If you’ve got OCONUS orders and need to know how to ship your POV through the VPC, you’re in the right place. Let me break it all down for you … the process, the paperwork, the prep, and what’s actually changed heading into the 2026 PCS season. No fluff, just the real stuff.
So what is the VPC? The VPC (Vehicle Processing Center) is where you drop off the one vehicle the military authorizes you to ship OCONUS. If you’re thinking about shipping a second vehicle, that’s a separate process and a different post (coming soon!). For now, let’s focus on getting your authorized POV shipped smoothly.
VPC Locations
There are currently 14 CONUS VPC locations operated through International Auto Logistics (IAL) under the PCSmyPOV system. You can use the location closest to you or one that falls along your PCS road trip route. Ee’ve done both but make sure you discuss this with your Transportation Office so they are aware!
- Atlanta, GA
- Alaska – Anchorage
- Alaska – Fairbanks
- Baltimore, MD
- Charleston, SC
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Los Angeles, CA
- Norfolk, VA
- NY/NJ Metro (Edison, NJ)
- Orlando, FL
- San Diego, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis (Pontoon Beach, IL)
Always verify current location details at pcsmypov.com/locations. Addresses and operating hours can shift, and in 2025/2026 there have been notable changes at OCONUS VPC sites as well (like Ansbach, Germany relocating to Katterbach Kaserne).
2026 Updates You Need to Know
Before we get into the full process, here are a few things that are new or updated heading into this PCS season:
Book Your Appointment WAY Earlier Than You Think
This is probably the biggest shift I want you to hear loud and clear. For 2026, you should be scheduling your VPC appointment 60–90 days before your desired drop-off date and if you’re PCSing to Europe in the summer, I recommend 120+ days out due to port delays and appointment availability. High-volume locations like San Diego and Charleston fill up months in advance during peak season (May–August).
FASTPASS Is a Game-Changer
PCSmyPOV now offers a FASTPASS option where you submit your documents 24 hours before your appointment. If approved, it can cut your processing time from 2–3 hours down to 30 minutes to an hour. I highly recommend taking advantage of this. You can find the option through your appointment scheduling on pcsmypov.com.
Electric and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles Have New Rules
If you drive an EV or PHEV, pay attention. Full battery disclosure is now mandatory for OCONUS EV shipments to meet updated U.S. Customs requirements. Additionally, shipment of EVs and PHEVs to and from Guam is currently prohibited due to ocean carrier restrictions. If you have Guam orders and drive an EV or PHEV, contact your Transportation Office immediately because you may be entitled to store it instead.
Hawaii and Alaska Now Require Electronic POV Release Forms
As of 2025, Hawaii and Alaska require electronic POV release forms. If you’re shipping to either location, make sure you’re using PCSmyPOV to complete these digitally ahead of time.
POV Preparation Requirements
The VPC inspection requirements are not flexible. I cannot stress that enough. We got a chip in our windshield on the drive to the VPC once and literally stopped to have it filled before pulling into the lot. That’s the level of serious we’re talking about here.
Here’s what your vehicle must meet before inspection:
- Must be in operational condition
- No open recalls — check at nhtsa.gov and print the results
- Fuel level at ¼ tank or LESS — this is maritime law; the VPC has no wiggle room on it
- Brakes are fully operational, including the emergency brake
- Vehicle must be clean inside and outside — review the cleaning standards on pcsmypov.com
- No cracks or chips in the windshield
- No leaks
- Must provide the wheel lock lug nut key if equipped
A few tips on the preparation side:
On fuel: Don’t show up and hope they’ll let you drive around to burn it down. Some locations are nice about it, but they are absolutely NOT required to accommodate you. We started monitoring fuel carefully a couple of days before our appointment to make sure we stayed under ¼ tank.
On cleanliness: We always get the vehicle professionally detailed the day before our VPC appointment. Dry vacuum only inside. You do not want water water used inside because moisture can cause mold issues during shipping.
On recalls: Check early. If there’s an open recall, it must be resolved before your appointment. Keep your paperwork proving it was cleared. I highly recommend you print it and bring it.
Required Documentation
This is the other major place where people run into problems. Print everything. I know it feels like overkill, but I’ve watched people ahead of us at the VPC scrambling because they didn’t, and it’s not a situation you want to be in. Bring every single document in hard copy.
