Will the Army Ship My Car?

1. Will the Army Ship My Car During the PCS?
2. Army Car Shipping Acronyms
3. Will the Military Ship My Car for FREE?
4. How Would I Know If My Car Qualifies For A US Military POV?
5. Timeline for Delivering Your POV for Shipment
6. Preparing Your Car for the Move through Army during a PCS
7. Keep All Your Documents Ready
8. Wash Your Car
9. Some Must-Do’s to Take Care of Before the Move
10. Additional Considerations for Preparing Your Car for the Move
11. Things To Keep In Mind While Shipping Your POV through Army
12. Things you can ship with your POV
13. Things you can’t ship with your POV
14. Picking Your Car after it’s Shipped through Army
15. Proof of Identity
16. Inspection Form
17. What to Do If My Car Arrives Damaged?
18. Conclusion

Military personnel can expect their PCS orders to arrive at any time. Preparing for the PCS, planning, and finally making a move, every step has plenty of challenges and confusions that take a proper action plan and a boatload of homework to do before you finally PCS.

Among all those ambiguities that might hover around your head during your first PCS is about shipping your car.

If you are reading, then chances are you’ve received your PCS orders and are planning your military move. Then, suddenly, your eyeballs stuck to your car and left you wondering, will the army ship my vehicle?

There is already so much to do. You can’t just sit and keep scratching your head. Right?

We have therefore done the heavy lifting for you. This article will clarify all the queries that you have in your mind about shipping your car.

Let’s dive right in!

Will the Army Ship My Car During the PCS?

Yes and No!

Whether the Army ships your car during the PCS or not depends on your new destination!

When you move OCONUS (outside the continental United States) to a new base, yes, the Army WILL SHIP YOUR CAR…

Conversely, if your destination base is within the continental United States (CONUS – CONUS), you are in a tight spot because the responsibility of shipping your vehicle lies on YOUR shoulder.

Before we move to the further aspects of army car shipping, you better get the handle of some acronyms that are widely used in military car shipping. It will help you better understand the further factors.

Army Car Shipping Acronyms

PCS

Permanent Change of Station

PDS

Permanent Duty Station

POV

Privately Owned Vehicle

TO

Transport Office

CONUS

Continental United States

OCONUS

Outside the Continental United States

Will the Military Ship My Car for FREE?

So, by far, you have learned that the military does perform the arduous undertaking of shipping you when you are to move overseas. What about the expenses, though?

Will the military ship your car at no cost to you, OR you’ll have to bear the expenses?

The answer is: Yes!!! The military ships your car for FREE only if:

• You are an active military member.
• You have received your PCS orders.
• Your vehicle is being shipped to OCONUS.
• You can also be eligible for CONUS POV entitlements if you are physically unable to drive, can’t reach your PDS in time, or your ship’s home port has changed.

NOTE: The Department of Defense will only reimburse for ONE privately-owned vehicle (POV).

Have an additional POV to transport? You’ll have to manage to transport it from your pocket.

How Would I Know If My Car Qualifies For A US Military POV?

There are some conditions that your car must fulfil to qualify as a US military POV and to get your car shipped for FREE.

Say, for example, your car should have at least four wheels and must be self-propelled to qualify for US military POV. Moreover, if the vehicle is multipurpose, designed to carry passengers, and is licensed to travel on public highways, it also allows for the military POV. But, such multipurpose cars need to provide written certification stating that they are for personal use.

However, if you are shipping a long-term leased (12 months) POV, you should provide written authority from the leasing company.

(Remember: All requirements mentioned in the lease remain your responsibility!)

You are eligible for shipping one POV if:

• You are a member of the armed forces
• You are a DoD civilian (whose orders authorize the shipment of your POV)
• You are a retiree who has the authority to ship your POV

These conditions are for shipping only one person or leased vehicle to your next duty station. However, if you want to move another car, you need to talk to your transportation office about any restrictions. Your additional POV may be subject to import duty.

Timeline for Delivering Your POV for Shipment

Different departments of the military have different timelines set for accepting shipments. Some of those limitations of the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps are following:

Army / Air Force Limitations:

• Typically, POVs can be shipped within 90 days of a member or dependent departing for a tour of duty overseas that lasts more than one year or within 30 days after departing for a term of duty overseas that lasts less than one year.
• POVs may only be shipped if they are delivered to the port after 90 days, and you must have a minimum of one year left on your current overseas tour when the POV is given to the port. You must still be in service for overseas tours longer than one year when the POV is delivered to the port.

Navy / Marine Corps Limitations:

• When the vehicle is delivered to the loading port, it will be accepted if at least 12 months of service at the service member’s current overseas duty station remains. If the overseas area commander or your commanding officer certifies the vehicle, you may make an exception.

