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Iowa

Iowa Truck Permits for trip, fuel, oversize & overweight

A truck without Iowa on its cab card needs a 72-hour registration trip permit, bought before it enters Iowa, and without IFTA a temporary fuel permit for one trip or 72 hours. Oversize and overweight permits come from Iowa DOT for state and federal highways, while counties and cities issue their own. Tell us the truck, load and route, and our permit desk files every permit Iowa needs.

Request a permit

Start here

What are you running through Iowa?

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

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

(312) 395-7322

Source: Iowa Truck Information Guide (Iowa DPS and Iowa DOT), Iowa Administrative Code 761 chapter 511, Iowa Code chapters 321 and 321E.

Iowa and its neighbors

How Iowa permits differ from the states around it

Iowa sets special zones along its borders with Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota.

  1. No trip permit near Wisconsin

    IRP-qualified trucks may run within 30 miles of the Iowa–Wisconsin border without Iowa trip permits.

  2. Fuel border zones

    Iowa has 30-mile fuel border zones with Minnesota, Wisconsin and Missouri, and city zones with Nebraska around Sioux City, Carter Lake and Council Bluffs–Omaha.

  3. Export corridors to South Dakota

    Iowa law sets economic export corridors for Iowa-made goods heading to or through South Dakota.

  4. Neighbor rules in border cities

    Iowa border cities may allow vehicles that meet the neighboring state's length and weight laws.

How it works

Your Iowa 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 Iowa rules for your load and files with Iowa DOT Motor Carrier Services.

  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 Iowa 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

Iowa permit questions

What permits does a truck need to run in Iowa?

A truck with Iowa on its IRP cab card and an IFTA license needs neither trip nor fuel permit. Without them it needs a 72-hour trip permit and a temporary fuel permit. A load over the legal size or weight also needs an Iowa DOT permit, plus county or city permits off the state highways.

Can I buy an Iowa trip permit after entering the state?

No. The registration trip permit has to be obtained and placed in the truck before it enters Iowa. It is valid for 72 hours and cannot stand in for the registration an oversize or overweight permit requires.

Is an Iowa fuel permit good for more than one trip?

No. It covers one trip or 72 hours, whichever comes first. Trucks near the Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri and Nebraska borders may fall inside a fuel border zone.

What is an all-systems permit in Iowa?

An annual permit that covers state highways, county roads and city streets at once. The overweight version allows the legal weight plus 12.5%, and above 80,000 lbs it stays off the interstate.

Can Route One GO handle Iowa and the other states on my route?

Yes. Send the load and route once, and our permit desk files with Iowa DOT, any county or city on the route and every other state you cross. Requests are taken 24/7.

Keep going

Iowa permit pages

Permit types in Iowa

All states

Neighboring states

Tools

24/7 permit desk

Need a permit in Iowa for this load?

Send the details once. We file with Iowa DOT Motor Carrier Services, plus every other state on your route.

Request a permit