South Carolina Oversize & Overweight Permits
Over 8'6" wide, 13'6" high, or 80,000 lb, get an SCDOT permit, single-trip $30. Escorts phase in: one front escort at 12' on two-lanes, front and rear past 14', civilian plus police past 16'. Sunrise to sunset, Monday through Sunday, with tighter urban windows on school days and a 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. box on school days above 15' wide. Any non-divisible load over 130,000 lb, or any single axle over 20,000 lb, is a superload: $100 application, engineering analysis, and a $3-per-1,000-lb impact fee, with route and bridge review.
When South Carolina needs a permit
Over 8'6" wide, 13'6" high, or 80,000 lb, get an SCDOT permit, single-trip $30. Escorts phase in: one front escort at 12' on two-lanes, front and rear past 14', civilian plus police past 16'. Sunrise to sunset, Monday through Sunday, with tighter urban windows on school days and a 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. box on school days above 15' wide. Any non-divisible load over 130,000 lb, or any single axle over 20,000 lb, is a superload: $100 application, engineering analysis, and a $3-per-1,000-lb impact fee, with route and bridge review.
Thresholds, escorts, and curfews
- Legal max before a permit: Permit needed over 8'6" wide, 13'6" high, 80,000 lb gross, or over legal length.
- Escort / pilot car: Over 12' up to 14' wide: one front escort on two-lane roads. Over 14' up to 16' wide: one front and one rear escort on all roadways. Over 16' wide: front and rear civilian escorts plus front and rear police escorts. Length 125' up to 150': one rear escort; over 150': front and rear. Rear overhang over 15': one rear escort plus an 18-inch red flag. Height 16' and over: a front escort with a height measuring device and a certified route survey. Every permitted load must clear each structure by 3 inches.
- Superload: Superload is any non-divisible load over 130,000 lb. That adds a $100 application fee, an engineering analysis (from $100, more at higher weights), and a $3-per-1,000-lb impact fee on the full gross, plus a route and bridge review. At higher weights or 16' wide you also file an insurance certificate.
- Travel curfew: Sunrise to sunset, Monday through Sunday, Sunday included. Loads over 15' wide are boxed into 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on school days and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. other days. Near large urban areas, loads over 12' up to 15' wide stay off 7-9 a.m. every weekday, 3-6 p.m. on school days, and 4:30-6 p.m. on non-school days. Loads grossing up to 130,000 lb get continuous travel on request when every other dimension is legal. No travel on New Year's, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, and east of I-95 the Myrtle Beach routes close Saturday and Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
- Permit fee: Single-trip oversize from about $30. Superload: $100 application, engineering from $100, plus $3 per 1,000 lb impact fee. Annual permits available for repeat moves.
South Carolina Oversize Permit FAQ
When do I need an oversize permit in South Carolina?
Does South Carolina require a pilot car or escort?
Can I move an oversize load at night or on weekends in South Carolina?
What does an oversize permit cost in South Carolina?
Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed July 2026. Source: https://www.scdot.org/business/permits-osow.html. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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