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Indiana Oversize and Overweight Permits

Indiana Oversize and Overweight Permits

DOR Motor Carrier Services permits under INDOT rules, the M-204 provisions, State Police superload escorts and the Indiana Toll Road

Quick answer

Which agency issues Indiana oversize permits?

The Indiana Department of Revenue's Motor Carrier Services division issues most of them, in IN OSOWPS, under rules INDOT writes (105 IAC 10). A one-trip oversize permit costs $20 up to 12 ft 4 in wide, 13 ft 6 in high and 95 ft long, or $30 beyond those; overweight starts at $20 plus $0.35 a mile. Permits cover state-maintained roads only.

Updated October 2026 by the HTS Logistics broker team (FMCSA MC# 1178470).

Checked October 2026; the issued permit controls

Indiana puts the first escort on a load at 12 ft 4 in wide, earlier than Ohio (over 13 ft) or Illinois (over 14 ft 6 in) in our oversize permits by state guide, and Form M-204 sets travel hours in four size tiers, from round-the-clock movement within 10 ft wide down to weekday 8:30 AM–3:30 PM windows past 16 ft. INDOT writes the rules and fees (105 IAC 10), while the Department of Revenue issues the permits and collects the civil penalties Indiana State Police write.

On heavy haul shipments through Indiana, HTS books the carrier as a licensed broker (MC 1178470) and orders the DOR permit, then the county permits a route needs once it leaves state roads, because DOR has no jurisdiction there and the trip has to be split. DOR says most requests are approved within a business day, and a permit on a pre-approved or system alternate route can issue instantly.

When Indiana requires a permit and how to get one

Permits come from DOR Motor Carrier Services in Indianapolis through IN OSOWPS, the system behind the 'Login to OSW' button on DOR's online portal, and are valid 5 days, or 10 days when a law enforcement escort is required (IC 9-20-6-2(c)). They cover interstates, US and state routes only; Indiana Toll Road special hauling permits also come from DOR, but county roads and city streets need local permits, and return routes are allowed only for trips wholly within Indiana.

Amendments are possible only within 72 hours of the permit start date. Overweight permits are capped by 105 IAC 10-3-3: steer axle 17,600 lb, other axles 20,000 lb except one tandem up to 48,000 lb on interstates, US routes and 4-lane state highways, at least 5 axles (6 over 100,000 lb), a 36 ft inner bridge and a 51 ft outer wheelbase.

Permit office

Issuing office
Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services (OSOW permitting), under INDOT rules
Address
7811 Milhouse Rd., Suite M, Indianapolis, IN 46241
Phone
317-615-7200, option 4 (fax 317-615-7241)
Hours
Monday–Friday, 8 AM–4:30 PM ET
Roads covered
Interstates, US and state routes, plus Indiana Toll Road special hauling permits; not county roads or city streets

Fees

Indiana single-trip and other permit fees (105 IAC 10-1.5-3; DOR fee sheet, July 2026)
Permit or chargeFee
Oversize, up to 12 ft 4 in wide, 13 ft 6 in high and 95 ft long $20
Oversize beyond any of those $30
Overweight up to 108,000 lb $20 plus $0.35 per mile
Overweight 108,001–150,000 lb $20 plus $0.60 per mile
Overweight over 150,000 lb $20 plus $1.00 per mile
Oversize/overweight superload, 200,000 lb and over $40 base, $10 review, $25 design, $1 per mile and $10 per bridge reviewed
Amendment / superload amendment / cancellation $3 / $13 / $35
90-day and annual oversize (up to 95 ft, 13 ft 6 in, 12 ft 4 in) $100 and $405
Special weight permit on extra heavy duty highways (1 day) $42.50, plus $25 annual company registration
Indiana State Police superload escort $43 an hour per trooper, $34 per motor carrier inspector, plus mileage

The rule's schedule also adds a $10 executive fee to overweight-only loads over 108,000 lb and a $10 review fee to oversize/overweight loads of 120,001–199,999 lb, while DOR's July 2026 sheet words the $10 fee as starting over 120,000 lb and says combined permits pay whichever of the oversize or overweight fee is greater. For a 14 ft wide, 140,000 lb load going 200 miles, the rule gives $160 ($30 + $10 + $120) and the sheet's wording $140 to $150; the issued permit shows what DOR charged.

