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California

California Truck Permits for trip, fuel, oversize & overweight

California sells a Fuel Trip Permit through CDTFA for specific dates, up to four consecutive days, and the DMV issues a nonresident commercial vehicle trip permit. A load over 8 ft 6 in wide, 14 ft high or 80,000 lbs needs a Caltrans permit, good on state highways only. Tell us the truck, load and route, and our permit desk files every California permit the trip needs.

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Start here

What are you running through California?

Pick what fits your truck and load. Each answer opens the California rules and what we need from you.

Not sure which one? Call the 24/7 permit desk

(312) 395-7322

Source: Caltrans Legal Truck Access and Transportation Permits pages, California Vehicle Code 35100, 35250, 35400 and 35401, CDTFA California Fuel Trip Permit, California DMV.

California and its neighbors

How California permits differ from the states around it

A route from Nevada or Oregon meets a shorter combination limit, one-way permits and route colors at the California line.

  1. Shorter than Nevada

    California stops most combinations at 65 ft and caps kingpin to rear axle at 40 ft. Nevada allows 70 ft in combination with the same 14 ft height.

  2. One way, seven days

    A California single-trip permit runs seven days in one direction. Nevada's runs 5 days and may cover a round trip.

  3. CHP escorts set by route color

    California sends the CHP over 16 ft wide on yellow routes and over 15 ft on green, blue and brown routes. Nevada calls in its Highway Patrol for superloads.

  4. A fuel permit by the date

    California's fuel trip permit is a CDTFA permit for up to four consecutive days. Nevada's fuel tax permit comes from state-contracted vendors, and Oregon has no fuel trip permit.

How it works

Your California permit in three steps

  1. Send the load and route

    Truck, trailer, dimensions, weight, origin and destination. Your fleet details are saved for next time.

  2. We check and file

    Our permit desk checks the California rules for your load and files with Caltrans.

  3. Get your permit

    You get the permit PDF, a written route and an interactive route map to share with the driver.

What will an oversize permit in California cost?

Enter your pickup and delivery locations, choose your permit type, and compare estimated permit costs across route options.

  1. Oversize and overweight permits across the lower 48 and DC
  2. State-by-state fee breakdown for each route option
  3. Order your permit or talk to a specialist
Calculate permit cost

FAQ

California permit questions

How long can a truck run on a California fuel trip permit?

Up to four consecutive days, bought for specific dates from CDTFA. We buy it for the days your truck is in California.

Does a nonresident truck need a DMV trip permit in California?

The DMV issues a nonresident commercial vehicle trip permit for that case. We file it together with the fuel trip permit so both are ready at the line.

Can an STAA truck leave the T-sign routes in California?

Only where S-signs allow it: up to one mile off the route for food, fuel, lodging or repair. On T-sign routes an STAA truck has no overall length limit, with a 53 ft semitrailer and 40 ft kingpin to rear axle.

Which California permit does a load over 15 ft wide need?

A variance permit, also for loads over 17 ft high or 135 ft long. Apply no later than 30 days ahead; over 17 ft high Caltrans needs a route survey.

Can one request cover my California fuel trip permit and Caltrans permit?

Yes. Send the truck, load and dates once, and our permit desk files the fuel trip permit, the trip permit, the Caltrans permit and any city or county permit on the way, 24/7.

Keep going

California permit pages

Permit types in California

All states

Neighboring states

Region

Tools

24/7 permit desk

Need a permit in California for this load?

Send the details once. We file with Caltrans, plus every other state on your route.

Request a permit