Whether you are in the Army, Navy, or Air Force, receiving a PCS order means that you have to relocate to a new base camp. The government will usually provide you with two options for the relocation:
The PPM also known as DIYM (do-it-yourself move), is a relocation option whereby the government provides military personnel with funds and resources for them to handle the relocation by themselves.
Choosing this method means you would have to handle all the details of shipping your POV such as scheduling, tracking, and arranging with a shipping company of your choice.
In this method, the government will handle all the moving procedures. They hire a government-issued company and ship your POV, without you needing to go through the stress yourself.
To be eligible and qualify for entitlements from the government, you would need to meet certain requirements including but not limited to the following:
- The distance to your new base camp must be 600 miles or more
- Only passenger automobiles, wagons, sedans, light trucks, or other similar vehicles can be shipped
- Only vehicles intended for personal transportation are allowed, (no commercial vehicles).
- For international (OCONUS) shipping, only one vehicle can be transported
- The government can ship up to two vehicles if it is stateside (CONUS)
Receiving a PCS on short notice can be overwhelming, but following these steps can help to ensure you have the best military shipping experience for your POV.
After receiving your order you need to report at the transportation office. The counselors there will provide details about your transportation order, such as what entitlements you are qualified for. They also know the ins and outs of transporting military vehicles and can give you relevant information that will help you to avoid mistakes or mishaps.
After receiving tips and advice from your transport office counselors, you should also talk to friends and other military personnel, preferably ones who recently relocated. This allows you to make informative decisions and avoid setbacks while shipping your POV.
Ensure you utilize as much assistance as you can get from the government, after all, you are entitled to them. Any entitlements that you do not qualify for would have to be settled out of your own pockets, this is why you should try to avoid this as much as possible
If you are shipping your vehicle yourself, then your best option is to engage the services of a military shipping company. Not only do they help to alleviate the stress, but they also ensure that the process of shipping your vehicle goes as smoothly as possible.
Some shipping companies provide discounts and special services for military personnel, as a way of giving back to the community and thanking them for their actions. The military shipping company of your choice should have affordable prices, military discounts, and positive customer reviews, especially from other military personnel.
Military life is full of acronyms, but you don’t need to memorize them. Here is a list of the acronyms used in this article, and their meanings
- PCS: Permanent Change of Station
- POV: Privately Owned Vehicle
- PPM: Personally Procured Move
- CONUS: Continental United States
- OCONUS: Outside Continental United States
Getting the government to ship your car for you can take a long time to complete, it may also have rigid delivery dates and locations. If you are looking to have flexibility and control over the shipping of your vehicle, then you should consider opting for the do-it-yourself method.
Hiring a shipping company like Ship A Car, Inc. will give you control over the date, location, and method of delivery of your vehicle. Call us today at (866) 821-4555 to get a free instant quote for shipping your military POV.
Low-demand seasons like winter or towards the end of the year. PCS moves are usually higher during the summer, this increase in demand leads to an increase in prices.
It depends on a lot of factors. You can qualify for single-vehicle CONUS shipping if you meet some requirements. The government can also provide you with other entitlements that help to lower the price required for shipping.