Escort and pilot car rules in Indiana

Form M-204 (rev. 4-22) sets private escort counts, and M-204S adds State Police escorts and utility work for the largest loads. Indiana publishes no escort-driver certification, so its rules fall on the vehicle: at least 4 wheels, no more than 11,000 lb registered, a roof-mounted flashing amber light, a sign, radio contact and a position within 500 ft of the load. Certification rules elsewhere are on our state pilot car requirements page.

Indiana escort triggers (DOR Forms M-204 and M-204S)
LoadEscort requirement
Over 12 ft 4 in wide, over 110 ft long or over 14 ft 6 in high 1 escort: in front on undivided highways, behind on divided highways (M-204)
Above 14 ft 6 in high The front escort carries a height stick
14 ft 4 in to 17 ft wide 1 rear escort on dual-lane divided highways; front and rear on all other roads
Over 17 ft wide Front and rear Indiana State Police escorts, more if slowdowns require (M-204S item 5)
Over 200,000 lb A State Police escort unless the route is interstate-only, has no required slowdowns and the vehicle is under 250,000 lb (item 1)
Permit with bridge slowdowns At least 2 escorts, front and rear; 45 mph or the bridge engineer's speed on bridges, centered on the lanes, and up to 65 mph between bridges at the trooper's discretion (item 6)
Over 15 ft high on any segment off the interstate A prequalified signal contractor with a bucket truck travels with the load (item 3)
Over 17 ft high Route survey, plus a signed affidavit that no lines interfere or letters from each utility (item 4)
Over 18 ft wide, or over 130 ft long without a rear steerable axle Route survey before the permit issues (item 9)

State Police superload escorts start with a Superload Agreement Number from the ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (812-533-1100); the signed agreement, permit, slowdown list and exact start and end points then go by fax to 812-533-1344. The agreement asks for 3 working days' notice, and every escort includes at least one sworn trooper.

Travel times, curfews and holidays

Indiana's daylight runs from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, and the hours table on Form M-204 decides which loads may use it and on which days.

  • Any hour, 7 days: loads up to 110 ft long, 10 ft wide and 13 ft 6 in high and under 200,000 lb, which covers most overweight-only loads.
  • Daylight, 7 days: larger loads up to 14 ft 4 in wide and 15 ft high, including loads over 110 ft long.
  • Daylight, Monday–Friday: loads from 14 ft 4 in to 16 ft wide.
  • 8:30 AM–3:30 PM local time, Monday–Friday: over 16 ft wide, over 15 ft high or over 200,000 lb; State Police may approve other times or weekends (M-204S item 2).
  • Indianapolis: the M-204 permit does not apply to I-65 or I-70 inside I-465, and no metro rush-hour curfew appears in DOR, ISP or INDOT documents for Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend or Lake County.
  • Speed and weather: 55 mph maximum over 85 ft long, 10 ft 6 in wide or legal height; no movement with visibility under 500 ft or wind over 25 mph.
  • Mobile homes and sectional buildings 8 ft 6 in to 14 ft 4 in wide: weekday daylight, plus Saturday until noon.
Indiana 2026 holiday windows, computed from the M-204 rule
HolidayNo permitted movement on state highways
New Year's Day Noon Wed Dec 31, 2025 to 1/2 hour before sunrise Fri Jan 2
Memorial Day Noon Fri May 22 to 1/2 hour before sunrise Tue May 26
Independence Day (a Saturday) Noon Fri Jul 3 to 1/2 hour before sunrise Sun Jul 5
Labor Day Noon Fri Sep 4 to 1/2 hour before sunrise Tue Sep 8
Thanksgiving Noon Wed Nov 25 to 1/2 hour before sunrise Fri Nov 27
Christmas, Fri Dec 25 Noon Thu Dec 24 to 1/2 hour before sunrise Sat Dec 26
New Year's Day, Jan 1, 2027 Noon Thu Dec 31 to 1/2 hour before sunrise Sat Jan 2, 2027

M-204 bans movement from noon on the last weekday before each holiday until one-half hour before sunrise on the day after; DOR publishes no calendar, so we applied the rule to the 2026 dates. Weekday-only loads stay parked on Sat Dec 26 and Sat Jan 2, and Overweight Commodity and Bulk Milk permits (bulk milk to 154,000 lb) are exempt.