Also, double-check that your orders include a statement authorizing you to ship a vehicle. If it’s missing, get your orders amended and have the amendment in hand.
Documents to Bring:
- Pre-Shipping Instruction Form — filled out and printed
- Shipper Acknowledgment Form — filled out and printed
- Recall printout from nhtsa.gov
- Complete set of orders with ALL amendments
- Military ID and State-Issued ID
- Legible copy of your title (front & back) — if you own the vehicle outright
- Lien-Holder Authorization Letter — if your vehicle is financed (your lender must authorize the export)
- Registration — they may not ask, but have it
- Power of Attorney or Letter of Authorization — if someone other than the service member is turning in the vehicle
If the vehicle is titled in the spouse’s name only (not the service member), refer to pcsmypov.com for specific guidance on how to handle that situation.
The Process, Step by Step
Here’s the full flow from start to finish:
- Receive hard copy orders to your OCONUS location
- Go to pcsmypov.com and schedule your drop-off appointment — do this immediately upon receiving orders
- Attend the online virtual briefing with the VPC (invites go out weekly; check your email)
- Gather and print all required documents
- Submit FASTPASS documents 24 hours ahead if available at your location
- Detail your vehicle and monitor fuel levels
- Arrive 10–15 minutes early to your appointment
- Hold on to all documents — you’ll need them when your POV arrives in-country
Pro tip: Use a personal device to schedule your appointment. PCSmyPOV notes that DoD computers and tablets can have security restrictions that interfere with the scheduling system.
My Tips (From Someone Who’s Done This More Than Once)
We’ve now used three different VPCs across multiple OCONUS moves. Here’s what I want you to walk away with:
Schedule your appointment the same day you get orders. I am not exaggerating. During peak PCS season (May–August), appointments at major VPCs fill up months in advance. If you’re moving to Europe in the summer of 2026, I’d be booking 120 days out if possible.
Check for recalls the moment you think about shipping. Not the week before … now. If a recall needs to be repaired, that takes time. Keep your clearance paperwork in your document folder.
Ship as early as you can. Trust me on this one. It’s so much easier and cheaper to rent a car in the U.S. for a few extra weeks than to navigate that in a foreign country. This is especially true if you don’t drive a manual transmission and you’re headed to Europe.
Give yourself a realistic transit timeline. Shipping to Europe typically runs about 60-90 days from drop-off to pickup. You can track your POV every step of the way on pcsmypov.com using your Shipping Instruction Number (SI#). For Europe, I also tracked our specific vessel schedule using the ARC Shipping route schedule to know exactly when our car would arrive at the German port.
Take photos before you drop off. Clear, detailed photos and video of every angle of the exterior and interior before inspection. Make sure the inspection forms the VPC fills out accurately reflect your vehicle’s condition. You’ll thank yourself if there’s ever a damage claim, trust me on this one.
The military covers one POV, period. If you need to ship a second vehicle, you’ll pay out of pocket through a private company. We’ve done it. We sent our SUV through the VPC and privately shipped our sedan. More on that in a future post!
Hopefully this takes some of the mystery out of the VPC process for you. I know how much anxiety the “unknown” can bring during a PCS move. I’ve been there … so my goal is always to make it feel manageable. You’ve got this!
Feel free to drop your questions in the comments or reach out directly. And if you’re just starting your OCONUS PCS prep, check out The Basics of an Overseas PCS too.
NOTE: This post was originally published in 2021. It was updated in 2026 with expanded content and updated information.
When you used the VPC location closest to you instead of the VPC location along your road trip route, did you have to drive two vehicles to the VPC? I’m thinking of using my closest VPC site, but it is over 300 miles away. If I’m understanding correctly, I can only be reimbursed for driving one vehicle a round trip at $0.18/mile and no per diem. That’s a long trip to make there and back in one day (10.5 hours of driving alone)! I’m thinking I may may need to consider the en route option instead. What would you advise?
So sorry for the delayed response. Military life gets in the way a lot. We typically take leave in route therefore we always have two vehicles with us. However, if you are wanting to use the VPC closest to you and would like to make a quick trip out of it then you can drive to drop off your vehicle at the VPC and then they will pay for you to fly back to your duty station. Since we typically take leave in route we try to do that for the 30 days prior and therefore we simply drive both vehicles and then continue on for our vacation/family visit.