Shipping a car during a military PCS move

A permanent change of station (PCS) move puts the family car on its own track. An overseas assignment usually means one government-shipped vehicle. A move between stateside bases usually means you drive it and receive a mileage allowance. Anything beyond that, such as a second car, is generally a commercial shipment you arrange and pay for.

This guide summarizes official Military OneSource and Department of Defense guidance. Entitlements depend on your orders, so confirm every detail with your installation transportation office (TO, also called the personal property processing office or PPPO) before you book anything.

Who pays to move the car

Military OneSource describes privately owned vehicles (POVs) on a PCS as allowed, largely at your own expense, with a few defined entitlements:

Military OneSource notes exceptions to several of these rules, so the transportation office has the final word. Its overseas move checklist advises reaching out to your local transportation office as soon as you receive PCS orders, and its Plan My Move tool builds a personalized moving checklist from a few questions about your move.

Overseas moves: the one government-shipped POV

According to Military OneSource, you may have an entitlement to ship or store one POV at government expense when you receive PCS orders. For moves to, from or between overseas locations, only one POV owned or leased for personal use may be shipped at government expense. Military OneSource lists a size limit of 20 metric tons and says owners of larger vehicles may have to pay the excess cost.

The DoD Personal Property Activity's POV page names International Auto Logistics (IAL) as the contractor and directs members to PCSmyPOV.com to schedule turn-in and pickup. All vehicle processing centers (VPCs) work by appointment only. For destination country restrictions, Military OneSource points members to the transportation office or the Personal Property Consignment Instruction Guide.

Military OneSource says a motorcycle or moped can count as your POV if you are not shipping a car at government expense. See motorcycle shipping for commercial moves.

Getting the car ready for the VPC

Official guidance lists these turn-in requirements. Your TO and the VPC may add others.

• Fuel. A quarter tank or less. Military OneSource cites the federal rule (49 CFR 176.905) that the tank may not be more than one-fourth full.
• Clean inside and out. Military OneSource says the exterior must be washed free of dirt and the interior dry vacuumed.
• Safe and operable. The Personal Property Activity says the vehicle must be in safe, operable condition.
• No open safety recalls. Military OneSource asks you to make sure the car has no unresolved recalls for electrical or fire related items.
• Documents. The Personal Property Activity lists a valid set of military orders with all amendments, proof of ownership and a government-issued ID.
• Leased or financed cars. For a leased vehicle, the Personal Property Activity requires an authorization letter from the lienholder. Ask your lender early, since this letter can take time.
• Personal items. Military OneSource directs questions about what may ship inside the car to the transportation office.

At the destination, Military OneSource says you have 21 days from the day your POV is available to pick it up. Before driving away, the Personal Property Activity advises walking around the entire car and noting any new scratches, dents or other damage. For questions about a shipment in progress, Military OneSource says to contact the VPC nearest your present duty station.

When the car cannot go overseas: storage

Military OneSource's overseas vehicle guide says a service member on PCS orders to a foreign location where POVs cannot be shipped may be eligible to store one POV, owned or leased by the member or a dependent, at government expense. Once the car is taken out of storage, it cannot go back in under the same orders.

You can use a government facility or arrange your own:

• Government storage. The Personal Property Activity calls this the safest option because it means no out-of-pocket storage expenses. Bring your TO authorization letter to the VPC.
• Self-arranged storage. Military OneSource says reimbursement is limited to what the government would have paid, and you need an authorization letter from your TO before storing the car. If a commercial facility costs more, the Personal Property Activity says you pay the difference.

Selling the car before the tour and buying again at the next station is the other option, and the right choice depends on the car, the length of the tour and your TO's guidance.

CONUS moves: driving and MALT

For a move between two stateside duty stations, Military OneSource says the cost of transporting your POV is largely your responsibility. The military reimburses mileage and some travel costs through the Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT), which includes a per diem allowance.

The Defense Travel Management Office lists the PCS MALT rate as $0.205 per mile, effective January 1, 2026, and notes it is not intended to reimburse all the costs of operating a vehicle. Rates change, so check the current figure.

Military OneSource adds that if you decide not to drive your POV to your next duty station, you become responsible for all transportation costs for shipping it. It also notes there are exceptions: if you cannot drive for medical or personal reasons, contact your local transportation office before booking anything yourself.

Paying a commercial carrier for a second car or a CONUS move

When the government is not shipping the vehicle, such as a second family car or a car you choose not to drive, you are a regular auto transport customer. For more than one POV on an overseas move, Military OneSource says to contact your local transportation office before making your own arrangements.

For a domestic shipment, normal commercial rules apply:

1. Know who is moving the car. The FMCSA says both auto transport brokers and carriers operating interstate must be registered with it, and advises avoiding any company that does not prominently display its MC number. The broker vs carrier guide explains the difference.
2. Plan around your report date. Ask about the pickup window and expected transit time before you commit. How auto transport works covers booking, dispatch and delivery.
3. Prepare and document the car. Follow the preparation checklist, take dated photos, and review the bill of lading at pickup and delivery.
4. Name a stand-in. If you have already left, authorize someone to hand over or receive the keys.

For registration in a new state, see shipping a car to another state. Dealers near installations see these moves from both sides: families selling before an overseas tour, and arriving families buying, sometimes from a dealer in another state.