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Military PCS car shipping estimator
On a CONUS PCS the government pays MALT of $0.235 a mile (travel from July 1, 2026) plus standard per diem for each authorized travel day, $178 through September 30, 2026 and $181 from October 1, 2026, but it normally does not ship your car. Shipping a sedan from Fort Bragg to Fort Hood is an estimated $1,055–$1,310 in October 2026, paid by you.
Updated October 2026
Worked examples: PCS travel starting October 1, 2026
A service member and spouse moving one sedan, with MALT at $0.235 a mile and standard per diem of $181 a day (FY2027). Road costs assume 24 mpg, gas at $4.48 a gallon (EIA U.S. average, week of September 21, 2026), hotels at the $113 federal lodging rate, meals at $68 per person a day and maintenance and tires at 11.7 cents a mile (AAA 2026). Distances are estimated from ZIP codes; your orders use the official DoD distance. Shipping prices are open-carrier estimates for October 2026.
| PCS move | Miles | Travel days | MALT + per diem | Road costs | Net if you drive | Ship it (you pay) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Bragg, NC to Fort Hood, TX | 1,307 | 4 | $307 + $1,267 | $1,280 | +$294 | $1,055–$1,310 |
| Naval Station Norfolk, VA to Naval Base San Diego, CA | 2,734 | 8 | $642 + $2,534 | $2,709 | +$467 | $1,450–$1,805 |
Fort Bragg was named Fort Liberty and Fort Hood was named Fort Cavazos from 2023 to 2025. Road costs are for a service member and spouse in one car.
Fort Bragg, NC to Fort Hood, TX
+$294
net to you if you drive
$1,055–$1,310
to ship it, paid by you
Driving comes out about $1,464 ahead of shipping, because MALT and per diem cover the road trip while shipping is paid out of pocket. With a second car, driving one and shipping the other could be reimbursed up to $488 (JTR par. 052902), leaving about $682 of the estimated shipping price for you to pay.
Get a quote for this moveNaval Station Norfolk, VA to Naval Base San Diego, CA
+$467
net to you if you drive
$1,450–$1,805
to ship it, paid by you
Driving comes out about $2,077 ahead of shipping, because MALT and per diem cover the road trip while shipping is paid out of pocket. With a second car, driving one and shipping the other could be reimbursed up to $1,004 (JTR par. 052902), leaving about $606 of the estimated shipping price for you to pay.
Get a quote for this movePCS rates this estimator uses
Checked against DTMO, the Joint Travel Regulations and GSA on September 27, 2026.
| Allowance | Applies to | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| MALT (per car, official miles) | PCS travel starting January 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026 | $0.205 per mile |
| MALT (per car, official miles) | PCS travel starting July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026 | $0.235 per mile |
| Standard CONUS per diem (FY2026) | Travel days October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026 | $110 lodging + $68 M&IE = $178 a day |
| Standard CONUS per diem (FY2027) | Travel days October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 | $113 lodging + $68 M&IE = $181 a day |
| Authorized travel days | POV travel, JTR par. 050205 | 1 day up to 400 miles, then 1 per 350 miles (a remainder of 51+ adds a day) |
| Dependent per diem | Traveling with the member, JTR Table 5-6 | 75% at age 12+, 50% under 12 |
How the estimate works
Drive it
Ship it and fly
Two cars
Not official advice
Military PCS car shipping estimator FAQ
Does the military pay to ship my car on a CONUS PCS?
Usually not. Inside the continental US you normally drive and are paid MALT plus per diem. The Joint Travel Regulations (par. 052901) allow a government-paid CONUS shipment only for a ship home-port change, a PCS from a shipbuilding site to the newly built ship when its home port is elsewhere, or when the service member is physically unable to drive or lacks time to drive and report as ordered; a dependent's inability to drive does not qualify. On orders to or from an overseas duty station, one POV may ship at government expense (par. 053001).
What is the PCS MALT rate in 2026?
DTMO lists $0.205 per mile for PCS travel from January 1, 2026 and $0.235 per mile from July 1, 2026, matching the IRS moving rate for military members. The rate in effect on the day your PCS travel begins applies to the whole trip (JTR par. 050203). MALT is paid once per vehicle on the official distance, so passengers in the same car do not earn their own mileage.
How many travel days do I get for a PCS by car?
One day for an official distance of 400 miles or less. Above that, divide the distance by 350 and add one more day if 51 or more miles remain (JTR par. 050205). Per diem is paid for the lesser of your authorized days and the days you actually take, so arriving early shortens the per diem.
What per diem do I get for PCS travel days?
The standard CONUS rate for each authorized travel day, wherever you stop: $110 lodging plus $68 meals and incidentals ($178) in FY2026, and $113 plus $68 ($181) for travel from October 1, 2026. Dependents riding with you get 75% of your rate at age 12 or older and 50% under 12 (JTR Table 5-6).
Can I be reimbursed for shipping a second car?
Sometimes. Under JTR par. 052902 a member with dependents who owns more than one POV, and whose whole family rides together in one car, may be reimbursed for shipping the other one. The payment is capped at the MALT and extra per diem the government would have paid for driving both cars separately; you pay anything above that. On the Norfolk to San Diego example the cap works out to about $1,004. Your transportation office has to authorize it.
Is this official entitlement advice?
No. It is an estimate for planning, not official financial or entitlement advice. Your orders, your transportation office and your finance office decide what you are paid, using the official DoD distance. Shipping prices here are HaulFare model estimates with no military discount assumed; the licensed transport partner confirms the actual price.
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