Indiana frost laws: county postings, not a state season

INDOT holds the power to restrict state highways by executive order (IC 9-20-1-3(d)) but runs no seasonal program, so Indiana's frost laws are county and city ordinances under IC 9-20-1-3: no more than 90 days in a year, and enforceable only once signs stand at each end of the road and at intersecting highways. Michigan's and Minnesota's statewide programs are compared with Indiana's on our frost laws by state page.

  • Who posts: county highway departments, mostly in the north (LaPorte, Porter, Newton, Jasper, Starke and Pulaski), plus Boone County in central Indiana. The windows in their ordinances fall between Jan 1 and about May 1, and actual postings follow the thaw and can be lifted and put back.
  • 2026: LaPorte County's frost law ran only from Mon Feb 16 to Mon Feb 23, and Newton County's page declared its season over on Apr 1.
  • Limits differ by county: Starke caps gross weight at 6,000 lb for 4-wheel, 15,000 lb for 6-wheel and 25,000 lb for 10-wheel vehicles for 90 days from Feb 1 while posted, and Pulaski asks vehicles over 8 tons to call 574-946-3942 for routing from Feb 1 to Apr 1. The 10% farm commodity, log and aggregate tolerances do not apply to these limits (IC 9-20-4-2(c)), and a violation is a Class C infraction.
  • Permits: a DOR permit never covers a road or bridge posted for gross load limits (M-204). LaPorte's $100 frost-law permit is good for one day and one trip, and while the frost law is on no other county permit, Annual Access Permits included, is valid; Porter's $100 permit names a preferred route, and its fines run $500, $2,500 and $5,000 for repeat offenses within 24 months.
  • Checking: Indiana has no statewide frost map, so each county highway department on the route gets a call; Newton County runs a daily frost line at 219-285-5109.

What catches carriers in Indiana

Indianapolis interstates are excluded

A route that uses I-65 or I-70 inside I-465 is outside the M-204 general-provisions permit, so we plan Indianapolis moves on I-465 and state routes instead.

DOR Form M-204 (rev. 4-22)

72 hours to amend

Amendments, self-service or requested, are possible only within 72 hours of the permit start date; after that window a change in dimensions, dates or route means ordering a new permit.

DOR OSOW page

Crates and long truck-trailers

DOR treats crated loads as divisible and sends them to manual review, and a truck-trailer combination without a fifth wheel over 60 ft cannot be permitted at all, though a hot shot rig with a fifth wheel can.

DOR OSOW page

Penalties land on the USDOT number

Running without a permit can cost up to $5,000 per violation under IC 9-20-18-14.5 (DOR's page lists $2,500 for a first offense and $5,000 after), and excess with no permit available is $500 for size and $500 to $5,000 by weight. DOR assesses the penalty to the USDOT number on the truck, with 60 days to pay or protest.

IC 9-20-18-14.5; DOR OSOW page

Indiana Toll Road, extra heavy duty highways and superloads

Northern Indiana adds two road systems with their own weight rules: the 157-mile Indiana Toll Road (I-80/I-90), run by a concession company under 135 IAC 2, and 22 extra heavy duty highway routes listed in IC 9-20-5 and 105 IAC 10-2.

Toll Road limits

Without any authorization the Toll Road allows 8 ft 6 in wide, 13 ft 6 in high and a 53 ft semitrailer, but a semitrailer over 48 ft 6 in must keep its kingpin-to-rear-axle distance at 40 ft 6 in or less, tighter than the 43 ft rule on state highways. Its weight limits run higher than the state's: 22,400 lb on a single axle, 18,000 lb per tandem axle and 90,000 lb gross (135 IAC 2-4-1, 2-4-3).

Toll Road permits and hours

Declared at entry, loads up to 12 ft wide and 14 ft 6 in high, and single vehicles up to 65 ft long, can be admitted by the toll attendant without a special hauling permit, and anything over 10 ft wide may not travel in darkness (135 IAC 2-4-2). Beyond that, DOR issues one-trip special hauling permits; 135 IAC 2-4-4 lists fees of $5 for oversize and $50, $75 or $100 by weight band, and whether DOR adds them to its own fee is not stated. The Toll Road's web page limits special hauling permits to weekday daylight, with certain permits allowed Saturday until noon, which is stricter than M-204. Bridges clear up to 15 ft 4 in (taller loads call 574-674-8836), booths take 16 ft, and IN OSOWPS routes around the Toll Road unless 'Avoid Toll Roads' is unchecked.

