Military PCS Vehicle Planning
For a PCS move within the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., privately shipping a POV is commonly a member-paid decision rather than an automatic government-arranged vehicle shipment. The useful planning question is therefore not simply “does the military ship my car?” but whether your specific orders create an exception, whether you will drive, and whether a private shipment fits the report date and family travel plan.
Get a Current QuoteMilitary OneSource states that the cost of transporting POVs is largely the member’s responsibility for a CONUS-to-CONUS move. It also notes exceptions, including situations that should be discussed with the local transportation office. Confirm the orders/entitlement first if reimbursement or government assistance matters to the decision.
The duty-station report date is a military requirement; the commercial vehicle shipment has its own pickup window, transit estimate and delivery access. If the car must be available immediately after arrival, work backward from the report date and keep contingency transportation in mind rather than treating a website transit estimate as a guaranteed arrival date.
Military OneSource describes MALT as mileage reimbursement when eligible travelers use personally owned vehicles during a PCS. If the vehicle is privately shipped instead, do not assume the commercial auto-transport invoice is automatically reimbursable. Use the transportation/pay office for entitlement questions and Phoenix for the privately arranged transport plan.
The more of this information that is known up front, the less likely the shipment is to be planned around an unrealistic handoff or date assumption.
Phoenix maintains a separate guided PCS corridor page that connects major installation-adjacent commercial markets without claiming those corridors are an official Department of Defense volume ranking.
No. Military OneSource says CONUS-to-CONUS POV transportation is largely the member’s responsibility, with exceptions. Phoenix does not determine entitlements; confirm your specific situation with the transportation office.
Military OneSource defines CONUS as the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. Alaska and Hawaii are treated as OCONUS for PCS terminology.
Private shipping may be an option, but if travel time or personal/medical circumstances affect your official move, Military OneSource directs members to contact the local transportation office for assistance.
Use the quote form for current route, vehicle, equipment and timing details rather than relying on a generic national rate.
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