South Carolina Oversize & Overweight Permits

When South Carolina needs a permit

Over 8'6" wide, 13'6" high, or 80,000 lb, get an SCDOT permit, single-trip from about $30. Escorts phase in: one front escort at 12' on two-lanes, front and rear past 14', civilian plus police past 16'. Daylight only, Monday through Saturday, no Sunday, with tighter urban windows on school days. Any non-divisible load over 130,000 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, 125' long, or overhang past 15': front and rear escorts. Over 16' wide: two civilian escorts plus front-and-rear police escorts. Over-height loads need a front escort with a height pole and must clear every 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: Daylight only, a half hour after sunrise to a half hour before sunset, Monday through Saturday. No Sunday travel (except some overweight-only loads at or under 130,000 lb that can hold traffic speed). Near urban areas, 12' to 15' wide loads stay off 7-9 a.m. daily and 3-6 p.m. on school days; over 15' wide moves only 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on school days.
• 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.

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