Service
Military & PCS car shipping
On a PCS inside the continental US you normally drive and are paid MALT, $0.235 per mile for travel from July 1, 2026, plus per diem; the Joint Travel Regulations allow a government-paid CONUS shipment only in narrow exceptions. On OCONUS orders, one POV may ship through a vehicle processing center. A car the government does not ship is a commercial move, estimated like any other in our model. Source: HaulFare price model, October 2026 edition.
Updated October 2026
What the Joint Travel Regulations cover
Inside the continental US, POV shipment at government expense is limited to the exceptions in JTR par. 052901: a ship home-port change, a PCS from a construction site to a newly built ship homeported elsewhere, or a member who is physically unable to drive or lacks the time to drive and still report as ordered. A dependent’s inability to drive does not count. Otherwise members drive and receive MALT, $0.205 per mile for travel from January 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026 and $0.235 from July 1, 2026, plus per diem.
JTR par. 052902 adds a capped reimbursement: when a member with dependents relocating on the order owns more than one POV, and the member and all dependents travel together in one, shipping one other POV within the CONUS can be reimbursed up to the extra MALT Plus the government would have paid for driving both cars. On orders to or from an overseas duty station, one POV may ship at government expense through a vehicle processing center. Your transportation office decides every entitlement.
Ship vs drive math for a second car
On a 1,500-mile PCS, driving a second car yourself costs fuel, hotel nights, meals and a second driver’s time. Shipping it on an open carrier is an estimated $1,095–$1,360 for a sedan in October 2026, before any 052902 reimbursement. The military PCS estimator compares MALT, per diem and the 052902 cap with a shipping estimate for your route.
Base access and timing
Car haulers often cannot get onto an installation, so plan pickup and delivery at an off-base address or a nearby lot the driver can reach. Summer is peak PCS season and also the national peak for car shipping, so request a quote three to four weeks before a June through August pickup. If the move also changes your legal residence, the new state sets a deadline to register the car; see how long you have to register a car in a new state.
Military & PCS car shipping prices by distance
Standard estimates; no military surcharge. Sedan baseline unless noted; October 2026. For your exact ZIP codes use the car shipping calculator; for every distance, vehicle and month see how much it costs to ship a car.
| Miles | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | $620–$775 | $880–$1,100 |
| 1,000 | $895–$1,115 | $1,270–$1,580 |
| 1,500 | $1,095–$1,360 | $1,555–$1,940 |
| 2,500 | $1,370–$1,700 | $1,945–$2,420 |
HaulFare price model 2026.09-seed, October 2026. Ranges, not quotes.
- Instant estimate, no email gate
- The licensed broker confirms the actual price before anything is booked
- Free to use: you pay HaulFare nothing
From estimate to delivery
What happens after you ask for a quote, whichever service you choose.
Get your estimate
Enter ZIPs and vehicle details. You see a typical price range instantly, before you share contact information.
Request a quote
If you want a quote, your request goes to our licensed transport partner, an FMCSA-licensed auto transport broker. We send it to that one broker only, never to a list of companies.
Price, dates and carrier
Our licensed transport partner contacts you to confirm the actual price, pickup dates and vehicle details, then books the shipment and assigns an FMCSA-registered carrier. Ask about deposits and payment terms before you book.
Pickup and delivery
The assigned carrier usually calls 12–24 hours ahead. You both sign a Bill of Lading with a condition report at pickup, then check the car against it at delivery. Most shipments arrive in 2–10 days.
Related services
All services
Sources
- Defense Travel Management Office, Joint Travel Regulations (par. 052901 and 052902), travel.dod.mil
- Defense Travel Management Office, Mileage Rates (PCS MALT), travel.dod.mil
Military & PCS car shipping FAQ
Does the military pay to ship my car for a CONUS move?
Usually no. You drive and receive MALT ($0.235 per mile from July 1, 2026) plus per diem. JTR par. 052901 allows a government-paid CONUS shipment only for a ship home-port change, a move from a construction site to a newly built ship homeported elsewhere, or a member who cannot drive or lacks time to drive and report; a dependent’s inability to drive does not count. Your transportation office decides.
Can I be reimbursed for shipping a second car?
Sometimes. Under JTR par. 052902, a member with dependents relocating on the order who owns more than one POV, and whose whole family travels together in one car, may be reimbursed for shipping one other POV in the CONUS, capped at the extra MALT Plus for driving both. The military PCS estimator works out the cap; your transportation office authorizes it.
Can I ship my POV before my orders are final?
You can request a quote on a tentative date and change it later; HaulFare charges nothing, and you can ask the broker how date changes and cancellations work before you book. A government OCONUS shipment is arranged through your transportation office on your orders.
Is there military pricing?
Not in our estimates: they come from one price model with no military surcharge, so service members see the same ranges as everyone else. The actual price is confirmed by the broker that books the shipment and depends on the carrier that accepts the load.
Can the carrier pick up on base?
Rarely. Plan for a gate-adjacent lot or your off-base address, and agree the meeting point with the driver when they call ahead.