Extra heavy duty highways

A $42.50 special weight permit, valid one calendar day at any hour, allows up to 134,000 lb at legal dimensions on 22 listed routes, including SR 249 to the Port of Indiana; route 22 stops at 90,000 lb, and an SR 912 segment in East Chicago allows up to 264,000 lb. Axles are held to 18,000 lb single and 13,000 lb per axle in combinations, except one tandem at 16,000 lb per axle (105 IAC 10-2).

Superload definitions disagree

DOR's July 2026 fee sheet calls a load over 15 ft high, 17 ft wide, 110 ft long or 200,000 lb a superload; INDOT's rule (105 IAC 10-1.5-2) says over 15 ft high, 16 ft wide or 110 ft long with no weight; and the State Police superload page uses over 17 ft wide, 15 ft high, 110 ft long or 108,000 lb. Fees follow the rule, escorts follow M-204S, and very large loads need an approved route survey or bridge study in IN OSOWPS before the permit issues.

State Police superload conditions

ISP inspects the load on entering Indiana, the carrier arranges shutdown locations with property owners and confirms that local governments, railroads and utilities were contacted, drivers carry a valid CDL and medical certificate (a tillerman needs a Class A CDL), and moves run 8:30 AM–3:30 PM local unless the ISP Superload Administrator approves otherwise. ISP may cancel for staffing or weather.

Crossing into a neighboring state

  • West into Illinois: the Illinois Tollway issues its own permit only once an IDOT permit number exists, and Cook County expressways take loads over 12 ft wide only on four corridors, including I-80 from I-57 east to Indiana; the rest is on our page covering Illinois overweight and oversize permits.
  • East into Ohio: the Indiana Toll Road meets the Ohio Turnpike at the state line, and through sunrise Jan 2, 2027 the Turnpike takes nothing over 10 ft wide or 13 ft 6 in high, so wider loads switch to ODOT routes under the Ohio special hauling permit rules; the oversize load checker shows which Ohio and Illinois permits and escorts a given load triggers.
  • North into Michigan: MDOT permits are daylight-only and, under its T-2 guide, weekday-only, and during spring weight restrictions MDOT issues no single-trip permits for overweight loads or loads over 14 ft wide in the restricted area; see our Michigan oversize permit guide.

Indiana oversize permit questions

How much does an Indiana overweight permit cost?

A single trip is $20 plus a mileage charge set by gross weight: $0.35 a mile up to 108,000 lb, $0.60 from 108,001 to 150,000 lb and $1.00 above 150,000 lb (105 IAC 10-1.5-3). Heavier loads can add a $10 executive or review fee, and superloads add design, bridge and per-mile charges. A 100,000 lb load going 200 miles, for example, pays $20 plus $70, or $90.

How do I order an Indiana oversize permit online?

Indiana permits are ordered in IN OSOWPS through DOR's Motor Carrier Services portal at motorcarrier.dor.in.gov, where new users choose 'Apply for OSW Account' and existing ones 'Login to OSW'. DOR also takes walk-in and mailed applications at 7811 Milhouse Rd., Suite M, Indianapolis, and accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, checks and escrow accounts.

What is the phone number for Indiana oversize permits?

DOR's oversize/overweight desk answers at 317-615-7200, option 4, from 8 AM to 4:30 PM Eastern on weekdays, with fax at 317-615-7241 and email at [email protected]. State Police superload escorts go through the ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division at 812-533-1100, and Toll Road questions about loads taller than 15 ft 4 in go to 574-674-8836.

What do Indiana's M-204 and M-204S provisions cover?

M-204 is the General Provisions form every Indiana permit carries: signs at least 18 in by 6 to 8 ft, 18 in flags, escort triggers, the hours table, the six holidays, a 55 mph cap on long, wide or tall loads, and the exclusion of I-65 and I-70 inside I-465. M-204S adds special provisions for State Police escorts, signal contractors, route surveys and bridge slowdowns. Both ride in the truck, on paper or a screen.

When does Indiana require a State Police escort?

