Shipping a Second Vehicle Overseas During a PCS Move

Published: June 30, 2026

For many military families, one vehicle is not enough.

A spouse may need a car overseas. A family may have two work schedules, kids’ school drop-offs, base access needs, or a vehicle they simply do not want to sell before a PCS move. The problem is that the government-authorized POV shipment usually does not solve the second-vehicle question.

In most PCS moves, the government shipment covers one authorized personally owned vehicle, subject to orders and destination rules. A second vehicle is usually a private shipment paid by the service member or family.

That is where planning matters.

Shipping a second vehicle overseas is doable, but it is not the same as dropping off the primary POV through the government process.

Start with your PCS orders

Before you price anything, review the vehicle language in your PCS orders.

Your orders help determine whether a POV shipment is authorized, where it can move, and what destination restrictions apply. If the second vehicle is not covered, you can still ship it privately, but you need to treat it as a separate commercial move.

That means separate:

• Ocean freight pricing
• Inland pickup or delivery
• Export documentation
• Destination requirements
• Insurance decisions
• Port timelines

Do not assume the second vehicle can travel on the same schedule as the government-authorized POV. Sometimes it can. Sometimes it cannot.

Choose the right shipping method

Most overseas vehicle shipments move by RoRo or container.

RoRo means roll-on/roll-off. The vehicle is driven onto the vessel and driven off at destination. It is often the most practical option for standard passenger vehicles when the lane supports it.

Container shipping may be used when RoRo is unavailable, when the vehicle is non-running, when multiple vehicles are moving together, or when the destination requires a different routing.

The best option depends on:

• Origin and destination
• Vehicle size and condition
• Sailing availability
• Port rules
• Whether personal items are allowed
• Cost difference between RoRo and container

For most PCS families, the right answer is the option that balances cost, timing, and simplicity. Cheap but fragile is not a bargain when you are already juggling orders, housing, school, pets, flights, and seventeen passwords for government portals.

Know what documents are usually needed

Document requirements vary by destination, but second-vehicle shipments often require:

• Title or ownership documents
• Lienholder authorization, if financed
• Photo ID
• Power of attorney, if someone is signing on your behalf
• Vehicle information: VIN, year, make, model
• Export documents
• Destination import documents
• Military orders, if applicable

If there is a lien on the vehicle, start early. Lienholder letters can delay the move if the bank is slow or the letter does not meet export requirements.

Check destination rules before committing

Every country has its own rules. Some destinations restrict vehicle age, emissions, modifications, right-hand drive vehicles, taxes, duties, or registration eligibility.

A vehicle can be exportable from the United States and still be difficult or expensive to register overseas.

Before shipping, confirm:

• Whether the destination allows the vehicle
• Whether duties or VAT apply
• Whether military status changes the import process
• Whether the vehicle must meet inspection or emissions rules
• Whether the vehicle can be registered locally
• Whether temporary import rules apply

This is especially important if the second vehicle is older, modified, oversized, financed, or not titled in the service member’s name.

Budget for more than ocean freight

The ocean rate is only one part of the total cost.

A second vehicle shipment may also include:

• Inland pickup from your home or base area
• Port receiving charges
• Export documentation fees
• Marine insurance
• Destination terminal charges
• Customs or import fees
• Destination delivery
• Storage if documents are late

Ask for an all-in estimate where possible. If a charge cannot be known until destination, ask which charges are expected and who collects them.

Give yourself a timing buffer

PCS moves already run on tight timelines. A second vehicle adds another moving piece.

Build in extra time for:

• Title and lienholder documents
• Vehicle pickup
• Port cutoff
• Sailing schedule changes
• Customs review
• Destination release

If you wait until household goods are packed and flights are booked, your options narrow fast. The second vehicle becomes a fire drill, and nobody needs another PCS fire drill. The first one usually comes free with the orders.

Decide whether shipping is worth it

Sometimes shipping the second vehicle makes sense. Sometimes selling, storing, or buying overseas is smarter.

It may make sense to ship if:

• The overseas assignment is long enough
• The vehicle is reliable and paid off
• Replacement cost overseas is high
• The family truly needs two vehicles
• The destination allows the vehicle without major issues

It may not make sense if:

• The assignment is short
• Import taxes are high
• Registration is difficult
• The vehicle has a lien problem
• The vehicle is heavily modified

A good quote should help you make that decision, not just sell the move.

Bottom line

Shipping a second vehicle overseas during a PCS move is possible, but it needs to be treated as its own shipment. Do not wait until the last week. Confirm the destination rules, gather ownership documents, check lienholder requirements, and get a current rate with the likely fees spelled out.

TGAL works with military families on overseas vehicle shipments, including second vehicles that fall outside the standard government-paid POV move. If you are planning a PCS and need to move another car, request a quote early so the paperwork does not become the bottleneck.