When you receive your PCS orders you're entitled to ship your privately owned vehicle (POV) from or between locations overseas. If you wish to ship your POV overseas it must be authorized on your orders. Alternate ports may be used if approved by the military traffic management command (MTMC). Requests to use an alternate port should be addressed to the Personal Property Shipping Office (PPSO).
Restrictions
Your owned or leased POV may be shipped to your new duty station at the government's expense. If you want to make your own arrangements to ship your own POV, consult your sponsor and transportation office for any restrictions. You may have to pay an import duty on a second POV. Your local transportation office has information on the host country's restrictions.
Preparation of Your Vehicle for Shipment
Make Sure You Have All Your Documentation Ready
In order to make the process of shipping your vehicle as easy as possible, it is best to have all the following documentation ready:
- Proof of entitlement: You will be required to bring one copy of your official orders and amendments.
- Proof of identity: Please present your valid government/state issued identification.
- Proof of ownership: You will need to present a legible copy of either your vehicle registration and a lien holder authorization letter; or your title and registration. The vehicle must be in the service member's name.
- To help expedite the turning in of your vehicle, please download and print out the IAL Shipping Instruction Form, complete it, and bring it with you when you drop off your vehicle.
- Additional documentation is required for the following:
- If your vehicle has a lien, and you are exporting outside of the country of origin, you must provide a lien holder authorization letter. Please contact your lien holder to obtain this document.
- If your vehicle is leased, you are required to provide a letter authorizing the exportation of your vehicle.
- If someone other than the service member will be shipping the vehicle, a signed and certified power of attorney will be required.
- These options do not apply to a spouse who is identified on the member's/employee's official travel orders. Here is an acceptable example:
- "I hereby appoint (name of agent) as my agent for the delivery of my privately owned vehicle (make, model, VIN) to the appointed military outlaying port, and I appoint him/her my attorney in fact to sign all documents required for the deliver of my vehicle for overseas shipment."
- You will also need to provide a valid email address, destination notification address, and emergency contact information before shipping your vehicle. (It is important to note: For U.S. imports, no APO or P.O. Box addresses are allowed. The address must be valid and able to accept mail addressed to you; it can be a relative's or friend's, and the address and must include street name and number, city and ZIP code).
Wash and Clean Out Your Vehicle Before Shipping.
Before you turn in your car, please make sure to wash the exterior and remove all personal items from compartments, doors, the trunk and under and in between the seats. This also means removing all accessories not permanently installed, including all loose audio/video/navigation equipment; any liquids or pressurized cans; any flammable, combustible, or hazardous substances; and Citizens Band radios.
Once all items have been removed from inside, it is required that the interior and the trunk of the vehicle be vacuumed clean. If the interior of the vehicle was cleaned/shampooed (wet/damp), it had to have been done at least 14 days prior to shipment to allow the vehicle to dry completely.
Also, please do not forget to remove all air fresheners and/or any items hanging on your rearview mirror.
The following items CAN be left in your vehicle:
- Hand tools: cannot exceed $200 in value
- Jacks, tire irons, fire extinguishers and jumper cables
- One spare tire or two snow tires
- Baby/child car seats
As a reminder: Before shipment, all vehicles will be subject to a joint inspection where all damages and blemishes will be documented. You will be requested to signoff the DD788 inspection form as a mutual record.
Double check for these “Musts”
- Fuel must be at] ¼ tank or less in order for the car to be shipped.
- A complete set of keys must be provided when turning in the vehicle. This includes ignition keys, door keys, trunk keys, gas cap key and wheel lock if applicable.
- The vehicle must be in safe operating condition. Please check that the parking brake is fully functioning; make sure the vehicle has no leaks; and double check the windshield for any major cracks.
- Only one vehicle may be shipped at government expense, and the vehicle being shipped must not exceed 20 measurement tons (MT). A compact car measures approximately 9 MT, and a full-size car about 15MT. If the vehicle does exceed the 20 MT limit, the service member will be required to pay any extra costs applicable to transport vehicle. You will be able to verify all calculations prior to shipment at the processing center.
- Restrictions for destination countries (other than the U.S.) may also apply.
Additional Considerations for OCONUS to CONUS POV Shipments
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Department of Transportation (DOT) have set strict guidelines that you must conform to for shipment of your vehicle into the United States.
EPA and DOT Sticker Requirements
The EPA sticker will be located in the motor compartment or the hood itself. It will have the words "Vehicle Emissions Control" or "CATALYST" on it. If this sticker is missing or illegible, a compliance letter from EPA will be required before your vehicle will be accepted. To get this letter, proof must be provided to the EPA in the form of a stateside title, stateside registration, or CARFAX report.
