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New Hampshire Oversize Permits
Legal size/weight limits, escort thresholds, travel restrictions, and permit office contact for New Hampshire.
These figures are a reference summary of publicly published state rules, not a substitute for a state-issued permit and not legal advice. Rules change — always confirm current limits and requirements directly with the state permit office before you plan or run a move. Last verified: 2026-07-16. Oversize Ops is NOT responsible and CANNOT be held liable for decisions made from this reference. Official source ↗
Legal Maximum Dimensions (no permit required)
- Width
- 8.5ft (102in)
- Height
- 13.5ft (162in)
- Max semitrailer length
- 53ft
- Max single-unit vehicle length
- 45ft
- Gross Weight
- 80,000 lbs
- Single Axle
- 22,400 lbs
- Tandem Axle
- 36,000 lbs
N.H. RSA 266:10: no vehicle whose total height including load is greater than 13 ft 6 in (162 in) shall be driven on the ways of this state, EXCEPT a vehicle transporting manufactured housing or modular buildings, which may reach 14 ft 6 in. ⚠️ Any manufactured-housing or modular-building move over 13 ft 6 in requires a NON-POLICE ESCORT equipped per DOT rules (RSA 21-L:12-a).
Official source for this height limit →
RSA 266:11 sets 45 ft for a SINGLE UNIT vehicle or bus — that is what our old 45 ft figure was, and it does not apply to a tractor-semitrailer. The semitrailer limit is 53 ft and there is no overall combination limit. Trailers over 48 ft are restricted to interstate/defense highways plus commissioner-designated routes.
Escort / Pilot Car Thresholds (see glossary for terms, certification requirements for the driver)
- Front escort required over
- 12ft wide
- Rear escort required over
- 12ft wide
- Both escorts required over
- 14ft wide
- Height escort required over
- 14ft tall
Per NH Admin Code Tra 304.17: NO escort if width < 12'0", length < 90'0", and rear overhang < 15'0". ONE non-police escort if width is 12'0" to under 14'0", OR length >= 90'0", OR height > 14'0", OR front/rear overhang >= 15'0". A SECOND non-police escort if rear overhang is 15'0"+ AND width is 12'0"+. STATE POLICE escort: one if vehicle+load is 100'0"+ long; TWO state police escorts if width exceeds 14'0"; three state police if a highway closure is required. Route survey required if length > 110' or height > 13'6".
Travel Restrictions
- Night travel
- Generally restricted
- Weekend travel
- Generally restricted
- Sunday travel
- Generally restricted
NH Admin Code Tra 304.14: travel for oversize (and oversize+overweight) permits is daylight only, 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset; night travel not allowed for oversize/combined loads (overweight-only excepted). Permits are NOT valid on weekend days (limited exceptions for supermoves and certain building/structure loads). No travel during inclement weather. City of Manchester peak-hour restriction (commonly imposed on NH permit routes): no travel 7:00-9:00 am and 3:00-6:00 pm.
Holiday blackouts: New Year's Day; Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil Rights Day; Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day); Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving Day AND the following day; and Christmas Day (Tra 304.14).
Extreme-Load Escalation Triggers
This jurisdiction does not define a "superload" class. The figures below are triggers for other escalations — read the note beneath them before planning against these numbers.
- Width over
- 15ft
- Length over
- 130ft
- Weight over
- 150,000 lbs
NH does not define a numeric 'superload'. Escalation thresholds instead: a Route Survey is required for loads greater than 110' in length and/or greater than 13'6" in height; loads over 14'0" wide require two state police escorts; loads/moves requiring a highway closure require three state police escorts. Manufactured housing/modular escort trigger uses 14'6" height instead of 14'.
Estimated Permit Cost Current
$6 dimensions; weight tiered $5.50–$10.50+
Source: RSA 266:22 (effective 7/1/2023).
Permit fee only — does not include escort/pilot-car service costs (market-rate, arranged separately) or third-party permit-service fees. This is an estimate for planning purposes, not a quote.
Get a Permit
- Online portal
- https://www.nhdotpermits.org/
- Phone
- 603-271-2691
Spring mud season restrictions apply March-May.
Planning a move through New Hampshire?
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