Military Car Shipping: A PCS Move Guide

A PCS move is stressful enough without worrying about your car. Whether you're shipping a personally owned vehicle (POV) yourself or coordinating around a government-arranged move, here's what service members should know.

POV shipping during a PCS

For CONUS (within the continental US) moves, many service members ship their car themselves and get reimbursed, or simply drive one vehicle and ship the second. Commercial car shipping is often faster and less exhausting than a multi-day drive — price your route in the calculator to compare against fuel, hotels and time off.

What tends to matter most

• Timing & flexibility. PCS season (late spring through summer) is peak demand — book early and keep a flexible pickup window to pay less. (Best time to ship.)
• Base access. Confirm whether the carrier can pick up/deliver near base, or arrange a nearby meeting point off-base to avoid access delays.
• Documentation. Keep your orders, the Bill of Lading, and condition photos — useful for reimbursement and any damage claim.
• Military discounts. Many carriers offer them — ask directly.

Open vs. enclosed

For a standard POV, open transport is the economical, normal choice. Enclosed only makes sense for a high-value or collector vehicle. (Compare open vs. enclosed.)

Bottom line

Book early around PCS season, confirm pickup logistics near base, keep your paperwork, and ask about a military discount. Get your route estimate in the calculator first.