Oversize permit country guide
Oversize load permit in Ireland (2026): authority, thresholds, fees
This page summarises what the official sources listed below say about oversize (abnormal) load permits in Ireland. Numbers link to their source. Values the sources do not confirm are marked “Not confirmed”.
Key facts
| Issuing authority | Two parallel routes: (1) police — Permits Officer at the Garda National Traffic Bureau (designated national routes); (2) local authorities — the city/county council responsible for the road (other roads and movements outside the Garda Permit limits) An Garda Síochána — Garda National Traffic Bureau (Permits Officer); City/County Council (appropriate local authority) [Z1] |
|---|---|
| Level | Depends on the road |
| Application channel | www.garda.ie [Z2] |
| Online application | Yes |
| Applicant from abroad may apply | Yes |
| Application language(s) | en |
| Data status | Partly confirmed (gaps marked on the page) |
Issuing authority
Garda Permit (S.I. 147/2009, S.I. 461/2010): only roads in the Schedule of Designated Roads (main inter-urban routes and access to the ports of Cork, Rosslare, Ringaskiddy), vehicle with load ≤ 27.4 m long, ≤ 4.3 m wide, ≤ 4.65 m high, weight within the S.I. 5/2003 limits. Local Authority Permit (reg. 59 S.I. 5/2003): issued by the city/county council in whose area the road lies — required on all roads (including designated ones) for movements not covered by a Garda Permit, e.g. when the weights/dimensions of S.I. 5/2003 or the height of 4.65 m are exceeded (Z6). Deviation from designated roads requires separate consent of the local authorities and/or the Minister for Transport (Z1). A council permit covers roads in its area (reg. 59(2)) — a movement through several counties requires permits from each of the councils. [Z1]
Application channel
No central portal. Garda Permit: .doc form from garda.ie sent by e-mail to [email protected] (the signed form = the permit, returned by e-mail). Local Authority Permit: each council's own form (e-mail or council portal, e.g. Cork City Council — corkcity.submit.com). [Z2]
Login / access: No login for the e-mail route (Garda, most councils); the Cork City Council portal requires registration on the council's website.
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 [Z4] |
|---|---|
| Height | 4.65 m [Z4] |
| Length, tractor unit + semi-trailer | 16.50 m [Z4] |
| Length, rigid vehicle + trailer | 18.75 m [Z4] |
| Gross combination weight (5 axles) | Not confirmed |
| Single axle load | 10.00 t [Z4] |
| Drive axle load | 11.50 t [Z4] |
A permit is needed when the vehicle/load breaches the requirements of S.I. 5/2003 (reg. 59). Width of a goods vehicle > 3.5 t: 2.55 m (reg. 26(5)); refrigerated vehicle 2.60 m (reg. 26(6)). Length: articulated vehicle 16.50 m (reg. 28(3)), combination with trailer 18.75 m (reg. 29(1)). Height: limit 4.65 m from 1.11.2013 (S.I. 366/2008, Z5). Axle loads: single axle 10.00 t; drive axle with twin wheels 10.50 t, with twin wheels and air suspension 11.50 t (reg. 5). Gross weight: the original text of S.I. 5/2003 gives 40–44 t (reg. 14–15), but a consolidated version with later amendments was not read — no value stated. All values come from the 'made' text of S.I. 5/2003 and may have been changed by amendments. [Z4]
Permit types
| Permit | Scope | Validity | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garda specialised vehicle permit (designated routes) Specialised Vehicle Permit (Garda Permit) |
Multiple trips | For the specified movement(s) or a period of up to 12 months (reg. 5(1), 7(2) S.I. 147/2009) | Vehicle with load ≤ 27.40 m long, ≤ 4.30 m wide, ≤ 4.65 m high; weight within the S.I. 5/2003 limits; only roads in the Schedule of Designated Roads (S.I. 461/2010) [Z3] |
| Local authority special permit Special Permit / Abnormal Load Permit (Local Authority Permit), reg. 59 S.I. 5/2003 |
Periodic (time-limited) | Up to 12 months from issue or shorter (reg. 59(13)); in practice councils issue e.g. single-trip/daily, 3-month, 6-month and annual permits (Z7, Z8, Z9) | No statutory upper limit; roads within the council's area; the council may impose conditions on weight, dimensions, speed etc. (reg. 59(10)) [Z4] |
Processing time
Garda Permit: application at least 5 clear working days before the movement starts (reg. 5(2) S.I. 147/2009). Local Authority Permit: before applying, the Garda Commissioner must be given 4 clear days' notice (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays) with a copy of the application (reg. 59(4) S.I. 5/2003); council deadlines vary — Cork min. 5 working days, Mayo min. 4 working days before the movement, Fingal: processing 7 days. No statutory deadline for the decision. [Z3]
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Clare County Council — single-trip permit (outward and return) | 78 EUR [Z7] |
| Clare County Council — 6-month permit | 505 EUR [Z7] |
| Offaly and Mayo County Council — single-trip/daily 60 EUR, 3-month 150 EUR, annual 500 EUR | 60–500 EUR [Z8] |
| Garda Permit — fee not found in official sources; fees of the other councils were not collected (each council sets its own) | Not confirmed [Z1] |
Some fee details are not confirmed in the official sources read.
