Do Rental Trucks Stop At Weigh Stations?
If you're moving long distance and have decided to rent a truck you may be wondering, do I need to stop at weigh stations? This is a very common question that is spurred by the fact that there is no universal answer. Truck rental locations will usually tell you that you must indeed stop at all weigh stations whereas an Internet search will likely yield the opposite. To help our customers, or anyone completing a long distance move with a rental truck, we have put together this quick guide.
When Does a Rental Truck Stop at A Weigh Station?
To make a very confusing answer to this question as simple as possible we abide by a single rule: Most states do not require non-commercial vehicles to stop at weigh stations. If you are hauling personal property, such as your household items, you can generally pass right on by. With that said, if you are ever unsure, you should stop just to be on the safe side. It is very likely that you will be waived through the bypass lane.
But wait! There are two important exceptions to this rule:
- Some states have 'agriculture inspection' stations at the border. This is notably true in Florida. Agricultural inspections almost always require all trucks, trailers and explicitly "rental trucks" to stop
- In several parts of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California rental trucks are required to stop for immigration and border patrol checkpoints. These aren't technically weigh stations, but if your long distance move has you driving through one of these states then you must stop at these checkpoints
Our list of state-by-state weigh station requirements (as they pertain to rental trucks) can be found below. This information was updated in 2020.
| State | Stop? | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Most of the information we have provided has been sourced directly from responses received by an email or phone call with a state official authorized to speak about this matter. | ||
| Alabama | Over 26,000 lbs | You must stop when your rental truck weighs more that 26,000 lbs |
| Alaska | Over 10,000 lbs | You must stop when your rental truck weighs more that 10,000 lbs |
| Arizona | Over 10,000 lbs | You must stop when your rental truck weighs more that 10,000 lbs |
| Arkansas | No | Stopping is not required for a rental truck that is hauling personal property |
| California | Yes | All truck rentals must stop |
| Colorado | No | Stopping is not required for a rental truck that is hauling personal property |
| Connecticut | No | Stopping is not required for a rental truck that is hauling personal property |
| Delaware | No | Stopping is not required for a rental truck that is hauling personal property |
| Florida | Yes | All rental trucks must stop at Agricultural Inspection Stations, which are usually at the state border. These are the only stations that you are required to stop at if you are moving personal property |
| Georgia | Over 10,000 lbs | All truck rentals hauling more than 10,000 pounds in personal property must stop |
| Hawaii | Over 10,000 lbs | You must stop when your rental truck weighs more that 10,000 lbs |
| Idaho | Over 26,000 lbs | You must stop when your rental truck weighs more that 26,000 lbs |
| Illinois | Over 16,000 lbs | You must stop when your rental truck weighs more that 16,000 lbs |
| Indiana | Yes | All trucks are required to enter open weigh stations |
| Iowa | Over 10,000 lbs | You must stop when your rental truck weighs more that 10,000 lbs |
| Kansas | Over 10,000 lbs | All truck rentals hauling more than 10,000 pounds in personal property must stop |
| Kentucky | No | Stopping is not required for a rental truck that is hauling personal property |
| Maryland | Over 10,000 lbs | All truck rentals hauling more than 10,000 pounds in personal property must stop |
| Minnesota | Over 10,000 lbs | You must stop when your rental truck weighs more that 10,000 lbs |
| Missouri | Over 18,001 lbs | All vehicles with a registered weight of 18,001 lbs or more must stop |
| Montana | Over 26,000 lbs | You must stop when your rental truck weighs more that 26,000 lbs |
| Nebraska | Yes | All truck rentals must stop. |
| New Hampshire | No | Stopping is not required for a rental truck that is hauling personal property |
| New Jersey | Over 10,001 lbs | All vehicles that weigh 10,001 lbs or more must stop |
| New Mexico | No | Stopping is not required for any vehicle that is hauling personal property, regardless of size or weight |
| New York | Over 10,000 lbs | All vehicles that weigh 10,000 lbs or more must stop. This includes vehicles that are pulling a trailer, if the combined weight exceeds 10,000 lbs |
| North Carolina | Over 10,001 lbs | All vehicles that weigh 10,001 lbs or more must stop |
| Ohio | Over 10,000 lbs | All truck rentals hauling more than 10,000 pounds in personal property must stop |
| Oklahoma | No | Stopping is not required for a rental truck that is hauling personal property |
| Oregon | Over 20,000 lbs | Vehicles over 20,000 lbs are required to enter Oregon weigh stations |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | All truck rentals must stop. Pennsylvania requires any vehicle registered as a truck, including personal vehicles and rental trucks, to stop |
| South Carolina | Yes | Truck rentals hauling personal property must stop but will likely be waived through |
| South Dakota | Over 8,000 lbs | All vehicles that weigh 8,000 lbs or more must stop |
| Texas | No | Stopping is not required at weigh stations, but all vehicles (including truck rentals) must stop at border patrol checkpoints |
| Vermont | Yes | All truck rentals must stop. |
| Virginia | Over 7,500 lbs | All vehicles that weigh 7,500 lbs or more must stop |
| Washington | No | Rental trucks carrying personal property do not have to stop |
| West Virginia | No | Rental trucks carrying personal property do not have to stop |
| Wisconsin | Over 10,000 lbs | You must stop when your rental truck weighs more that 10,000 lbs |
| Wyoming | Yes | All trucks are required to stop anytime you see a regulatory sign (black letters on a white background) instructing you to stop, or an officer has directed you to stop. It is most likely that these signs will specify "commercial vehicles", in which case a rental truck hauling personal property would not be required to stop |
Driving your moving truck through a state that has a requirement based on the weight of the truck? You'll likely find our guide how much truck rentals weigh helpful.