | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 20'0" | 1 front escortFront overhang exceeding 20': one escort — front on two-lane / rear on 4+ lanes (Handbook verbatim; the old rear-everywhere was wrong). HARD CEILING: 'A permit will not be issued' with more than 25' front overhang. |
| Rear overhang | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 20'0" | 1 rear escortRear overhang exceeding 20': 1 rear escort on all roads. HARD CEILING: no permit beyond 30' rear overhang. Night: load >4' beyond the rear takes 2 red lamps (500'), 2 red reflectors + side reds (§547.382); 12" red flags by day. |
| Weight | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 254,301 lbs and over | route survey · superloadSUPERHEAVY (43 TAC §219.12(b) / Handbook verbatim) when ANY of: gross exceeds 254,300 lb; any axle GROUP exceeds the permit caps (single 25k / tandem 46k / tridem 60k / quad 70k / quint 81,400) |
Movement restrictions
| Restriction | In Texas |
|---|---|
| Night travel | Daylight hours only |
| Weekends | No blanket restriction |
| Holidays | Restricted |
Movement hours
| Situation | Window |
|---|---|
| Oversize (general) | Daylight only: 30 min before sunrise → 30 min after sunset |
| Interstate exception | Night OK on the Interstate when ≤10' wide AND ≤100' long with legal overhangs; also unladen lift/well-servicing ≤9'W; utility-pole power-restoration moves (rear escort) |
| Overweight-only, legal dims | 24/7 |
| Holidays (the six §621.006 allows TxDMV to restrict) | Loads >14'W / >16'H / >110'L banned New Year's, Memorial, July 4, Labor, Thanksgiving, Christmas (exact dates published; route-study exceptions possible); manufactured housing: ALL national holidays |
| Weekends | No statewide rule (only inside local curfews, e.g. Bandera county-wide Sat–Sun ban) |
| Curfews (runtime) | Statewide Time Permit Curfews PDF (eff. 9/30/2025; e.g. Austin >12'W/>95'L barred 7–9 AM + 4–6 PM M–F) + per-district Permit Restrictions PDFs (Houston: ≥17'6"H = 48-hr signal-shop notice; >20'W = law-enforcement F+R) |
| Convoys | 110–150': up to 4 loads share 1F+1R · 150'1"–180': 2 loads · spacing 1,000–2,000 ft, amber beacon top-rear of each load |
Permit axle caps & denial walls (43 TAC §219.11–.12)
| Item | Limit |
|---|---|
| Single axle | 25,000 lb (or 650 lb per inch of tire width, whichever is LESS) |
| Tandem | 46,000 lb |
| Tridem | 60,000 lb |
| Quad | 70,000 lb |
| Quint | 81,400 lb |
| Load-zoned roads | the caps drop 10% |
| Beyond any cap | SUPERHEAVY class (6–8 week lead, MCD-305 + Form 2280, VSF $500/$100/$35) |
| Overhang denial wall | no permit over 25' front or 30' rear overhang |
| Route inspection (carrier self-survey) | >20' wide · >18'11" high · >125' long |
| Escort combining rule (§219.11 verbatim) | 'When a load exceeds more than one dimension that requires an escort under this subsection, front and rear escort flag vehicles will be required' — TWO total (F+R), never stacked per dimension; Handbook example: 16'W × 112'L = 2 escorts; TxDOT may grant exceptions |
Toll authorities
| Facility | OS/OW status |
|---|---|
| TxDOT tollways — SH 130 seg. 1–4, Grand Parkway SH 99, SH 249, CTTS | State highway system: the TxDMV permit + TxPROS routing cover them |
| SH 130 Segments 5–6 (concession, Austin–Seguin) | OS/OW pilot with TxDOT: TxDMV permit + toll tag, OS/OW bills as Class F; launch 'announced soon' (watch) |
| NTTA (DFW) · HCTRA (Houston) · CTRMA (Austin) | NOT routed by TxDMV — 'the carrier is responsible for contacting the appropriate jurisdiction for all non-state maintained travel'; no official OS/OW policy published online: clear by phone — NTTA (972) 818-6882 · HCTRA (281) 875-3279 · CTRMA (833) 762-8655 |
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.
| Texas permit office | |
|---|---|
| Permit office | (800) 299-1700 |
| Filing notes | Superheavy: apply 6–8 WEEKS ahead (May-2025 Handbook; the website still says 3–4 — watch) with Form MCD-305 + Form 2280 Shipper's Certificate of Weight (>200k, ≤90 days old, wet signature) |
Transp. Code ch. 621/623 (official legislature file server) + 43 TAC §219.11/.12 (eff. 7/18/2024, 49 TexReg 5167; LII… · txdmv.gov · in effect since 2026-06-24. Fees and rules change; the linked document is always the authority.