This page is for active-duty service members who need to move a car privately: a PCS inside the continental U.S. when you cannot drive it yourself, a second vehicle, a car bought in another state or a car that has to get to family while you are deployed. We offer a 10% discount to active military service members. To get it, put the words “Military Discount” in your order when you place it. Below are real prices between 12 base-area cities from our own pricing tool, what the discount takes off, and the rules that decide when you pay and when the government does.
The 10% military discount: how to get it
The discount is for active military service members. It takes 10% off your order, and the only thing you have to do is mention the code when you place it.
- Get a quote. Tell us the car, the two cities and your pickup window. The quote form on this page already has Military Discount typed in the first box, so you can finish the rest.
- Mention “Military Discount” when you place your order. If you are speaking to someone, say it. If you are typing, put it in the notes.
- Check the total after the discount before you confirm, and ask what the discount applies to. Compare that figure, not the headline price, with any other quote you have.
Here is what 10% off looks like on a few of the lanes we priced. These are our estimates for a running sedan on an open trailer on October 20, 2026; the final price comes from your quote.
| Route | Miles | Sedan price | With 10% off | You save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, NC → Tacoma, WA | 2,878 | $1,603 | $1,443 | $160 |
| Norfolk, VA → San Diego, CA | 2,737 | $1,441 | $1,297 | $144 |
| Norfolk, VA → Pensacola, FL | 916 | $1,119 | $1,007 | $112 |
| Killeen, TX → Colorado Springs, CO | 820 | $858 | $772 | $86 |
| Clarksville, TN → Killeen, TX | 791 | $966 | $869 | $97 |
| Fayetteville, NC → Norfolk, VA | 223 | $419 | $377 | $42 |
Who private military car shipping is for
A PCS has two very different parts. For many moves the military pays for some of it and you handle the rest. The scenarios below are the ones where service members most often hire a carrier themselves.
- A PCS inside the continental U.S. where you cannot drive. Short report dates, a spouse driving the other car, a baby in the back seat, or leave that runs out before the drive does.
- A second vehicle. Government shipping for an overseas move generally covers one personally owned vehicle, so a second car or a motorcycle may need a private carrier. Check your orders and your transportation office.
- A car left behind or sent home. You deploy, or your car is at a port, and it needs to get to a parent, a spouse or your next duty station.
- A car bought out of state. A dealer, an auction or a private seller is hundreds of miles from the base, and you do not want to spend leave driving it.
- A car coming back from overseas. The government vehicle shipping program usually brings the car to a port. Getting it from the port to your home or the next base is on you.
When the government pays and when you do
The rules depend on your branch, your orders and your destination, so confirm everything with your installation’s transportation office, move.mil or Military OneSource. In general terms:
| Situation | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| PCS to an overseas duty station | The government generally ships one personally owned vehicle for service members whose orders qualify, through its own vehicle processing centers and contracted shipping, not through a private carrier. Which locations qualify depends on your orders. |
| PCS inside the continental U.S. | The military does not usually ship your car. You normally drive it and may receive travel allowances for the trip. Hiring a carrier is your own cost, which is when this page applies. |
| Second vehicle on an overseas PCS | Often not covered by the government shipping program. A private carrier or a drive to the port may be the options. |
| Car arriving back at a port | You usually pick it up at the port and move it yourself from there. A carrier can take it from the port to the next base or your home. |
| Hawaii or Alaska | These are generally treated as overseas assignments for vehicle shipping, so check your orders first. See our Hawaii and Alaska pages for the port-to-port costs if you ship a car yourself. |
We are not part of the military’s shipping program and cannot arrange or bill its shipments. If your orders say the government pays, use that. If it does not cover your car, or you would rather not drive, that is where a private carrier comes in.
How much does military auto transport cost?
On October 20, 2026 we priced a sedan, an SUV, a pickup and a van on an open trailer on 32 lanes between big base areas, such as Fayetteville, Norfolk, Killeen, Clarksville, Columbus (Georgia), El Paso, Jacksonville (North Carolina), San Diego and Tacoma, plus 4 earlier lanes. A sedan averaged $0.74 a mile across all 36. Short trips cost more per mile and long trips less: $0.61 a mile on lanes of 1,500 miles or more against $1.23 on lanes under 1,000 miles. An SUV cost a median 9% more than a sedan, a pickup 60% more and a van 58% more.
