Household Goods

To help customers access moving resources more easily, Move.mil has moved to the Military OneSource website. Now, moving resources from the Defense Personal Property Program and Military OneSource are available on the Military OneSource website.

Visit the Moving Your Personal Property page on MilitaryOneSource.mil for comprehensive moving information, resources and services. Access content from the former Move.mil website, including moving guides and tips, videos and FAQs, entitlement brochures, household goods shipment logistics, DPS log in and more. There are also links for retiring and separating members, specific service branch information and comprehensive relocation assistance.

Shipping Your Automobile

The government may ship one Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) for you at their expense to your new overseas location. This is handled through your transportation office. Remember to review your POV needs at your counseling session. The shipping contractor has established a website where you can track the location of your POV throughout the shipping process.

Shipping Pets

Planning for shipment of your pet includes researching airline requirements and quarantine restriction laws in your new location. You will need to ask the airlines the requirements for size, weight, number of animals, kennel construction, documentation and season of the year limitations. Occasionally, small pets (or larger) can be shipped on military flights but availability and regulations are always changing, as well as fees. 

Many international locations have strict importation laws including extended quarantines and restrictions on breeds or types of animals that can be brought into the country. Carefully research these rules as they could impact your moving schedule. Not only do overseas locations have strict rules but many locations have restrictions on dangerous dogs as well.  Review your destination installation's Shipping Pets article for details found on the left hand tool bar on MilitaryINSTALLATIONS.  Also, keep in mind that when moving into base housing on a military installation; that you can be limited to number of pets and especially pets they consider "dangerous".

Also, there are now GRANTS for Overseas to Conus Pet Transportation. You can receive up to $1,000 in Air Force Aid Grant assistance to transport your cat or dog when you PCS Overseas to Conus.  To apply, fill out an application on https://portal.afas.org/ea-eligibility/ for standard assistance no more than 60 Days prior to your PCS. You will be required to provide a Budget, PCS Orders, LES, and Pet Transportation estimate/invoice. You will not be reimbursed for expenses already paid. For more information; contact your local Military & Family Readiness Center at your base prior to PCSing!

A loss and damage report is not a claim.

If you have any loss or damage to your personal property you will need to file your claim directly with the Defense Property System (DPS) within nine months of delivery to receive FRV coverage.  Once the claim is filed directly with the DPS, the DPS is responsible for obtaining repair and replacement estimates and settling the claim by paying for repair or replacement costs.  For most military shipments, you will file your claim through DPS.  

As in the past, the Military Claims Office (MCO) is available to help you understand the claims process and your rights and responsibilities. You may still transfer your claim to the MCO of you wish.  However, if you transfer your claim the MCO will only be responsible for the lower depreciated cost of items on the claim. 

Customer Satisfaction Survey

Once your personal property is delivered, you will be asked to rate your satisfaction with the customer service you received from the DPS. Make sure you take the time to do this. Your feedback will make the process better for everyone.  The Move.mil website allows you to access the Customer Satisfaction Survey (CSS).  The SDDC website also provides detailed information about completing the Customer Satisfaction Survey.

Your CSS is extremely important.  If a DPS has done a good job, your survey will help ensure that they get more military moves and may even be available to you for your next move.  Likewise, if your DPS failed to meet expectations, your survey will help ensure that they get fewer military moves.  Completing the CSS not only lets your DPS know how they did on your move, it will help make the system better for all future military and DoD civilian personnel and their families when they move.

It is your responsibility to contact the DPS as soon as you arrive at your new duty station

.  Let them know how you can be contacted, phone, mobile phone and email.  If you already have new quarters, they will help arrange delivery of your personal property shipments.  Otherwise they will arrange for temporary storage until you have permanent housing.

Make certain that you, or someone who can act in your name, is available at your new home on delivery day. If the DPS arrives and cannot deliver the shipment, you may be charged for the attempted delivery and any additional storage that may result.

Claims Process

What if something of yours is damaged, lost, or destroyed during the move?  DoD customers are eligible for Full Replacement Value (FRV) protection on DoD-sponsored household goods and unaccompanied baggage shipments. With this protection, the DPS will either repair or pay to repair damaged items and pay the full replacement cost for items that are lost or destroyed.

Providing prompt notice of loss or damage is an essential part of the process. The DPS’s delivery crew will provide you with a form to note any loss or damage you discover at the time of delivery.  You will complete and sign this at the time of your delivery and a copy will be sent back to the DPS’s claims office.

If loss or damage is discovered after the delivery crew departs, you must notify the DPS within 75 days of delivery in order to retain your right to Full Replacement Value protection. While you may use a form provided for this purpose by your DPS, the best way is to go to Move.mil and follow the instructions to file a claim.  From there you can complete the loss and damage report in DPS which will be available to the DPS immediately.  All you need for a loss and damage report is the inventory number, the item’s description from the inventory, and a brief description of the damage or loss.  The DPS has the right to inspect the damaged item once they receive the notice of loss or damage.  Do not throw out destroyed or unrepairable items before you have spoken with the DPS’s claims agent.

As soon as you receive your permanent change of station orders, it’s important to begin scheduling your move. The Defense Personal Property System, or DPS, is the online system you can use to request and manage your household goods shipment(s). For more information and a DPS log in link, visit the Moving Your Personal Property page on MilitaryOneSource.mil.

Read Preparing for Your PCS Move to learn more about coordinating your shipment and review the Personal Property Quick Reference Guide for actions you can take to ensure a smooth move.

Learn more about Your OCONUS Move: Planning, Resources and Tips. Begin to plan what items will go in unaccompanied baggage, in your household goods shipment and in long-term, Non-Temporary Storage, or NTS, storage – check with your sponsor or overseas housing office to assist in determining what items to ship.

Moving with your pet includes researching airline requirements and quarantine restriction laws in your new location. Many airlines have requirements for size, weight, breed, number of animals, kennel construction, documentation and seasonal limitations. Small pets may be shipped on military flights, but availability and regulations frequently change. Contact your installation household goods/transportation office to request specific country instructions. Military OneSource can make your move easier with helpful tips, resources and hands-on information related to moving with pets and more.