Vehicle standards and equipment in Ontario
Physical eligibility requirements for escort vehicles and the signs, lights, communication equipment, warning devices, and clearance-checking equipment they must carry.
71 facts, each with the passage it comes from, quoted from 5 official sources.
Where to apply
Where an application for Vehicle standards and equipment is submitted in Ontario.
Phone · Ministère des Transports
Bureau de délivrance de permis, par téléphone
Contact the permit issuing office during business hours if the route indicated on your permit needs to be changed.
Phone · Ministère des Transports
Bureau de délivrance de permis, par téléphone (sans frais)
Contact the permit issuing office during business hours if the route indicated on your permit needs to be changed.
Mail · Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Permit Issuing Office
Permit Issuing Office, by mail
301 St. Paul Street, 3rd Floor, St Catharines, Ontario, L2R 7R4
Application forms must be completed in full. Incomplete applications will be returned.
In person · Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Permit Issuing Office
Permit Issuing Office
301 St. Paul Street, 3rd Floor, St Catharines, Ontario, L2R 7R4
Email · Ministry of Transportation
Oversize/Overweight Permit Office, by email
Use it when: For Permitting and Registration for International Registration Plan and Oversize/Overweight (PRIO) online permitting system account set up, tow truck certificate applications, special vehicle configuration permits or project permits
Fax · Ministry of Transportation
Highway Operations Permits Office, by fax
905-704-2545
Use it when: Until January 1, 2026
Download and complete an application form. Include payment (Canadian funds only) by visa or Mastercard using an authorization form, cheque made out to the Ministry of Finance, bank draft, money order or certified cheque made out to the Ministry of Finance.
Start with a question
Open a question to read the facts on file that bear on it.
What weight, axle-count, and wheelbase limits apply to an escort vehicle?Nothing on file for Ontario answers this yet.
Facts
22 topics
Escort vehicle equipment required (In words)
Equipment that an escort vehicle must carry or display, such as flashing lights, reflectors, warning signs, flags, a fire extinguisher, traffic cones, spare bulbs, or a flashing arrow board.
In general
one or more flashing yellow warning lights placed on the roof of the escort vehicle
In general
a " D " sign or a sign bearing the words " OVERSIZE LOAD "
In general
a two-way radio communication device
In general
a fire extinguisher in good condition
Escort vehicle oversize load sign required (Yes or no)
Whether the escort vehicle must display signs with the words OVERSIZE LOAD either on the front and rear or on the roof facing both the front and back of the vehicle.
Yesin 4 cases
- In general
- In general
- Certified Superload Escort vehicles
- Certified Superload Escort vehicles
Escort vehicle certified escort sign required (Yes or no)
Whether the escort vehicle must display signs with the words Certified Escort on both sides and the rear.
Yesin 3 cases
- In general
- In general
- Certified Superload Escort vehicles
Escort vehicle orange flags required (Yes or no)
Whether the escort vehicle must display orange coloured flags on each side.
Yesin 4 cases
- In general
- In general
- In general
- Certified Superload Escort vehicles
Escort vehicle roof warning light required (Yes or no)
Whether the escort vehicle must have amber lighting on its roof visible on a 360 degree basis, consisting of either a rectangular bar positioned across the width of the vehicle or two warning lamps, one on each side of the roof, that qualify as Class 1 warning lights according to SAE Standard J845.
Yes
Escort vehicle warning light unobstructed required (Yes or no)
Whether the escort vehicle must be free of any sign or other object affixed to it that would block the view of the warning lamps from any position around the vehicle.
Yesin 3 cases
- In general
- In general
- In general
Escort vehicle lighting required (Yes or no)
Whether the escort vehicle must be equipped with specified warning lights, such as flashing yellow lights visible from all directions or a yellow light bar meeting the applicable SAE standard.
Yes
Escort vehicle warning devices required (Yes or no)
Whether the escort vehicle must carry warning devices such as flares, lamps, or reflectors visible from a specified distance.
Yesin 2 cases
- In general
- In general
Where these facts come from
- Guide sur les véhicules et charges de dimensions/poids exceptionnels(opens in a new tab)
www.ontario.ca, web page, 25 facts
- Guide to oversize/overweight vehicles and loads(opens in a new tab)
www.ontario.ca, web page, 22 facts
- Guide to oversize/overweight vehicles and loads(opens in a new tab)
www.ontario.ca, web page, 15 facts
- O. Reg. 215/18: Over-dimensional Vehicle Escorts(opens in a new tab)
www.ontario.ca, web page, 5 facts
- Règl. de l’Ont. 215/18 : Accompagnateurs de véhicules de dimensions excessives(opens in a new tab)
www.ontario.ca, web page, 4 facts