Indiana Oversize & Overweight Permit Rules
What a load can be in Indiana without a permit, where the permit and escort tiers start on undivided roads and divided roads, when it can move, and who to call. Every figure is the JaloPermit Atlas entry for Indiana, shown as the app shows it.
Rules as of Jul 31, 2026 · Links checked Jul 13, 2026
Read this before you trust a number. Rules change. The issued permit, posted signs and the state permit office always win over this page. JaloPermit is a reading aid, not a permit-filing service. Guests get 3 free decodes a day with no account and no card, logged-in users get 10 a day, and extra decodes are $3.50 each with no subscription.
What moves in Indiana without a permit
Legal limits are the dimensions and gross weight a vehicle may run at without an oversize or overweight permit. Indiana publishes its length limit as semitrailer, so compare it against that measurement on your permit, not the overall rig.
Where the permit and escort tiers start
| Dimension | Legal without permit | Permit tier starts | First escort on undivided roads | First escort on divided roads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 8'6" | 8'7" | 12'5" · Front escort | 12'5" · Rear escort |
| Height | 13'6" | 13'7" | 14'7" · Front + High pole | 14'7" · Front + High pole |
| Length | 53'0"semitrailer | 53'1" | 110'1" · Front escort | 110'1" · Rear escort |
| Weight | 80,000 lbs | 80,001 lbs | 200,001 lbs · Front + Rear + Police | 200,001 lbs · Front + Rear + Police |
"Permit tier starts" is the lowest size in the Atlas ladder that needs a permit. "First escort" is the lowest size that adds a private or police escort on that road class; the full ladder with each tier's rule and source is below.
Indiana escort ladder, tier by tier
Open a tier to read the rule behind it, quoted with its source. Amber tiers add a police escort or a superload review; grey tiers are permit-only with conditions.
On undivided roads
Escorts begin at 12'5" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 12'4"
Permit required, no escort up to 12'4" wide
Front escort12'5" – 14'3"
Escort required in excess of 12'4"; front position on undivided highways
Front + Rear14'4" – 17'
Two escorts, front and rear, on all roads other than dual-lane divided highways
Front + Rear + Police17'1"+
At least front and rear police escorts; ISP may require more. Route survey if over 18 ft. Two police escort vehicles, front and rear, are required over 17 ft wide, in addition to the private escorts. Source: Indiana DOR Form M-204S, item 5.
Height
Permit required13'7" – 14'6"
Permit required, no escort up to 14'6" high
Front + High pole14'7" – 15'
In excess of 14'6" needs an escort with a height stick traveling in front of the load
Front + High pole15'1"+
Height-stick escort in front, plus a pre-qualified signal contractor with a bucket truck off the interstate system. Over 17' requires a route survey and utility letters. Above 20 ft, this row's escorts are the minimum; the permit sets any more.
Length
Permit required53'1" – 110'
Permit required, no escort up to 110' long
Front escort110'1" – 130'
Escort required in excess of 110'; front position on undivided highways
Front escort130'1"+
One escort for any load over 110' long: it travels in front on undivided highways and at the rear on divided highways; no second escort is required for length. Over 130' without a rear steerable axle, a route survey is required before the permit is issued. Source: Indiana DOR Form M-204 (rev. 4-22), Escort Vehicle(s) Requirements; Form M-204S item 9. Above 200 ft, this row's escorts are the minimum; the permit sets any more.
Weight
Permit required80,001 lbs – 200,000 lbs
Permit required. Two escorts, front and rear, if the permit carries bridge weight restrictions or slowdowns
Front + Rear + Police200,001 lbs – 250,000 lbs
Two escorts, front and rear. An Indiana State Police escort is required over 200,000 lb on any route that is not entirely on Interstates, divided highways included. Source: Indiana DOR Form M-204S, item 1.
Front + Rear + Police250,001 lbs+
Two escorts, front and rear. An Indiana State Police escort is required at this weight on every route. Source: Indiana DOR Form M-204S, item 1.
On divided roads
Escorts begin at 12'5" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 12'4"
Permit required, no escort up to 12'4" wide
Rear escort12'5" – 17'
Escort required in excess of 12'4"; rear position on dual-lane divided highways
Front + Rear + Police17'1"+
At least front and rear police escorts; ISP may require more. Route survey if over 18 ft. Two police escort vehicles, front and rear, are required over 17 ft wide, in addition to the private escorts. Source: Indiana DOR Form M-204S, item 5.
Height
Permit required13'7" – 14'6"
Permit required, no escort up to 14'6" high
Front + High pole14'7" – 15'
In excess of 14'6" needs an escort with a height stick traveling in front of the load
Front + High pole15'1"+
Height-stick escort in front. Over 17' requires a route survey and utility letters. Above 20 ft, this row's escorts are the minimum; the permit sets any more.
