Washington Oversize Permits

Legal size/weight limits, escort thresholds, travel restrictions, and permit office contact for Washington.

⚠ REFERENCE ONLY — NOT A PERMIT. VERIFY WITH THE STATE BEFORE YOU TRAVEL.

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: 14ft (168in)
Max semitrailer length: 53ft
Gross Weight: 80,000 lbs
Single Axle: 22,000 lbs
Tandem Axle: 34,000 lbs

RCW 46.44.020: unlawful for any vehicle unladen or with load to exceed 14 ft (168 in). Note the liability rule in the same section: no liability attaches to the state or any local authority for a structure with 14 ft or more of clearance, or for one with less if approved impaired-clearance signs are posted. Below 14 ft, posted signage shifts the risk to the driver.

Official source for this height limit →

RCW 46.44.030(2)(a) caps "a semitrailer length in excess of 53 feet" — statewide, all public highways, with NO road-class split (contrary to expectation). There is no overall cap on a tractor-semitrailer in Washington. ⚠️ Our previous 75 ft, and the 61 ft figure also seen for WA, belong to DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS, not different roads. WSDOT's own guide says "Single trailers may not exceed 53 feet... The legal length of combination vehicles may vary", which secondary sources routinely mangle into "the legal length limit for a tractor/trailer combination is 53 feet" — that is false in the other direction.

Official source for these length limits →

Escort / Pilot Car Thresholds (see glossary for terms, certification requirements for the driver)

These escort figures are route-dependent — they can change with road classification, lane width, two-lane vs multilane, and time of day. Confirm with the permit office before dispatching.

Front escort required over: 11ft wide
Rear escort required over: 11ft wide
Both escorts required over: 11ft wide
Height escort required over: 14.5ft tall

Per WAC 468-38-100 / DOT Form 560-002 (Rev 07/2023). WIDTH: over 11 ft (132 in) on two-lane highways requires TWO escorts (front + rear); over 14 ft (168 in) on multilane highways requires ONE rear escort; over 20 ft (240 in) on multilane UNDIVIDED highways requires TWO escorts. HEIGHT: over 14'6" (174 in) requires a front escort with a height-measuring pole (manufactured housing: front height-pole escort over 15 ft / 180 in). LENGTH: trailer+load over 105 ft requires a rear escort on two-lane highways, over 125 ft requires a rear escort on multilane; rear overhang over 1/3 of trailer length (two-lane) or over 20 ft on a single unit (two-lane) requires a rear escort. Over 12 ft wide on a multilane highway when a front height-pole escort is already required adds a rear escort. No fixed weight-based escort trigger, but WSDOT may require escorts at its discretion. No mandatory police-escort width/weight threshold in WAC 468-38-100.

Travel Restrictions

Night travel: Generally allowed
Weekend travel: Generally allowed
Sunday travel: Generally allowed

Night travel (WAC 468-38-075): loads within 12 ft wide x 14'6" high x 105 ft long may move at night; larger loads only if the permit states 'Nighttime movement approved' and only on Department-preferred hours/routes. Commuter curfews (DOT Form 560-002 pg 2) apply MONDAY-FRIDAY ONLY in metro areas (Seattle-Everett, Tacoma, Olympia, Vancouver, Kelso, Spokane) generally 6-9 AM and 3-7 PM (varies by segment), restricting loads that must display 'Oversize Load' signs, with per-segment width limits (9 ft, 10 ft, or 11'2" on Spokane I-90); over-width-only loads under the listed width limit are exempt. Winter: movement prohibited where 'Traction Advisory Oversize Vehicles Prohibited' signs are posted.

Holiday blackouts: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, day after Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and the afternoon of the day preceding each listed holiday.

See how Washington compares to every state ›

Superload Thresholds

Width over: 16ft
Height over: 16ft
Length over: 125ft
Weight over: 200,000 lbs

WSDOT superload = a vehicle or combination with a non-divisible load exceeding any one of: 16 ft wide (192 in), 16 ft high (192 in), 125 ft of load length, or 200,000 lbs. Superload requests must be submitted at least 30 days prior to movement.

Estimated Permit Cost Current

$10 oversize flat; overweight $0.07–$1.14/mile graduated, $14 min

Typical processing: instant via self-issue portal

Source: WSDOT / RCW 46.44.0941 (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.esnoopipro.com/
Phone: 360-704-6340

Cascade pass closures possible Oct-April. Puget Sound ferry connections require separate permits.

Planning a move through Washington?

Enter your load's exact size to see whether it needs a permit or escort here, plan a truck-legal route, or find a transporter or escort.

Check my load in Washington Route Planner Find an Escort