Texas oversize overweight permit: get it from TxDMV before you roll

A Texas oversize overweight permit is required before you move a load that is bigger or heavier than Texas legal limits. Not after. Not halfway down the road. TxDMV (the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles) issues these permits, and many come with an authorized route you must follow. This article explains the legal limits, when you need a permit, and how to apply without surprises.

When you need a Texas oversize overweight permit

TxDMV says vehicles or loads that exceed Texas legal size and weight limits must have an oversize/overweight (OS/OW) permit, and an authorized route when applicable, issued by TxDMV before traveling on Texas public roads.

Before you apply, TxDMV says you must know the exact dimensions and weight of your vehicle and load. That information decides whether you need a permit and which permit type fits.

Texas legal size and weight limits

TxDMV lists the maximum dimensions you can run without a permit. Some of the main ones:

• Width: 8 feet 6 inches for most vehicles and loads (8 feet for passenger vehicles).
• Height: 14 feet.
• Length: a semitrailer in a two-vehicle combination, 59 feet. The truck-tractor length is unlimited. A single motor vehicle, 45 feet.
• Overhang: 3 feet in front, 4 feet in the rear.
• Weight: 80,000 pounds gross maximum. Single axle 20,000 pounds, tandem axle group 34,000 pounds, triple 42,000, quad 50,000.

TxDMV notes that maximum legal weight is based on the number of axles and the Texas Permissible Weight Table. An axle group needs at least 40 inches between axles within the group. Always check the full TxDMV "Texas Size & Weight Limits" page for your exact setup.

How to apply, step by step

1. Measure and weigh. Get the exact width, height, length, overhang and weight of the truck, trailer and load together.
2. Compare with the legal limits. If anything is over, you need a permit.
3. Use TxPROS. TxPROS is the Texas Permitting & Routing Optimization System. Its Permit Wizard helps you see which permit types are available to you.
4. Or call TxDMV. The Oversize/Overweight Permits Office is at (800) 299-1700, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The phone line closes at 4:30 p.m. each business day.
5. Follow the route. If your permit comes with an authorized route, stay on it.
6. Carry the permit and follow every condition on it.

Check the road before you roll

TxDMV also publishes road information to check before you travel, like load-restricted bridges, load-zoned roads, permit restrictions by county and district, and structures with low vertical clearance. A legal height on paper does not help if a bridge on your route is lower.

Mistakes to avoid

• Guessing the measurements. A few inches can change the permit type.
• Moving first and applying later. The permit comes first.
• Leaving the authorized route. Detours you choose yourself can put you off-permit.
• Calling after hours. The permits office phone closes at 4:30 p.m. Plan ahead.
• Forgetting the rest of your file. A permit does not fix missing registration or authority filings.

When to call TCZ Permits

Need help getting your file ready for oversize or overweight work? Call us at 956-526-6727. We build your whole file, from USDOT and MC to IRP, IFTA and UCR. See our filing guide. For Texas-only hauling, also read about Texas intrastate authority.

Common questions

How tall can a truck be in Texas without a permit? TxDMV lists 14 feet as the legal height for all vehicles. Taller loads need a permit.

What is the max weight without a permit in Texas? TxDMV lists 80,000 pounds gross, with axle limits like 20,000 pounds on a single axle and 34,000 on a tandem group. Legal weight also depends on axle count and spacing.

How do I get an oversize permit in Texas? Apply in TxPROS using the Permit Wizard, or call the TxDMV Oversize/Overweight Permits Office at (800) 299-1700.