According to Military.com, the U.S. Department of Defence offers a military auto shipping program where active-duty service members, upon PCS orders, can ship their one privately owned vehicle overseas at government expense. This is a distinct benefit not available to civilians, where military service members can ship their one POV free of cost to their new duty station if they let the military handle the shipping.
And if you’re still unfamiliar with this program or don’t know how international military auto transport works. Here’s everything you need to know.
What is a Military Auto Shipping Program?
It’s a government-sponsored program administered by the Defense Transportation Regulation (DTR) that facilitates service members to ship their one POV outside of the Continental U.S. free of cost. Through this program, eligible members can either opt for government shipment services or receive reimbursement for the shipping cost if they use a third-party car shipping company.
How does Military Auto Shipping Work?
When you go for military vehicle relocation through government shipment services, below are the steps you need to follow.
1. Review Your PCS Orders and Entitlements
First and foremost, to be eligible for the military auto shipping program, you must receive your Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders. Then, review your PCS orders or consult your installation’s Transportation Office to understand what’s covered, whether or not you’re eligible for this program, and what your vehicle requirements are (weight, size, etc).
2. Schedule Your Shipping Appointment
Next, you’re supposed to schedule your car drop-off at a designated Vehicle Processing Center (VPC) using the PCSmyPOV website for a military vehicle relocation.
3. Prepare Your Vehicle
Much emphasis is being put on preparing your vehicle before international military auto transport. That’s because it needs to meet custom regulations, comply with your vehicle processing center’s rules, and it must be clean enough to pass the safety regulations of a foreign country.
Now that’s where you need to be thorough, and you must take your time. Make sure your vehicle is clean inside and out and there’s no personal equipment in the car. The only things that are allowed include:
- Spare tire
- Hand tools
- Vehicle safety kit
- A child car seat
- Tire irons
- Jumper cables
Make sure to double-check your car for any other items, especially when you’re shipping it long distance. You won’t be covered for non-car items, and your car might receive rejection from VPC if it’s not properly cleaned.
Also, make sure you’ve disabled all the alarms and batteries, and keep the fuel tank no more than one-fourth full.
4. Gather Your Documents
Contact your installation’s Transportation Office to inquire about the documents you need in order to book an appointment at your designated VPC, or you can directly consult your local VPC’s website. In general, the documents that you will need include:
- Your military ID
- Proof of ownership
- One set of your complete PCS orders
- Power of Attorney (In case the service member is not dropping off the vehicle)
- Lienholder release letter (if the vehicle is under lease)
- Vehicle recall printout form
You need these documents to get an appointment for the vehicle drop-off at the Vehicle Processing Center (VPC). Then, on the drop-off date, your local VPC will inspect your vehicle and give you a copy of the inspection report. Keep that report safe with you, you might need to use it for insurance claims later.
5. Vehicle Drop-off
Now, finally, it’s time to drop off your vehicle at the VPC. And according to experienced military families, you need to bring your patience along when visiting the VPC center. Spare at least 1.5-2 hours for this task.
Don’t hesitate to ask your assigned VPC as many questions as you want and take your time to understand the process for relocating your POV. Don’t forget to take loads of photos and videos of your vehicle from different angles before shipping, it’ll help you file for an insurance claim later (if needed).
What If You Opt for a Third-Party Car Shipping Company
If service members go for a third-party military vehicle transport company for some reason, the process is different then. It is similar to the usual car shipping service civilians use. The only difference is that service members will get reimbursed by the military for the shipping cost (for just one vehicle during PCS moves).
Note: The reimbursement cost will only be up to the amount the government would have paid through its own contracted carriers.
How to Choose the Right Military Car Shipping Service?
Follow these steps to choose the right military car shipping service:
- Research for an experienced and reputable military car shipping company
- Make sure it is compliant with Department of Defence regulations and is accredited by reputable industry bodies such as FMC, Better Business Bureau, and IAM
- Check its customer support, it must be responsive from the very beginning
- Read and review your company’s insurance coverage
- Check if it’s offering a vehicle tracking facility
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How Much will the Government Reimburse?
It depends on how much the government would have paid if you had used its contracted carriers. How is that amount calculated? Contact your installation’s Transportation Office to inquire about the reimbursement cost, which is usually calculated on a per mile basis. The current rate for 2025 is $0.21 per mile.
Also, they’ll issue your pre-approval for booking a third-party shipping service to claim reimbursements later. Never book a third-party shipper before getting the written pre-approval. And go for open carrier military car shipping service, if you want to avoid expensive shipping costs. Plus, many car shipping companies offer discounts to military personnel, so ask for that as well.
But do not compromise on the safety of your vehicle, if it’s some high-end, luxurious car, and pay some extra money for the enclosed military auto transport service. You might not get reimbursed beyond the government’s cap, but it still saves your valuable vehicle from damage.
Otherwise, choose open carrier military car shipping service over enclosed military auto transport if you’re looking for full reimbursements or when you own a standard, passenger vehicle.
