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West Virginia Oversize Permits

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

⚠ 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: 13.5ft (162in)
Max semitrailer length: 53ft on designated routes · 48ft elsewhere
Max overall combination length: 55ft
Max tractor rear axle to trailer front axle: 37ft
Gross Weight: 80,000 lbs
Single Axle: 20,000 lbs
Tandem Axle: 34,000 lbs

W. Va. Code §17C-17-4(a): a vehicle, including any load thereon, may not exceed a height of 13 ft 6 in (162 in).

Official source for this height limit →

WV Code 17C-17-4(f): 48 ft semitrailer, rising to 53 ft only where axle spacing between the TRACTOR REAR AXLE and the TRAILER FRONT AXLE is 37 ft or less. ⚠️ That 37 ft is an AXLE-TO-AXLE measurement, NOT kingpin-to-rear-axle as in Wisconsin and most states — a 53 ft trailer legal in Wisconsin is NOT automatically legal in West Virginia. Express statutory proviso removes any overall limit on the NN/designated highways. ⚠️ STATUTE vs STATE PERMIT SHEET CONFLICT: 17C-17-4(c) sets a 55 ft two-unit combination base off those routes, raised to 70 ft only by commissioner designation published on an annual official map (17C-17-4(g)); the WVDOH permit sheet asserts 70 ft on US/WV/County routes without citing that designation. We store the statutory 55 ft as the conservative figure and flag the conflict.

⚠️ WEST VIRGINIA DOES NOT MEASURE KINGPIN-TO-REAR-AXLE. WV Code 17C-17-4(f) measures axle spacing between the TRACTOR REAR AXLE and the TRAILER FRONT AXLE, 37 ft or less, as the condition for a 53 ft trailer (otherwise 48 ft). A 53 ft trailer legal in Wisconsin on a 43 ft KPRA is NOT automatically legal in West Virginia — these are different measurements of different things.

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: 10.5ft wide
Rear escort required over: 12ft wide
Both escorts required over: 12.1ft wide
Height escort required over: 15ft tall

Per WVDOT Permit Information (CSR 157-05). WIDTH 2-lane: 10 ft 6 in to 12 ft - 1 front escort; over 12 ft to 14 ft - front + rear; 14 ft 1 in to 16 ft - front + rear (Mon-Fri); 15 ft 1 in to 16 ft - two front + one rear. WIDTH 4-lane: 10 ft 6 in to 12 ft - none; over 12 ft to 14 ft - 1 rear; 14 ft 1 in to 16 ft - front + rear; 15 ft 1 in to 16 ft (non-interstate) two rear + one front, (interstate) two rear. Over 16 ft: as required by permit, Sunday-morning-only on Turnpike. LENGTH 2-lane: 75-95 ft - 1 rear; 95 ft 1 in-100 ft - front + rear; over 100 ft 1 in - front + rear. LENGTH 4-lane: 75-95 ft - none; 95 ft 1 in-100 ft - 1 rear; over 100 ft - front + rear. OVERHANG over 10 ft front or rear - 1 escort. HEIGHT over 15 ft (180 in) - front pole car (all routes) in addition to other escorts.

Travel Restrictions

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

Oversize loads travel sunrise to sunset only. Loads 14 ft 0 in or less wide (any length/height/weight) may travel all routes except the WV Turnpike sunrise-to-sunset SEVEN days a week; loads over 14 ft wide travel sunrise-to-sunset Monday-Friday. Overweight-but-not-oversize loads up to 110,000 lbs (Turnpike) / 135,000 lbs (other routes) may travel 24/7 on request. Turnpike over-width windows: 14 ft 1 in-18 ft = Mon-Thu daytime; 18 ft 1 in-24 ft 6 in = Sundays before noon; over 24 ft 7 in limited. Sunday travel for loads over 14 ft wide is generally not allowed except narrow Turnpike windows.

Holiday blackouts: No travel permitted on holidays (single trip and superload permits). Weekend travel granted on request.

See how West Virginia compares to every state ›

Superload Thresholds

Width over: 16ft
Length over: 120ft
Weight over: 120,000 lbs

A superload permit is required when weight or dimensions exceed single-trip permit limits (single trip max: 16 ft wide, 120,000 lbs gross; no height/length limit if routes accommodate). No weight limit on superloads but all must pass a bridge analysis; no dimension limit except overhang (15 ft front / 30 ft rear). superload_width_in 192 = over 16 ft; superload_weight_lbs 120000 = over the single-trip gross.

Estimated Permit Cost Current

$20 + $0.04 per ton-mile overweight

Typical processing: instant if self-issue passes

Source: WV Division of Highways (revised 3-17-2023).

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://wv.gotpermits.com
Phone: 304-558-9547

WV mountain roads significantly limit routing options for large loads.

Planning a move through West Virginia?

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