Oversize permit country guide
Oversize load permit in Iceland (2026): authority, thresholds, fees
This page summarises what the official sources listed below say about oversize (abnormal) load permits in Iceland. Numbers link to their source. Values the sources do not confirm are marked “Not confirmed”.
Key facts
| Issuing authority | Icelandic Transport Authority Samgöngustofa (Icelandic Transport Authority) [Z3] |
|---|---|
| Level | National |
| Application channel | island.is [Z1] |
| Online application | Yes |
| Applicant from abroad may apply | Not confirmed |
| Application language(s) | is (other language versions not confirmed) |
| Data status | Partly confirmed (gaps marked on the page) |
Issuing authority
§ 13 of Regulation 155/2007 (as amended by 1199/2013 and 159/2017): the application is submitted to Samgöngustofa, which obtains the consent of Vegagerðin (road authority) and of the police commissioner (lögreglustjóri) as needed and consults the road authorities; for movements through several police districts Samgöngustofa informs the competent police commands. Vegagerðin refers applications to island.is (Z6). [Z3]
Application channel
Ísland.is – Umsókn um undanþágu frá stærð og þyngd [Z1]
Thresholds above which a permit is needed
Values for a typical combination: tractor unit with semi-trailer or rigid vehicle with trailer, 5 axles, standard width.
| Width | 2.55 m [Z3] |
|---|---|
| Height | 4.20 m [Z3] |
| Length, tractor unit + semi-trailer | 18.75 m [Z3] |
| Length, rigid vehicle + trailer | 18.75 m [Z3] |
| Gross combination weight (5 axles) | 40.00 t [Z3] |
| Single axle load | 10.00 t [Z3] |
| Drive axle load | 11.50 t [Z3] |
The values shown are the lowest for a typical 5-axle combination; higher conditional limits are given only in these notes. Island.is (Z1): a permit is needed when the height of the load/whole exceeds >4.20 m, width >2.55 m, length of the motor vehicle >12 m, length of the combination (motor vehicle + trailer) >18.75 m; gross weight „depends on the circumstances – see the regulation” (non-exhaustive list). Regulation 155/2007 (Z3): § 7 width 2.55 m (2.60 m for insulated bodies), § 9 height 4.20 m, § 5 length: combination with semi-trailer (festivagn) or centre-axle trailer (hengivagn) 18.75 m (letter g), motor vehicle with trailer (tengivagn) 22.00 m (letter h; 25.25 m only on roads and in periods listed in Viðauki IV) — for motor vehicle + trailer the lower value of 18.75 m is shown (letter g; Z1 also gives 18.75 m); Viðauki I: weight of a 5-axle combination 2 axles + 3 axles (tengivagn point 1.2.1.1, festivagn point 1.2.2.1) 40 t — 40.00 t shown; 44 t only for 3+3 subject to the drive axle condition (1.2.1.4, 1.2.2.5), 4+2 (1.2.1.5, 1.2.3.5) and 3 axles + semi-trailer with an ISO 40' container (1.2.2.3) — the heading of 1.2 „44 t” is the maximum, single non-driven axle 10 t, drive axle 11.5 t; on roads not covered by Viðauki I the lower values of Viðauki II apply, and the road authority may temporarily reduce the permitted weights (§ 11). § 12: the road authority may allow 44 t (5 axles) or 49 t (6 axles) on selected roads when conditions are met. [Z3]
Permit types
| Permit | Scope | Validity | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special movement permit (single or for a period) Undanþága vegna sérstaks flutnings (13. gr.) |
Single trip | for one transport or for a specified period of up to one year (§ 13); written, carried during the movement | Applies to indivisible loads or special transports; also to the length/width/height of a divisible load when obvious economic reasons justify it. One application = one vehicle or one combination (Z1). [Z3] |
| Long-term permit Langtímaundanþága |
Periodic (time-limited) | from one month to one year | Indicatively: height ≤4.60 m, width ≤3.49 m, combination length ≤25.25 m, weight ≤60 t; for frequent transports within a specified area (exceptionally between areas); never for transports requiring police consent [Z2] |
Processing time
Not found in the official sources. Permits are delivered by e-mail (Z1). [Z1]
Some details are not confirmed in the official sources read.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sértæk undanþága v. stærð og þyngd ökutækja – special permit (more than 10 axles, annual permits, foreign vehicles, house moves and large transports with a police escort) | 8,935 ISK [Z5] |
| Fee for an ordinary permit (outside the „sértæk” categories) – not found in the price list | Not confirmed [Z5] |
| Cost of a police escort – borne by the permit holder as assessed by the police commissioner; prepayment or security may be required (§ 14); rates not found | Not confirmed [Z3] |
Some fee details are not confirmed in the official sources read.
