The roads may be used only by vehicles or their combinations which do not exceed the maximum authorized technical parameters of vehicles or their combinations for the use of roads approved by Order No 3-66 of 18 February 2002 of the Minister of Transport and Communications.

If the technical parameters of the vehicle or its combinations, laden or unladen, are higher (at least to some extent) than the maximum  authorized, the use of road by vehicles or their combinations is subject to the permit of the road owner in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20 of the Law on Roads. Only one relevant permit to use roads of national significance or to use public roads of local significance by driving over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicles may be used during a single journey.

Permits to use roads of national significance by driving over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicles shall be issued and used in accordance with the procedure established in the Description of Procedure for the Issuance and the Use of Permits to Use Roads of National Significance by Driving Over-dimensioned and (or) Heavy Vehicles approved by Order No 3-289 of 23 April 2012 of the Minister of Transport and Communications. Permits to use roads of national significance by driving over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicles shall be issued by the AB Lithuanian Road Administration.

Permits to use public roads of local significance by driving over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicles shall be issued and used in accordance with the procedure established by municipal councils. Information on the issue of these permits should be accessed on the websites of municipalities.

The permit to use roads by driving over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicles shall be granted for the carriage of:
1) indivisible load * and where such load cannot or may not be carried by other means of transport in such a way that the dimensions, axle (axles) weight and (or) weight of the vehicle carrying it do not exceed the maximum authorized technical parameters of vehicles or their combinations for the use of roads;
2) divisible load carried by heavy vehicle with six or more axles, consisting of a motor vehicle and a trailer (semi-trailer), the wheels of which are paired on at least five axles, the axle (axles) weight does not exceed the maximum authorized axle (axles) weight and the weight of which exceeds the maximum authorized weight, but does not exceed 48 tonnes.

* Indivisible load means a load that cannot be divided into several loads in such a way that the dimensions, axle (axles) weight and (or) weight of the vehicle carrying it do not exceed the maximum authorized technical parameters of the vehicle or their combination for the use of roads.

This must be understood that if any maximum authorized parameter of a laden vehicle is exceeded and the exceedance results from the aggregation of several loads, then the load is divisible according to that parameter and must therefore be divided and carried separately. If, in the case of multiple loads, the maximum authorized parameter is not exceeded, then the load shall be considered indivisible for that parameter. For example, in the case of long poles, the maximum authorized length is exceeded and the load is considered indivisible over the length. When several poles are placed side by side, the exceedance of length will remain and the maximum authorized width and height or the axle (axles) weight and weight cannot be exceeded. Similarly, in the case of wide loads, the load is not divided over the width. Several loads may be placed over the length, but the maximum authorized length, axle (axles) weight and weight shall not be exceeded. The load may also be high, thereby exceeding the maximum authorized height. However, no loads shall be placed on each other and the maximum authorized height cannot be exceeded as a result.

No permit shall be required where an agri-tractor* or self-propelled agricultural machine**, the dimensions (length, width, height) of which, laden or unladen, exceed the maximum authorized dimensions for the use of roads and the extreme points of which are marked, is driving to the field, from one field to another or returned from it.

* “Agri-tractor” shall mean any vehicle fitted with wheels or continuous tracks and having at least two axles, with a maximum design speed of no less than 6 km/h, the main purpose of which is to pull, tow, push, carry agricultural and forestry machinery or tow trailers, which can be adapted for carrying freight and having seats for passengers.
** “Self-propelled agricultural machine” shall mean a self-propelled agricultural machine designed for off-road movement which is not classified as a motor vehicle. Self-propelled agricultural machine includes harvesters, hay movers, shredders and plant sprayers.

Notwithstanding the fact that the use of roads by such vehicles is not subject to a permit, all other driving requirements for such over-dimensioned vehicles, including escorts, shall be complied with.

The permit may be one-time to drive on a particular route, monthly or annual, depending on the exceedance of maximum authorized technical parameters of vehicles or their combinations for the use of roads.

* Applicable to a combination of vehicles:
– consists of a motor vehicle (a lorry / a truck / a car transporter) and a trailer / a semi-trailer,
– has at least six axles,
– wheels are paired on at least five axles,
– the axle (axles) weight does not exceed the maximum authorized axle (axles) weight,
– exceeding the maximum authorized weight for the use of road but not exceeding 48 tonnes.

With a monthly or an annual permit, over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicles may be driven only on the roads of national significance where traffic has not been temporarily restricted or interrupted and (or) these roads have not been closed. The owners or the users of over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicles with a monthly or annual permit shall comply with traffic restrictions prohibiting the use of certain vehicles or vehicles with factual parameters higher than those indicated in the traffic restriction information published on the website www.eismoinfo.lt.

