Military PCS Vehicle Shipping: What You Need to Know About POV Moves

Getting ready for a military permanent change of station (PCS) with a vehicle can add an extra layer of work to an already stressful time. As you pack bags and boxes, the last thing you want to think about is getting your car or truck from one place to another. Fortunately, you can take a few steps in the beginning to make the move process go smoothly, whether you move one vehicle or multiple.

PCS stands for permanent change of station and is the official term for a move conducted as part of military service. You generally receive official military orders that detail where you are moving from and where you are moving to, as well as any stops along the way for schools or training.

Your official orders are the most important thing to have on hand as you prepare for your PCS. It also details your military PCS entitlements during the process, including how many vehicles you can ship, whether your family can accompany you to your new home, and how to arrange shipment of your household goods.

When you move your vehicle, or personally owned vehicle (POV), you have a few options; the best one depends on your individual needs as well as where you go. You can drive your vehicle yourself and be reimbursed for expenses like gas and tolls when you submit your travel claim at the end of your PCS. A POV shipment could be the better option. In this case, you’ll drop your vehicle off at a third-party shipping company, and they will transport it to your destination.

It’s important to know your responsibilities when shipping your POV. The shipping company dictates the exact policies, but they generally include providing required documentation and ensuring your vehicle is safe, clean, and ready for transport.

Sometimes, you’ll be required to ship your vehicle rather than drive it yourself. This is most often the case if you move a long distance, especially for an overseas move. Most of the time, you’re only allotted one POV shipment during your move. You can choose to ship the other vehicle at your own expense or make other arrangements to store or sell your vehicle before you go.

Getting ready for a CONUS move means you’ll move within the continental U.S., while an OCONUS move refers to locations outside the continental U.S. OCONUS moves generally come with longer timelines, increased requirements, and the need to ship everything from your household goods to your POV.

Start by looking at your military orders to see what is included with your move, and contact your local moving office to start the process. If you have a CONUS move, you’ll probably have the option to do it yourself and get reimbursed later. OCONUS moves have fewer options because you are almost always required to work with a contracted packing and shipping company.

Taking your POV to Hawaii or Alaska counts as an OCONUS move because both are outside the continental United States. So you’ll follow the same procedures as moving to any other overseas location, though you won’t have to wait for customs or other procedural requirements.

When deciding whether to take care of shipping yourself or work with the military-contracted shipping company, compare costs to see which is the better option. With most personally-procured moves, which is when you are responsible for getting your POV to your destination, you’ll be reimbursed for the amount it would have cost the military to take care of the move. If you can find a cheaper deal, you can pocket the difference. If not, however, you’ll be responsible for the extra cost.

You can choose to have a shipping company take your vehicle part or all the way to your new home. Keep in mind that not all companies ship to every destination. You may be responsible for getting your vehicle to a major shipping hub, which can add to the cost. Get cost estimates from multiple carriers and ask for available military discounts when evaluating your options. Some offer discounted government rates for those on official military orders.

Once you decide that a POV shipment is the next step, it helps to know what to expect from the delivery process at the beginning of your PCS and pickup at your new destination.

Start by looking through your orders to see how many POVs you can bring and what is authorized with your orders. This is important because if it isn’t included in your orders, you aren’t entitled to having that expense covered. Even if you work with your moving office or arrange shipping yourself, if it’s not included in your orders, the military won’t pay for it.

If you think you should have POV shipping included, but it isn’t, work with your detailer to get an amendment to your orders. You can also talk to your moving office if you’re not sure what is included, and they can help you make sense of the official paperwork. In most cases, a pre-move counseling appointment is required regardless of whether you’re moving a vehicle or not.

If you can choose the shipping company, do some research to find a reliable and cost-effective option. Get multiple quotes and a clear breakdown of what each shipment includes. You can ask for recommendations from other service members as well as your new command to see what companies have worked well in the past.

A few popular companies that work with military service members and families to ship vehicles include PCSmyPOV, RoadRunner Auto Transport, Montway, and IAL Moving. You can learn more about the specific process of each one, including making appointments to get your POV shipment started.

No matter which shipping company you choose, most have similar requirements to prepare for your move. Creating an appointment and scheduling your shipment date is often the first step.

If you have any outstanding maintenance or cleaning, it’s best to take care of them before you ship your POV. The shipping company often requires some items, such as emptying your trunk and remove any debris. You also need to schedule your actual shipment date at a drop-off location.

You must provide all required documents, such as your car’s current inspection and registration. You must also provide a copy of your military orders so the shipping company knows how to process payment. It’s also a good idea to have a copy of your insurance information and talk to your insurance provider about the process to change your coverage, if needed.

The shipping company will perform its own inspection to document the vehicle’s current condition. You can take photos or videos of your vehicle to document on your end, just in case any damage occurs during the shipment.

When preparing to ship your POV during a military PCS, you can make the process easier and smoother by staying ahead of any deadlines. Talk to your moving office to learn about your options based on the type of move, plus find out which shipping companies service your area. This ensures you don’t miss any required deadlines to schedule inspections, submit documents, or drop off your vehicle.

You generally need to provide a copy of your military orders, proof of ownership (title, current registration, letter granting permission from lien holder), proof of lease authorization to move, and your contact information during the move.

Delays can be part of any move, especially when dealing with multiple shipments. It’s important to provide the shipping company with your current contact information so you can be kept informed throughout the move. If there are delays, you may be able to request reimbursement for a rental vehicle either through the shipping company or the military moving office.

The exact limitations are based on the carrier, but the military will pay for vehicles up to 20 metric tons or less. You may still be able to ship a larger vehicle, but you’ll have to cover the excess weight charges out of pocket. Some exceptions are made, so always talk to the moving office about the available options before deciding.

Transporting a POV during your PCS can often be covered, whether through reimbursement for travel expenses or military-arranged shipment to an OCONUS duty station. Just be sure to prepare your vehicle for the big move and make all necessary arrangements, including scheduling the shipment and getting the vehicle to the drop-off location. Once it arrives at its new home, you’ll be there ready to get behind the wheel once again.

Take the guesswork out of PCSing with AHRN’s PCS toolkit.