The DOT sticker will be located in the driver's door jamb area or on the door edge. It will have the VIN number on it (Volvo's may be located in the left rear door jamb area). If this sticker is missing, or illegible, proof in the form of a stateside title (must state that the vehicle meets DOT requirements), stateside registration, or CARFAX report must be provided to the vehicle processing center (VPC) on the date of turn-in before your car can be accepted.
Additional Cleaning Considerations
Your POV must meet all USDA requirements for cleanliness. Your vehicle will be thoroughly inspected to ensure its cleanliness and that it is free of all dirt, soil and plant and animal life. This is a "zero tolerance" inspection. If your vehicle fails to meet these standards, you will be provided with an Agricultural Reject Sheet, identifying the areas that need additional cleaning.
Exterior. Wash the exterior of your vehicle and either wipe out or spray out your wheel wells and fuel intake area.
Motor compartment. Ensure all corners of the motor compartment are clean. We recommend using a good vacuum cleaner and flashlight to get out all leaves, built-up dirt, etc., then either spray off or wipe down the hood and engine.
Door jambs. Wipe down all door jambs, to include the trunk seal. For vans, do not forget to clean out the sliding door tracks. For vans and SUVs, also the rear hatch area, especially the upper lip where the hinges are. For SUVs with an opening rear window opens, please open and clean the seal.
Interior. Ensure the entire interior of the vehicle is thoroughly vacuumed, to include floor mats, both top and bottom. Rubber floor mats must cleaned. Vacuum under and between all seats, under the seat rails, and between the seats and the center console. Use a flashlight to see everything. Vacuum the trunk completely, to include removing the spare tire and cleaning the spare tire well. Also check the back of the rear seat.
For station wagons and SUVs. If your rear seat lifts up, make sure you lift up the bottom part and vacuum underneath. Also check the back of the rear seat.
For van. The easiest way to vacuum the interior of a van is to fold the rear seat down and take the middle seats out. Now you have a wide-open spot to vacuum. Do not forget to make sure that the seat locking channels are completely clean. Check under the plastic caps covering the unused channels.
After Transport
You can track your POV through the International Auto Logistics website simply by entering your confirmation number or last name and order number. During your vehicle’s transport, the destination vehicle processing center will contact you at the following stages:
- To advise when your vehicle is scheduled to arrive at its destination (usually three days prior to arrival)
- When your vehicle has arrived
- When your vehicle will be available for you to pick up (at which time no appointment is necessary)
If in Storage
If your vehicle is being stored, you'll need to fill out a storage removal request form in order to start the process of releasing your vehicle from storage and transporting it to a VPC where you'll pick it up. Please allow for up 21 calendar days to deliver your vehicle to a VPC (longer if international transportation is required).
When Picking Up Your Vehicle, Please Ensure You Have All of the Following Documents With You:
- Proof of identity
- Bring your valid government/state-issued identification. If you have a designated agent listed on your vehicle inspection form assigned to pick up your vehicle, they, too, must provide an official valid photo ID.
- Inspection form
- Bring your vehicle inspection and shipping form. If you are unable to pick up your vehicle in person, you may empower a family member or friend to act as an agent on your behalf. If this is the case, you must provide your agent with a notarized power of attorney or letter of authorization.
Once you arrive at the destination vehicle processing center, you will be asked to sign in and provide all of the documents mentioned here to the customer service representative at the VPC. Your documents will be verified, then both you and a customer service representative will review your vehicle to look for any damage that may have occurred during transportation.
In the event that transportation damage did occur, onsite claims personnel can settle your claim on the spot. In order to do so you will need to have the following information available to accept an electronic payment:
- 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 country i.e. European account)
Type of POVs You May Ship
Only self-propelled, wheeled motor vehicles can be shipped. This includes automobiles, motorcycles, motor scooters, vans and pickups. Other passenger-carrying, multipurpose motor vehicles may qualify. However, they may require a written certification stating the vehicle is for personal use.
To ship a long-term (12 months or longer) leased POV, you must provide a written authority from the leasing company. All requirements stated in the lease remain your responsibility.
When to Ship Your POV
Each branch of the military has different limitations for shipping a POV. A few of those limitations for the Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy include:
- Army and Air Force personnel POVs will be accepted for shipment if delivered to the port within 90 days after the servicemember departed for an overseas tour of more than one year, or within 30 days after the servicemember's departure on a tour of duty of one year or less.
- Navy and Marine Corps personnel POVs will be accepted when at least 12 months remain to be served at their current overseas duty station at the time vehicle is delivered to the loading port.
Shipping and Receiving Locations
Look up the details of the vehicle processing center at your installation on the PCSmyPOV website.
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