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What an Oregon Trip Permit is and Who Needs One
An Oregon trip permit authorises temporary operation when your vehicle is unregistered in Oregon, or you need to use a registered vehicle in a way not covered by its current registration. Oregon DMV sells trip permits directly for light vehicles and RVs; permits for heavy vehicles (and weight/over-dimension matters) are handled with the state’s Commerce and Compliance Division (CCD). Trip permits are non-refundable.
You can also operate in Oregon on a valid trip permit issued by another state as long as you carry proof of insurance in the vehicle.
At Simplex Group, we see owners reach for trip permits when they’ve bought a vehicle and need to move it before full registration, or when a seasonal RV needs a short window of legal use. Our role is to make sure the paperwork and insurance evidence line up, so the permit is issued without delays.
Types of Oregon Trip Permits (Fees, Validity, Limits)
Light Vehicle Trip Permit (Passenger & Light Trailer)
- Who: Passenger vehicles up to 10,000 lbs combined weight, plus light/special-use trailers up to 8,000 lbs loaded (definitions per ORS references on the DMV page).
- Fee & validity: $35 for 21 consecutive days.
- Limit: Maximum 2 permits for the same vehicle in any 12-month period.
Recreational Vehicle (RV) Trip Permit — Campers, Travel Trailers, Motor Homes
- Fee & validity: $35 for 1–10 days.
- Annual cap: You may buy multiple short permits, but the total days issued cannot exceed 10 days in a 12-month period.
- Proof: You must show proof of ownership (and insurance information if the RV is a motor home).
Heavy Motor Vehicle Trip Permit
- Who: Motor vehicles over 10,000 lbs combined or loaded weight, and motorised fixed-load vehicles (not valid for tow/recovery or motor homes).
- Fee & validity: $43 for 10 consecutive days.
- Where to obtain: Through CCD (not DMV2U). Vehicles over 26,000 lbs combined weight may be subject to the weight-mile tax; operations over 80,000 lbs require an over-dimension permit.
Heavy Trailer Trip Permit
- Who: Trailers over 8,000 lbs loaded (including fixed-load and special-use trailers).
- Fee & validity: $10 for 10 consecutive days (via CCD).
Registration Weight Trip Permit
- Purpose: Lets an Oregon-registered vehicle operate at a higher weight than its current registration allows (often used when a passenger vehicle pulls a heavy trailer above 8,000 lbs or you need >10,000 lbs).
- Fee & validity: $5 for 10 consecutive days.
- Key rule: Applies when declared registration weight (loaded or combined) would otherwise be exceeded; see OAR 735-034-0050 for specific triggers and a narrow exception for certain commercial fishing boats ≤15,000 lbs combined.
Registered Vehicle Trip Permit
- Purpose: Allows an Oregon-registered vehicle to be used in a way not otherwise allowed by its current registration (often for certain government or school vehicles; several plate types are excluded).
- Fee & validity: $7.50 for 10 consecutive days.
At Simplex Group, when we set up trip permits for fleet clients, we verify the declared weights and trailer configurations first. It’s common to need a Registration Weight Trip Permit for a one-off heavy tow. Catching that early avoids roadside surprises and re-work.

How to Buy Online via DMV2U
For light vehicles and RVs, Oregon DMV lets you purchase online through DMV2U. Have your insurance info ready. You’ll typically provide:
- Driver’s license/ID number and issuing state
- Vehicle year, make, model, and VIN
- Insurance company and policy number (motor vehicles)
- Any additional requirements for your permit type
- Payment for the permit fee
Start under “Buy a Trip Permit” and choose the appropriate category (e.g., Passenger Vehicles, Light Trailers, Travel Trailers, Campers, Motor Homes, Snowmobiles, Motorcycles, Mopeds).
We maintain a permit-prep checklist for clients, VIN photo, current insurance card, and, for RVs, proof of ownership ready to upload. Having those items at hand typically makes DMV2U issuance straightforward and fast.
Heavy Vehicles: CCD, Weight-Mile Tax & Over-Dimension
Heavy motor vehicles and heavy trailers obtain permits from the Commerce and Compliance Division (CCD) rather than DMV2U. As a rule of thumb:
- Over 26,000 lbs combined weight? Expect weight-mile tax applicability.
- Over 80,000 lbs combined? You’ll also need an over-dimension permit.
Oregon’s OAR 735-034-0050 clarifies when a Registration Weight Trip Permit is required for Oregon-registered equipment (exceeding declared registration weight, with specific provisions for combined-weight vehicles and a narrow exception for certain fishing-boat moves). The rule also confirms that heavy motor vehicle and heavy trailer trip permits are for unregistered vehicles and that each permit covers a single unit, truck and trailer may each require their own permit if both are unregistered.
For heavy operations, we routinely stand up weight-mile accounts, verify IFTA/IRP alignment, and pre-clear over-dimension needs. We also audit driver qualification files and equipment docs before a permit request, so CCD sees a complete, compliant picture out of the gate.
Requirements, Documents & Costs
- Non-refundability: All DMV trip permits are non-refundable.
- Insurance: Have proof of insurance; carry it in the vehicle (also required when using another state’s permit in Oregon).
- Ownership (RVs): Bring proof you own the RV; for motor homes, provide insurance details per rule.
- Core fees & validity:
- Light vehicle: $35 / 21 days, max 2 per 12 months.
- RV: $35 / up to 10 days, max 10 total days per 12 months.
- Heavy motor vehicle: $43 / 10 days.
- Heavy trailer: $10 / 10 days.
- Registration Weight: $5 / 10 days.
- Registered Vehicle: $7.50 / 10 days.
We advise clients to map trip-permit windows to the exact planned move dates. For example, if we’re staging a vehicle sale, we time the 21-day light-vehicle permit so it covers transport, inspection, and any immediate repair trips, minimizing the risk of running out of validity.
Oregon’s trip-permit framework is straightforward once you match vehicle type, weight, and use case to the right permit, and decide whether DMV2U (light/RV) or CCD (heavy/weight/over-dimension) should handle your request. If you prepare VIN, insurance, ownership, and weight information up front, approvals are routine, and enforcement exposure stays low. When you need hands-on help coordinating permits with DOT safety compliance, driver files, and weight-mile/over-dimension planning, Simplex Group can manage the process end-to-end.
FAQs
How many light-vehicle trip permits can I get in a year?
Two for the same vehicle in a 12-month period.
Can I drive in Oregon with another state’s trip permit?
Yes, keep proof of insurance in the vehicle.