Quebec permits
Quebec Oversize Permit Rules
Legal limits, MTMD special permits, escorts, travel hours, Sunday and night rules for oversize and overweight loads in Quebec, with metric sizes and feet and inches added, plus the border basics for loads coming in from the USA.
Last checked: Oct 2, 2026
This page is general information only, not legal advice and not a permit. Rules change often and each state's or province's permit and official rules are the final word. Always confirm limits, escorts, routes and travel times with the state permit office before moving a load. Reliable Transport LLC is not responsible for decisions made using this information.
- Legal size
- 2.6 m (8'6"W), 4.15 m (13'7"H)
- Permits
- MTMD, through the GPM system
- Border
- eManifest 1 hour before arrival
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerMTMD permits
How Quebec sizes up a heavy load
In Quebec, the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable (MTMD) issues the special permit, the permis spécial de circulation, for loads over the legal size or weight. Quebec sizes are metric, so every number here has feet and inches added. These are the rules we plan Quebec loads with, from the MTMD permit pages, the Règlement sur le permis spécial de circulation and the load and size limits regulation.
Check your load
Enter your width, height, length and weight in our permit tool to see the rules for every US state on your route, each with its official source. Our permit tool covers US states only; the Quebec rules are on this page.
Quebec limits
Quebec legal limits and permit thresholds
Over these limits, a load needs an MTMD special permit (permis spécial de circulation).
Quebec legal size, weight and permits
Official sources linkedEscorts
Quebec escort requirements
The Règlement sur le permis spécial de circulation sets escorts by width, length, height and overhang, and by how many lanes the road has.
Quebec escorts by load size
Official sources linkedEscort vehicles stay 100 to 300 m (328' to 984') from the load, keep radio contact with the driver and may escort no more than 2 permitted vehicles at a time. Check with MTMD.
Height and routes
Crossing into Quebec
What a load from the USA needs at the Canadian border and on Quebec's roads.
eManifest
The highway carrier's cargo and conveyance data must be received and validated by the Canada Border Services Agency no later than 1 hour before arrival at the first port of arrival. (CBSA Memorandum D3 4 2, highway carrier and cargo reporting) Check with CBSA.
Customs broker
Importers and customs brokers can file release documents through the Pre Arrival Review System (PARS), before or after arrival. (CBSA Memorandum D3 4 2, highway carrier and cargo reporting) Check with CBSA.
Bonded moves
Goods moving inland before release need a CBSA bonded carrier, or a single trip bond for a non bonded carrier. (CBSA Memorandum D3 4 2, highway carrier and cargo reporting) Check with CBSA.
Utility wires
A class 7 load over 5 m (16'5"H) needs an agreement with the owners of the wires on the route, or a sworn statement, before MTMD issues the permit. (Regulation respecting special permits, C 24.2, r. 35 (Règlement sur le permis spécial de circulation)) Check with MTMD.
Signs and lights
A permitted vehicle runs a rotating amber light and its headlights, and carries the D panel when it is over 3.04 m (10'W), 25 m (82'L) or 4.3 m (14'1"H). (Regulation respecting special permits, C 24.2, r. 35 (Règlement sur le permis spécial de circulation), MTMD, Guide abrégé, permis spéciaux de circulation) Check with MTMD.
Travel times
Travel hours, nights, weekends and holidays
When a permitted load may move in Quebec.
Nights
No night travel over 3.75 m (12'4"W), over 17 m (55'9"L) for a single unit, 27.5 m (90'3"L) for two vehicles or 30 m (98'5"L) for three, or with a rear overhang over 4 m (13'1"). A load up to 4.4 m (14'5"W) may move at night on a divided autoroute. (Regulation respecting special permits, C 24.2, r. 35 (Règlement sur le permis spécial de circulation), MTMD, Guide abrégé, permis spéciaux de circulation)
Sundays and holidays
Permitted loads do not move on Sundays or on legal holidays. (Regulation respecting special permits, C 24.2, r. 35 (Règlement sur le permis spécial de circulation), MTMD, Guide abrégé, permis spéciaux de circulation)
Weather
No travel when visibility is under 1 km (0.6 miles) or the road is not clear of snow and ice. (Regulation respecting special permits, C 24.2, r. 35 (Règlement sur le permis spécial de circulation)) Check with MTMD.
