Vermont Oversize & Overweight Permit Rules
What a load can be in Vermont 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 Vermont, 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 Vermont without a permit
Legal limits are the dimensions and gross weight a vehicle may run at without an oversize or overweight permit. Vermont publishes its length limit as overall combination, 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' · Front escort | 12' · Rear escort |
| Height | 13'6" | 13'7" | No escort tier (permit only) | No escort tier (permit only) |
| Length | 75'0"overall combination | 75'1" | 80' · Front escort | 80' · Rear escort |
| Weight | 80,000 lbs | 80,001 lbs | No escort tier (permit only) | No escort tier (permit only) |
"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.
Vermont 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' wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 11'11"
Permit required over 8'6"; no escort below 12'
Front escort12'+
12' or greater: one escort, preceding on undivided highways, following if the road is divided. 15' or wider also needs an engineering inspection. Above 20 ft, this row's escorts are the minimum; the permit sets any more.
Height
Permit required13'7" – 14'
Permit required over 13'6"; VT publishes no height escort
Permit required14'1" – 20'
Over 14' requires an engineering inspection except on town highways. No escort or height pole required by rule
Length
Permit required75'1" – 79'11"
Permit required over 75' overall; no escort below 80'. Escort still required at 15'+ overhang
Front escort80'+
80' or greater: one escort, preceding on undivided highways, following if the road is divided. Over 100' also needs an engineering inspection. Above 200 ft, this row's escorts are the minimum; the permit sets any more.
Weight
Permit required80,001 lbs – 149,999 lbs
Overweight permit required over 80,000 lbs; blanket permits capped at 108,000 lbs. Permits never supersede posted road limits
Permit required150,000 lbs+
150,000 lbs or more requires an engineering inspection except on town highways. No escort by rule
On divided roads
Escorts begin at 12' wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 11'11"
Permit required over 8'6"; no escort below 12'
Rear escort12'+
12' or greater: one escort, following on divided highways. 15' or wider also needs an engineering inspection. Commissioner may require more escorts. Above 20 ft, this row's escorts are the minimum; the permit sets any more.
Height
Permit required13'7" – 14'
Permit required over 13'6"; VT publishes no height escort
Permit required14'1" – 20'
Over 14' requires an engineering inspection. No escort or height pole required by rule; verify clearances yourself
Length
Permit required75'1" – 79'11"
Permit required over 75' overall; no escort below 80'. Escort still required at 15'+ overhang
Rear escort80'+
80' or greater: one escort, following on divided highways. Over 100' also needs an engineering inspection. Above 200 ft, this row's escorts are the minimum; the permit sets any more.
Weight
Permit required80,001 lbs – 149,999 lbs
Overweight permit required over 80,000 lbs; blanket permits capped at 108,000 lbs. No escort by rule
Permit required150,000 lbs+
150,000 lbs or more requires an engineering inspection. No escort by rule
When a permitted load can move
- Standard hours
Over width, over length or over height loads may move only from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Overweight-only vehicles that can travel with the flow of traffic are not restricted to daylight hours.
- Night travel
Not permitted for over width, over length or over height loads unless the permit states otherwise. Overweight-only vehicles capable of traveling with the flow of traffic may move at night.
- Weekend travel
Saturday and Sunday movement is allowed. On state highways permits are not issued for Saturday or Sunday movement of loads over 108,000 lbs, over 12' wide, or over 100' long.
- Holiday restrictions
No movement of loads over 108,000 lbs, over 12' wide or over 100' long on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas. Commissioner may further restrict movement before and after holidays.
- Urban restrictions
Movement may be further restricted by hour or day on heavily traveled highways. State highway speed is limited to 45 mph for loads over 90,000 lbs, over 10' wide, over 13'6" high or over 75' long; interstate maximum is 60 mph.
Signage Vermont expects
- Oversize load sign
Required over 8'6" wide, over 13'6" high, over 75' long, or over 46' for a single vehicle. Yellow, at least 7' by 18", black letters 10" high with 1-1/4" stroke, front and rear. A sign legal in another state is accepted. Cover or remove when not oversize.
- Flags
Bright or fluorescent red or orange flags at least 18" by 18" on all four corners of any load or vehicle exceeding legal dimensions. Front or rear overhang over 4' takes one flag if under 2' wide, two flags if 2' or wider.
- Beacons
Single trip rules require a flashing amber light above the highest point of the towing vehicle on over dimension moves. Every escort vehicle carries a flashing amber light above its highest point or lights visible through 360 degrees.
Vermont 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 Vermont without an oversize or overweight permit?
In Vermont, the legal limits without an oversize or overweight permit are 8'6" wide, 13'6" high, 75'0" long (overall combination) and 80,000 lbs gross. Legal overhang is 3'0" front and 4'0" rear. Anything over those figures needs a permit from the Vermont permit office before it moves.
When does an oversize load need an escort or pilot car in Vermont?
On undivided roads in Vermont, escorts begin at 12' wide. On divided roads, escorts begin at 12' wide. The first escort tier is "Front escort" at 12'+ wide. Every tier on this page quotes its rule and source.
Can oversize loads travel at night, on weekends or on holidays in Vermont?
Night travel: Not permitted for over width, over length or over height loads unless the permit states otherwise. Overweight-only vehicles capable of traveling with the flow of traffic may move at night. Weekend travel: Saturday and Sunday movement is allowed. On state highways permits are not issued for Saturday or Sunday movement of loads over 108,000 lbs, over 12' wide, or over 100' long. Holidays: No movement of loads over 108,000 lbs, over 12' wide or over 100' long on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas. Commissioner may further restrict movement before and after holidays.