Do California and Nevada require pilot cars at the same width?

California requires a pilot car from 12 ft 0 in wide; Nevada waits until 14 ft 0 in. A load between those widths needs an escort in California only.

Is the legal truck height the same in California and Nevada?

Both states use the same legal height, 14 ft 0 in.

Do I need a separate permit for each state between California and Nevada?

Yes. Oversize and overweight permits are issued by each state, so a move through both needs a permit from Caltrans Division of Traffic Operations - Transportation Permits (Permits Issuance Branch) and one from Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) Over Dimensional Vehicle Permits, each with its own route, hours and escort conditions.

Which travel hours apply in California and Nevada?

California: Yellow routes: 24/7. Green routes with pilot car: daylight to 15 ft wide, darkness to 14 ft wide. Blue/brown routes with pilot car: daylight only on weekdays, no darkness. Loads over 10 ft wide are barred weekdays in curfew zones (LA, SD, SF, Sacramento). Darkness is 30 min after sunset to 30 min before sunrise. Nevada: Daytime travel (permit-specific); night or holiday-hour moves require front and rear pilot cars. Hours of darkness are 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. The conditions printed on the permit control.

California vs Nevada Oversize Load Rules

What changes for an oversize load between California and Nevada: legal height, pilot car triggers, height poles and travel hours.

I-80, reviewed October 2026

What changes at the California and Nevada border

Legal height: Both states use the same legal height, 14 ft 0 in.
First pilot car: California requires a pilot car from 12 ft 0 in wide; Nevada waits until 14 ft 0 in. A load between those widths needs an escort in California only.
Second pilot car: California adds a second escort at 15 ft 0 in wide; Nevada at 16 ft 0 in.
Height pole: Nevada sets a height-pole trigger at 15 ft 6 in; California does not publish one, so check the permit.

Check one load against both states

Load width (ft)

Load height (ft)

California

Oversize permit required
No width escort

Nevada

Oversize permit required
No width escort

11 ft 0 in wide, 14 ft 0 in tall. Length is not checked here.

Side by side

California and Nevada oversize load rules compared
Rule	California	Nevada
Legal width	8 ft 6 in	8 ft 6 in
Legal height	14 ft 0 in	14 ft 0 in
Legal length	Semitrailer 48 ft (53 ft if kingpin to rearmost axle is 40 ft or less); semitrailers/trailers in doubles 28 ft 6 in each; kingpin-to-rear-axle 40 ft on California Legal routes (CVC 35400-35401.5).	Permit needed beyond 70 ft overall length (over-length/LCV permits via DMV for reducible loads over 70 ft); front or rear overhang limit 10 ft. Trailer-specific length limits not verified.
Gross weight	80,000 lbs	80,000 lbs
First pilot car at	12 ft 0 in	14 ft 0 in
Second pilot car at	15 ft 0 in	16 ft 0 in
Height pole at	Not confirmed	15 ft 6 in
Length escort at	120 ft 0 in	110 ft 0 in
Travel hours	Yellow routes: 24/7. Green routes with pilot car: daylight to 15 ft wide, darkness to 14 ft wide. Blue/brown routes with pilot car: daylight only on weekdays, no darkness. Loads over 10 ft wide are barred weekdays in curfew zones (LA, SD, SF, Sacramento). Darkness is 30 min after sunset to 30 min before sunrise.	Daytime travel (permit-specific); night or holiday-hour moves require front and rear pilot cars. Hours of darkness are 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.
Weekends	Yellow and green routes: weekends allowed (same width limits as weekdays). Blue and brown routes with pilot car: Saturday and Sunday only from 30 min before sunrise to 12 noon. Loads without a pilot car may travel 24/7.	Weekend hours restrictions run from 30 minutes after sunset Friday to 30 minutes before sunrise Monday; details are on the permit.
Trip permit	Fee not confirmed	Fee not confirmed
Permit office	916-322-1297 (Caltrans Division of Traffic Operations - Transportation Permits (Permits Issuance Branch))	Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) Over Dimensional Vehicle Permits

Go deeper

Pilot car detail: California, Nevada
Full guides: California, Nevada
Running through both without local plates? Estimate the trip permit cost
Moving over a holiday? Check holiday restrictions

California and Nevada FAQs

Do California and Nevada require pilot cars at the same width?: California requires a pilot car from 12 ft 0 in wide; Nevada waits until 14 ft 0 in. A load between those widths needs an escort in California only.
Is the legal truck height the same in California and Nevada?: Both states use the same legal height, 14 ft 0 in.
Do I need a separate permit for each state between California and Nevada?: Yes. Oversize and overweight permits are issued by each state, so a move through both needs a permit from Caltrans Division of Traffic Operations - Transportation Permits (Permits Issuance Branch) and one from Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) Over Dimensional Vehicle Permits, each with its own route, hours and escort conditions.
Which travel hours apply in California and Nevada?: California: Yellow routes: 24/7. Green routes with pilot car: daylight to 15 ft wide, darkness to 14 ft wide. Blue/brown routes with pilot car: daylight only on weekdays, no darkness. Loads over 10 ft wide are barred weekdays in curfew zones (LA, SD, SF, Sacramento). Darkness is 30 min after sunset to 30 min before sunrise. Nevada: Daytime travel (permit-specific); night or holiday-hour moves require front and rear pilot cars. Hours of darkness are 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. The conditions printed on the permit control.

Compiled from each state's published permit rules, reviewed October 2026. Not legal advice; the conditions printed on your permit control.