Length
Permit required53'1" – 110'
Permit required, no escort up to 110' long
Rear escort110'1" – 130'
Escort required in excess of 110'; rear position on divided highways
Rear escort130'1"+
One escort for any load over 110' long: it travels in front on undivided highways and at the rear on divided highways; no second escort is required for length. Over 130' without a rear steerable axle, a route survey is required before the permit is issued. Source: Indiana DOR Form M-204 (rev. 4-22), Escort Vehicle(s) Requirements; Form M-204S item 9. Above 200 ft, this row's escorts are the minimum; the permit sets any more.
Weight
Permit required80,001 lbs – 200,000 lbs
Permit required. Two escorts, front and rear, if the permit carries bridge weight restrictions or slowdowns
Front + Rear + Police200,001 lbs – 249,999 lbs
Two escorts, front and rear. An Indiana State Police escort is required over 200,000 lb unless the whole route is on Interstates with no required slowdowns and the load is under 250,000 lb (M-204S item 1); the app cannot check the slowdowns, so the police escort is shown - check the permit. Source: Indiana DOR Form M-204S, item 1.
Front + Rear + Police250,000 lbs – 250,000 lbs
Two escorts. ISP escort not required only if the route is entirely on interstates with no required slowdowns and under 250,000 lbs. A police escort is required 250,000 lb and over. Source: Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services - Form M-204S, Special Provisions for Vehicle Permitting, item 1.
Front + Rear + Police250,000 lbs+
Two escorts, front and rear. An Indiana State Police escort is required at 250,000 lb and over on every route, Interstates included. Source: Indiana DOR Form M-204S, item 1.
When a permitted load can move
- Standard hours
Continuous travel 7 days a week up to 110' long, 10' wide, 13'6" high and under 200,000 lbs. Larger loads move one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Over 16' wide, over 15' high or over 200,000 lbs: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Night travel
Loads up to 110' long, 10' wide, 13'6" high and under 200,000 lbs may travel continuously, day or night, 7 days a week. Larger loads are daylight only, one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset; over 16' wide, 15' high or 200,000 lbs, Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Weekend travel
Loads over the continuous-travel envelope but no more than 14'4" wide and 15' high may move 7 days a week, daylight only. Over 14'4" wide: Monday-Friday only. Permitted mobile homes and sectionalized buildings 8'6"-14'4" wide may move Saturday until 12:00 noon, not Sunday.
- Holiday restrictions
No movement on state highways from 12:00 noon the last weekday preceding until one-half hour before sunrise the day following New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Overweight Commodity and Bulk Milk permits are exempt.
- Urban restrictions
OS/OW permits are not valid on I-65 or I-70 inside I-465 in Indianapolis. Permits also do not cover any county road or city street; local authorities must be contacted separately for those roads.
Signage Indiana expects
- Oversize load sign
Sign reading OVER-SIZE LOAD required on the front and rear. At least 18 inches high and 6 to 8 feet long, black letters 12 inches high with a 2-inch stroke on a yellow background. Signs approved by another state accepted if the trip originates outside Indiana.
- Flags
Two red or orange flags, 18 inches square, mounted at the widest extremities of the vehicle or load and placed so approaching traffic can see them. Flags must be in good condition and plain, with no figures.
- Beacons
Mobile homes and sectionalized buildings 12'4" wide or more need four high-intensity amber flashing lights, two front and two rear. Lights mounted on the load go at the outer edges, at least 6 feet up, visible at 500 feet. Escort vehicles need a flashing amber light on top.
Indiana permit office
The permit office is the authority on every number on this page. Call it, or open the official site, before you rely on a threshold for a load that is close to a line.
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What are the legal limits in Indiana without an oversize or overweight permit?
In Indiana, the legal limits without an oversize or overweight permit are 8'6" wide, 13'6" high, 53'0" long (semitrailer) and 80,000 lbs gross. Legal overhang is 3'0" front and 4'0" rear. Anything over those figures needs a permit from the Indiana permit office before it moves.
When does an oversize load need an escort or pilot car in Indiana?
On undivided roads in Indiana, escorts begin at 12'5" wide. On divided roads, escorts begin at 12'5" wide. The first escort tier is "Front escort" at 12'5" – 14'3" wide. Every tier on this page quotes its rule and source.
Can oversize loads travel at night, on weekends or on holidays in Indiana?
Night travel: Loads up to 110' long, 10' wide, 13'6" high and under 200,000 lbs may travel continuously, day or night, 7 days a week. Larger loads are daylight only, one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset; over 16' wide, 15' high or 200,000 lbs, Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Weekend travel: Loads over the continuous-travel envelope but no more than 14'4" wide and 15' high may move 7 days a week, daylight only. Over 14'4" wide: Monday-Friday only. Permitted mobile homes and sectionalized buildings 8'6"-14'4" wide may move Saturday until 12:00 noon, not Sunday. Holidays: No movement on state highways from 12:00 noon the last weekday preceding until one-half hour before sunrise the day following New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Overweight Commodity and Bulk Milk permits are exempt.