The military will pay to ship your car—but probably not how you think#

Every year, I watch service members lose money on PCS moves because they assumed the government would cover their vehicle, or because they booked a carrier two weeks before the summer rush. After fifteen years in the auto transport industry—and more military moves than I can count—I can tell you the confusion around POV entitlements costs families real money.

Here's the short version: if you're moving OCONUS (Outside the Continental United States—think Germany, Japan, Hawaii, Alaska), the DoD will typically pay to ship one privately owned vehicle. If you're moving CONUS to CONUS, that's almost certainly coming out of your pocket. Most service members find this out after the fact, when they're already committed to a timeline.

This guide covers the entitlement reality, what private car shipping actually costs, how to time your booking to avoid the summer premium, and everything else you need to move your vehicle without surprises.

CONUS vs. OCONUS: the entitlement most people get wrong#

The biggest misconception in military car shipping is that the government automatically pays for your POV. It does—under specific conditions.

For OCONUS moves, the Department of Defense covers the cost of shipping one POV per service member. You need to be active duty or a full-time National Guard or Reserve member, and you'll coordinate the shipment through your installation Transportation Office (TO). The government uses approved contractors; you don't shop the open market for this.

For CONUS moves, the calculus is different. The DoD provides MALT (Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation)—currently $0.205 per mile—for vehicles you drive to your new duty station. They don't reimburse vehicles you ship privately. If you're moving from Fort Liberty to Fort Lewis and you want to ship your car instead of driving it, that's your cost.

There are narrow exceptions for CONUS: if you have documented medical reasons that prevent driving, or if the travel time genuinely exceeds your report-in date, there may be options. But for the standard CONUS-to-CONUS PCS, plan on paying out of pocket.

What private military car shipping actually costs#

For CONUS moves where you're paying yourself, here's what the market looks like in 2026 based on common routes:

Short haul (under 500 miles): $650–$900 for a standard sedan on open transport. Think East Coast base-to-base moves, or something like Fort Hood to Fort Bliss.

Mid-range (500–1,500 miles): $850–$1,300. This covers moves like Georgia to Texas, or the Pacific Northwest down to California.

Cross-country (1,500+ miles): $1,100–$1,650. Coast-to-coast runs are the most common quote we see from military families, and pricing here swings significantly based on timing.

Larger vehicles—full-size trucks, SUVs, three-row family haulers—run $100–$250 more than a sedan on the same route. Enclosed transport, which most military POVs don't need, adds 50–80% on top of open rates.

The five major companies that actively target the military market—Montway, Sherpa, SGT Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, and uShip—all offer military discounts ranging from $35 to $100 off, or up to 10–15% depending on the company. The discount is real, but it's not the only number that matters. Booking timing has a far bigger impact on your total cost than any discount.

The PCS timing trap that costs military families hundreds of dollars#

Peak PCS season runs May through August. This is when the military concentrates most of its permanent change of station moves—schools are out, families are relocating together, and installations are churning through departing and arriving members simultaneously.

For auto transport, this is the most expensive and most logistically difficult window of the year. Carriers know it, brokers know it, and prices reflect it. A mid-range shipment that costs $950 in March might run $1,250 in July for the identical route. That's 30% more for the same truck, same distance, same vehicle.

Compounding the cost problem is a capacity problem. During peak season, carriers fill their loads fast. If you're booking two weeks before your PCS date in June, you're competing with hundreds of other service members doing the same thing. Carrier options narrow, and companies with availability charge accordingly.

The fix is simple: book 5–6 weeks before your move date during May–August. Outside peak season, 2–3 weeks is usually fine. If your orders come late and you're inside 2 weeks of needing transport in summer, budget for expedited pickup ($200–$400 extra) and fewer carrier options.

Using your DLA to offset private shipping costs#

If you're doing a CONUS move and paying for car transport out of pocket, your Dislocation Allowance (DLA) is worth understanding. DLA is designed to cover miscellaneous PCS costs not otherwise reimbursed by the government—and there's no restriction preventing you from using it for private vehicle shipping.

In 2026, DLA by rank and dependency status runs roughly:

• E-1 to E-5 (without dependents): approximately $1,870
• E-5 to E-7 (with dependents): approximately $2,800–$3,500
• O-4 and above (with dependents): approximately $4,500–$6,300

A typical CONUS car shipment runs $650–$1,650 depending on route. For most ranks, DLA comfortably covers a private shipment. Confirm your specific entitlement through your unit's transportation office or your LES.

There's also a tax angle worth noting. Active-duty members can deduct unreimbursed moving expenses—including private car shipping—using IRS Form 3903. Depending on your bracket, this reduces the effective out-of-pocket cost by 10–22%.

What "military discount" actually means from carriers#

I want to be direct about this because it's often oversold in ads. Military discounts from private carriers are real but modest. Here's what the major players offer:

Sherpa Auto Transport offers $100 off and their Price Lock Promise—the final price is guaranteed not to increase after booking. This matters more than the dollar amount if you're on a tight PCS budget.

uShip offers the highest nominal discount (up to $60) and lets you compare competing carriers through their platform. Useful for price shopping.

SGT Auto Transport offers up to 10% off, which on a $1,200 shipment is $120—their discount scales with route cost, making it more valuable on longer hauls.

Montway offers up to $50 off and is the only major company with guaranteed pickup dates. For military personnel with hard report-in deadlines, a guaranteed pickup date is often worth more than any dollar discount.

