Flatbed oversize permit cost benchmarks by state 2026
A single-trip oversize permit costs $5 to $300+ per state in 2026, and most routine flatbed permits land between $20 and $90. Maine charges as little as $5 for basic over-dimension moves; Texas, California and Pennsylvania cluster near $90 at the high end of routine oversize, and superload permits in states like New York and Illinois run $300 to $700 or more. There is no national permit — every state on the route issues its own, so a five-state wide load means five separate permit bills. Price them into the rate before you book, not after.
OpenDeck, powered by Load Work, shows oversize freight with broker details on the load, so you can price the permit stack into your quote before you commit the truck. Accounts start through the Open Deck pricing page.
TL;DR
Most single-trip oversize permits cost $20-$90 per state in 2026.
Maine is cheapest at $5; superload permits hit $300-$700+ in New York and Illinois.
Annual permits run $50-$2,000+ and pay off on repeat corridors.
Escort vehicles add $1.50-$3.50 per mile each.
Oversize permit costs by state in 2026
The table covers base single-trip oversize permits — the fee for a load over legal width, height or length at legal weight. Overweight loads add ton-mile or per-pound charges on top, and superloads trigger engineering review.
State | Single-trip oversize (base, 2026) | Notes |
All states | $5-$300+ | Most routine permits cluster between $20 and $90 |
Maine | $5 | Among the cheapest base rates in the country |
South Dakota | $15 | Low-cost oversize state |
South Carolina | $17.40 | Flat single-trip rate |
California | $16-$90 | $16 flat for a 7-day single-trip permit |
Kansas | $20 | Paper permits required by state law |
Florida | $5-$25 | Overweight charges per mile on top |
Pennsylvania | $36-$90 | Overweight adds $0.04 per ton-mile |
Oklahoma | $40-$60 | Base fee plus per-1,000-lb overweight charges |
Vermont | $48 | Single-trip oversize $48 |
Ohio | $50 | Multi-axle pricing on heavier loads |
Texas | $61-$90+ | Rises steeply with weight tiers above 80,000 lbs |
Illinois | $20-$90 | Superloads run $300+ |
New York | $20-$90 | Superload fees run $300-$700+ |
Method and limits: figures are compiled from state DOT fee schedules and permit-fee references current as of 2026, covering base oversize permits — not overweight ton-mile tiers or superload engineering reviews. Fees change without much notice, so confirm with each state's permit office before you quote a lane.
What the high and low ends look like
Maine leads the cheap end at $5 for basic over-dimension single trips, with South Dakota at $15 and South Carolina at a flat $17.40. The expensive routine states — Texas, California, Pennsylvania — sit near $90 once you add the weight tiers most flatbed freight triggers. Superloads are a different category: New York and Illinois consistently run $300 to $700 or more per trip before engineering review fees, which add $300 to $1,500 per state.
The permit fee is rarely the whole bill. Escorts cost $1.50 to $3.50 per mile each, and a multi-state wide load can carry escort bills that dwarf the permits. Width drives everything: past roughly 16 feet wide or 200,000 lbs gross, you are in superload territory in most states.
What drives the price
Width. The single biggest driver; every inch past legal widens the escort and route-review bill.
Weight. Overweight tiers add ton-mile or per-pound charges on top of the base oversize fee.
State count. Every state on the route issues its own permit — there is no national one.
Escort requirements. $1.50-$3.50 per mile per vehicle, and wide loads often need two.
Trip frequency. Annual permits run $50-$2,000+ and beat single trips on repeat corridors.
How to use these benchmarks
Ask who buys the permits before you accept the load. If they are yours, price the permit stack plus escorts into the rate, not just the permit fee.
Price the whole route, not one state. A $90 Texas permit means nothing without the other states' fees and escort miles behind it.
Run a repeat corridor? Compare an annual permit against three or more single trips — the math usually flips.
When the permit stack eats the margin, pass. OpenDeck shows broker details on the load before you call, so you can run that math before the phone rings — see the oversize load alerts to a permit-ready pickup workflow for the setup.
FAQ
How much does an oversize permit cost in 2026?
Single-trip oversize permits run $5 to $300+ per state, and most routine permits cluster between $20 and $90. Overweight loads and superloads cost more.
Which state has the cheapest oversize permits?
Maine, at $5 for basic over-dimension single trips. South Dakota and South Carolina also run under $20.
Which states have the most expensive oversize permits?
For superloads, New York and Illinois lead at $300-$700+ per trip. For routine oversize, Texas, California and Pennsylvania cluster near $90.
Do I need a separate permit for each state?
Yes. There is no national oversize permit — every state on the route issues its own, with its own route, hours and stop rules.
How much do escort vehicles cost?
Escorts typically run $1.50-$3.50 per mile per vehicle, and wide loads often require more than one.
Is an annual oversize permit worth it?
On repeat corridors, usually. Annual permits run $50-$2,000+ depending on the state, so compare the annual fee against three or more single trips.
Who pays for the oversize permit on a brokered load?
It depends on the load. Ask the broker on the first call whether permits are already bought or yours to file, and get it in writing.
One last thing
The permit fee is the smallest number in an oversize quote. Escorts, restricted travel hours and route limits cost more days than dollars — and days are what you quote for. Next time a wide load looks rich on paper, add the escort miles before you call it a win.
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