Your orders drop, the report date is tight, and you have two cars and one of you to drive them. The part nobody warns you about: for a stateside move, the military will not ship your car for you — it expects you to drive it and pays you mileage. That leaves the second vehicle, and the whole timeline, on you. Military car shipping solves it. We move PCS vehicles every season, so here is how it works, what the government does and does not cover, the discount you have earned, and the overseas process.
The short answer: Military car shipping moves your POV during a PCS move, typically for $600 to $1,500 on an open carrier. For a CONUS move the DoD generally pays mileage to drive, not to ship — so members often ship a second car privately, using a service-member discount and sometimes their DLA. For an OCONUS move, the government usually ships one POV.
Military car shipping is the transport of a service member's personally owned vehicle — a POV — between duty stations during a PCS move or deployment. It runs under the Defense Personal Property Program (DP3), and your orders drive everything from booking to any reimbursement.
The mechanics of moving the car are the same as any auto transport: an open or enclosed carrier picks it up and delivers it. What makes military shipping its own thing is the layer of entitlements, timing, and base logistics on top. Get those right and a PCS car move is one less thing to stress about during an already busy season.
Here is the part that catches families off guard. For a domestic (CONUS) PCS, the DoD generally does not pay to ship your POV. Instead, it pays a mileage allowance — MALT, around $0.205 per mile in 2026 — for a vehicle you drive to the new station.
So if you have two cars and one driver, the second vehicle is on you. The good news: many members apply their Dislocation Allowance (DLA) toward privately shipping that second car, and a service-member discount softens the cost further. Our military car shipping cost and reimbursement guide lays out the full picture — MALT, DLA, and how PPM moves treat the POV. Always confirm current rates with Military OneSource or your transportation office, since they change yearly.
Almost every reputable carrier offers a service-member discount — commonly 5% to 15% off standard rates, verified with your PCS orders or military ID. Some offer a flat dollar amount instead. It is not automatic, so you have to ask and provide proof.
On a second-car shipment you are paying for out of pocket, that discount is real money back. Our military car shipping discount guide covers how to claim it, how verification works, and how to stack it with off-season timing and flexible dates for the lowest total.
An overseas move works differently and more in your favor. For an OCONUS PCS, the government generally ships one POV at government expense, up to a size limit, through a Vehicle Processing Center (VPC). You drop the car at the VPC, and it travels by ship to a port near your new station.
A second vehicle is your cost, and some host countries restrict which POVs can be imported, so check before you plan. The VPC process, the size limit, ports, and timelines are all covered in our OCONUS car shipping guide — it is a different process from a stateside move and worth reading early.
The process is straightforward once your orders are in hand:
Our PCS car shipping how-it-works guide walks through each step in detail, including base access and timing around in- and out-processing.
Military moves cluster in summer. From roughly May through August, the bulk of PCS orders take effect and bases turn over at once, so carriers tighten and rates climb nationwide. This is the single biggest timing factor in a military move.
If your report date lands in that window, book two to three weeks ahead to lock a truck and a fair rate. A flexible pickup window of a few days helps a carrier fit you in. The members who book early and stay flexible consistently pay less and travel with less stress than those scrambling at the last minute.
Local base logistics vary, and we have state guides built around the major installations. See PCS car shipping for JBLM in Washington, Fort Liberty in North Carolina, Fort Benning and Fort Stewart in Georgia, and the California bases around Camp Pendleton and San Diego. Each covers the local off-base handoff, regional surge, and the routes in and out.
Military car shipping takes a stressful piece of a PCS off your plate when you plan it right. Confirm your orders, claim your discount, book ahead of summer, and verify the carrier. Price your exact move on the calculator, or browse all of our car shipping services for specialty options.
Skip the averages. Our calculator pulls live diesel prices and real Google Maps distance for an actual price range on your exact route and vehicle — no spam, no obligation. Ask about the service-member discount.
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Military car shipping is transporting a service member's personally owned vehicle (POV) between duty stations during a PCS move or deployment. It follows specific rules under the Defense Personal Property Program (DP3), with eligibility tied to your orders. Most domestic moves are arranged privately by the member, while overseas moves include a government-shipped POV.
Generally no, and this surprises many families. For a domestic (CONUS) move, the DoD does not pay to ship your POV — it pays a mileage allowance (MALT, around $0.205 per mile in 2026) for a car you drive. Many members apply their Dislocation Allowance (DLA) toward privately shipping a second car. Confirm current rates with Military OneSource.
A domestic PCS shipment typically runs $600 to $1,500 on an open carrier, depending on distance, vehicle, and season. The summer PCS peak pushes rates up. Our military car shipping cost and reimbursement guide breaks down the price plus what the government covers, and the calculator prices your exact route.
Yes. Most carriers offer service members a discount, commonly 5% to 15% off standard rates, verified with your PCS orders or military ID. Some offer a flat amount. Our military car shipping discount guide explains how to claim it and stack it with other savings on a second vehicle.
Generally yes — for an OCONUS PCS, the government typically ships one POV at government expense (up to a size limit), through a Vehicle Processing Center. A second vehicle is your cost. Some host countries restrict POV import, so check first. Our OCONUS car shipping guide covers the full process.
Your orders are the key document — carriers and reimbursement both depend on them. Start requesting quotes as soon as your orders are confirmed, because the summer PCS season is the busiest shipping window of the year. The earlier you book against firm orders, the better your price and date availability.
Summer, roughly May through August, when the bulk of PCS moves happen and bases turn over at once. Carriers tighten and rates rise across the country during this window. If your report date lands in summer, book two to three weeks ahead to lock a truck and a fair price.
Usually you arrange a handoff just off base. Most carriers cannot bring a full transport truck through a controlled gate, so you meet the driver at a nearby lot off the installation. Plan the pickup around your in- or out-processing schedule, and keep a copy of your orders handy for the move.
Generally no. In a Personally Procured Move (PPM, formerly DITY), the incentive is based on the weight of household goods you move — and commercially shipping a POV is typically not included in that weight calculation. Treat the car shipment as a separate decision. Confirm specifics with your transportation office, since rules vary.
Be wary of a quote far below the rest, and of any company pressuring a large upfront deposit. Confirm an active USDOT/MC number and real reviews before you pay. Verify any carrier free with our FMCSA lookup, and learn the red flags in our scam-watch guide — service-member moves are a known target.
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