STATE PERMIT GUIDE

California: plan the permit work.

Every field below says what FCC has verified against an official source and what it has not. A field marked Confirmation required is one FCC has not verified — it is not a requirement that does not exist, and it is never a zero.

Issuing authority: California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Office of Commercial Vehicle Operations
Checked by FCC: 8 of 22 fields verified, last on 2026-09-20

Plan a move through California Official permit information ↗

Dimensions & weight

General loaded width: 102 in
102 inches (8 ft 6 in) general outside width. Read against the cited official page on 20 September 2026. Exceptions and permit conditions apply.
Verified 2026-09-20 · Vehicle Widths
General loaded height: 168 in
14 ft is the legal-height screening threshold used by Caltrans transportation-permit materials. Read against the cited official page on 20 September 2026. Exceptions and permit conditions apply.
Verified 2026-09-20 · Caltrans - Transportation Permits (Oversize/Overweight Vehicles)
Configuration-specific length: Confirmation required
FCC has not verified this against an official source yet, so nothing is published. Confirm the requirement with the California issuing authority — a blank field is not a requirement that does not exist.
Gross combination weight: Caltrans transportation-permit materials screen loads over 80,000 lb for permit review, subject to California axle/weight law.
Read against the cited official page on 20 September 2026. Exceptions and permit conditions apply.
Verified 2026-09-20 · Caltrans - Transportation Permits (Oversize/Overweight Vehicles)
Axle / bridge / tire limits: Confirmation required
FCC has not verified this against an official source yet, so nothing is published. Confirm the requirement with the California issuing authority — a blank field is not a requirement that does not exist.
Load overhang: Loaded overhang is a required application field; Caltrans application materials specify front/rear measurement conventions.
Read against the cited official page on 20 September 2026. Exceptions and permit conditions apply.
Verified 2026-09-20 · Single Trip Permit Application Instructions

Permits & costs

Single-trip permit: Single Trip permits are available for extralegal loads.
Read against the cited official page on 20 September 2026. Exceptions and permit conditions apply.
Verified 2026-09-20 · Caltrans - Transportation Permits (Oversize/Overweight Vehicles)
Annual permit: Annual and Repetitive permits are available within published envelopes.
The cited page belongs to the state and was reached on 20 September 2026. It names what the state publishes rather than a figure FCC could compare, so confirm the detail with the issuing authority.
Verified 2026-09-20 · Caltrans - Transportation Permits (Oversize/Overweight Vehicles)
Validity: Confirmation required
FCC has not verified this against an official source yet, so nothing is published. Confirm the requirement with the California issuing authority — a blank field is not a requirement that does not exist.
Published lead time: Confirmation required
FCC has not verified this against an official source yet, so nothing is published. Confirm the requirement with the California issuing authority — a blank field is not a requirement that does not exist.
Special / superload review: Variance permit category applies to vehicles greater than 15 ft wide, 17 ft high, 135 ft long, or special hauling equipment outside standard weight classification.
Read against the cited official page on 20 September 2026. Exceptions and permit conditions apply.
Verified 2026-09-20 · Caltrans - Transportation Permits (Oversize/Overweight Vehicles)
State permit fee: 2026 Transportation Permits Manual Chapter 1 lists $16 for a single-trip permit or rider and $90 for an annual or repetitive permit. Read against the cited official page on 20 September 2026. Exceptions and permit conditions apply.Verified 2026-09-20 · 2026 Cvo Transportation Permits Manual Chapter 1 A11y

Escorts & markings

Pilot cars / escorts: Confirmation required
FCC has not verified this against an official source yet, so nothing is published. Confirm the requirement with the California issuing authority — a blank field is not a requirement that does not exist.
Police escort: Confirmation required
FCC has not verified this against an official source yet, so nothing is published. Confirm the requirement with the California issuing authority — a blank field is not a requirement that does not exist.
Height pole: Confirmation required
FCC has not verified this against an official source yet, so nothing is published. Confirm the requirement with the California issuing authority — a blank field is not a requirement that does not exist.
Signs / flags / lights: Confirmation required
FCC has not verified this against an official source yet, so nothing is published. Confirm the requirement with the California issuing authority — a blank field is not a requirement that does not exist.

When and where to move

Travel hours: Confirmation required
FCC has not verified this against an official source yet, so nothing is published. Confirm the requirement with the California issuing authority — a blank field is not a requirement that does not exist.
Weekend movement: Confirmation required
FCC has not verified this against an official source yet, so nothing is published. Confirm the requirement with the California issuing authority — a blank field is not a requirement that does not exist.
Holiday movement: Confirmation required
FCC has not verified this against an official source yet, so nothing is published. Confirm the requirement with the California issuing authority — a blank field is not a requirement that does not exist.
Seasonal restrictions: Confirmation required
FCC has not verified this against an official source yet, so nothing is published. Confirm the requirement with the California issuing authority — a blank field is not a requirement that does not exist.
Weather restrictions: Confirmation required
FCC has not verified this against an official source yet, so nothing is published. Confirm the requirement with the California issuing authority — a blank field is not a requirement that does not exist.
Local / toll jurisdictions: Confirmation required
FCC has not verified this against an official source yet, so nothing is published. Confirm the requirement with the California issuing authority — a blank field is not a requirement that does not exist.

Requirements and fees can change. Final permits, routes and movement requirements are determined by the applicable issuing authorities. State permits may not cover local or toll roads.

Resource center

Plan the details

Ten guides, in the order the work happens.

Oversized electrical transformer secured on a heavy-haul lowboy trailer.

04Start here How to plan a multi-state oversize load One route, several permits, and the order to get them in. It is the one that matters most from where you are. Read the guide →

01Oversize & overweight permits: what shippers need to knowThe whole process end to end, in plain terms.02What makes a load oversize or overweight?The legal limits, and where your load sits against them.03How to measure an oversize load before requesting permitsWhere to measure from, and the figures the state asks for.04How to plan a multi-state oversize loadOne route, several permits, and the order to get them in.05Route surveys, bridge clearances and permitted routesWhen a survey is required, and who signs off on the route.06State permits vs city and local permitsWhat a state permit does not cover.07How oversize permit costs are calculatedWhat each state charges for, and how a total adds up.08Pilot cars and escorts: when are they required?The thresholds that trigger an escort, and what they cost.09Oversize load travel hours, weekends and holidaysWhen you can legally be on the road, and when you cannot.10What can make an oversize permit invalid?Changes that void a permit after it has been issued.