The one-time permit shall be issued for a period of 7 calendar days and shall be valid for one side driving on the route specified in the permit.

A monthly or an annual permit shall be issued for a period of 30 calendar days or 12 months respectively.

The permit shall be valid from zero hours and zero minutes of the start date of the period specified in the permit or from the moment the permit is issued if the permit is issued on the start date of the period of validity of the permit and until twenty fourth hours and zero minutes of the expiry date of the period specified in the permit.

Rates of the charge for the use of roads of national significance by driving over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicles are established by Resolution No 447 of Government of 21 April 2005.

The amount of the charge shall depend on the exceedance of the parameters and:
– a driving distance (one-time tariffs per 10 km of route on roads of national significance),
– the duration of the permit (monthly or annual tariffs).

Rates of the charge for the use of roads of national significance by driving over-dimensioned motor vehicles:

* On motorways and roads of national significance of category I with central reservation.

If the dimensions of the over-dimensioned motor vehicle, laden or unladen, exceed the maximum authorized dimensions more than those specified in the table, a one-time tariff (M), expressed in euro per 10 kilometres, shall be applied, calculated as follows: an additional fee of 0.28 EUR (K1) shall be added to the amount of the tariff indicated in the table for each exceedance of height by 10 centimetres (X1), of width by 10 centimetres (X2) or of length by 1 metre (X3), multiplied by a coefficient of 1.5: M = K + (K1 × XX x 1.5), there XX = X1 or X2 or X3.

* On motorways and roads of national significance of category I with central reservation.

Rates of the charge for the use of roads of national significance by driving heavy motor vehicles:

* Applicable to a combination of vehicles:
– consists of a motor vehicle (a lorry / a truck / a car transporter) and a trailer / a semi-trailer,
– has at least six axles,
– wheels are paired on at least five axles,
– the axle (axles) weight does not exceed the maximum authorized axle (axles) weight,
– exceeding the maximum authorized weight for the use of roads but not exceeding 48 tonnes.

There is no charge for the use of roads by driving over-dimensioned agri-tractors and self-propelled machines.

Rates of the charge for the use of roads of national significance by driving heavy agri-tractors and self-propelled machines:

If the dimensions of the over-dimensioned vehicle exceed the maximum authorized dimensions, the charge shall be calculated by summing the charges for exceeding each dimension (length, width, height).

Where the maximum authorized axle (axles) weight is exceeded, the charge shall be calculated by summing the charges for exceeding the maximum authorized axle (axles) weight for each axle (single, tandem or tri-axle).

Where the maximum authorized axle (axles) weight or the maximum authorized weight is exceeded, the charge shall be added to the charge for exceeding the maximum authorized dimensions.

Where both the maximum authorized axle (axles) weight and the maximum authorized weight are exceeded, a higher charge shall be applied and added to the charge for exceeding the maximum authorized dimensions.

According to Article 20 (15) of the Law on Roads, a permit shall not be issued if:

1. the data and documents required for permission are incomplete or incorrect;
2. weight of the vehicle, laden or unladen, exceeds the maximum authorized weight laid down by the vehicle manufacturer;
3. the charge for the use of roads by driving over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicle has not been paid;
4. the driving route has not been coordinated;
5. axle (axles) weight of the vehicle exceeds the maximum authorized axle (axles) weight more than 8 tonnes, except for the exception provided for in Article 20 (22) of the Law on Roads.

* Driving possibilities with axle weight above 12.0 tonnes shall be assessed individually.
** These values are given for information only, and this does not mean that a permit will be granted in the case of a single axle weight. The roads are not adapted to this axle weight and the driving route will not be coordinated.

In order to obtain a permit to use roads of national significance by driving over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicle, it is necessary to submit an application to the AB Lithuanian Road Administration in the LRA electronic services portal by selecting the service “Movement on roads of national significance”.

The permit shall be issued in an electronic form and its details shall be published in a public list of permits, which can be found on the specified electronic services portal, after selecting the service “Movement on roads of national significance”. Permit data is published until the permit expires.

A permit shall be issued not later than within 3 working days from the date of receipt of an application for a permit and other documents and the data required for obtaining a permit.

When an incorrectly completed application for a permit is submitted, not all or non-compliant documents are submitted, an applicant shall be informed thereof by e-mail not later than within 2 working days from the date of receipt of an application for a permit.

An applicant shall be informed about the received application for a permit by e-mail not later than the next working day from the day of receipt of an application for a permit.

An applicant shall be informed about the calculated amount of a charge for the use of roads of national significance by driving over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicles by e-mail not later than the next working day when the driving route specified in the application for a permit has been coordinated.

