Military PCS Car Shipping: What's Covered, What's Not, and How to Ship Smart

What the military covers (and doesn't)

The rules depend on whether you're moving within the continental US (CONUS) or overseas (OCONUS):

OCONUS moves (overseas): The government will ship one Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) to your new duty station at no cost. This is handled through the Vehicle Processing Center (VPC) — you drop off your vehicle at the designated port, and it ships via container or Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) vessel. Typical transit time: 3–8 weeks depending on destination.

CONUS moves (within the US): The military does not ship your vehicle for CONUS PCS moves. You're expected to drive it yourself. However, you receive mileage reimbursement as part of your travel allowance — currently $0.22/mile for the authorized distance between duty stations. If driving isn't feasible (two vehicles, one driver), you'll need to arrange and pay for private auto transport yourself.

What about two vehicles? The military ships one POV for OCONUS moves. If you have a second vehicle, you either sell it, store it (free storage is available at some installations), or ship it privately at your own expense. For CONUS moves, you can drive one and ship the other — the shipping cost isn't reimbursable, but some service members claim it under their DITY/PPM allowance.

Key requirement: Your vehicle cannot have open recalls if the government is paying for the shipment. Check at nhtsa.gov/recalls before your VPC appointment.

CONUS PCS: your options for getting the car there

For a stateside PCS, you have several options:

Option 1: Drive it yourself. The most common approach. You receive mileage reimbursement and travel days as part of your PCS orders. For a cross-country move (e.g., Fort Liberty, NC to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA — about 2,800 miles), you'd get roughly $616 in mileage reimbursement plus 4–5 travel days with per diem.

Pros: Simple, you keep your car the whole time.

Cons: 3–5 days of driving, wear on the vehicle, potential weather issues, and if you have two cars, you still need to solve for the second one.

Option 2: Ship it privately. Hire an auto transport company. A cross-country shipment costs $1,200–$1,800 for open transport. You fly to your new duty station and your car arrives in 5–8 days.

Pros: Saves 3–5 days of driving, no wear on vehicle, you can start at your new unit sooner.

Cons: Out-of-pocket cost (though some service members use DITY/PPM allowance to offset).

Option 3: Ship via DITY/PPM move. If you're authorized a Personally Procured Move (PPM, formerly DITY), you receive an allowance based on what it would cost the government to move your household goods. Some service members use part of this allowance to cover private car shipping, keeping the difference. This is legal — the PPM allowance is yours to use as you see fit for the move — but confirm with your Transportation Office.

Option 4: Sell and rebuy. For older vehicles where the shipping cost approaches the car's value, some service members sell before PCS and buy at the new station. Especially common for vehicles worth under $5,000.

OCONUS PCS: the VPC process

Shipping your POV overseas through the government follows a specific process:

1. Get your orders. You need official PCS orders before starting the vehicle shipping process. Estimated orders or verbal authorizations aren't enough.

2. Schedule with the VPC. Contact the Vehicle Processing Center nearest to your current installation. Major VPCs are in Norfolk, San Diego, Seattle, and several overseas locations. You'll need an appointment — don't just show up.

3. Prepare your vehicle:

• Remove all personal items (the government ship is not for household goods)
• No more than 1/4 tank of fuel
• Vehicle must be clean enough for inspection
• No open safety recalls
• Working battery and functioning ignition
• No modifications that change the vehicle's dimensions (some oversized modifications are rejected)
• Disable aftermarket alarms

4. Drop off at VPC. Bring your orders, registration, proof of insurance, a valid ID, and one set of keys. The VPC inspects the vehicle, documents its condition, and takes possession. You'll receive a receipt — keep it.

5. Wait. Government POV shipping takes 3–8 weeks depending on the route. Hawaii is faster (2–3 weeks from West Coast ports). Europe is 3–4 weeks. Japan/Korea is 4–6 weeks. Status tracking is available through the VPC website, but updates can be infrequent.

6. Pick up at destination. You'll be notified when your vehicle arrives. Pick it up from the destination VPC within the allowed window (usually 5–10 business days) to avoid storage fees.

Important OCONUS details people miss:

• Emissions and safety standards. Some countries have vehicle requirements your US-spec car may not meet. Japan, for example, requires a Japanese Compulsory Insurance (JCI) inspection. Germany requires TUV inspection and EU-compliant headlights. Your sponsor or installation's Vehicle Registration Office can tell you what modifications you'll need — and whether it's even worth shipping your car versus buying locally.
• Right-hand drive countries. Shipping a left-hand-drive vehicle to Japan, the UK, or Australia is technically allowed but practically inconvenient. Many service members stationed in Japan and the UK buy or lease a local vehicle instead. Factor in the cost of a local car versus the hassle of driving on the opposite side.
• Fuel type. Many US trucks and SUVs run on regular unleaded that's widely available overseas, but diesel formulations differ between the US and Europe. If you have a diesel vehicle, confirm that local fuel is compatible before shipping.
• Size restrictions overseas. Your full-size F-250 may be legal on US roads, but European and Japanese streets, parking garages, and base facilities are built for smaller vehicles. Oversized trucks and SUVs can be genuinely impractical at certain duty stations. Talk to someone already stationed there before committing to ship.
• Return shipping. The government also ships your POV back to the US at the end of your OCONUS tour. Same process in reverse — drop off at the overseas VPC, wait 3–8 weeks, pick up at a US port. Start the return process 6–8 weeks before your departure date to ensure the vehicle arrives close to when you do.