The table shows what the car costs in each direction. The 10% discount is not included in these prices.
| Route (prices are for A→B / B→A) | Miles | Sedan | SUV | Pickup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, NC ↔ Norfolk, VA | 193 | $423 / $398 | $460 / $376 | $472 / $478 |
| Fayetteville, NC ↔ Norfolk, VA | 223 | $419 / $413 | $485 / $400 | $507 / $490 |
| Norfolk, VA ↔ Jacksonville, FL | 614 | $820 / $810 | $831 / $734 | $959 / $1,018 |
| Clarksville, TN ↔ Killeen, TX | 791 | $966 / $811 | $972 / $880 | $1,262 / $1,112 |
| Killeen, TX ↔ Colorado Springs, CO | 820 | $858 / $827 | $1,136 / $873 | $1,507 / $1,425 |
| Killeen, TX ↔ Columbus, GA | 837 | $766 / $1,026 | $837 / $1,039 | $1,420 / $1,317 |
| Norfolk, VA ↔ Pensacola, FL | 916 | $1,119 / $1,116 | $1,001 / $1,052 | $1,109 / $1,460 |
| San Diego, CA ↔ Colorado Springs, CO | 1,124 | $1,094 / $697 | $1,472 / $767 | $2,429 / $1,410 |
| San Diego, CA ↔ Tacoma, WA | 1,234 | $1,123 / $857 | $1,471 / $1,052 | $2,109 / $1,662 |
| Fayetteville, NC ↔ Killeen, TX | 1,266 | $1,040 / $970 | $1,300 / $1,183 | $2,015 / $1,528 |
| Fayetteville, NC ↔ Colorado Springs, CO | 1,649 | $1,242 / $1,089 | $1,356 / $1,195 | $2,085 / $1,934 |
| El Paso, TX ↔ Fayetteville, NC | 1,793 | $1,265 / $1,614 | $1,237 / $1,025 | $1,559 / $2,178 |
| Columbus, GA ↔ San Diego, CA | 2,087 | $1,110 / $1,301 | $1,243 / $1,513 | $1,667 / $2,567 |
| Killeen, TX ↔ Tacoma, WA | 2,132 | $1,365 / $1,280 | $1,426 / $1,539 | $2,058 / $2,441 |
| Clarksville, TN ↔ Tacoma, WA | 2,369 | $1,345 / $1,379 | $1,536 / $1,427 | $2,917 / $2,025 |
| Jacksonville, NC ↔ San Diego, CA | 2,608 | $1,379 / $1,529 | $1,544 / $1,642 | $1,825 / $2,605 |
| Norfolk, VA ↔ San Diego, CA | 2,737 | $1,441 / $1,653 | $1,665 / $1,502 | $3,177 / $3,600 |
| Fayetteville, NC ↔ Tacoma, WA | 2,878 | $1,603 / $1,550 | $1,872 / $1,697 | $4,030 / $2,525 |
Which way you go matters. In 18 routes priced in both directions, the two prices differed by a median of 9% (from 0% to 57%). The biggest gap was San Diego, CA to Colorado Springs, CO, at $1,094 one way and $697 the other. There is no reliable direction rule, so price the route you actually need, not its reverse. These are platform estimates, and your own quote can differ, so use them as a guide.
Military car shipping cost calculator
Enter two ZIP codes for your estimate. Active-duty? Mention Military Discount when you place your order for 10% off.
Shipping a car for a PCS: what to plan
- Start when you get orders. Carriers book by pickup window. A flexible window is usually easier to fill than a fixed date, so give the widest one your report date allows.
- Expect busy times. PCS moves tend to cluster in the summer, when more cars need a carrier and pickup dates tighten. If you can book earlier or later, tell us.
- Decide who hands over and receives the car. The carrier needs a person to sign at pickup and at delivery. If you are deployed, in training or already at the new base, name a trusted person for each end, and tell the carrier who they are.
- Plan for the base gate. Installations often limit large commercial trucks at the gate. It is usually easier to meet the driver at a lot just outside, and to ask your gate office what is allowed.
- Photograph the car. Take dated photos of every panel, the wheels, the glass and the odometer, and compare the car with the bill of lading before you sign at delivery.
- Prepare the car. About a quarter tank of fuel, no loose items, and remove or cover your toll tag. Tell the carrier about anything that does not run normally; an inoperable car costs extra.
Deployed? Name a contact
A carrier cannot release or receive a car without someone to sign the bill of lading. Give the carrier the name and phone number of the person who will be at each end, and ask the carrier what identification they need to see.
Truck, SUV, van or motorcycle?
