Short-term authority
Temporary Trip Permits
A trip permit lets a truck legally enter a state it is not registered or fuel-licensed in — useful for one-off runs, new equipment, and lapsed credentials.
Two permits people often mix up
- Temporary registration (trip) permit — substitutes for apportioned IRP plates in a state you are not registered in.
- Temporary fuel permit — substitutes for an IFTA license and decals for that trip.
- Depending on the state and your credentials, you may need one, the other, or both.
Common situations
- You run interstate only occasionally and IRP apportioning is not worth it yet.
- You just bought a truck and need to move it home before plates are issued.
- An IFTA license or IRP account lapsed and you need to keep a load moving.
- A route unexpectedly changed and now crosses a state you are not credentialed for.
- You are hauling into a state that requires a separate permit for certain vehicle types.
Timing and validity
Trip permits are short-term — commonly a few days per permit — and are tied to a specific vehicle and, in many states, to a declared route and weight. They must be purchased before entering the state, and buying one at the border is rarely the cheapest or fastest option.
Validity periods, renewal limits, and how many permits a carrier may buy per year vary by state and can change.
What we do
Tell us the truck, the states, and when it rolls. We identify which temporary permits the trip requires and connect you with an independent provider who can obtain them quickly. Government permit fees are paid to the state and are separate from any service fee.
Accuracy notice
Official government resources
Related permits and filings
More permit & compliance services
- Temporary Fuel PermitsShort-term fuel tax permits for trips into states where you don't hold IFTA credentials.
- Annual Oversize PermitsRecurring permits for repeat oversize configurations, and when single-trip still makes sense.
- Superload PermitsState-defined permits for unusually large or heavy moves that need extra route and engineering review.
- Pilot Car & Escort RequirementsWhat can trigger escorts, route surveys, or height poles, and how the rules differ by state.
- Motor Carrier AuthorityUSDOT numbers vs. operating authority, and the filings that usually come with getting started.
- Trucking Compliance ServicesUCR, BOC-3, IFTA, IRP, authority, and recurring compliance and audit-prep referrals in one place.
Request permit help
Send the details and an independent provider will follow up with what is required, timing, and pricing.
Who we are — and who we are not
DOT-Permits.com is an independent commercial information and referral service. We are not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Transportation, FMCSA, or any state DOT.
Any service fee we or a partner provider charge is separate from, and in addition to, government permit fees, taxes, and filing fees charged by state or federal agencies.
Permit requirements, fees, routing rules, and processing times change frequently and vary by state, route, load, and season. Information on this site is general in nature, may not be current, and is not legal or regulatory advice. Always confirm details with the issuing state agency before moving a load.