Ship Your Military Car to South Korea: 2026 PCS Guide

A PCS to Korea moves your household across nine time zones, and your car is the piece with the most rules attached. The good news: if your orders authorize it, the government ships one vehicle for free. This guide covers how that entitlement works in 2026, what it does not cover, and what the out-of-pocket options cost for second cars, motorcycles, and family vehicles.

Does the Army Pay to Ship Your Car to Korea?

Yes, with conditions. If your PCS orders explicitly authorize POV shipment, the government ships one privately owned vehicle to Korea at its expense. You drop the car at a stateside Vehicle Processing Center, the contract carrier (International Auto Logistics, tracked through PCSmyPOV) moves it, and you pick it up at the Pyeongtaek VPC near Camp Humphreys.

What the entitlement does not cover:

• A second family vehicle. USFK Regulation 190-1 allows one 4-wheeled vehicle per household, and a second requires an exception to policy (available at Camp Humphreys). Shipping it is on you.
• Motorcycles beyond the single authorized POV. USFK allows one 2-wheeled vehicle per licensed driver in your household, but the government ships only the one POV named on your orders.
• Retirees, DoD civilians without shipment authorization, and contractors.
• Expedited or air shipments.

That out-of-pocket shipment is what West Coast Shipping does daily from our Oakland, New Jersey, and Florida warehouses.

Your Options and What They Cost in 2026

Ocean rates cover your vehicle from our warehouse to the Korean port. Door pickup from your base or home is quoted separately by distance, and Incheon arrivals run slightly higher than Busan. Current rates for every route live on our South Korea car shipping page, with a calculator for your exact vehicle.

What a Real Move Costs: Fort Hood to Camp Humphreys

Take a family at Fort Hood shipping a second vehicle, a 2020 Jeep Wrangler, at their own expense. The consolidated container rate from Texas to Busan is $2,900 with a 41-day ocean transit. On top of that, budget for three variable items: door pickup from the Killeen area to our loading warehouse (quoted by distance; dropping the car off yourself brings it to zero), Korean-side customs clearance and delivery to post (our Busan partner quotes this with your booking), and the small won-denominated costs on arrival, roughly ₩70,000–₩120,000 for compulsory liability coverage plus about ₩30,000 for inspection. In a shared container the ocean freight is already the single biggest line, so the fastest way to a firm all-in number is the calculator with your actual ZIP code.

The PCS Vehicle Timeline: Orders to On-Base Delivery

The schedule below assumes a West Coast sailing, the fast lane at 14 days on the water. From New Jersey or Florida add about three weeks of ocean transit, and from Texas about four: book those origins earlier against your report date.

• Week 0: Orders in hand. Book your VPC turn-in appointment through PCSmyPOV for the government-shipped POV, and email West Coast Shipping for a quote on anything the entitlement does not cover.
• Week 1: Confirm the private booking: origin warehouse or door pickup, vessel schedule, and delivery plan on the Korea side.
• Week 2: Gather documents: title or lienholder letter, power of attorney if a spouse or agent handles either end, EPA Form 3520-1, DOT Form HS-7.
• Week 3: Vehicle prep and handoff: quarter tank, personal items out, condition photos from every angle before it leaves your hands.
• Week 4: Container loading at the warehouse: battery checked, soft-strap tie-down, final photo set uploaded to your tracking portal.
• Week 5: Vessel departs for Busan or Incheon.
• Weeks 6–7: Arrival in Korea on the California fast lane. Our Busan partner pre-files the customs entry so clearance starts the day the ship docks.
• Weeks 7–8: Customs release, safety inspection if required, and USFK registration paperwork.
• Weeks 8–9: Delivery to Camp Humphreys, Osan, or your off-base address anywhere on the peninsula.

Documents You Need

• PCS orders authorizing POV shipment
• Vehicle title, or lienholder permission letter if financed (most lenders respond within 10 days)
• Power of attorney if a spouse or agent handles either end
• EPA Form 3520-1 with the box 7 PCS exemption
• DOT Form HS-7, code C for non-resident military
• Military ID copy
• Korean compulsory insurance quote for USFK registration

Prepping the Vehicle

• Fuel at a quarter tank or less
• Steam-clean the undercarriage for Korean agricultural inspection
• Remove every personal item and non-permanent accessory
• Disconnect aftermarket alarms; check battery, tires, and fluids
• Photograph and video every angle before turn-in
• Bring two keys, plus the wheel-lock adapter

When Your Car Lands: Customs, Inspection, Registration

• Customs: the authorized POV clears duty-free for SOFA-status personnel. Additional privately shipped vehicles registered under USFK are generally handled under SOFA provisions as well; confirm your specific case with the transportation office. Outside SOFA handling, Korea's civilian cascade applies: 8% duty (0% for US-built cars under KORUS), 5% consumption tax, education tax at 30% of that, and 10% VAT. Full detail in our civilian import tax guide.
• Inspection: a safety inspection is required if the vehicle is over 2 years old or not SOFA-registered, completed within 90 days before registration. Lift kits and loud exhausts may need reverting to stock.
• Registration: the sponsor registers the vehicle (dependents cannot), insurance must be in the owner's name with Korea-valid coverage (USAA and Korean carriers both work), and steel plates run 16,000 KRW.
• Driving: Korea drives on the right. Your US car needs no conversion, and you will drive on your stateside license briefly before obtaining the USFK permit.

Motorcycles and Second Vehicles

Motorcycles

USFK permits one 2-wheeled vehicle per licensed driver in your household, on top of the household car. If your car takes the government's one-POV slot, the bike ships at personal expense: crated and containerized, a 20ft container holds up to 8 motorcycles. Complete the required motorcycle safety course before riding on base.

The Second Family Car

The default under USFK 190-1 is one 4-wheeled vehicle per household. Camp Humphreys accepts exceptions to policy for a second, and families on 2 to 3 year accompanied tours file them routinely. The government will not ship it; we will. Check the numbers against your situation in our ship-or-store decision guide, then get a rate on the South Korea page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Army pay to ship a second car to Korea?

No. The entitlement is one POV. Second vehicles ship at personal expense and need a USFK exception to policy to register.

Can I ship my motorcycle to Korea on PCS orders?

The government entitlement covers one POV. If your car takes that slot, the motorcycle ships at personal expense. USFK allows one 2-wheeled vehicle per licensed driver.

Where do I pick up my POV in Korea?

The Pyeongtaek VPC near Camp Humphreys for government shipments. Our commercial shipments arrive at Busan or Incheon, with on-base delivery coordination.

Can I drive my left-hand-drive American car in Korea?

Yes. Korea drives on the right, same as the US.

When should I start?

Sixty days before your report date covers the VPC appointment, lienholder letters, and vessel schedules without paying for expedited anything. From East Coast, Florida, or Texas origins, make it ninety: the longer ocean legs eat the buffer.

What if my car is financed or leased?

You need a lienholder authorization letter to export. Most lenders turn these around within 10 days; leases are at the lessor's discretion.

Ready to Ship?

Get an instant rate for a second vehicle, motorcycle, or non-entitled move on our South Korea car shipping page. Vetting shippers first? Our questions to ask military car shipping companies and the USFK service-member guide cover what to look for.