You have earned a discount on shipping your car — but it will not show up unless you ask for it, and the biggest "discount" on the page is sometimes the worst deal. Since the military often will not pay to ship your POV, every percent off comes straight out of your own pocket cost. Knowing how the service-member discount really works, and how to stack it, is how you ship for the least. Here is the straight guide.
The short answer: Most carriers offer service members 5% to 15% off, verified with PCS orders or military ID — but you have to ask. It matters most on a second car the DoD will not ship. Stack it with off-season timing, flexible dates, and open transport, and always compare the final out-the-door price, not just the discount percentage.
Almost every reputable auto transport carrier offers a military discount. The typical range is 5% to 15% off the standard rate, with some companies offering a flat dollar amount instead. On a $1,000 shipment, even 10% is $100 back in your pocket.
The catch is simple: it is not automatic. Carriers apply the discount when you ask and verify your eligibility — they will not volunteer it. So the single most important step is to raise it up front, when you request your quote, so it is built into the price you compare. Our military car shipping service page covers the full set of savings service members can claim.
For most shippers a discount is a nice bonus. For a service member it is closer to essential, because of how military entitlements work. For a CONUS move, the DoD generally does not pay to ship your POV — it pays mileage to drive one. That leaves a second vehicle as a genuine out-of-pocket cost.
So every percent off the second-car shipment is money you keep. Combined with applying your Dislocation Allowance toward the move, the discount turns a daunting out-of-pocket expense into a manageable one. Our cost and reimbursement guide shows how the discount fits into the bigger budget picture.
Claiming the discount is quick if you do it in the right order:
Who qualifies varies: active-duty members almost always do, and many carriers extend it to veterans, Guard and Reserve, and sometimes families. Confirm the specifics when you book.
Here is the insider warning. A larger discount is not automatically a better deal, because a company can advertise a big percentage off a rate it quietly inflated. Twenty percent off a padded price can cost more than a fair quote with a modest discount.
The fix is to ignore the headline percentage and compare the final, out-the-door price across several carriers. The discount is a tool for lowering a fair quote, not a number to chase on its own. A reputable company gives you a competitive base rate and applies the service-member discount on top.
The discount is one lever. The members who pay the least pull several at once:
Each lever lowers the base; the military discount comes off the result. Our PCS car shipping process guide covers the timing in detail.
Service-member moves are a known target, and a fake discount is a common hook. Be wary of any quote far below every other, even with a "military discount" attached — the lowball is bait that strands your car until you pay more.
Protect yourself the same way every time: verify the carrier's federal authority and insurance with our free FMCSA lookup before paying a deposit, and learn the red flags in our scam-watch guide. A real discount always comes from a verifiable, legitimate company.
The service-member discount is real money you have earned — usually 5% to 15% — but only if you ask, verify, and compare final prices rather than headline percentages. It matters most on a second car the DoD will not ship, especially stacked with off-season timing and your DLA. Start at our military car shipping hub, price your route on the calculator, and claim what you are owed.
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Yes. Most reputable carriers offer active-duty and veteran service members a discount, commonly 5% to 15% off standard rates. Some offer a flat dollar amount instead. It is verified with your PCS orders or military ID and is not applied automatically — you have to ask for it.
Typically 5% to 15% off the standard rate, though it varies by company and shipment. Some carriers advertise a flat amount, and a few offer more on larger or longer moves. On a $1,000 shipment, even 10% is $100 back — worth claiming every time.
Ask for it when you request your quote, and be ready to verify eligibility with your PCS orders or military ID. Mention it up front so it is built into the quoted price rather than added later. If a company will not honor a service-member discount, it is worth shopping another carrier.
Active-duty service members almost always qualify, and many carriers extend it to veterans, Guard and Reserve members, and sometimes military families. Eligibility and proof requirements vary by company, so confirm when you book. Your orders or military ID are the usual documentation.
Yes, and that is where it matters most. Since the DoD generally does not pay to ship a CONUS POV, the second car is your out-of-pocket cost — so the discount directly reduces what you pay. Combined with applying your DLA, it makes shipping a second vehicle much more affordable.
Yes. The discount is one lever; timing and flexibility are others. Booking outside the summer PCS surge, staying flexible on pickup dates, and choosing open transport all lower the base price, and the military discount comes off that. Stacking them is how members reach the lowest total.
Not necessarily — watch the starting price. A company advertising a large discount off an inflated rate can cost more than a fair quote with a modest discount. Compare the final out-the-door price across carriers, not just the discount percentage. The headline number can be marketing.
Usually orders or a military ID will do. Carriers ask for proof of service to apply the discount, and PCS orders double as documentation for the move itself. Have a copy ready when you book. If a company offers the discount with no verification at all, be a little cautious about its legitimacy.
It applies to any privately arranged shipment, including a second car on an OCONUS move that the government will not ship. The government-shipped POV goes through the official process, but anything you arrange yourself can carry the service-member discount. Our OCONUS guide covers what is and is not government-covered.
Be wary of a quote far below every other, even with a "military discount" attached — the lowball is a known bait tactic that targets service members. Verify the carrier's authority and insurance with our FMCSA lookup before paying, and read our scam-watch guide. A real discount comes from a verifiable, legitimate company.
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