California DMV Orders Retests

What California actually requires

The story above is the enforcement. This is the rule it is enforcing — so you do not have to go looking for it.

Legal without a permit

Legal width (Above this you need a permit)

8'6"

Legal height (Above this you need a permit)

14'

Legal gross weight (Above this you need a permit)

80,000 lbs

When escorts kick in

Front escort required over (width)

12'

Rear escort required over (width)

12'

Escorts both ends over (width)

13'1"

Height escort / pole car over (height)

17'

When you may run — base envelope only, conditions below

Night travel

Allowed

Weekend travel

Allowed

Sunday travel

Allowed

Superload threshold

Superload over (width)

15'

Superload over (height)

17'

Superload over (length)

135'

• California pilot-car requirements are ROUTE-CLASSIFICATION dependent (Appendix 19 Pilot Car Table), not a single statewide width. One pilot car is generally required when width exceeds 12'0" (144 in) on Yellow/Green/Blue routes, and as low as over 10'0" (120 in) on Brown routes. FRONT vs REAR depends on road type: the pilot car precedes (front) on 2/3-lane conventional roads and follows (rear) on divided highways of 4+ lanes; a rear pilot car is also required for rear overhang over 25'0". Two pilot cars are required over 12'0" on Brown routes and at 13'1"-14'6" (157-174 in) on Blue/Brown routes; Yellow routes need only one pilot car until width exceeds 15'0". Height poles are explicitly NOT a Caltrans requirement (voluntary). Separate CHP (police) escort is required when width over 16'0" on Yellow / over 15'0" on Green/Blue/Brown; length over 185' (Yellow/Green) or over 135' (Blue/Brown); height 17'0"+ on Blue/Brown; whenever opposing lanes are used; or when slowing to cross structures. Loads over 17'0" high require a route survey. Not weight-tied.
• Per Special Conditions TR-PER-006, unless permit says 'No Night Travel': WITHOUT a pilot car, travel is 24/7 on Yellow/Green/Blue/Brown routes. WITH a pilot car: Yellow 24/7 until width over 16'0"; Green daylight incl. weekends to 15'0", darkness incl. weekends to 14'0"; Blue/Brown daylight excluding weekends to 15'0", NO darkness travel, weekend (Sat & Sun) travel only from one-half hour before sunrise to 12 noon. Metro CURFEWS in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento urban areas apply when loaded width exceeds 10'0".
• New Year's Day, Washington's Birthday (3rd Mon Feb), Memorial Day, Independence Day (Jul 4), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.

Permit desk: 916-322-1297 · Apply online

Official source · Checked 2026-07-16 · Confidence: high
Only limits we have confirmed are listed. A limit that is not shown is one we have not verified — never read a gap here as "no limit". Always confirm on the permit before you roll.