The military covers a significant portion of your PCS move costs. Most families know the basics — movers show up, you drive to the new duty station, you file a voucher, hope the movers show up again.

What most families don’t know is exactly how much they’re entitled to, how it’s calculated, and where the gaps are that cost them money every single move.

This guide covers every major PCS entitlement with current 2026 rates, JTR citations, and plain-English explanations of how each one works. We built Military Road Trip specifically because this information is buried in a 1,000-page regulation that nobody should have to read themselves. This page is the cliff notes version.

What Is the JTR and Why Does It Matter?

The Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) is the Department of Defense’s authoritative document governing travel and transportation entitlements for military members and civilian employees. Every entitlement covered in this guide comes directly from the JTR. It’s also the reg your finance office relies on to process your travel voucher.

When you’re trying to figure out if something is reimbursable, the JTR is the answer.

It’s also 1,000 pages long and written in the kind of dense government prose that makes people give up and just guess. We read it so you don’t have to. Everything in this guide is cited to the relevant JTR paragraph so you can verify it yourself if needed.

Please note: we make every effort to keep this up to date. If you find an inaccuracy, please let us know.

Authorized PCS Travel Days

Your authorized travel days are the number of days the military recognizes for your PCS drive — and the number of days you receive per diem and lodging reimbursement. They’re not the number of days you must drive (we all know Rip Its can speed this process up). They’re the number of days you’re entitled to.

Per JTR paragraph 050205, authorized travel days for POV travel are calculated as follows:

• 400 miles or fewer: 1 authorized travel day
• More than 400 miles: Divide total official miles by 350. If the remainder is 51 miles or more, add one additional day.

Example: A move of 2,100 miles ÷ 350 = exactly 6 authorized travel days. A move of 1,500 miles ÷ 350 = 4.28, remainder is 98 miles (over 51), so 5 authorized travel days.

The official mileage used for calculation comes from the Defense Table of Official Distances (DTOD) — not Google Maps, not your odometer. Use the DTOD figure when filing your voucher.

Per Diem During PCS Travel

First of all, you’ll hear a lot of people say per diem for various things, but not everyone gets it completely right. There are a few terms you should know when talking about per diem:

• Per diem: a daily, tax-free allowance provided to service members to cover lodging, meals, and incidental expenses during official travel (such as a PCS).
• M&IE: meals and incidental expenses. This is meant to cover things like meals, tips, and other daily inconveniences from not being at home (like forgetting a toothbrush). It’s a set rate you get every day.
• Daily lodging rates: This covers your hotel for the night, up to a certain limit that varies based on location. If you spend less than the limit, you don’t keep the extra. Likewise, if you spend more, you pay the extra.

What is M&IE?

The current 2026 standard CONUS M&IE rate is $68 per day for the service member. This is the flat rate you get every day, whether you spend it all or not.

Service members get 100% of the rate, but dependents get less. To make matters even more fun, dependent M&IE rates depend on their age (per JTR paragraph 050301 and 050303):

• Service member: $68/day (100%)
• Spouse and dependents 12 and older: $51/day (75%)
• Children under 12: $34/day (50%)
• First and last travel days: 75% of the applicable daily rate for everyone

A family of four — service member, spouse, and two kids under 12 — on a 6-day authorized drive receives approximately $1,122 in M&IE per diem. If you want to know how much you can expect for your trip, our road trip planning app will do that for you.

Daily lodging rates

Lodging during authorized PCS travel days is reimbursed at actual cost up to the applicable GSA lodging cap for the location where you stop each night. The standard CONUS lodging cap is $110 per night — but this varies significantly by location.