Vehicle type sets the price more than almost anything else. Across the lanes above an SUV was a median 9% more than a sedan, a pickup 60% more and a van 58% more. If you drive a lifted truck, a dually or a trailer, tell us up front, because it changes which carrier can take it. See our pickup truck shipping page for more on trucks, and our open vs. enclosed guide for the trailer choice.
How to choose a military auto transport company
- Check the company. Every interstate carrier or broker needs a USDOT number and operating authority. Look them up on the FMCSA company snapshot.
- Ask what the military discount applies to. Some companies discount a figure they raised first. Compare the total you pay with and without the discount.
- Ask for the pickup window and the delivery estimate in writing. Your report date may be fixed, so make sure the dates fit it.
- Ask whether you are dealing with a broker or a carrier, and who is responsible if the car is damaged.
- Be wary of a price far below the others. It may not find a driver, which leaves your pickup stuck or leads to a re-quote.
Transportli is a freight marketplace, not a carrier. You describe the car and the route, and we match the job with carriers on our platform that have been checked for active operating authority, insurance and safety rating. Active military service members get 10% off when they mention “Military Discount” in the order.
Military auto transport: frequently asked questions
Do you offer a military discount on auto transport?
Yes. We offer a 10% discount to active military service members. Mention “Military Discount” when you place your order.
Who qualifies for the military discount?
The discount is for active military service members. If you are not sure that your status qualifies, ask when you place the order.
How do I get the Military Discount?
Get a quote, and when you place the order say or type “Military Discount.” The quote form on this page already has the words filled in for you.
How much does military auto transport cost?
It depends on the distance and the vehicle. A sedan averaged $0.74 a mile across the 36 base-to-base lanes we priced, and $0.61 a mile on lanes of 1,500 miles or more. For example, a sedan from Norfolk, VA to San Diego, CA was $1,441 (2,737 miles), or about $1,297 with the 10% discount.
Does the military pay to ship my car?
For some overseas moves the government ships one personally owned vehicle if your orders qualify, through its own program. For a PCS inside the continental U.S. it does not usually ship your car. Rules vary by branch, orders and destination, so confirm with your transportation office or move.mil.
Can I ship a second car or a motorcycle?
The government program usually covers one vehicle per service member on an overseas move, so a second vehicle may need a private carrier. Check your orders, and tell us what you are shipping so we can match the right carrier.
What if I am deployed when the car is picked up?
Name a trusted person to hand over the car and sign the bill of lading at pickup, and another at delivery. Give the carrier their names and phone numbers, and ask what identification they need to show.
Can the truck come onto the base?
Many installations restrict large commercial trucks at the gate. It is usually easier to meet the driver at a lot just outside. Ask your gate or housing office what is allowed.
How long does it take to ship a car for a PCS?
Pickup depends on the window you give and on how busy the lane is. Transit across the country is typically about a week, and shorter trips take a few days. PCS season in the summer can make pickups tighter. These are typical, not guaranteed.
How does the military discount compare with other companies?
We cannot speak for other companies. Compare the total price you pay after the discount, the pickup window and what is included, not the headline percentage.
Does the discount apply to enclosed transport too?
Ask what the discount applies to when you place the order, and check the final price before you confirm. Enclosed transport costs more than open, so see our open vs. enclosed guide if you are weighing the two.
Can I ship a car to or from Hawaii or Alaska?
Yes, but the car goes by ship for part of the trip. See our Hawaii and Alaska pages for port costs. If your orders send you there, the government may cover shipping for one vehicle, so check with your transportation office first.
Is the price I see here my final price?
No. These are platform estimates for a running car on an open trailer. Your own quote depends on the car, the pickup and delivery locations, the window and the carrier available.
Did you know?From real quotes on October 20, 2026
-
10% off for active military
Mention the code when you order
Active military service members get 10% off when they mention "Military Discount" in the order.
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$1,441 a sedan, Norfolk, VA to San Diego, CA
Coast to coast for a PCS
That is about $1,297 with the 10% discount, over 2,737 miles.
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9% median price gap between directions
Direction matters
On 18 routes priced both ways, the two prices differed by a median of 9%.
Active-duty? Get 10% off your car shipping
Tell us the car and the route, and mention Military Discount when you place the order. Free quote, no account needed.
Get a military quote →Related content
Cite this page
Cite as: Transportli, “Military Auto Transport for Active-Duty Service Members”, https://transportli.com/auto-transport/military-auto-transport/, updated October 20, 2026.
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