Military Car Shipping: What To Know (Guide)

Discover the best vehicle transport companies for members of the armed forces.

Invalid Zip Code

GET A FREE ESTIMATE

From our #1 rated provider,

844-601-0286

Written by:

Dash Lewis , Writer

Written by: Dash Lewis Content Writer

02/07/2024 02:07 PM

Key Points:

Permanent change of station (PCS) orders are most common during the summer, which is already the busiest time for auto shipping.
Military members who receive PCS orders can be reimbursed by the federal government for auto shipping services or have the military arrange and pay for car shipments.
Montway Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, and Sherpa Auto Transport are our top picks for military car shipping.

If you’re an active military member and need to have your privately owned vehicle (POV) shipped because of a transfer or active-duty deployment, you’ll need to find an auto transport company that specializes in military car shipping.

A permanent change of station (PCS) order on short notice can be overwhelming, but this guide will lead you through the military car shipping process to make it a stress-free experience.

We’ll also recommend the best car shipping companies for military vehicle transport, as many provide discounts and services for members of the armed forces.

Overview Of Military Car Shipping

As members of the armed forces, those in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps are often called to relocate to new bases and duty stations. This can be quite the hassle, as military families need to find new homes and learn how to ship a car to their new address.

PCS moves peak during the summer months, so you’ll see an increase in military car shipping during this time. If you’ve received an assignment and would like to bring your vehicle along, make sure you know the choices for car transport.

Listed below are the two most common options for military relocations:

Personally procured move (PPM): Formerly known as the do-it-yourself-move (DIYM), the government reimburses military personnel for packing and moving their belongings themselves. Soldiers who opt for this will have to personally handle all details such as scheduling military car shipping and turning in their vehicle at the nearest vehicle processing center (VPC).
Government-issued transport company: With this option, the government will cover the cost of one POV transport and will require the military to make car shipping arrangements on your behalf. If you don’t want to handle the PCS process all on your own, government-issued transport would be best suited for you.

The military will cover and authorize military members’ international car shipping needs, but if you are looking for particular services such as a guaranteed pickup date or dropoff location, then a personally procured move might be better for your needs.

How Much Does Military Car Shipping Cost?

Shipping rates for military car transport vary, but they usually cost between $0.40 and $1 per mile depending on distance. It’s worth keeping in mind that prices per mile decrease as the overall distance of the move increases.

Here are a few quotes from Montway Auto Transport for military car shipping between bases across the United States. All of these estimates are for operable vehicles using open transport.

Vehicle Model	Car Shipping Route	Distance	Cost
2021 Chevrolet Camaro	Fort Jackson, SC to Fort Hamilton, NY	696 miles	$779
2021 Chevrolet Camaro	Fort Johnson, LA to Fort Detrick, MD	1,208 miles	$1,019
2021 Chevrolet Camaro	Fort McCoy, WI to Fort Leonard Wood, MO	619 miles	$1,129
2021 Chevrolet Camaro	Fort Carson, CO to Fort Gordon, GA	1,534 miles	$1,249
2020 Ford F-150 Crew Cab Long Bed	Fort Sill, OK to Carlisle Barracks, PA	1,348 miles	$1,549
2020 Ford F-150 Crew Cab Long Bed	Fort Huachuca, AZ to Redstone Arsenal, AL	1,609 miles	$1,619
2020 Ford F-150 Crew Cab Long Bed	Fort Devens, MA to Fort Hood, TX	1,912 miles	$1,919
2019 Toyota Camry	Fort Knox, KY to Fort Irwin, CA	2,020 miles	$1,629
2019 Toyota Camry	Fort Lee, VA to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii	4,839 miles	$2,949

*These quotes are for one-time credit or debit card payments. Rates are slightly lower when you make a partial payment when the shipment is assigned to a carrier and then pay the balance in cash upon delivery.

What Affects The Cost Of Military Car Shipping?

Even if the government is paying to move your POV, it’s worth knowing the various factors that affect military car shipping costs. For example, overseas transport via cargo ship will cost more than car transport across the continental United States, and enclosed car shipping can often cost up to 50 percent more than open car shipping.

There are many other factors to consider, such as:

Dropoff and delivery locations: The longer the distance between the dropoff and pickup addresses, the more you’ll have to pay for military car shipping but the less per mile.
Time of year: If you are shipping your POV to an area with harsh winter weather, this can delay your shipment. Also, be aware that peak times for military car shipping such as the summer months may leave you with limited services and options.
Gas prices: Fuel costs can affect how much you’ll pay for car shipping because companies will generally pass fuel price increases over to customers.