Over 17 ft wide, Indiana State Police escort the load front and rear. Over 200,000 lb they escort it too, unless the trip is interstate-only, has no required slowdowns and the vehicle weighs under 250,000 lb. The carrier pays $43 an hour per trooper and $34 per motor carrier inspector plus mileage, figured round trip from the officers' homes, and requests the escort at least 3 working days ahead.

Can an oversize load travel at night in Indiana?

Only a load within 110 ft long, 10 ft wide and 13 ft 6 in high and under 200,000 lb may run continuously, 7 days a week (M-204). Anything larger moves in daylight, one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, and loads over 16 ft wide, 15 ft high or 200,000 lb are held to 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM on weekdays. On the Toll Road, nothing over 10 ft wide travels in darkness.

Does Indiana have frost laws?

Yes, at county level. IC 9-20-1-3 lets counties, cities and towns restrict their own roads for up to 90 days a year once signs are posted, and INDOT has not used its parallel power on state highways. In 2026 LaPorte County's frost law lasted from Feb 16 to Feb 23. A DOR permit does not cover posted county roads, so the county's own frost permit, where one exists, is needed.

Sources

Facts on this page were checked in October 2026 against the sources below. Rules and rates change; we confirm current requirements on every move.

  1. eCFR 23 CFR Part 658: Truck Size and Weight (federal baseline)
  2. DOR MCS Oversize/Overweight (OSOW) page
  3. Form M-204 General Provisions of an Oversize/Overweight Vehicle Permit (4-22)
  4. Form M-204 (alternate DOR-hosted copy, same text)
  5. Form M-204S Special Provisions for Vehicle Permitting
  6. DOR Oversize/Overweight Vehicle Permit Fees (last revised July 2026)
  7. DOR Ordering an Oversize/Overweight Permit
  8. DOR Motor Carrier Services Contact
  9. DOR MCS Master Contact List (Jan 2026)
  10. DOR MCS Frequently Asked Questions
  11. DOR Motor Carrier Services online portal (IN OSOWPS login)
  12. IN OSOWPS Customer User Guide
  13. IN OSOWPS Quick Start Guide (Oct 2021)
  14. DOR Special Weight Route Information
  15. Indiana State Police Superload Escorts
  16. ISP Superload Motor Carrier Escort Agreement (effective March 1, 2019)
  17. Indiana Code 2026, Title 9 (IC 9-20 Size and Weight Regulation)
  18. 105 IAC 10 Oversize and/or Overweight Vehicular Permits for Highways (2026 edition)
  19. Indiana Register final rule LSA #25-65 (105 IAC 10-1.5 permit fees)
  20. INDOT rulemaking docket: Oversize/Overweight Vehicular Permit Fees (LSA #25-65)
  21. 135 IAC 2 Indiana Toll Road rules (2-4 special hauling permits; 2-7 LCVs)
  22. Indiana Toll Road Special Hauling Permits
  23. Indiana Toll Road Dimensions & Weight Limits
  24. Indiana Toll Road Commercial Truck Travel Info
  25. INDOT Long Combination Vehicle (LCV) Program
  26. INDOT Extra Heavy Duty Highway Information
  27. INDOT Restrictions/Closings and Bridge Clearance Map
  28. INDOT Freight Office
  29. INDOT 511 road restrictions (TrafficWise)
  30. 135 IAC 4 Tolls and Toll Enforcement on the Ohio River Bridges
  31. RiverLink FAQs
  32. LaPorte County Highway Department (2026 frost law dates)
  33. LaPorte County Ordinance 2020-2 (frost law and county permits)
  34. Porter County Ordinance 19-02 Frost Law
  35. Newton County Frost Law Information (updated April 1, 2026)
  36. Jasper County Code 11.15.010 Frost law weight limits
  37. Starke County Frost Law ordinance (1994)
  38. Pulaski County Highway Department Frost Road Advisory
  39. Boone County Highway-related ordinances (sec. 70.02 load limits)

Routing a load over 12 ft 4 in through Indiana?

The Toll Road, the Indianapolis interstates and the M-204 hours table each shape an Indiana route. Send the load's width, height, weight and both ends of the trip, and we will match the DOR permit and a carrier to them.

  • FMCSA-licensed property broker, MC# 1178470
  • Permits, escorts and route surveys arranged for each move
  • Carriers checked for authority, insurance and safety record
  • Commercial shippers, dealers, contractors and auction buyers

Prefer to talk? Call (631) 683-8275.

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