Rush hours
Loads over 3.75 m (12'4"W) or the night length limits stay off the Montréal area autoroutes and bridges from 6 to 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 to 7 p.m., and off the Québec City area autoroutes and bridges from 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 5:30 p.m., except on Saturdays. (Regulation respecting special permits, C 24.2, r. 35 (Règlement sur le permis spécial de circulation)) Check with MTMD.
Spring thaw
Axle limits drop during the spring thaw period (période de dégel), and class 5 overweight permits are not valid then. (Vehicle Load and Size Limits Regulation, C 24.2, r. 31.1 (in force January 1, 2026), Regulation respecting special permits, C 24.2, r. 35 (Règlement sur le permis spécial de circulation)) Check with MTMD.
Superloads
Quebec superloads
Quebec handles its largest loads through class 6 (overweight past class 5) and class 7 (oversize past class 1) permits. Both need an MTMD engineering study of the load and route before the permit issues, which takes up to 15 business days once the file is complete. MTMD may allow class 6 and 7 loads to travel outside the usual hours with its prior consent. (MTMD, Permis spéciaux de circulation, classes 1 à 7, MTMD, Demander et gérer un permis spécial (GPM), Regulation respecting special permits, C 24.2, r. 35 (Règlement sur le permis spécial de circulation)) Check with MTMD.
See how we plan the biggest loads on our Superload Transport page.
Our moves
Heavy loads we have moved
150,000 lb transformer
A 150,000 lb transformer from Pocatello, ID to Akron, OH.
Read the move →207,000 lb dryer drum
A 207,000 lb dryer drum from Louisville, KY to Richmond, VA.
Read the move →Moving a load in Quebec?
Send the dimensions, weight and border crossing. We plan the MTMD permit, escorts and customs paperwork.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Sources
Official Quebec sources
Every rule on this page is taken from the MTMD special permit pages, the Règlement sur le permis spécial de circulation, the load and size limits regulation and the CBSA memorandum below and confirmed by a second source. Where we could not confirm a rule twice, the page says to check with MTMD or CBSA. Rules change, and the permit itself always decides. Last checked: Oct 2, 2026.
- MTMD, Permis spéciaux de circulation, classes 1 à 7
- MTMD, Demander et gérer un permis spécial (GPM)
- MTMD, Guide abrégé, permis spéciaux de circulation
- Regulation respecting special permits, C 24.2, r. 35 (Règlement sur le permis spécial de circulation)
- Vehicle Load and Size Limits Regulation, C 24.2, r. 31.1 (in force January 1, 2026)
- CBSA Memorandum D3 4 2, highway carrier and cargo reporting
Questions
Quebec permit questions
What are the legal size limits in Quebec?
2.6 m (8'6"W), 4.15 m (13'7"H) and 23 m (75'6"L) for a tractor semitrailer. Anything bigger needs an MTMD special permit.
Who issues oversize permits in Quebec?
The Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable (MTMD) issues the permis spécial de circulation, online through its GPM system.
When does Quebec require escorts?
Over 3.75 m (12'4"W), 1 escort, ahead on one lane roads and behind on multi lane roads. Over 4.4 m (14'5"W) on one lane roads, 2 escorts.
Can oversize loads move on Sundays in Quebec?
No. Permitted loads do not move on Sundays or legal holidays.
Can oversize loads move at night in Quebec?
Not over 3.75 m (12'4"W), except up to 4.4 m (14'5"W) on a divided autoroute.
What does a load need at the Canadian border?
The carrier's eManifest data must reach CBSA no later than 1 hour before arrival, and a customs broker can file release documents through PARS.
Keep planning
More for your Quebec move
Permit rules in other provinces and nearby states
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerReliable Transport LLC | Reliable Heavy Haul
Ready to move it?
We haul oversize and overweight loads across the USA and Canada from our home base at 7660 W Third St, Dayton, OH 45417. Send your load details and we will plan the MTMD special permit (permis spécial de circulation), route, escorts and border crossing.
This page is general information only, not legal advice and not a permit. Rules change often and each state's or province's permit and official rules are the final word. Always confirm limits, escorts, routes and travel times with the state permit office before moving a load. Reliable Transport LLC is not responsible for decisions made using this information.