A permit shall be issued not later than the next working day when the data on the paid charge has been received.

The owner or the user of over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicles or his commissioned representative submitting an application shall be responsible for the accuracy and the correctness of the data provided in the application.

The data contained in the registered application may not be altered. However, after opening a registered application form, it is possible to change the required data and to submit a new application.

An application shall be processed as submitted and a permit shall be issued with the data and the route as specified in the application, except for the vehicle parameters (length, width, height, axle weight and weight) whichever is greater: either factual (as specified in the application), or maximum authorized parameters of vehicles for the use of roads.

The data of the issued permit cannot be changed. However, the make, the model and the plate number of vehicles covered by the permit may be changed once per 1 hour:
– in one-time permit to drive by a vehicle combination consisting of a lorry / a truck / a car transporter / an agri-tractor / a self-propelled machine and a trailer / a semi-trailer, only a lorry / a truck / a car transporter / an agri-tractor / a self-propelled machine can be changed, but a trailer / a semi-trailer cannot be changed; in case of a single vehicle, i.e. a lorry / a car transporter / an agri-tractor / a self-propelled machine without a trailer / a semi-trailer cannot be changed;
– in a monthly or an annual permit any vehicle can be changed: a single vehicle, a towing vehicle and / or a trailer / a semi-trailer.

The change is made in the LRA electronic services portal.

A permit may be revoked before the start of validity of the permit (before driving / the start date of validity of permit specified in the permit).

The permit cannot be withdrawn after it enters into force, i.e. from the start date of validity of the permit.

The permit is revoked on the LRA electronic services portal.

Upon withdrawal of the permit, the paid charge may be:
– returned (it is necessary to submit a request to the AB Lithuanian Road Administration to issue a certificate on the unused charge and to apply to the State Tax Inspectorate under the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania with the certificate);
– used for another driving (unused charge, as an available advance, is credited in the LRA electronic services portal).

Owners or users of over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicles must comply with the requirements of Item 101 of the Regulations on the Installation and Use of Level-crossings approved by Order No 3-36 of 27 January 2005 of the Minister of Transport and Communications and Item 16 of the Regulations on Electricity Network Protection approved by Order No 1-93 of 29 March 2010 of the Minister of Energy. It is recommended that owners or users of over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicles coordinate the passage through level-crossings and (or) in the protection zones of electricity networks with their keepers in advance of the application for a permit to use roads by driving over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicle.

Vehicles with a width of more than 5 m or a height of more than 4.5 m above the road surface, laden or unladen, as well as slow-moving machine and machinery with a speed of less than 8 km/h, may pass through the level-crossing only with the permission of the head of the railway maintenance unit. An application for permission shall be submitted to the head of the railway maintenance unit at least 24 hours before crossing the railway section. It shall indicate the width and the height of the vehicle and the length of the road train. The contacts of AB “LTG Infra” are presented here.

In the protection zones of electricity networks, without the consent of the owner or manager of electricity networks for the planned activities, entrance of vehicles and other mechanisms the height of which, laden or unladen, is more than 4.5 metres from the road (earth) surface shall be prohibited in the protection zone of airlines and air cables. The information of AB “Energijos skirstymo operatorius” is given here. The information of AB “Litgrid” is given čia.

The Law on Roads stipulates that over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicles are to be accompanied (whether driven with or without a permit by a over-dimensioned agro-tractor or a self-propelled agricultural machine when driving to the field, from one field to another or returned from it) by:
– at least one pilot car with orange flashing beacons, if the width, laden or unladen, of the over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicle ranges from 3.56 to 4.00 m;
– at least two pilot cars with orange flashing beacons, one at the front and one at the rear, if the width, laden or unladen, of the over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicle ranges from 4.01 to 4.50 m and (or) length ranges from 24.00 to 30.00 m;
– a police car at the front and a pilot car with orange flashing beacons at the rear, if the width, laden or unladen, of the over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicle exceeds 4.50 m and (or) the length exceeds 30.00 m.

* It is stated that there shall be a pilot car with orange flashing beacon. Other requirements for pilot car are not laid down.
** If the route stretches in one county, it is necessary to apply to the Traffic Police Unit of the Police Headquarter of that county, and if the route stretches through several counties, to the Lithuanian Traffic Police Service or to the Traffic Police Unit of the Police Headquarter of each county separately.

The requirements for vehicle marking are laid down in the Road Traffic Rules.

Vehicles and their combinations, the dimensions of which, laden or unladen, exceed the values set forth by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, as well as vehicles the maximum speed of which under the technical specifications is below the maximum speed permitted by these Road Traffic Rules to that category of vehicles must bear a distinguishing speed limit mark on the left side in the rear – a coloured sign “Limited Speed” indicating the permissible speed. The diameter of the sign shall be 160–250 mm (depending on the vehicle category) and the thickness of the border shall be 1/10 of the sign diameter.

