Cart

North Carolina

North Carolina Truck Permits for trip, fuel, oversize & overweight

A truck not apportioned for North Carolina runs on an NCDMV IRP trip permit in lieu of registration, and without IFTA it needs the 3-day fuel use temporary trip permit, arranged before it enters the state. Oversize and overweight permits come from the NCDOT Oversize/Overweight Permit Unit in PIMS. Send us the truck, load and route, and our permit desk files with each agency.

Request a permit

Start here

What are you running through North Carolina?

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

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

(312) 395-7322

Source: North Carolina Department of Revenue temporary trip permits; NCDOT Oversize/Overweight Permit Unit publications ST-1 and PF-8.

North Carolina and its neighbors

How North Carolina permits differ from the states around it

North Carolina borders Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina, and the fuel permit length and the permit office change at each line.

  1. Longer trip permits in Virginia

    Virginia's IRP and IFTA trip permits run 10 days and its DMV issues oversize permits. North Carolina's fuel permit runs 3 days, and NCDOT handles oversize.

  2. South Carolina's 10-day fuel permit

    South Carolina pairs a 72-hour IRP trip permit with a 10-day IFTA trip permit, so the fuel permit lasts longer south of the line than north of it.

  3. Different hours in Georgia

    Georgia oversize permits come from the Department of Public Safety and run from 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset. North Carolina permitted loads run sunrise to sunset.

  4. Over the mountains to Tennessee

    Tennessee sells a 72-hour trip permit with a 7-day fuel use permit. On the North Carolina side, US-129 from Robbinsville to the Tennessee line is closed to loads over 10 ft wide.

How it works

Your North Carolina 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 North Carolina rules for your load and files with NCDOT Oversize/Overweight Permit Unit.

  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 North Carolina 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

North Carolina permit questions

How long can a truck run on a North Carolina fuel use trip permit?

Three days, in North Carolina only. It has to be in place before the truck crosses into the state.

Who issues the IRP trip permit in North Carolina?

NCDMV, and the truck runs on it in lieu of North Carolina registration. The fuel use permit is a separate document, and NCDOR has it issued through permitting services rather than its Excise Tax Division.

Is there a North Carolina permit for running a truck empty?

Yes. NCDMV issues a 10-day temporary registration permit for unladen vehicles.

Does NCDOT still take oversize permit applications by fax?

No. Fax applications ended August 1, 2025. Oversize and overweight permits are now filed through PIMS.

Can one order cover my North Carolina fuel permit and an NCDOT oversize permit?

Yes. Send the truck, load and route; we arrange the fuel use permit before you reach the line, file the oversize permit in PIMS and add every other state on the trip, 24/7.

Keep going

North Carolina permit pages

Permit types in North Carolina

All states

Neighboring states

Tools

24/7 permit desk

Need a permit in North Carolina for this load?

Send the details once. We file with NCDOT Oversize/Overweight Permit Unit, plus every other state on your route.

Request a permit