The PCS Prohibited List: What Military Movers Won’t Pack

• Government-contracted movers won’t pack hazardous materials, ammunition, vehicles, certain lithium batteries, or other restricted items.

• Transporting prohibited items during a government-arranged or PPM move may constitute fraud and result in fines or disciplinary action.

• Firearms can be shipped as household goods, but ammunition cannot. These are two separate categories with different rules.

One of the bright spots of military moving is leaving the packing and loading of your household goods to the government-contracted commercial carriers.

But they won’t pack and move everything. There are a number of prohibited items that they are forbidden by law or regulation to pack or ship. That leaves you responsible for disposing of them or finding a place to store them while you move. This article walks you through these prohibited items. So won’t be blindsided when your moving day comes.

2026 Moving System Update: The DoD’s Global Household Goods Contract (GHC) with HomeSafe Alliance was terminated on June 18, 2025, due to the contractor’s inability to perform. All household goods shipments have returned to the legacy Defense Personal Property System (DPS), coordinated through multiple Transportation Service Providers (TSPs). Schedule your move at move.mil as usual. The prohibited items list below applies under both systems and has not changed.

Before packing day, ask yourself: “What will military movers not pack?” or “What are the moving company’s restricted items?” Knowing the answer in advance gives you time to sell, donate, temporarily rehome, or file for an exemption — rather than scrambling on the day the truck arrives.

In some cases, you can request an exemption for restricted items, but approval must come from your Transportation Office beforehand. Exemptions are not guaranteed. If prohibited items are accidentally packed, damaged, or moved without authorization, you may be held financially responsible. Understanding the military claims process can help protect you in those situations.

It is illegal for a service member filing for a government-arranged move or PPM (Personally Procured Move) to transport any prohibited item and then seek reimbursement. Doing so can be considered fraud, punishable by fines or disciplinary action.

• Vehicles: Automobiles, trucks, vans, and all other vehicles, including airplanes, mobile homes, camper trailers, horse trailers, and farming vehicles. Note: The government will ship one privately owned vehicle separately for overseas moves; check with your Transportation Office for current POV shipping rules.
• Live animals: Live animals — including dogs, cats, birds, fish, and reptiles — cannot travel in your HHG shipment. Coordinate pet transport separately well in advance of your move date.
• Cordwood and building materials: Even small amounts of wood are prohibited items. If you collect materials for craft or DIY projects, plan to use them up, sell them, or give them away before packing day.
• Household goods for resale: Any HHG intended for disposal or commercial purposes.
• Ammunition (privately owned): Privately owned ammunition is prohibited and cannot be shipped in household goods. Firearms are a separate category and may be shipped as household goods if they meet all requirements below. Research the laws at both your origin and destination before your move date.
  • Render firearms inoperable before movers arrive by removing the bolt, firing pin, trigger assembly, and other arming parts.
  • Remove all ammunition from every firearm. No live ammunition may travel in an HHG shipment under any circumstance.
  • Firearms without a serial number cannot be shipped, except for firearms manufactured prior to 1968.
  • Document every firearm on your moving inventory (not in DPS). Include make, model, serial number, caliber or gauge, and any unique characteristics. Keep a personal copy of this list during the move.
  • Firearms cannot be transported inside a locked safe. Gun safes must be empty and unlocked for inspection at ports, customs, and storage locations.
• Gun safe benefit (effective May 2, 2022): Empty gun safes up to 500 pounds ship in addition to your authorized weight allowance, at no personal cost, provided your total shipment does not exceed your weight limit.
• Hazardous items: Explosives, flammable and corrosive materials, poisons, and propane gas tanks. If an item is liquid or carries a flammable warning label, your packers will set it aside.
• Lithium batteries: Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries over 100 watt-hours (or 20 watt-hours per cell) and lithium metal batteries with more than 2 grams of lithium content (or 1 gram per cell) are classified as fire hazards and cannot be shipped. Check the watt-hour rating printed on the battery or in the device documentation — both the total and per-cell ratings matter.
• Common household chemicals: Paint, cleaning supplies, auto maintenance fluids, and similar products. Plan to use up what you can in the weeks before your move and give away or properly dispose of the rest. Contact your installation’s hazardous waste disposal program for drop-off options.
• Perishable foods and most plants: Frozen or refrigerated foods, fresh produce, open packages, and glass jars are typically not transported. Sealed, non-perishable items (canned, boxed, dried goods) are usually allowed, but confirm with your carrier. Use up perishables before moving and donate sealed, unexpired items to your installation’s food pantry.

Always verify the current list with your Transportation Office or move.mil. Individual TSPs may have additional restrictions beyond the DoD baseline.

• Take inventory: The foundation of a smooth PCS move is a thorough home inventory checklist. If you don’t know what’s in the garage, you can’t plan for it.
• Know your weight allowance: To avoid costly overages, confirm your PCS weight allowance before packing day. Your rank and dependency status determine your limit.
• Downsize where possible: Ask yourself before each item:
  • Can it be easily replaced when we arrive?
  • Would I be devastated to lose it?
  • Is it on the PCS prohibited list?
  • Do I need it during travel? (orders, passports, medications, etc.)
• Leave out perishables: Skip frozen or refrigerated food, fresh produce, and items in glass jars. Sealed non-perishables, such as canned or boxed goods, typically travel well for shorter moves. When in doubt, ask your TSP on pre-move survey day.
• Keep valuables with you: Sentimental items, irreplaceable documents, jewelry, medications, electronics, and anything worth over $100 per pound should travel with you personally. Important documents protect your identity; high-value items are easier to claim if you can prove they never left your hands.
• Document your belongings before packing day: Record a walk-through video of each room, opening drawers and cabinets, before movers arrive. This provides timestamped evidence of conditions for claims. Upload it to cloud storage before the move.
• Attend the pre-move survey: Be present for the TSP survey and walk through every room. Identify high-value, fragile, or special-handling items. Unreported items are harder to claim if damaged.

Discovering a prohibited item on packing day leaves you with no good options. Deal with it in advance instead.

• Use it up: Cleaning supplies, paint, and auto fluids are common issues. Plan ahead and avoid restocking before your move.
• Give it away: Neighbors, Facebook Marketplace, and installation boards are good options. Thrift stores or donation centers work for bulk items.
• Dispose of it properly: Use your installation’s hazardous household waste program for paint, propane, and chemicals. Check with the environmental office for schedules.
• Sell it: Firewood, building materials, and equipment can often be sold locally before your move.
• Request an exemption: Contact your Transportation Office well before pickup if an exception is necessary. Approval isn’t guaranteed and takes time, so don’t wait until the week of your move.

Overseas moves come with a separate and stricter set of rules and regulations. Host country laws, customs requirements, and carrier policies add layers beyond the standard DoD prohibited list. Review the OCONUS move guide well ahead of your move date, and coordinate with your Transportation Office early. Firearms, in particular, face host-country restrictions that vary significantly. What is allowed under U.S. law may be prohibited at your destination.

A smooth move can hit a severe speed bump if your carrier leaves you with a pile of household goods on the curb. Avoid a moving day crisis by handling prohibited items well before the truck arrives.

When you’re ready to find a home at your next duty station, AHRN matches your housing profile with verified, military-friendly listings near your new installation. From Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia to Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, and everywhere in between, AHRN has you covered.

Check out AHRN’s PCS Toolkit or the Plan My PCS Move portal for a personalized guide to navigating any type of military PCS.