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The Ultimate PCS Guide For Military Family

Camilo Jaime • Aug 04, 2021
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The Ultimate PCS Guide for a Military Family Move by Driving Around Hawaii

A PCS move is inevitable for a military family since the military transfers the soldiers from one station to another. Even if its months away, it is always good to be ready for a PCS move. 

There are more logistics involved here compared to other types of move. More paperwork is needed and you have to be strategic when it comes to packing, ferrying, and unloading the luggage. 


A military family should always be ready to move after a PCS move order is issued. Once you have it, you can follow the tips and military hacks we provided to make your relocation process successful and convenient for you and your family. 

PCS move guide for a military family by driving around Hawaii 

If your PCS order states that you will be moving to Hawaii, you will need to know the best place to get accommodation and how to drive within the state. You will also need to know how to move your belongings, including cars and household items, from your current location to the new location. 


Hawaii State is made of islands, meaning that your belongings will be shipped from the mainland through the Pacific Ocean. Once the car has been shipped, you will need to drive your car around Hawaii from the port. 

The (PPM) personally procured move option 

You do not have to let the military move your belongings for you. You can choose the personally procured move option because the government will reimburse you for moving your belongings at your own cost. The advantage of PPM is that you will be in charge of the moving process. You will choose the best PCS move company and monitor the process by yourself.


Therefore army PCS vehicle shipping can be done through the PPM option. If you opt for PPM, you will need to scout for the best company to work with. You could be moving from one state to another state within the US mainland. Additionally, you could be moving to an island like Hawaii, or you could be heading overseas.


Moving to Hawaii requires military PCS vehicle shipping from the mainland. You can consider car shipping Hawaii as it offers affordable shipping options for military vehicles. They offer door to port, port to port, and port to door transportation services through a team of qualified drivers and movers.


Army PCS vehicle shipping can also be done by the military using its resources. You can let the government do it for you if you make a PCS, TDY, or TAD move and meet the PCS shipping term. You can also let the government do your military PCS vehicle shipping if you have retired and intend to move from government quarters. However, you have to obtain move orders from the military.

Moving Private Vehicles 

If you own a private car, you will also need to move with it. If you are wondering how do I PCS my POV to Hawaii? Privately owned vehicles (POV) can be moved easily by either driving to the port and shipping it to Hawaii or contracting a PCS moving company to pick your car and move it to your preferred destination. 


Alternatively, you can apply to have your POV moved at the government’s cost. However, you need to check the existing military restrictions on your POV. The weight should not exceed 10 tons for the military to pay for the transportation costs. 

How do I ship my POV to Hawaii?

You could also be wondering how do I ship my POV to Hawaii? You can consider car shipping Hawaii as it offers affordable shipping options for vehicles owned by military officers. If you live far away from the port and you are not interested in taking long drives to the port, you can contract car shipping Hawaii to do that for you. They will send their licensed and experienced drivers to pick your car and deliver it to the port for shipping to Hawaii. 


Additionally, they will offer shipping services at an affordable cost. They will deliver your vehicle from the port to your new destination. Depending on your preferences, they can have it delivered to your house or office door. 


Alternatively, you could transfer the shipment cost to the government if you are an active military officer. You only need to comply with the PCS shipping term as stipulated by your base transportation office if you want your military PCS vehicle shipping to be handled by the military. The military will ship your POV to the new duty station at no cost if you meet the terms and requirements set. 

Shipping your POV overseas

Maybe you or your spouse have received a PCS move order, meaning you are on the move. You could be moving overseas. Shipping your POV overseas has been made easier because you can contract a shipping company and agree on the shipping terms. 



Some military families would opt to leave their cars behind and lease a car for a short-term in the new location. However, it makes sense to ship your car overseas because it will be paid for by the military. If your POV meets the military’s restrictions and requirements, it will be shipped for you at no cost. Check with your transportation office for the restrictions and terms of transportation.

How to Prepare and Implement Military PCS Move 

Here is the ultimate guide on how to implement the military PCS move orders.

Step 1: Arrange a meeting with the transportation office 

Once you get the PCS move orders, arrange a meeting with the transportation office in your current military base. Whether you are in the Air force, Army, Navy, or Coast Guard branch of the military, there is always an office that deals with relocation issues. During the meeting, enquire about all the relocation options available to you. 

Step 2: Inform and involve your family 

Your family needs to be aware that you are moving to a new location. The family will help you in packing your belongings to ensure that nothing is left behind. You could be having pets that you should not leave behind. Your family will help in ensuring that every valuable item is packed. 

Step 3: Choose the appropriate moving option 

If you are better positioned to fund the moving and shipping process, you can go for the PPM option. However, if you are moving many items, it is better to let the military move and ship your belongings at their cost. 

Step 4: Monitor the movers and track your POV

PCS to Hawaii car shipping can be done by a privately contracted company or by the military. Regardless of the option you choose, you need to monitor the movers and track your POV. You only need to feed in your details into the American Auto Logistics site, and you will know where your car is. 

Step 5: Check your belongings and POV upon delivery 

Military PCS vehicle shipping is a delicate process that could lead to huge losses if not well coordinated. Therefore, you need to check the belongings and POV upon delivery to ascertain there are no breakages or misplacements. 

Common PCS mistakes to avoid 

  1. Do not go for the PPM option at the wrong time because it will be inconvenient. Therefore, if you have toddlers or your wife is pregnant, it is better to let the military do everything for you. 
  2. Do not rush to get back to work after the PCS. It would be best if you let your family settle down and get used to the new environment before you can go back to work. It would be a mistake to move to a new location with your family and leave them before settling down. 
  3. Avoid putting too much trust in your movers. The movers could break your furniture or misplace items if they are not supervised. Therefore, you should monitor them when loading and offloading your belongings. Even if you have contracted a company to move your belongings, you also need to monitor how they work. 

Final Thoughts 

Permanent change of station is common for military families. This means that military families have to be prepared to move when they receive the PCS move order. While the process of PCS move is tiresome, the above guide will help you move your family and belongings to the new duty station comfortably and easily. 

You do not need to fill up your tank, but you should not empty it. A good recommendation is to leave your tank about a quarter full to make sure there is fuel when your car is transferred. It also ensures that it has enough fuel to be driven once it arrives in Hawaii.

Keeping Spare Car Keys

You can be asked for your car keys so that your car can be moved. If your car shipping company asks for them, you have to make sure that you have extra car keys for yourself. The process of getting your car in Hawaii will be smoother if you also have spare keys. You can also ask your car shipping company to lock your car or do it yourself for extra protection. 

You need to complete the required paperwork to ship your vehicle and sign the bill of lading. Your car shipping company will help you in this process. It is also very important to read the terms and conditions carefully. After signing all these documents, keep a copy of these as well.

Best Car Shipping Company in Hawaii

The quality of service and rate are what many people look for in a car shipping company in Hawaii. Not all car shipping companies can ship your car to Hawaii, but Car Shipping Hawaii can do that. It is best to book your schedule early to get the best rates.

Frequently Asked Questions 

  • What is PCS in shipping?

    PCS means permanent change of station. In shipping, it means that the items are moved from one location to another using a ship or, simply, water transport. 


  • What is PCS charges in shipping line?

    These are the charges billed to the shipper/consignee by the shipping line for the shipping services offered. The items being shipped are charged at the loading port and the discharging port by the shipping line. 

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