Military Car Shipping Services for Relocation to Alaska
Yes: on PCS orders to Alaska, the military generally ships one POV (privately owned vehicle) at government expense, because Alaska is treated as an overseas-style move even though it is a state. Vehicles typically route through Pacific Northwest port facilities and travel by sea to Alaska, on the government’s schedule. If you want more control, or you need to move a second vehicle your entitlements will not cover, a Personally Procured Move with a civilian transporter fills the gap. This guide covers both paths for military car shipping to Alaska and how to prepare the vehicle either way.
How Military Shipping to the State of Alaska Works
The process starts when you receive PCS orders naming your new duty station (commonly JBER in Anchorage, Eielson AFB, or Fort Wainwright near Fairbanks), your reporting date, and any special instructions. Notify your chain of command, then report to your Transportation Office, which confirms exactly what your orders entitle you to. From there, you have two options for the vehicle.
Government-Contracted Move
The government’s contracted transporter ships your POV, usually one vehicle, at the government’s expense. You drop the vehicle at the designated processing center, it travels on the government’s schedule through the port system, and you collect it at the destination center. It costs you the least, but you have little control over timing and logistics: the schedule is the schedule, and peak PCS season queues are real.
Personally Procured Move
Arranging the move yourself gives you control over dates, addresses, and the transporter, and reimbursement remains available within government guidelines when your orders allow it. Experts recommend this path when you have needs the entitlement does not cover: shipping a second vehicle, tighter timing than the government queue, or door-to-door service instead of processing centers. A transporter experienced with Alaska moves handles the mainland leg and the ocean segment as one booking.
Preparation and Planning for Alaska Military Shipping
Alaska adds a port segment to the usual transport process, and port processing centers enforce condition rules strictly. Whichever method you choose, prepare the vehicle like this:
- Contact your Transportation Office (TO) or Traffic Management Office for guidance and the current requirements for your specific orders.
- Gather all documentation: registration, title, insurance, and any military-specific paperwork; port processing requires it in order.
- Remove all personal items and belongings from the vehicle; regulations generally require the vehicle to be empty for shipment, and loose items fail port inspection.
- Inspect the vehicle carefully and document pre-existing damage, dents, scratches, and mechanical issues with time-stamped photographs; they are your baseline at the delivery inspection.
- Fix any fluid leaks before drop-off (a leaking vehicle can be refused), check that fluids are at proper levels, and reduce the fuel tank to at most a quarter full to comply with regulations.
- Check that the tires are properly inflated and the battery is healthy, and disable alarm systems so nothing triggers during the ocean leg.
Proper preparation is what gets a vehicle through port processing without delays. Always consult your base’s transportation office for the most accurate and up-to-date guidance for your specific situation, since requirements can change.
Conclusion
A PCS to Alaska usually means the government ships one POV for you, and a Personally Procured Move covers everything the entitlement does not: second vehicles, tighter schedules, and door-to-door convenience. If you go the PPM route, Ship A Car, Inc. arranges military vehicle shipping to Alaska with vetted carriers, a military discount, and one coordinator managing the mainland and ocean segments together (we are a licensed FMCSA broker, USDOT 2303542, MC 784930). Reach out to us at (866) 821-4555 to make inquiries and book your military car shipping.
