The government has a worldwide contractor for shipping your
automobile. The instructions for preparing your Privately Owned Vehicle (POV)
for shipment are contained in a Military Surface Deployment and Distribution
Command (SDDC aka MTMC) Pamphlet called "Shipping Your POV" found at the SDDC
web site (see "Contacts"). Once your POV has been turned over to the government,
it can be tracked through the Global POV web site (linked from the SDDC web
site).
Nearest port to NAS Meridian: New Orleans
If you arrive at
NAS Meridian prior to the arrival of your POV from the overseas area, it is
suggested you contact the inbound personal property office prior to going to the
port to receive your POV. When you pick up your vehicle at the port,
ensure that you do a thorough inspection of the vehicle and annotate any
damage. After you leave the port, if you discover damage to the
vehicle that was not reported while at the port, it will be difficult to
substantiate your claim for damages. Please check with your local
Personal Property office or the port itself for details on shipment of your
vehicle. It is very important that at the time you present your
vehicle for shipment you and the port representative do a complete inspection of
the vehicle. Ensure complete visual inspection of the vehicle and
accurate annotation of any damage to the vehicle.
PRIVATELY OWED VEHICLES
(POV): Personal Property has all the POV shipment information; however, NAS
Meridian Personal Property does not process applications for shipment. You are
responsible for contacting the POV Processing Center where you plan on shipping;
this is normally determined by your travel plans. There are 12 POV Processing
Centers located throughout America. Please refer to the SDDC web site
for specific procedure information on how to ship your POV. This
information applies to all branches of service.
WHO CAN SHIP A POV
You
are eligible to ship a POV if:
- You are member of the U.S. armed
forces;
- You are a DoD civilian and your orders authorize shipment of your
POV; or
- You are a retiree authorized to ship a POV.
Contact your
transportation office.
YOUR ENTITLEMENT
The entitlement to ship a
single POV is limited to a permanent change of station to, from, or between
places overseas; or upon official change in homeport of the vessel to which you
are assigned. The transportation office will determine your
entitlement based on your PCS orders.
RESTRICTIONS
- Only one POV
owned or leased by you or your dependent and for your personal use may be
shipped to your new duty station at Government expense.
- If you desire to
make your own arrangements to ship an additional POV commercially, consult your
sponsor and transportation office for any restrictions. You may have to pay an
import duty on a second POV.
- Your local transportation office has
information on specific United States and overseas host nation
restrictions.
WHEN TO SHIP YOUR POV
For Navy/Marine Corps
personnel:
- POVs will be accepted when at least 12 months remain to be
served at their current overseas duty station at the time the vehicle is
delivered to the loading port. An exception is allowed if the overseas area
commander or your commanding officer certifies the vehicle is necessary in
performance of official duties.
TYPES OF POVs YOU MAY SHIP
Only
self-propelled, wheeled motor vehicles can be shipped. This includes
automobiles, station wagons, jeeps, motorcycles, motor scooters, vans, and
pickups. Other passenger-carrying, multipurpose motor vehicles designed for
overland ground transportation not specifically listed above may qualify;
however, these generally require a written certification stating the vehicle is
for personal
use as a passenger-carrying vehicle. POVs that are modified to
be "low riders" must have at least 6 inches of clearance to prevent damage to
POV during car carrier load/download. Also, POVs may not have a lift kit higher
than 3 inches.
NOTE: Host-country restrictions may apply; see
your transportation office.
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS:
1. 7
Copies of your orders & any amendments
2. Photo-identification (valid
driver s license or Military ID)
3. Proof of Ownership (Registration or
Title- It is strongly suggested a copy of your title be presented at
turn in, as your vehicle may be held by U.S. Customs for proof of
ownership)
4. Vehicles with a Lien - Authorization from your lien holder
authorizing exportation
5. Leased Vehicles a letter from the
leasing company authorizing exportation
6. Power of Attorney, if the vehicle
is being delivered by someone other than the customer
7. The Year, Make,
Model, VIN, Color of your vehicle. Along with the present mileage
8.
Destination address and notification address & emergency contact, if any,
where you can be notified of your vehicle arrival at destination
VEHICLE
REQUIREMENTS:
1. No more than 1/4 tank of fuel (gasoline or diesel)
2. A
complete set of keys (ignition, doors, trunk, gas cap & wheel locks.) Keep a
set of keys to all locks.
3. Make sure your vehicle is clean, including the
interior, exterior and undercarriage
4. Make sure your vehicle is in safe
operating condition. The vehicle must have operable brakes, including the
handbrake, and must have no noticeable fluid leaks or major cracks in the
windshield
5. Your glove-compartment must be empty
EXAMPLES OF ITEMS
YOU MAY LEAVE IN VEHICLE:
1. Tools, not to exceed $200 in value
2. Items
such as jacks, tire irons, fire extinguishers, jumper cables, etc.
3. One
spare tire & two snow tires
4. Portable cribs, children s car seats,
strollers
5. Factory and non-factory installed stereo and speakers inside the
vehicle or trunk. These must be bolted down or permanently installed as part of
the vehicle
6. Thermos bottles, car cushions (if they can be packed entirely
within one carton provided by the VPC). **Factory or non-factory stereo,
speakers and audio/video equipment in POV or trunk must be bolted down or
permanently fixed as part of the POV.
EXAMPLES OF ITEMS YOU MAY NOT LEAVE
IN VEHICLE:
1. TVs and VCRs, except factory installed
2. Accessories not
permanently installed
3. Flammable or hazardous substances, oils, paints,
waxes
4. Any liquids or pressurized cans. Propane tanks must be purged and
certified by an authorized dealer
5. Citizen Band radios
LEASED POVS,
OR POVS WITH RECORDED LIEN IN U.S.:
If your POV is leased, or a recorded lien
exists in the U.S., you must provide written approval from the
"third-party-in-interest" (leasing company or lienholder), which expressly
provides that the vehicle may be exported. This written approval must be on the
leasing company's or lienholder's letterhead paper, and contain a complete
description of the vehicle, including the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN),
the name of the owner or lienholder of the leased vehicle, and the telephone
numbers at which that owner or lienholder may be contacted. The writing must
bear an original signature of an official of the leasing company's or
lienholder, and state the date it was signed. The written approval must include
the leasing company or lienholder's acknowledgements that return shipment prior
to the next permanent change of station is a private matter between the leasing
company or lienholder and
you. All requirements stated in the lease agreement
are your responsibility.
**NAVY MEMBERS INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIENHOLDER
LETTERS:
"Effective 1 October 2002, Navy members/persons acting as powers of
attorney must provide a lienholder letter to the CONUS VPC (if required) when
turning in a POV for export. PPSOs should stress this requirement during
counseling. If the member/agent fails to provide the lienholder's release, the
VPC should refuse to accept the POV."
*Car alarm must be
disconnected. Bring a working remote device only if the vehicle has a
keyless entry system.