Military Car Shipping for PCS Moves
Your orders set the timeline. CHD sets the pickup window around it, with door-to-door delivery at base-adjacent addresses in all 48 contiguous states and $2M cargo insurance on every vehicle.
- Pickup typically within 1-3 days of booking, built for short-notice orders
- $2M cargo insurance coverage on every vehicle, on every lane
- Door-to-door delivery near your new installation, with carriers meeting you outside the base gate
Military car shipping from Car Haul Direct moves your POV between duty stations on your orders timeline: pickup typically happens within 1-3 days of booking, and delivery runs door-to-door at base-adjacent addresses in all 48 contiguous states. You get a licensed carrier, a defined pickup window, and $2M cargo insurance coverage on the vehicle.
Reviewed by Mike Fergusson, EVP Operations, Car Haul Direct
Why book military car shipping with Car Haul Direct?
Because a PCS move punishes vague timelines, and CHD is built around defined ones.
FMCSA-Licensed Broker
Car Haul Direct operates as an FMCSA-licensed auto transport broker, USDOT 4321158, arranging transport through screened carriers.
$2M Cargo Insurance
Every vehicle CHD ships is covered by $2M cargo insurance while it is on the carrier.
48-State Coverage
CHD ships in all 48 contiguous states and coordinates Hawaii and Alaska moves for OCONUS orders.
Fast Pickup Windows
Metro pickups typically happen within 1-3 days of booking; outlying areas can add 1-2 days.
Door-to-Door Service
Pickup and delivery happen at the addresses you choose, usually a lot or visitor area just outside the gate.
Flexible Scheduling
Pickup windows flex around report dates, short-fuse orders, and leave schedules.
Defined Windows, Documented Coverage
The figures that govern a CHD military move, on every lane.
48
Contiguous States Covered
Door-to-door coverage, plus Hawaii and Alaska coordination for OCONUS orders.
$2M
Cargo Insurance Coverage
On every vehicle CHD ships, documented at pickup and delivery inspections.
1-3
Day Pickup Window
Typical metro pickup after booking; outlying areas can add 1-2 days.
7-10
Days Coast to Coast
Typical transit for PCS moves over 2,500 miles; shorter lanes run faster.
Military car shipping questions, answered
Direct answers to the three questions PCS families ask first.
Does the military pay to ship your car?
Sometimes, but usually not for stateside moves. Public DoD guidance indicates the government ships one POV at government expense only in limited cases, most often on certain OCONUS orders; most CONUS PCS families arrange their own vehicle shipping. Confirm your specific entitlement with your installation transportation office before booking anything.
How fast can a car be picked up after PCS orders?
Typically within 1-3 days of booking in metro areas. Outlying locations can add 1-2 days, and expedited transport tightens the window further when your report date leaves little slack. Book as soon as your orders are cut, because earlier bookings give dispatchers more carrier options on your lane.
Can I ship a second car during a PCS?
Yes. Dual-car households ship the second vehicle all the time: you drive one car with the family and let a carrier move the other. Both cars can ride on the same order when the schedules line up, and each vehicle is covered by the same $2M cargo insurance during transit.
Who uses military car shipping?
Active-Duty PCS Movers
Your orders set the timeline; CHD sets the pickup window around it.
Dual-Car Military Families
Ship the second car and drive the first, so nobody logs 1,000 solo miles trailing the family vehicle.
Guard and Reserve Members
Activation, school orders, and cross-state moves all fit the same door-to-door process.
Deploying Service Members
Move your car to family or to storage before you leave.
Shipping services that fit a PCS
Six ways the standard CHD service set maps onto a military move.
Open Transport
The standard choice for a daily driver, and the most affordable way to move a POV. Most PCS vehicles ride open carriers.
Enclosed Transport
Typically 40 to 60 percent above open pricing, and the right call for a classic, restored, or high-value car. Your project car gets a covered trailer instead of open-deck exposure.
Door-to-Door Transport
The carrier comes to the addresses you choose at both ends. On base-adjacent moves, that usually means a visitor center lot or a wide street outside the gate.
Expedited Transport
When orders drop with little notice, expedited service tightens the standard 1-3 day pickup window. You get a tighter first-available date when your report date leaves no slack.
Hawaii and Alaska Coordination
OCONUS orders to Hawaii or Alaska run through CHD's dedicated Hawaii-Alaska service, which handles the port handoffs.
Cargo Insurance Coverage
Every shipment carries $2M cargo insurance, documented at both inspections. The Bill of Lading walkaround records the car's condition at pickup and delivery.
How military car shipping works: 5 steps
Five steps from orders to delivery, with your report date driving the schedule.
1. Quote and Book Around Your Orders
Run your lane through the instant quote calculator, then book once your PCS orders confirm the destination and window.
2. Set Your Pickup Window
Standard pickup lands within 1-3 days of booking in metro areas. Share your report date with dispatch so the window leaves room for the drive.
3. Meet the Carrier at Pickup
Carriers generally cannot enter installations, so plan to meet outside the base gate. You walk the car together, note its condition on the Bill of Lading, and hand over the keys.
4. Track the Car in Transit
Transit time scales with distance; coast-to-coast moves over 2,500 miles typically run 7-10 days. You get status updates while the car is on the truck.
5. Receive Your Car Near the New Base
Meet the carrier at the delivery spot, compare the car against the pickup inspection, and sign the Bill of Lading.
Military car shipping FAQ
Discounts, base access, timelines, and OCONUS moves, answered in plain terms.
Ask about available military discounts when you book. The instant quote shows the real market rate for your route, vehicle, and dates, so you start from an honest number rather than a padded price with a discount taken off. Corridors between major installations carry steady carrier volume, which keeps those lanes competitive.
Generally no. As standard industry practice, auto transport carriers do not enter military installations. Pickup and delivery happen just outside the gate at a visitor center lot or an off-base address you choose. The meeting spot just needs room for a full-size rig to load safely.
Transit time follows distance. Short hops under 500 miles typically run 1-3 days, 500-1,000 miles run 2-4 days, and coast-to-coast moves over 2,500 miles typically take 7-10 days. Add the pickup window on the front end: typically 1-3 days after booking in metro areas, plus 1-2 days for outlying locations.
Yes. Any adult 18 or older can release or receive the vehicle with the keys and a quick walkaround inspection. This covers deployments and early report dates: a spouse, relative, or trusted friend meets the carrier when you cannot. List that person as the contact when you book.
CHD coordinates Hawaii and Alaska transport through its dedicated Hawaii-Alaska service, which covers the port logistics on both ends. Moves beyond that scope are outside what CHD books. For a CONUS-to-OCONUS PCS, plan extra lead time, because port schedules add days beyond the overland leg.
Most carriers allow around 100 lbs of personal items in the trunk, and nothing valuable or fragile. Those items ride outside the cargo insurance coverage. Household goods belong with your government move or PPM shipment, not on the car carrier.
Price follows distance, vehicle size, running condition, season, and whether you choose open or enclosed transport. Enclosed typically adds 40 to 60 percent over open on the same lane. The instant quote calculator prices your exact route at current market rates.
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Ready to Move Your POV on Your Orders Timeline?
Get Your Military Car Shipping Quote
Run your route through the instant quote calculator on this page and lock in a pickup window that lands ahead of your report date.