Common PCS car shipping mistakes

Military families make these mistakes often enough that they're worth flagging:

Waiting until the last minute. Whether using the VPC or a private carrier, vehicle shipping takes time to arrange. Start the process as soon as you have orders — ideally 3–4 weeks before your report date. Last-minute scrambles cost more and create stress.

Not checking for recalls. Your vehicle will be rejected at the VPC if it has open recalls. Check at nhtsa.gov/recalls by VIN and get any recalls fixed before your appointment. This takes time if parts need to be ordered.

Forgetting about the second car. If you and your spouse each have a car, you need a plan for both. The government ships one; the other is your responsibility. Don't wait until PCS week to figure this out.

Assuming CONUS shipping is reimbursed. It's not. The military reimburses mileage for you to drive, not shipping costs. Some service members successfully use PPM allowance to cover shipping, but this isn't guaranteed — check with your TO.

Leaving belongings in the vehicle. The VPC is strict: no personal items in government-shipped vehicles. Private carriers are more lenient (100 lbs in trunk), but nothing is insured. Pack and ship belongings separately.

Not getting the military discount. Many private auto transport companies offer 5–10% military discounts. Always ask. Have your military ID or orders ready — some companies verify.

Ignoring insurance gaps. During the weeks your car is in transit, it's not under your direct control. Confirm your auto insurance covers the vehicle while in the carrier's possession. Most policies do, but check — especially for OCONUS shipments where your US policy may have coverage gaps.

How much does private car shipping cost for military moves?

If you're paying out of pocket for a CONUS move or a second vehicle, here's what to budget:

Military discounts of 5–10% are common. Some companies specialize in military moves and understand PCS timelines.

Timing tip: If your PCS window allows flexibility, shipping in September–November (off-peak) saves 15–20% compared to summer PCS season (May–August). Many PCS orders give you a report window — use it to your advantage.

Flexible pickup windows save another 7–10%. Military families often know their move-out date well in advance, so booking 3+ weeks ahead with a flexible window gets you the best rate.

Resources and contacts

Here are the actual phone numbers, websites, and offices you'll need. Bookmark this section — you'll reference it multiple times during your PCS.

Vehicle Processing Centers (VPC) — main locations:

• Norfolk, VA: (757) 440-5731 — serves East Coast OCONUS shipments to Europe and the Middle East
• San Diego, CA: (619) 556-1612 — primary West Coast VPC for Hawaii, Japan, Korea, and Guam
• Seattle/Tacoma, WA: (253) 476-4411 — alternate West Coast VPC, also serves Alaska shipments
• Jacksonville, FL: (904) 271-7807 — serves SOUTHCOM and some European destinations
• Overseas VPCs are located at Bremerhaven (Germany), Yokohama (Japan), Busan (Korea), and Guam. Your gaining installation's Transportation Office has the current contact info.

Online tracking: Check your POV shipment status at pcsmypov.com — this is the official government POV tracking site. Updates can lag 3–5 days behind actual status, so don't panic if tracking seems stale.

Your Transportation Office (TO). This is your single most important resource. Every installation has a Transportation Office (sometimes called TMO — Traffic Management Office, or PPO — Personal Property Office). They handle all moving entitlements, answer PCS questions, and can intervene when things go wrong. Find yours through your installation's directory or at move.mil.

TMO tips from experienced military movers:

• Visit your TMO in person as early as possible after receiving orders — don't just call. Face-to-face gets better answers and catches paperwork issues early.
• Ask your TMO specifically about two-POV entitlement. In rare cases (certain OCONUS locations with command sponsorship), service members may be authorized to ship two vehicles. It's uncommon, but worth asking.
• Get everything in writing. If a TMO counselor tells you something is covered, ask for the regulation reference. PCS entitlements are governed by the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), and verbal assurances don't hold up when finance questions the claim.
• File your travel voucher within 30 days of arriving at your new duty station. This includes mileage reimbursement for CONUS driving. Late vouchers can be denied.

Useful websites:

• move.mil — Official DoD moving portal, entitlement calculator, and TO locator
• pcsmypov.com — POV shipment tracking
• nhtsa.gov/recalls — Check for open recalls before your VPC appointment
• militaryonesource.mil — Relocation counseling and PCS planning tools (free)
• JTR (Joint Travel Regulations) — The actual rules governing what's covered. Available at travel.dod.mil. Chapter 5 covers PCS travel and transportation allowances.

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