How to estimate military moving costs

There's never been a better time to do a Personally Procured Move (PPM) — also known as a do-it-yourself, or DITY, move. As of January 1, 2021, the military made a permanent change to reimburse service members at 100% of what they would have paid government movers (a change from the previous 95%). You've always been able to keep whatever reimbursement money is left over after your DITY move, so this increase will likely put more money in your pocket. As you start to plan, the first questions to ask are "How much will a military move cost?" followed by "How much are my allowances?" Use our helpful DITY move calculator to understand all the expenses and allowances.

This U-Pack military moving quote includes the moving equipment, transportation, liability coverage and fuel. Since we handle all the driving, you're free to travel with your family in your own vehicle (utilizing allowances like per diems and travel by Privately Owned Conveyance, or POC). You're in total control of your move, choosing the options you need.

U-Pack rates are based on space, not weight, to keep costs low. But we can provide the weight tickets you need for reimbursement if you request them at reservation (online or over the phone). And don’t forget to use the code DITY10 to take $100 off the cost of your PPM with U-Pack.

Read more about using U-Pack for your military move and how the process works.

Step 2: Consider all the reimbursements that apply during your DITY move

Talk with the Transportation Office (TO) on base to find out your exact allowances. Individual reimbursement amounts are based on rank, dependents, distance and travel time, but these are some common allowances that many service members utilize during their PPM:

• Household goods transportation: The military determines what it would cost for a military mover to move your household goods based on weight, and you get 100% of that amount to move yourself.
• Temporary lodging expense: This covers temporary housing and meals when completing a Permanent Change of Station (PCS).
• Per diem: This allowance partially reimburses hotel and food expenses occurring during the move.
• Dislocation allowance: These reimbursements cover expenses during a military move and can be requested in advance.
• Travel by POC: If you're traveling for the move in your privately owned conveyance, you can be reimbursed for some of that travel.
• Vehicle transport: This allowance is for vehicle shipping if you need to transport a car to your new duty station.

Once you know which allowances you'll receive, you can move on to the next step.

Step 3: Do a little math to calculate your profit

Will you make money on a PPM? Do this simple calculation to find out:

[Reimbursement Amount] – [Total moving expenses] = X

If X is a positive number, then you'll be able to pocket money! Along with the monetary factors, sometimes going the DITY route is worth it for the reduction in stress. You can move on your schedule and ensure everything is well cared for by packing your belongings yourself.

What's next? Reserve your DITY move

After getting a military moving quote above, you're ready to reserve your move with U-Pack. Booking early secures the equipment and move date you want. If anything changes, you can update or cancel the move for free up to 7 days in advance. Don't forget to request weight tickets (if you need them). If you have questions, one of our military moving specialists can help. Call us at 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak with someone. Thank you for your service!