Legal dimensions in Quebec
269 facts, each with the passage it comes from, quoted from 4 official sources.
Start with a question
Open a question to read the facts on file that bear on it.
General
10 topics
Maximum legal vehicle width (Measures)
Maximum legal overall width of a vehicle or combination (including load), measured at the widest point, in metres.
- 2.6 m8′ 6.5″Agricultural trailer whose owner is a farmer, in other cases
- 3.75 m12′ 3.5″Agricultural trailer whose owner is a farmer, intended for the transport of grain, travelling empty elsewhere than on a highway
- 4.4 m14′ 5″Class 1, general permit
- 5 m16′ 5″Class 1, specific permit
Maximum legal vehicle length (Measures)
Maximum legal overall length for one vehicle configuration (e.g. single vehicle, bus, articulated bus, semitrailer or trailer, each unit of a double bottom, house coach, or whole combination), in metres.
- 11 m36′ 1″Any road vehicle not referred to in any of paragraphs 2 to 7
- 11 m36′ 1″Any vehicle not referred to in paragraphs 1 to 3
- 19 m62′ 4″Articulated bus, excluding the bicycle rack and its load that extend 1 m or less beyond the front of the bus
- 14 m45′ 11″Bus and motor home, effective rear overhang of 4 m or less
Maximum legal vehicle height (Measures)
Maximum legal overall height of a vehicle including its load, measured from the road surface, in metres.
4.15 m13′ 7.5″
In general
- 4.3 m14′ 1.5″Class 1, general permit
- 5 m16′ 5″Class 1, specific permit
- 4.3 m14′ 1.5″Class 2, general permit
- 5 m16′ 5″Class 2, specific permit
Maximum length of a combination of vehicles (Measures)
The maximum overall length of a combination of vehicles, inclusive of load and bumpers, permitted on the applicable highway.
- 40 m131′ 3″Class 1; any combination of road vehicles covered by a specific permit
- 27.5 m90′ 2.5″Class 1; combination of 2 road vehicles including a combination of road vehicles consisting of a crane and a trailer
- 27.5 m90′ 2.5″Class 1; combination of 2 road vehicles including a combination of road vehicles consisting of a crane and a trailer; general permit
- 40 m131′ 3″Class 1; specific permit
Maximum vehicle width (Measures)
The maximum overall width of a vehicle or combination of vehicles, inclusive of load and safety devices, permitted on the applicable highway.
- 4.4 m14′ 5″Class 1; General
- 4.4 m14′ 5″Class 1; general permit; including load and equipment
- 4.4 m14′ 5″Class 1; general permit; including load and equipment
- 5 m16′ 5″Class 1; Specific
Maximum vehicle height (Measures)
The maximum overall height of a vehicle or combination of vehicles, inclusive of load, measured from the underside of the tire to the top of the vehicle, permitted on the applicable highway.
- 4.3 m14′ 1.5″Class 1; General
- 4.3 m14′ 1.5″Class 1; general permit; including load and equipment
- 4.3 m14′ 1.5″Class 1; general permit; including load and equipment
- 5 m16′ 5″Class 1; Specific
Night travel allowed (Yes or no)
Whether the oversize vehicle or combination is permitted to travel at night.
Yesin 1 caseNoin 4 cases
- General condition 3
- General condition 4
- Length exceeds 17 m for a single-unit vehicle, 27.50 m for a combination of 2 road vehicles or 30 m for a combination of 3 road vehicles consisting of a tractor, a towed jeep dolly and a semi-trailer or for a combination of vehicles covered by a Class 2 permit
- Rear overhang greater than 4 m, except for trees in length or poles
Maximum front overhang (Measures)
Maximum permitted distance, in metres, by which equipment or load projects forward beyond the front of the vehicle.
- 2 m6′ 6.5″Class 1, any other road vehicle
- 4 m13′ 1.5″Class 1, cranes and vehicles used for snow removal
Legal vehicle weights
9 topics Open Legal vehicle weights
Maximum gross vehicle weight (Measures)
Maximum legal gross weight of a vehicle or combination, in kilograms.
- 7,250 kg15,983 lbCategory E.1, road vehicle other than a tractor
- 7,700 kg16,976 lbCategory E.1, tractor equipped with a tridem axle group at the rear
- 5,500 kg12,125 lbCategory E.1, tractor not referred to in subparagraph ii
- 14,000 kg30,865 lbCategory E.2
Maximum weight on two axles (Measures)
Maximum legal weight carried by any two consecutive axles, in kilograms.
- 11,000 kg24,251 lbAxle group of category E.2 or E.3
- 15,500 kg34,172 lbAxle group of category E.7 at the rear of an intercity bus or a motor home
- 13,500 kg29,762 lbGroup of 2 axles that does not belong to another category and with a spacing of 1.2 m or more; normal period
- 10,000 kg22,046 lbGroup of 2 axles with a spacing of less than 1.2 m; normal period
Maximum weight per axle (Measures)
Maximum legal weight carried by any one axle, in kilograms.
- 5,500 kg12,125 lbCategory E.1 axle
- 13,500 kg29,762 lbCategory E.4 axle at the rear of an urban bus
- 18,000 kg39,683 lbCategory E.7; vehicle assembled before January 1, 2026 whose axle spacing is 2.4 m or more; normal period; until December 31, 2035
- 10,000 kg22,046 lbNon-steering axle; normal period
Seasonal load limits
3 topics Open Seasonal load limits
Axle weight limit during thaw period (Measures)
Maximum legal weight carried by an axle or axle group during the spring thaw period, in kilograms, where it is lower than the normal limit.
- 15,500 kg34,172 lbCategory E.7; vehicle assembled before January 1, 2026 whose axle spacing is 2.4 m or more; thaw, rain, erosion and flood period; until December 31, 2035
- 11,000 kg24,251 lbGroup of 2 axles that does not belong to another category and with a spacing of 1.2 m or more; thaw, rain, erosion or flood period
- 8,000 kg17,637 lbGroup of 2 axles with a spacing of less than 1.2 m; thaw, rain, erosion or flood period
- 8,000 kg17,637 lbGroup of 3 axles that does not belong to another category and with a spacing of less than 1.2 m; thaw, rain, erosion or flood period
Travel allowed during thaw period (Yes or no)
Whether the oversize vehicle or combination is permitted to travel during the spring thaw period.
Noin 2 cases
- Class 5 permit, unless the permit provides for the use of a towed booster axle
- Except for the implementation of emergency measures during a disaster, a derailment or a spill of dangerous substances; general condition 6
Steering axle weight limit during thaw period (Measures)
Maximum legal weight carried by a steering (front) axle during the spring thaw period, in kilograms.
9,000 kg19,842 lb
During the spring thaw period; front axle steered by the steering wheel; for a 3-road-vehicle combination composed of a tractor, a towed dolly and a semitrailer
Where these facts come from
- Règlement sur les normes de charges et de dimensions applicables aux véhicules routiers et aux ensembles de véhicules routiers, C-24.2, r. 31.1(opens in a new tab)
www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca, web page, 194 facts
- C-24.2, r. 35 — Règlement sur le permis spécial de circulation(opens in a new tab)
legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca, web page, 63 facts
- Règlement sur le permis spécial de circulation (C-24.2, r. 35)(opens in a new tab)
www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca, web page, 7 facts
- Guide to the Regulation Respecting Special Permits(opens in a new tab)
www.transports.gouv.qc.ca, PDF, 5 facts