• Lodging is reimbursed per room, not per person — so plan on one room for the whole family
• Higher caps apply in Non-Standard Areas — check GSA rates for each overnight city
• If you spend less than the cap, you keep the difference
• If you spend more than the cap, the overage is out of pocket
• Keep receipts for every night — lodging receipts are required for your voucher
• Make sure your receipts are itemized, as some things (like taxes and fees) are claimed separately, and don’t count towards your daily lodging rate

On-base lodging is typically priced at or below the local per diem rate and is fully reimbursed. See our military lodging guide for on-base options, TLE, and AFRC properties along your route.

MALT: Mileage Allowance in Lieu of Transportation

MALT reimburses you for driving your personal vehicle to the new duty station instead of using government-arranged transportation. The current 2026 MALT rate is $0.205 per mile, calculated on the official DTOD distance between your origin and destination.

• MALT is authorized for up to two POVs (privately owned vehicles). You can apply to have more than two if needed
• Both vehicles do not need to travel together or arrive simultaneously
• MALT is paid per vehicle, not per person. For example, two vehicles get twice the mileage reimbursement, but one car with two people will not
• The rate covers fuel costs — you don’t need to submit fuel receipts

For example: on a 2,100-mile move with one vehicle: 2,100 × $0.205 = $430.50 in MALT reimbursement. With two authorized vehicles: $861. This is separate from and in addition to per diem.

Dislocation Allowance (DLA)

DLA is a one-time payment designed to offset the costs of relocating your household. It’s separate from your travel entitlements and is paid as a flat allowance based on rank and dependency status. DLA increased 3.8% for 2026.

General 2026 DLA ranges:

• Junior enlisted (E-1 to E-4) without dependents: approximately $1,019.
• Junior enlisted with dependents: approximately $1,650–$2,200.
• Mid-grade enlisted and junior officers with dependents: approximately $2,500–$3,500.
• Senior officers with dependents: approximately $5,000–$6,386.

You can see the full list of DLA rates for 2026 to check your specific criteria.

DLA eligibility notes:

• First-term service members without dependents typically do not receive DLA on their first PCS.
• DLA is not automatic — confirm eligibility and processing with your finance office.
• DLA is not authorized for all types of moves — retirement moves and separation moves have different rules.
• Verify your specific amount with your finance office as exact figures vary by pay grade and years of service.
• DLA may be paid in advance to help offset expenses incurred during your PCS. Call your finance office for details on getting it in advance.

Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE)

TLE covers short-term lodging costs at your losing or gaining installation while you’re between permanent housing situations. Per JTR Table 5-13, TLE is authorized for up to 21 days for CONUS PCS moves, split however makes sense between your losing and gaining installations. For moves going OCONUS, TLE is authorized for 7 days at the CONUS end.

TLE reimburses a percentage of the locality lodging per diem rate plus M&IE — not full reimbursement of actual costs. Plan for some out-of-pocket expense during TLE. Not all lodging near installations is TLE-eligible either, so confirm with your gaining installation’s housing office.

TLE is separate from your travel per diem and lodging reimbursement during the drive. It applies only to the period at the losing or gaining installation, not to your travel days.

Household Goods Shipment and Weight Allowances

The government arranges and pays for your household goods shipment up to your authorized weight allowance. Weight allowances vary by rank and dependency status per JTR table 5-7:

Household goods over your weight allowance are shipped at your expense. Weigh your shipment before pack day or declutter aggressively before movers arrive. See our PCS move checklist for a full pre-move timeline.

Professional Books, Papers, and Equipment (Pro-Gear)

Pro-gear is an additional weight allowance for job-related items — books, papers, and equipment required for your duties. The allowance is up to 500 lbs for the service member and up to 500 lbs for the spouse if they have a profession requiring specialized equipment.

Pro-gear must be documented and listed separately on your household goods inventory. It does not count against your standard weight allowance.

Personally Procured Move (PPM)

A Personally Procured Move (PPM), formerly called a DITY move, means you arrange and execute your own household goods move instead of using the government-contracted movers. You’re reimbursed up to 100% of what the government would have paid to move your goods (the Government Constructed Cost, or GCC).

