2024 Virginia Oversize Permits and Regulations

Contact (877) 792-5056 for Oversize Permits in Virginia.

Are you transporting an oversize or overweight load in Virginia? Wide Load Shipping has a team of experienced specialists with knowledge of the requirements of the state’s DOT. Below we have detailed information about limits, superloads, pilot car requirements, and more.

Oversize Load Limits in Virginia 

Below are the maximum load sizes in Alabama before you need a permit. 

Length: 48 feet.
Width: 8’ 6 feet.
Height: 13’ 6 feet.
Weight: 80,000 lbs GVW.
Overhang: 4′ in the rear and 3′ in the front.

When Are Pilot Cars Required in Virginia?

Pilot Car and Escort vehicle information:

Length: If a shipment is over 105′ in length combined on a 2-load road, you will be required to have 1 rear pilot car (escort).  If the overall combination is over 125′ long on multiple-lane roads, you must have 1 rear pilot car (escort).
Width: On 2-lane highways for shipments over 11′ wide 1 front and 1 rear pilot car (escort) is required.  On multiple-lane highways, if over 14′ wide, you will be required to have 1 front and 1 rear pilot car (escort).
Height: Any shipment that exceeds 14′ 6″ in height will require 1 front pilot car (escort) equipped with a height pole.  Manufactured homes are required to have 1 front pilot car with a height pole if the height exceeds 15′ tall.  Virginia state shipping regulations department does NOT guarantee height clearances and suggests you choose by your own volition to use a pilot car with a height pole where height may be in question.
Weight: If routinely permitted, you will more than likely NOT be required to have an escort.
Overhang: If the rear overhang exceeds 1/3 of the trailer length, 1 escort is required on 2-lane highways.  If the rear overhang exceeds 20′ of a single-unit vehicle, it requires 1 rear escort on 2-lane highways as per Virginia state shipping regulations.

What’s the Cost of Trucking Permits In Virginia?

Below we have the costs of shipping permits in Virginia. We have a team of experienced specialists to help you acquire the right permits for your load. Call us at (877) 792-5056.

• Oversize single trip permit: $20 plus $0.30  per mile if exceeding the legal weight
• Superload single trip permit: $30 plus $0.30  per mile if exceeding the legal weight. An additional $4 per bridge and structure is charged.
• Annual blanket permit: $100 plus a $40 mileage fee if weight is involved

We Offer Trucking Permits in the Following Cities in Virginia;

Virginia Beach, VA; Norfolk, VA; Chesapeake, VA; Richmond, VA; Newport News, VA; Alexandria, VA; Hampton, VA; Roanoke, VA; Portsmouth, VA; Suffolk, VA; Lynchburg, VA; Centreville, VA; Dale City, VA; Reston, VA; Harrisonburg, VA; Leesburg, VA; Ashburn, VA; Tuckahoe, VA; McLean, VA; Charlottesville, VA; Lake Ridge, VA; Blacksburg, VA; Annandale, VA; Burke, VA; Danville, VA

We Offer Trucking Permits in the Following Counties in Virginia;

Fairfax County ; Prince William County; Virginia Beach city/county; Loudoun County; Chesterfield County; Henrico County; Chesapeake city/county; Norfolk city/county; Arlington County ; Richmond city/county; Newport News city/county; Alexandria city/county; Stafford County ; Spotsylvania County; Hampton city/county; Albemarle County; Hanover County; Roanoke city/county; Montgomery County; Portsmouth city/county; Roanoke County; Suffolk city/county; Frederick County; Rockingham County; Bedford County; Lynchburg city/county; James City County; Augusta County; Fauquier County; York County; Pittsylvania County; Campbell County; Franklin County; Washington County; Harrisonburg city/county; Culpeper County ; Henry County

Oversize and Overweight Permit Limits in Virginia

Below are the maximum dimensions a load can be even with a permit in the state of Virginia:

• Max Length With Permit: 150 feet
• Max Overhang With Permit: Depends on your overall length
• Maximum Width With Permit: 15’11 feet
• Maximum Height With Permit: 15 feet

Oversize Load Legal Travel Times in Virginia

Travel times and restrictions:

One-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset rule applies to Virginia state shipping regulations. Overall shipments that are under 12′ wide 14′ in height and under 115,000 pounds gross weight may travel on Saturday but only until 12 noon.  No travel is permitted on Sundays as per Virginia state shipping regulations.  If a shipment is overweight only then you may travel 24/7.  The cities that are largely populated do not allow oversize travel during the peak hours of 7 am – 9 am and 4 pm – 6 pm except for shipments that are overweight or over height.  Travel is not permitted on the following holidays:

• New Year’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

The permit office is closed on these holidays as well.

Required Shipment Markings in Virginia

Tractor/trailer signs, flags, and lighting:

Virginia state shipping regulations state that headlights must remain on at all times when in transit.  All shipments that exceed 60′ in length, 10′ in width, and/or with over 10′ of overhang must display warning signs/banners in the front and rear of the overall shipment and be marked “OVERSIZE LOAD”, WIDE LOAD, or LONG LOAD – whichever is the most appropriate as per Virginia state shipping regulations.  The sign must be no less than 7′ in length and 18″ in height with 1 1/2″ thick black lines with a yellow background and a 1″ black border all around the outside edge of the sign/banner placed no less than 18″ above the pavement.  Whenever a load is a WIDE LOAD and a LONG LOAD the WIDE LOAD sign/banner should be displayed.  1 strobe/flashing amber light will be required to display on top of the tractor cab.  This amber light must be visible from a minimum of 500 feet from 360 degrees.  A flashing/strobe amber light must also be placed on the rear of the shipment placed in the uppermost top, rear position.  Emergency colored red, yellow or orange flags of no less than 18″ in either direction must be placed at all 4 corners of the overall shipment.

Pilot Car Certifications in Virginia

Pilot car and escort vehicle requirement:

PILOT CAR DRIVERS IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA MUST BE CERTIFIED BY VIRGINIA. Virginia state shipping regulations state pilot car drivers must take a test at a DMV office in order to work in this state if escorting a load over 12′ in width.  The Virginia state shipping regulations certification is valid for 5 years.  Testing locations and information can be obtained by calling 804-828-2023 or the DMV at 866-368-5463.  One flashing or strobe amber light must be horizontally mounted above the top (roof) of pilot cars (escort vehicles) and visible from a 360-degree angle at a minimum of 500 feet.  The minimum strobe or flash height from the top of the roof must be 4″.  All pilot car/escort vehicles must be equipped with a CB radio or 2-way communication devices.  All pilot cars/escort vehicles must display a bumper or roof-mounted “OVERSIZE LOAD”, “WIDE LOAD,” or “LONG LOAD” sign visible from both the front and rear of the vehicle.   Sign must be at least 5′ long and 12″ in height, yellow in color with black letters no less than 10″ tall and 1 1/2″ in width.  You must have a hand help sign with the word “STOP” on one side and “SLOW” on the other with dimensions of no less than 18″ in diameter with a minimum of 6″ letters to be used in controlling traffic. Also, a safety-colored (red, orange, yellow, or lime green) vest, jacket, or shirt is to be worn while directing traffic and is required to be worn anytime the shipment will encroach traffic in ANY manner.

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