Escort
Private escort vehicle
Garda Permit: the Permits Officer may impose a condition of an accompanying person (attendant) or an escort vehicle (reg. 6(4) S.I. 147/2009); the application must state whether there will be an escort (reg. 5(4)(f)). Clare County Council guidelines (indicative, varying by trailer, route and timing): 1 escort vehicle for width > 3.00 m, length > 22.00 m, weight > 60 t, height > 5.00 m or speed < 50 km/h; a 2nd vehicle for width > 4.35 m, length > 30.00 m, weight > 90 t, height > 5.40 m or speed < 32 km/h. No national escort thresholds in the sources read. [Z3]
Police escort
Not confirmed — the sources read contain no rules on police escort; councils issue permits after considering the views of the Garda Commissioner (reg. 59(7), 59(10)). [Z3]
Some details are not confirmed in the official sources read.
Required documents
- Garda: form 'Application – Permit for movement of an Abnormal Load as defined in S.I. 147.09' — vehicle details, information on the local authority special permit (if needed), nature and dimensions of the load, movement details, escort (reg. 5(4)) [Z3]
- Local authorities: application describing the vehicles, the nature/dimensions/weight of the load, movement details, and an undertaking to cover damage to roads (reg. 59(3), 59(5)); the council may require a deposit or other security (reg. 59(6)) [Z4]
- Notice to the Garda Commissioner with a copy of the application, 4 clear days before applying to the council (reg. 59(4)) [Z4]
- In the vehicle: printout of the Garda permit (and of amendments and e-mails about changed circumstances) and the council permit (reg. 6(2)(b) S.I. 147/2009; reg. 59(12) S.I. 5/2003) [Z3]
Traffic restrictions
Restrictions are set by each permit (route, date, conditions). Vehicles > 4.65 m may not use the Jack Lynch, Dublin Port and Limerick tunnels (Z5). The operator may not start the movement without sufficient clearance along the whole route and suitable conditions (road surface, light, weather, traffic) (reg. 6(2)(d) S.I. 147/2009). National time windows/bans for abnormal loads — not confirmed. [Z3]
Some details are not confirmed in the official sources read.
Official sources
- [Z1] An Garda Síochána — 'Abnormal Loads': Garda Permit system (S.I. 147/2009 + S.I. 461/2010) for loads ≤ 27.4 m long and ≤ 4.3 m wide on designated inter-urban routes and to the ports of Cork, Rosslare, Ringaskiddy; application form (.doc) (Official website, read 2026-10-04)
https://www.garda.ie/en/roads-policing/abnormal-loads/ - [Z2] Garda — 'Guidelines for Operators (Movement of Abnormal Loads)': Permits Officer contact (Garda National Traffic Bureau, [email protected], 01-666 1932), application by e-mail 5 clear working days before the movement, height limit 4.65 m for the Garda Permit (Official website, read 2026-10-04)
https://www.garda.ie/en/roads-policing/abnormal-loads/abnormal-loads-guidelines-for-operators.pdf - [Z3] S.I. No. 147/2009 — Road Traffic (Specialised Vehicle Permits) Regulations 2009: application by the vehicle owner/operator (including vehicles not registered in Ireland), validity up to 12 months, conditions, escort, revocation of the permit (Legal act, read 2026-10-04)
https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2009/si/147/made/en/print - [Z4] S.I. No. 5/2003 — Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 2003 (original 'made' text, without consolidated amendments): reg. 5 (axle loads), 14–15 (combination weights), 26 (width), 28–29 (length), 59 (local authority special permit) (Legal act, read 2026-10-04)
https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2003/si/5/made/en/print - [Z5] Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport (document on garda.ie) — from 1.11.2013 maximum vehicle height 4.65 m; higher movements only in exceptional cases under the abnormal loads regime (Official website, read 2026-10-04)
https://www.garda.ie/en/roads-policing/abnormal-loads/maximum-vehicle-heights-to-change-on-1st-november-2013.pdf - [Z6] Cork City Council (gov.ie) — Garda Permit vs Local Authority Permit, limits 27.4 / 4.3 / 4.65 m, online application via corkcity.submit.com, min. 5 working days before the transport (Official website, read 2026-10-04)
https://www.gov.ie/en/cork-city-council/services/abnormal-load-permit/ - [Z7] Clare County Council (gov.ie) — escort guidelines (1/2 vehicles) by width/length/weight/height/speed, fees 78 EUR (single trip, both directions) and 505 EUR (6 months), PDF form (Official website, read 2026-10-04)
https://www.gov.ie/en/clare-county-council/services/abnormal-load-permit/ - [Z8] Offaly County Council (gov.ie) — fees: single-trip/daily 60 EUR, 3 months 150 EUR, annual 500 EUR (Official website, read 2026-10-04)
https://www.gov.ie/en/offaly-county-council/services/abnormal-load-permit/ - [Z9] Mayo County Council (gov.ie) — application by e-mail ([email protected]) min. 4 working days before the movement; fees 60 / 150 / 500 EUR (Official website, read 2026-10-04)
https://www.gov.ie/en/mayo-county-council/services/abnormal-load-permit/ - [Z10] Fingal County Council (gov.ie) — definition of an abnormal load (16.5 m / 2.55 m / axle loads), notice to the Garda Commissioner 4 days before the application, application by e-mail to [email protected], processing 7 days (Official website, read 2026-10-04)
https://www.gov.ie/en/fingal-county-council/services/abnormal-load-permit-fingal-county-council/
Rules and fees change. Check the official source before you file an application.