For families who can execute an efficient PPM, the financial benefit can be significant — particularly for shorter moves or families with less than their full weight allowance in household goods.

Some guidelines to know:

• Weight tickets are required — empty and loaded — for each vehicle used.
• Keep all receipts for moving expenses (truck rental, packing materials, fuel, etc).
• The reimbursement is taxable income in most cases — you will likely be issued a W-2.
• Contact your transportation office (TMO/PPSO) before executing a PPM to ensure proper authorization.

Pet Relocation Reimbursement

Effective January 1, 2024, JTR paragraph 050107 authorizes reimbursement for pet relocation costs for PCS orders dated January 1, 2024 or later. This is one of the most commonly missed entitlements — most families don’t know it exists.

• CONUS moves: Up to $550 per PCS order.
• OCONUS moves: Up to $2,000 per PCS order.
• High-risk rabies country OCONUS: Up to $4,000 through the Secretarial Process (effective November 2024).

Eligible expenses include hotel pet charges, mandatory microchipping, boarding fees, licensing fees at the new installation, and pet shipping fees. For OCONUS moves, quarantine fees and titer testing are also eligible.

Eligibility requirements:

• Only cats and dogs qualify
• One pet per service member per PCS order
• Dual-military couples on separate orders may each claim one pet
• Expenses must be substantiated with receipts

See our full guide: PCSing With Pets: The Complete Guide

Advance Pay and Travel Advances

Travel advances allow you to receive a portion of your estimated PCS travel entitlements before you leave, so you’re not floating the full cost of the move on personal funds or a credit card. Request a travel advance through your losing installation’s finance office before you depart.

A travel advance is not additional money — it’s an advance against your entitlements that reduces your final voucher payment by the amount advanced. DLA may also be available as an advance in some cases. Ask your finance office specifically about both.

If you’re using a credit card for PCS expenses, be aware of the credit card interest trap: reimbursements can take weeks, and interest accrues on any balance you carry through a billing cycle. See our PCS pay delays guide for how to avoid this and what to do if reimbursement is delayed.

What’s NOT Reimbursed

Knowing what isn’t covered is just as important as knowing what is. Common non-reimbursed expenses that catch families off guard:

• Household goods over your authorized weight allowance
• Lodging that exceeds the GSA per diem cap for the overnight location
• Extra travel days beyond your authorized number
• House cleaning at the losing or gaining residence
• New furniture or appliances
• Utility setup fees (unless specifically authorized)
• Pet costs above the JTR 050107 reimbursement cap, or for pets other than cats and dogs
• Meals and lodging during the packing period before authorized travel days begin
• Childcare during the move
• Vehicle registration and driver’s license fees at the new duty station

See our full breakdown: How Much Does a PCS Move Cost Out of Pocket in 2026?

How to File Your Travel Voucher and Not Leave Money Behind

Your travel voucher is how you collect every entitlement covered in this guide. File it the day you arrive at the gaining installation — every day you wait is a day added to your wait for reimbursement. Common voucher errors that cause delays or reduced reimbursement:

• Missing orders or amendments
• Not including TDY orders if you were TDY en route
• Using Google Maps mileage instead of the official DTOD distance
• Any previous advances (like DLA) from finance must be documented and submitted. This is one of the most common reasons reimbursement gets delayed or results in a debt to the government.
• Missing lodging receipts or receipts that aren’t itemized
• Forgetting to claim pet expenses under JTR 050107
• Not providing receipts for tolls or claims over $75
• Excessive travel time that were not covered by authorized travel days or leave
• Claiming MALT for more than your allowed POVs

It’s a lot to keep track of, but the good news is, you don’t have to do all the remembering yourself.

Our free PCS road trip planner generates a personalized receipt checklist with your itinerary — organized by overnight stop, with the lodging cap for each location already filled in, and a reminder for things like toll and pet receipts. Print it before you leave and check off receipts as you go.

Frequently Asked Questions