Preparing Your Car for the Move through Army during a PCS

Keep All Your Documents Ready

To prepare your car for a PCS, you must gather all the necessary documentation. You will need four documents to complete this process:

• Proof of entitlement - This is confirmation that you can drive the vehicle on base.
• Proof of identity - This is proof that you own the vehicle and have the authority to transport it on base.
• Proof of ownership - This is confirmation from a state-issued motor vehicle agency that you own the vehicle.
• Additional documentation - This is documentation that proves your vehicle has been inspected and serviced for safety/operational standards.

You can obtain this information in many ways. The easiest way is to contact your local MWR or BX and ask them what they suggest you do to ensure a smooth transition with your vehicle. They will often provide you with a list of required documents and steps that you must follow to move your car successfully. Before heading out to get your vehicle inspected, ensure that you have all documents necessary and that your vehicle is free from any tickets or citations.

Wash Your Car

A few days before your move, wash and dry the exterior of your vehicle. Similarly, clean the interior. If your car needs wet cleaning or shampooing, do it 14 days before the shipment day to let it dry out completely.

Some Must-Do’s to Take Care of Before the Move

• The Fuel of your car must be 1/4th of the tank or less.
• You must provide a complete set of keys with the vehicle when turning it in, including ignition, door, trunk, gas cap, and wheel locks.
• One vehicle is allowed at government expense, and it cannot exceed 20 MT. A compact car is approximately 9 MT, and a full-sized car is about 15 MT. The member will pay any extra costs applicable to the transport vehicle if the vehicle exceeds the 20 MT limit. You will verify all calculations at the processing centre before shipment.
• Ensure that the parking brake is working, that the car has no leaks, and check the windshield of severe cracks.
• There might also be restrictions for destinations other than the United States.

Additional Considerations for Preparing Your Car for the Move

This is a complete checklist for you to prepare your car for shipping when moving through the Army.

• Lubricate door hinges.
• Ensure all electronics are charged and accessories are removed from the vehicle (CD Changer, GPS, etc.)
• Clean out ashtrays and centre consoles.
• Ensure your tires are properly inflated.
• Check that tire tread is not low (if so, purchase new tires before shipment).
• Check brakes, make sure they work appropriately.

Things To Keep In Mind While Shipping Your POV through Army

When you are getting your car shipped through the Army, there are certain things you should pay heed to, for example:

• Things you can ship with your POV
• Things you can’t ship with your POV

Let’s highlight both aspects of shipping your POV with the Army. First, read the following and ensure your POV shipment complies with the following guidelines. Otherwise, your car might end up being held at the port until your vehicle conforms to the next set of things you can ship along with your vehicle during a move.

Things you can ship with your POV

Below are the things that can travel with your POV during a PCS move:

• Tools (must be under $200 in value)
• Items like Jacks tire irons, jumper cables, tire chains, nonflammable tire inflators, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and warning triangle/trouble lights
• Children Car seats / Strollers / Portable Cribs
• Luggage racks OR support
• Permanently Fixed or bolted speakers and audio/video equipment.
• Other small items like car cushions, bottle warmers, thermos bottles, and more

Things you can’t ship with your POV

Next, let’s talk about the things your POV can’t change.

• Accessories that are not permanently installed like, TVs, VCRs, DVD Players
• Flammable or hazardous substances like wax, paint, oil, etc.
• Liquids that may spill and leave the stains
• Pressurized Cans

Picking Your Car after it’s Shipped through Army

Once your car arrives at the destination, make sure you have the following documents to pick up your car without any hassle.

Proof of Identity

You must bring your VALID government-issued identification along with your vehicle inspection form. If a designated agent is listed on your vehicle inspection form, they must bring a valid official ID.

Inspection Form

If you cannot pick up your vehicle, one of your family members or friends may act as an agent on your behalf. You should bring your inspection and shipping forms. In such instances, you may be required to provide your attorney with a notarized power of attorney or letter of authorization.

Once you come to pick up your vehicle at the delivery destination, you’ll be asked to provide the documents mentioned above.

After verifying your records, you can review the condition of your car. If all is well and your vehicle reached without any damages during the transportation, you can receive your vehicle and depart.

What to Do If My Car Arrives Damaged?

So, if the unlikely event of getting your car damaged during the move with the Army has happened? You can claim the compensation on the spot. But to do so, you must have the following information available to proceed with the state of the art technology that settles your claim at the delivery destination:

• Your bank name, bank ABA / SWIFT number, bank account number, bank routing number / BIC, and your bank account name.
• SWIFT and BIC (Bank Identifier Code) depending on receiving

Conclusion:

The process of preparing your car for moving through the Army during a PCS is sometimes tedious and frustrating. You must know the proper procedures to follow to make things go smoothly.

In conclusion, the Army will move your car with some permissible goods as one shipment if you are moving overseas, but you need to follow the rules and regulations set by the Army. Regardless of your needs, the most important thing is to stay organized. Keep a list of all the things you need to do. Plus, get in touch with your transportation office as soon as possible. The chances are that you can move your items on your own, but if you want some help, it’s much better to ask for it before you need it.