Escort
Private escort vehicle
Not confirmed in the official sources read
Police escort
§ 14: the police assess the need for an escort; instead of an escort they may require special marking/lighting; the carrier requests the escort from Samgöngustofa or the police together with the permit application and bears its cost. Island.is (Z1): police consent / consultation on an escort is required, among other cases, at a load height ≥5.50 m, width ≥3.50 m, combination length ≥30 m, for exceptionally heavy transports, for passages through tunnels, or when traffic must be stopped on bridges. At a height ≥6.0 m (Landsnet) and ≥5.50 m (Rarik) outside the capital area, Samgöngustofa seeks the opinion of the power grid operators; the carrier checks the lines of other operators itself. [Z1]
Required documents
- Detailed description of the route from the starting point to the destination (greinargóð leiðarlýsing) [Z1]
- For an application for a weight exemption – axle spacings [Z1]
- For moving houses/structures to a permanent location – confirmation from the building inspector (byggingarfulltrúi) or a site permit (stöðuleyfi) [Z1]
- Written permit carried during the movement [Z3]
Traffic restrictions
No general day/hour restrictions were found in the official sources. Samgöngustofa may make the permit conditional on, among other things, the weather, the condition of roads and structures and the type of vehicle (§ 13); the road authority may temporarily restrict weights, e.g. during the thaw period (§ 11, Viðauki VI). [Z3]
Some details are not confirmed in the official sources read.
Official sources
- [Z1] Ísland.is (service provider: Samgöngustofa) – Undanþágur frá stærð og þyngd ökutækja: when a permit is needed, police consent, online application (Official website, read 2026-10-04)
https://island.is/undanthagur-fra-staerd-og-thyngd - [Z2] Ísland.is (Samgöngustofa) – Langtímaundanþágur frá stærð og þyngd (long-term permits) (Official website, read 2026-10-04)
https://island.is/langtimaundanthagur - [Z3] Reglugerð um stærð og þyngd ökutækja nr. 155/2007 – consolidated text up to 13.09.2021 (linked from island.is); §§ 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, Viðauki I (Legal act, read 2026-10-04)
https://assets.ctfassets.net/8k0h54kbe6bj/7yNKc3vpA3rR35nRpaLuX5/8f5e4a49a989c254a6dd62810c5a0aff/%5FRegluger%5F%5Fum%5Fst%5Fr%5F%5Fog%5F%5Fyngd%5F%5Fkut%5Fkja%5F%5Fnr.155%5F2007Uppf%5Frt%5Ftil%5F13.09.2021.%5Fs.1232%5F2021%5F2019%5F984%5FESB%5F%5Fsbr1327%5F2021%5FESB%5F2020%5F349%5F%5F%5F - [Z4] Reglugerð nr. 1574/2024 amending Regulation 155/2007 (only the method of measuring length, § 5 para. 2) – confirms that the limits are unchanged (Legal act, read 2026-10-04)
https://adverts.stjornartidindi.is/B_nr_1574_2024.pdf - [Z5] Gjaldskrá Samgöngustofu nr. 1535/2025 – fee schedule (Official website, read 2026-10-04)
https://island.is/s/samgongustofa/gjaldskra-samgongustofu - [Z6] Vegagerðin – Umsóknir og styrkir: „Undanþága frá stærð og þyngd ökutækja – Sótt er um undanþágu á island.is” (Official website, read 2026-10-04)
https://www.vegagerdin.is/vegagerdin/starfsemi/umsoknir-og-styrkir
Rules and fees change. Check the official source before you file an application.