Though you may want to ship personal items or household goods in your vehicle in pursuit of cheap car shipping, the practice is discouraged and in many cases prohibited by auto transport companies.

How Do I Ship A Car To A Military Base?

If you serve in the armed forces, you can either have the government handle your car shipping affairs or you can book your own military car shipping services through a company with exclusive military discounts.

You should have all details of your next military assignment together before booking a transport, including the location, date, and time frame of your shipment. Make sure to also have:

Vehicle details (year, make, model, and identification number)
Car insurance policy details
Photo identification (driver’s license or passport)
Proof of vehicle operability
Proof of vehicle ownership (vehicle registration or legal title)
PCS order documentation

During this process, you can get car shipping quotes online from several military auto transport companies to see how much you’ll end up paying. To help you shop around for an instant quote, we have recommended a few of the top companies to consider for military car shipping.

Military Car Shipping: Our Take

Receiving a PCS order can be stressful, but our top picks for military car shipping can make your relocation a bit smoother. Our recommended auto shipping providers offer excellent customer service and efficient transport for extra peace of mind.

Recommended Providers For Military Car Shipping

For superb service and value on military car shipping, we suggest looking into Montway Auto Transport, Sherpa Auto Transport, and AmeriFreight. These companies are all well respected in the auto shipping industry and receive outstanding marks from customers.

Montway Auto Transport: Best Overall

As our top car shipping choice, Montway Auto Transport is popular among both active members of the military and veterans. The company offers safe and reliable military car shipping nationwide and across the world, with discounts available for veterans, reserves, and even military dependents.

Montway Auto Transport works with over 15,000 carriers to connect military members to shippers best suited for PPMs. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and a 4.6-star customer rating, we rank Montway Auto Transport as the Best Overall choice.

AmeriFreight: Great Industry Reputation

As one of the top auto transport companies in the industry, AmeriFreight works with over 10,000 carriers to deliver military car shipping services. It offers door-to-door and terminal-to-terminal shipping, enclosed shipping, expedited shipping, and transport for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and RVs.

The company holds an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB and has been a dependable choice since 2004. Each member of the military who uses AmeriFreight gets a $35 discount when booking, as well as an early bird discount for sign-ups under 48 hours after receiving an initial online quote.

Sherpa Auto Transport: Positive Customer Experience

Sherpa Auto Transport is one of the most trusted companies for military car shipping, as it offers some of the industry’s best shipping services at discounted rates for active-duty and retired U.S. military personnel. The company holds an A+ rating from the BBB along with a near-perfect 4.9 out of 5.0-star rating from customers on the platform.

You also don’t have to worry about price fluctuations due to Sherpa Auto Transport’s Price Lock Promise, which keeps customers’ rates the same once a free quote has been accepted. We give Sherpa Auto Transport 4.4 out of 5.0 stars for its reputation and top-notch customer service standards, which make it a great choice for service members and their families.

Military Car Shipping: FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions about military car shipping:

How many cars will the military ship for you?

Two vehicles can be authorized for moves within the continental U.S. (CONUS) of at least 600 miles. One car can be authorized for shipping outside of the continental U.S. (OCONUS).

How long does military car shipping take?

The car shipping process varies in length depending on your origin and destination, but it usually takes between one to 10 days. Transit times are longer for coast-to-coast military car shipping, so it would be wise to book early if you need to ship your vehicle across the country.

How many days does the military give you to move?

Currently, military members can check in up to 30 days prior to their report date and up to 20 days afterward. To give military families more time to move, PCS orders have to be sent out at least 120 days before the scheduled report date.

How We Rate Auto Shipping Companies

Our review team extensively researches car shipping providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

Reliability: Providers that earn strong ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and have a long history in the auto transport industry score well in this category.
Services: We take a look at what types of transport services are available through each company, including open and enclosed transport, door-to-door shipping, and more. Those with wider service selections are more likely to meet consumers’ needs.
Pricing: Our team performs a secret shopper analysis to get quotes for a variety of shipping routes and services. We compare each company’s costs to industry average prices to see how it stands up to the competition.
Customer Experience: We consider customer reviews on sites like the BBB and Trustpilot to better understand the consumer experience. Car shipping companies with convenient quote processes also perform well in this category.

*Data accurate at time of publication.

Dash Lewis Content Writer