What Is POV and What Qualifies as POV?

What's in this article?

What Is a Privately Owned Vehicle (POV)?
What qualifies as a POV?
Can a boat, RV, or motorcycle qualify as a POV?
Shipping Your POV
Find the Right Company to Ship Your POV
Rental car expenses
When to Ship Your POV
Next Steps

A privately-owned vehicle (POV) is precisely what it sounds like: any type of automobile, motorcycle, boat, or other motorized transportation registered solely to the employee who regularly uses it for business or government purposes.

But there's more than just owning the vehicle to qualify it to be categorized as a POV, particularly when it comes to relocating on government business.

We will explore what constitutes a POV and how to ship yours to your newly assigned location.

What Is a Privately Owned Vehicle (POV)?

A Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) is a vehicle that an individual or family owns rather than a business or government entity.

The individual can use this type of vehicle for personal transportation as well as for official government travel. Having access to a POV can make getting around easier for military members who are stationed overseas.

But a POV is different from a company vehicle. Even though members of the military can use it for official government travel, it is still privately owned. This means that the individual or family is responsible for all costs associated with owning and maintaining the vehicle, such as insurance, registration fees, and fuel costs.

However, when it comes to moving due to reassignment by the military, individuals and families can access huge savings if they're well informed about qualifying for a POV move with the expenses paid by the government.

What qualifies as a POV?

There are several types of POVs, including automobiles, motorcycles, motor scooters, vans, and pickups.

Several criteria have to be met to qualify as a POV. These criteria are vital when making a change of location due to reassignment by the military. They are as follows:

The vehicle must be owned or leased by a member of the military or a dependent
The vehicle must be self-propelled and legal on public highways
If the vehicle is leased, the military personnel must include written permission from the third party for transportation
The vehicle must have four wheels or more, with exceptions for mopeds and motorcycles

Can a boat, RV, or motorcycle qualify as a POV?

Boats are not considered POVs for military members and their families.

However, if a service member needs to move a boat due to a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move, it can be discussed during counseling with the service member's command.

Depending on the boat's size and weight, additional costs may be associated with moving it.

Meanwhile, RVs do count as POVs and should also be discussed during counseling. Moving an RV is typically more expensive than a standard car or truck due to its size and weight.

Additionally, some states have laws regarding the registration and licensing of RVs, which must be taken into consideration when planning a PCS move.

Motorcycles also fall under the vehicle umbrella and should be discussed during counseling. There may be additional costs associated with transporting them depending on their size and weight.

Shipping Your POV

POV shipping is a transport service tailored to military personnel. It is a great way to move your vehicle when relocating due to a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) order.

Under certain conditions, the government may pay for one POV as part of a PCS order. Check with the Department of Defense for exceptions to the rules.

POVs may be authorized for shipment to CONUS (Continental United States) or OCONUS (Outside Continental United States) locations, provided the distance is at least 600 miles.

In this case, the POV must be shipped via a commercial carrier. The government will reimburse the cost of shipping.

When it comes to shipping and storing your POV during a PCS, families should be aware that orders can come at any time and often with short notice. This can be a stressful situation, but there is a simple process for shipping your POV that doesn't have to be overwhelming.

Find the Right Company to Ship Your POV

Finding a reputable PCS shipping company to assist you with the process is essential. They will provide you with all the necessary paperwork and ensure your vehicle is shipped safely and securely.

The first step in the process is to get an estimate from the PCS shipping company. This estimate will give you an idea of how much it will cost to ship your vehicle and what type of services they offer.

The company will detail instructions for packing and loading your vehicle onto the truck or trailer. And they will also tell you how long the vehicle will take to arrive at its destination.

Rental car expenses

When traveling on official government business, rental car expenses are not reimbursable while awaiting POV arrival. As a result, planning ahead of time and ensuring that your POV arrives in plenty of time for your trip is necessary.

Additionally, if you are traveling with dependents who do not have their own POVs, they may also need to rent cars until your POV arrives at its destination. Remember to calculate these costs when planning your move.

When to Ship Your POV

Depending on your military branch, there may be different requirements for shipping your POV.

For example, Army and Air Force personnel must deliver their POVs to the port within 90 days of departing for a tour of more than one year or within 30 days of departing for a tour of duty of one year or less.

When at least 12 months remain at their current overseas duty station, Navy and Marine Corps personnel must deliver their POVs to the loading port.

Next Steps

Having a personal vehicle can make a world of difference in the convenience and way of life in your family's newly assigned location, so it's worth considering shipping a POV—and maybe more than one.

You can do this through A-1 Auto Transport, which specializes in auto transport services for military personnel.

A-1 Auto Transport offers competitive rates and reliable service, making it easy for those who need to relocate their vehicles quickly and efficiently.

Visit A-1 Auto Transport today for a free quote to get started on your POV shipment.