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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>66443</law_id><section_number>46.2-1112</section_number><catch_line>Length of vehicles, generally; special permits; vehicle combinations, etc., operating on certain highways; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>46.2-1146</reference><reference>46.2-1149.2</reference><reference>46.2-1153</reference><reference>46.2-613.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Operation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="10">Motor Vehicle and Equipment Safety</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="16">Maximum Vehicle Lengths</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>No <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> longer than 40 feet shall be operated on any <span class="dictionary">highway</span> in the Commonwealth except for buses and <span class="dictionary">motor homes</span>. The actual length of any combination of <span class="dictionary">vehicles</span>, including <span class="dictionary">motor homes</span> and buses, coupled together including any load thereon shall not exceed a total of 65 feet. However, the length of a <span class="dictionary">tractor truck</span> <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> combination may exceed 65 feet in length, provided the <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> does not exceed 53 feet in length and the distance between the kingpin of the <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> and the rearmost axle or a point midway between the rear tandem axles does not exceed 41 feet. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> of <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">Highways</span></span> may impose restrictions on the operation of <span class="dictionary">vehicles</span> exceeding 65 feet in length on certain roads, based on a safety and engineering analysis. No bus or <span class="dictionary">motor home</span> longer than 45 feet shall be operated on any <span class="dictionary">highway</span> in the Commonwealth. No tolerance shall be allowed that exceeds 12 inches.
		The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>, however, when good cause is shown, may <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a special permit for combinations either in excess of 65 feet, including any load thereon, or where the <span class="dictionary">object</span> or <span class="dictionary">objects</span> to be carried cannot be moved otherwise. Such permits may also be issued by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> when the total number of otherwise overdimensional loads of modular housing of no more than two units may be reduced by permitting the use of an overlength <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> not exceeding 54 feet. No permit shall be issued by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> until an engineering analysis of a proposed routing has been conducted by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> of <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">Highways</span></span> to assess the ability of the <span class="dictionary">roadway</span> to be traversed to <span class="dictionary">sustain</span> the vehicle&#x2019;s size.
		No overall length restrictions, however, shall be imposed on any <span class="dictionary">tractor truck</span> <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> combinations drawing one <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> or any <span class="dictionary">tractor truck</span> <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> combinations when operated on any interstate <span class="dictionary">highway</span> or on any <span class="dictionary">highway</span> as designated by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. No such designation shall be made, however, until notice of any proposed designation has been provided by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> of <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">Highways</span></span> to the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> of every locality wherein any <span class="dictionary">highway</span> affected by the proposed designation is located.
		No individual <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> being drawn in a <span class="dictionary">tractor truck</span> <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> combination, however, shall exceed 28 1/2 feet in length, and no <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> being operated in a <span class="dictionary">tractor truck</span> <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> combination shall exceed 48 feet in length, except when <span class="dictionary">semitrailers</span> have a distance of not more than 41 feet between the kingpin of the <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> and the rearmost axle or a point midway between the rear tandem axles, such <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> shall be allowed not more than 53 feet in length.
		The length limitations on <span class="dictionary">semitrailers</span> and <span class="dictionary">trailers</span> in the foregoing provisions of this section shall be exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices, steps and handholds for entry and egress, rubber dock guards, flexible fender extensions, mudflaps, refrigeration units, and air compressors. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> of <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">Highways</span></span> shall designate reasonable access to terminals, facilities for food, fuel, repairs and rest. Household goods carriers and any <span class="dictionary">tractor truck</span> <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> combination in which the <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> has a length of no more than 28 1/2 feet shall not be denied reasonable access to points of loading and unloading, except as designated, based on safety considerations, by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> of <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">Highways</span></span>.
		Any person operating a vehicle whose length is not in conformity with the provisions of this chapter on a two-<span class="dictionary">lane</span> <span class="dictionary">highway</span> where passing is permitted shall be guilty of a <span class="dictionary">traffic infraction</span> and fined $250.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 46-328; 1950, p. 665; 1952, c. 342; 1956, cc. 476, 483; 1958, c. 541, &#xA7; 46.1-330; 1962, c. 113; 1966, c. 59; 1972, c. 446; 1974, c. 664; 1975, c. 104; 1978, c. 254; 1983, c. 515; 1985, c. 426; 1986, c. 417; 1989, cc. 644, 645, 727; 1993, c. 984; 1994, c. 456; 1995, c. 71; 1997, c. 773; 2001, c. 151; 2003, c. 314; 2005, c. 262; 2006, cc. 210, 232; 2013, cc. 585, 646; 2016, c. 122.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
