How to read a Nevada oversize permit
Nevada over-dimensional permits come from NDOT: at the Carson City office, by phone, or through NDOT's online permitting system. Nevada's rules say the permit lets you use the highways listed on it, plus nearby highways you use to reach fuel, food or lodging.
Issued by the Nevada Department of Transportation. Written from NDOT's published rules; we haven't read a real Nevada permit yet.
How to read the route
We could not find a Nevada sample permit, so we can't show how the route is printed. Nevada's rule (NAC 484D.640) says the permit lets you travel on the highways listed in it. It also covers nearby highways you use to reach travel services like fuel, food and lodging. A single-trip permit can cover a round trip over a designated route, loaded one way and empty the other.
Road names on Nevada permits
| On the permit | Means |
|---|---|
| Interstate Highway No. 15 | I-15, written the way Nevada's rules write it |
| Las Vegas (Exit 33) | The I-15 interchange at Las Vegas where the Friday and Sunday 12-foot width limits start or end |
| State Route 159 | Nevada State Route 159. Its mileposts 0.0 to 14.0 are closed to trucks over 26,000 pounds declared gross weight unless the trip starts or ends there. |
Where the route starts and ends
The Nevada rules we read don't say how the permit writes its start and end points. A single-trip permit is good for 5 days in a row, as shown on the permit.
Conditions to watch for
Travel time
No travel at night, during holiday hours, or on weekends unless your permit or NDOT's instructions say otherwise. Source
“An oversized or overweight vehicle may not travel during hours of darkness or holiday hours or on a weekend”
Night and weekend defined
Darkness means a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise. The weekend runs from a half hour after sunset Friday to a half hour before sunrise Monday. Source
“one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise”
Holidays
Holiday hours cover New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Most start at noon on the day before, and Thanksgiving runs from noon Wednesday through Sunday. Check your permit for the exact hours. Source
Pilot cars
You need a front pilot car over 16 feet wide, over 15 feet 6 inches high (with a clearance pole), or over 12 feet wide on a two- or three-lane highway or at night or during holiday hours. You need a rear pilot car over 14 feet wide or over 110 feet long (120 feet with mechanically steered rear axles). Source
Signs and flags
Put 'OVERSIZE LOAD' or 'OVERSIZE' signs front and rear, with black letters at least 10 inches tall on yellow. Mark the corners with red or fluorescent orange flags at least 18 inches square. Source
Headlights
Keep your headlights on whenever the oversize vehicle is moving. Source
“An oversized vehicle must have its head lamps illuminated whenever the vehicle is in operation.”
Easy to miss
- I-15 near Las Vegas has a 12-foot width limit at busy times: northbound from California to Las Vegas (Exit 33) on Fridays 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., and southbound on Sundays 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- State Route 159 from milepost 0.0 to 14.0 is closed to trucks over 26,000 pounds declared gross weight unless the trip starts or ends on that stretch.
- Keep the permit in the vehicle it was issued for. Copies can't be used in another vehicle. A permit shown on a phone or tablet doesn't need a signature.
Questions
Can I run an oversize load at night in Nevada?
Not unless your permit says so. Nevada's rules bar travel during hours of darkness, holiday hours and weekends unless the permit or NDOT's instructions allow it. Darkness means a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise.
How long is a Nevada single-trip oversize permit good for?
Five consecutive days, as shown on the permit. It can cover a round trip over a designated route, loaded one way and empty the other.
Can I leave my permitted route in Nevada to get fuel?
Yes. Nevada's rules say the permit also covers nearby highways you use to reach travel services such as fuel, food and lodging.
Sources
Your permit is the legal document; follow everything it says. Rules change; check NDOT's site before you move.Last checked October 2026.