The extreme points of the load protruding beyond the dimensions of the vehicle itself by more than 1 m in the front or in the rear or any distance to the side as well as extreme points of vehicles wider than 2.6 m must bear distinguishing marks – squares with the side length of 400 mm covered with interchanging oblique reflective white and red 50 mm wide stripes. These plates must be affixed to the vehicle not lower than 0.4 m and not higher than 1.6 m from the ground level. During the hours of darkness or when visibility is poor, such vehicles must have lights in protruding points: white lights in the front, orange lights on the sides and red lights in the rear.

Vehicles with trailers / semi-trailers longer than 18.75 m must have one (horizontal), two (horizontal or vertical) or four (two vertical and two horizontal) marking plates affixed symmetrically to a vehicle axis at a 250–2100 mm level above the ground. Rectangular plates of retro reflective yellow colour shall have a 40 mm wide red fluorescent border. The total length of these plates shall be from 1130 mm to 2300 mm and the width of the plate shall be from 195 mm to 230 mm.

Vehicles without trailers / semi-trailers longer than 12 m must bear distinguishing marks affixed symmetrically to the vehicle axis in the front and in the rear. 130–150 mm rectangular plates shall bear oblong (45° angle) red fluorescent and yellow retro reflective stripes pointing down to the outward edge of the vehicle. The width of red and yellow stripes shall be 100 mm. The number, positioning and total length of the plates shall conform to the requirements of marking of vehicles longer than 18.75 m as stated above.

If the weight of a heavy vehicle, laden or unladen, exceeds 100.0 tonnes, there is a risk that the load on the road structure (a bridge or a viaduct) caused by the vehicle may be dangerous. Therefore, before driving such a vehicle, a route analysis must be carried out, during which the condition of the structures on the route is assessed and the ratio of the load caused by the vehicle to the design load of the structure is determined. Without this test, the driving route is not coordinated.

If the width of an over-dimensioned vehicle, laden or unladen, exceeds 4.50 m and (or) the length exceeds 30.00 m, there is a risk that on the roads where safety islands (before and behind the roundabouts, pedestrian crossings, “city gates” and so on), road signs, lighting poles, barriers and other road elements are equipped, these elements may interfere and may need to be removed before driving. Therefore, before driving such a vehicle, a route analysis must be carried out, which identifies critical points on the route, in order to enable an over-dimensioned vehicle to pass. It is forbidden to damage road sign supports and other elements by cutting, folding and so on.

When driving on pavements, curbs, areas without a solid surface (safety islands, roundabouts edges, curbs, etc.), pavements, curbs, areas without a solid surface must be covered with protective shields, wooden beams and other means to prevent damage to road elements.

The project solutions of the route preparation works must be coordinated with the divisions of the AB Lithuanian Road Administration:
– temporary dismantling of stationary road signs, signal columns and other road elements*, replacement of their temporary road signs, guide or warming signs or cones and other temporary elements, with the Transport Infrastructure Supervision Division of the Transport Infrastructure Construction and Maintenance Department, coordinated documents are sent by e-mail ;
– other works, when the parameters of road elements* change, with the Transport Infrastructure Planning Division of the Transport Infrastructure Planning and Innovation Department, coordinated documents are sent by e-mail ;
– traffic organisation scheme where typical traffic schemes cannot be applied when working on roads or traffic conditions and procedure change, with the Traffic Safety Division of the Transport Infrastructure Planning and Innovation Department, more information is available here.

* The road elements are: ground bed, carriageway, shoulders, central reservation, road ditches and other drainage systems, crossings, bus stops, rest areas, pedestrian and bicycle paths, road structures (i.e. road elements with load-bearing structures (bridge, viaduct, overhead road, tunnel, culvert, noise barrier, retaining wall, frame or boom structure, embankment, etc.)), technical traffic regulation facilities (i.e. road signs, traffic lights, safety fences and barriers, road marking, etc.), greenery in the lane, road weather monitoring and traffic accounting, lighting and other equipment with the land occupied by these elements.

After coordinating the project solutions of the works, a permit to carry out works on the roads of national significance, road lanes and their protection zones and (or) to restrict traffic must be obtained.

The passage of over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicles through border crossing points where customs posts do not operate shall be coordinated in advance with the territorial customs office in the area of operation of which the border crossing point is located, as well as with the Directorate of Border Crossing Infrastructure under the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

The preparation of the route and the necessary adjustments shall be carried out by the owner or user of over-dimensioned and (or) heavy vehicle or a person authorized by him at his own expense.