AmeriFreight offers $35 off but has a strong reputation for CONUS military moves and consistent communication.

Don't chase the biggest discount number. Chase the combination of discount, guaranteed pickup dates, and carrier reputation. On a military PCS where you have a non-negotiable report date, a carrier that guarantees pickup is worth paying a little more for.

OCONUS shipping: what the government process actually looks like#

If you're headed overseas and eligible for government-funded POV shipping, the process runs through the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC). Here's how it works in practice:

Your Transportation Office is your starting point. They'll confirm your eligibility, walk you through the Defense Personal Property System (DPS), and connect you with an approved government contractor. Unlike private shipping, you're not shopping the open market—the government uses contracted carriers and vehicle processing centers (VPCs).

Documents you'll need: PCS orders, vehicle registration, proof of insurance, and proof of ownership. The vehicle goes through a VPC for inspection before shipping. Strip it of personal items—carriers are strict about this for international moves, and items found in the vehicle can delay shipping.

Transit times for OCONUS moves are considerably longer than domestic. Expect 4–8 weeks depending on destination, port processing times, and customs clearance. Vehicles heading to Germany or Japan move through specific ports on a set schedule—this isn't door-to-door logistics, it's a military transportation pipeline.

One practical note: the government covers one POV. If you're a two-car family, the second vehicle ships privately at your expense. Same entitlement rules, same private carrier market for vehicle number two.

Preparing your vehicle: the steps that actually protect you#

Whether you're going through the government process or a private carrier, vehicle preparation is where people cut corners and regret it later.

Documentation is your legal protection. Take 15–20 photos before the carrier touches your vehicle—every panel, all four corners, the roof, undercarriage if you can reach it, and a clear odometer shot. Do this the day before pickup, in good lighting. These photos are your evidence if anything happens during transport.

Fuel at one-quarter tank. Less fuel means less weight on the carrier's load. A full tank adds 90–120 pounds. Across a trailer carrying eight to ten vehicles, full tanks meaningfully affect fuel economy. Carriers appreciate it, and some will flag it at inspection.

Personal items out of the car. Carrier insurance covers vehicle damage, not your belongings. Most carriers allow up to 100 pounds in the trunk below window level, but those items travel entirely at your risk with zero coverage. For a PCS where you're already shipping household goods, there's no reason to put anything valuable in the car.

Disable your alarm and toll transponders. A car alarm going off every time the truck hits a bump for five days doesn't endear you to the carrier or the other owners whose vehicles are on that load. Toll transponders can rack up charges on highways the carrier takes. Both are simple to address before pickup.

Note any quirks in writing. Does the driver's door stick? Does the engine need a moment after cold starts? Note it on the Bill of Lading. Drivers appreciate the heads-up, and documenting quirks prevents them from being blamed on transport if something seems wrong at delivery.

Inspecting at delivery: don't skip this step#

I've seen service members sign the Bill of Lading at delivery after a quick walk-around in dim lighting, missing scratches that showed up in daylight photos later. Once you sign, the baseline is signed. Damage reported after signing is extremely difficult to claim.

Take your time at delivery. Compare condition against your pre-shipping photos in decent lighting. If you notice new damage, note it specifically on the Bill of Lading before you sign—"scratch on rear bumper, right side, approximately 3 inches"—and photograph it immediately. Most carriers require damage claims within 24–48 hours of delivery.

This is especially important for OCONUS returns when vehicles have been through international shipping. Inspect before you leave the VPC, not after you've driven home.

What to do when your orders arrive with short notice#

PCS orders on a two-week timeline are common. Here's how to handle short-notice car shipping without burning money:

Call carriers directly rather than only using online quote forms. Explain your timeline upfront. Some carriers maintain short-notice capacity specifically for military customers because they know PCS orders don't always come with much lead time.

Budget for expedited pickup if you need guaranteed pickup within 24–48 hours. It costs $200–$400 on top of base rate, but if your report date is firm, this is the lever to pull.

If it's peak season and you're inside two weeks, consider whether driving makes more sense for your specific route. For distances under 800 miles, driving might be faster, cheaper, and less stressful than fighting for summer carrier capacity.

Common mistakes that cost military families money#

Booking based on discount alone. The $100 military discount means little if the carrier has no availability on your timeline and charges peak-season rates anyway. Evaluate the full picture.

Not verifying USDOT and MC numbers. Run every carrier through FMCSA.gov before booking. A USDOT number and active authority confirms the carrier is licensed to operate. Skip this step and you have zero accountability if something goes wrong.

Assuming the government covers a CONUS second vehicle. It doesn't. Plan the cost of a second vehicle into your PCS budget from the start.

Waiting until after household goods shipping is arranged. Get your car shipping quote at the same time you're working with your TO on household goods. The lead time requirements overlap.

Final thoughts#

Military car shipping is one of the more manageable logistics of a PCS move—once you understand what you actually qualify for and how the private carrier market works. The government handles OCONUS POV shipping efficiently through the SDDC process. For CONUS moves, the private market is competitive and there are good options at fair prices if you book with enough lead time.

The service members who have the worst experiences are the ones who assumed the government would cover them (it won't, for most CONUS moves), booked at the last minute during summer (capacity tightens and prices climb), or skipped the pre-shipping documentation (and had no photos when something went wrong at delivery).

Handle those three things right, and shipping your POV during a PCS move is just one more box checked on a long list.