Is a Partial DITY Move Right for You?

Whether you’ve just received your first permanent change of station (PCS) orders or your fifth, you know the stress of the process. No matter how much time you have to prepare, you’ll need to figure out how you want to move to your next installation as soon as possible. Yes, the military offers two primary options for moves: HHG (household goods moves) and PPM/DITY (personally procured moves/do-it-yourself). Generally, an HHG is a full-service move that the government pays for. A PPM/DITY is a move that you organize yourself, and the government gives you a stipend to cover the costs. But there is a third option, too: the partial DITY move.

PODS is proud to serve the men and women who serve our country. Active, Retired, and Veteran members of the military receive a PODS military discount up to 25%.* For PPM/DITY moves or storage during deployments, call 866-556-9574.   *Offer available for new orders only. Customer receives 25% off local delivery and redelivery/final pick up fees and first month’s rental and 10% off transportation fees. Must mention promotional code at time of order. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer void where prohibited by law. Available for a limited time, only at participating locations. Excludes special and exclusive promotions.

A partial DITY move allows members and their families to personally handle some items, while the government handles the rest. Often, members will select this option if there are things they want to keep close by (like family heirlooms or documents), or if they think they’ll come out financially ahead by handling part of the move. And since it isn’t a full DITY move, you’ll have the opportunity to use movers to help you with the things you don’t want to pack and load yourself, like that old hutch or three-piece sectional.

But what are the specifics for a partial DITY move, and why would a service member want to do that instead of a regular DITY move? Read on, and we’ll walk you through it.

Partial DITY Move — FAQs

Q: Can you do a partial DITY move?
A: Yes! Military service members have the option of going to their next installation by doing a partial DITY move.

Q: How to submit a PPM claim?
A: After you arrive at your new installation, you’ll need to submit your PPM claim within 45 days. You can do this by bringing a copy of your PCS orders, weight tickets, travel receipts, and other important documentation to the new installation’s transportation office.
 
Q: How much do I get paid per pound on a DITY move?
A: What you get paid depends on the estimated weight of your items and the miles moved. To get a better idea of that amount, you can check out a partial DITY move calculator and see what you can expect to get.

Q: How to get the most out of your DITY move?
A: You’ll want to bring only the stuff you’ll really use/need at your next installation and that you can fit into your car/trailer without going over your weight limit. 

Q: Is there a difference between an Army DITY move and a Navy DITY move?
A: The military moves service members the same way, no matter what branch they’re in, with the option to choose military movers or to do a full or partial DITY move. Service members should check with their branch’s transportation office for full details on benefits and how they will be processed. Terminology may differ between branches, but the general process is similar.

A partial DITY move involves the back-saving services of contracted moving companies with the cost savings of DITY moving.

What Is a Partial DITY Move?

A partial DITY move is a moving option service members can choose once they receive their PCS orders. Note: PCS orders mean the military is moving the service member and their family to another base. However, you can also do a partial DITY move with a temporary duty (TDY) or temporary additional duty (TAD) assignment. You’re not likely to need this with a permanent change of assignment (PCA), though. That’s something a little different, and it just means that the service member will report to a new unit at the same military post. It does not require a household move. 

PCS moves are common, and military service members can expect to move, on average, every 40 months. This means that you’ll have plenty of opportunities to try different kinds of moves and find the one that works best for you and your family.
 
Partial DITY moves are basically the best of both worlds, as they take advantage of both contracted moving companies and a little do-it-yourself gusto. With a partial DITY move, you can have the movers take large furniture and boxes of items that you might not need right away in your new home. Then, you can pack up your car (and trailer if you want) with items the movers will not take, that you use frequently, or that are very valuable.

One of the biggest perks of choosing to move this way is you’ll get reimbursed for the items you end up hauling, and your weight limit will be split between the moving company and your car/trailer. Lots of folks like this option because it gives them control over packing up the items they may need right away without worrying that all of their items are tied up in storage or delivery delays.

Pros and Cons of a Partial DITY Move

There are advantages and disadvantages to any type of move, and it’s important to go over these to see if this would be the right option for you.

Pros of a Partial DITY Move

• You’re already driving to your new installation, so why not pocket some cash? Pack up your car/trailer, get it weighed, and get reimbursed for the weight, gas, and tolls along the way. Whatever is left over is yours to keep.
• Professional movers can handle the large, heavy items like couches, tables, and beds, so you don’t have to worry about loading those items yourself.
• You can stay close to valuable items or family heirlooms to ensure they are not damaged or lost by the moving company.

Cons of a Partial DITY Move

• You won’t get as much reimbursed since you’re not doing a full DITY move.
• Most service members have to pay for everything like gas and tolls up front and then get reimbursed once they’ve arrived at their new installation.
• It can be more of a hassle to determine what you want to bring with you and what items you should just get rid of to ensure you stay under your weight limit.
• You’ll need to have your car/trailer weighed before it’s packed up and after — remember to have a full tank of gas and to ensure there aren’t any passengers inside!
• Your car will be totally full, and you may need to haul a separate trailer to fit all the items you want to bring. (A PODS moving and storage container can solve this issue!).

Pro Tip: You can also load up a PODS portable moving and storage container with items for a partial DITY move, and you won’t have to worry about the weighing and driving!

A DITY move puts you in charge of every aspect of your relocation, including renting a moving container or truck to transport your belongings.

What Is the Process Like for Other PCS Moves?

Before we get into the particulars of a partial DITY move, let’s look at what’s involved with the other moving options for service members.

DITY Move/PPM Move

With a full DITY move or PPM move, you’ll be responsible for arranging everything, from the moving truck/trailer to packing and loading, getting weighed, and driving to your new installation. You will need to keep track of all your receipts and expenses related to moving (gas, tolls, etc.), and you will be reimbursed based on your mileage and weight of all your household items, up to the amount the government would have paid if you went with an HHG.

HHG Move

An HHG move requires you to work with your current installation’s transportation management office. They’ll procure a government-contracted moving service to pack up and transport your household goods. It’ll cost you $0 up front, and the movers will pack all your items (with some exceptions), load them up, drive them to your new installation, and unload them all if you wish. You don’t have to worry about getting things weighed, and they’ll even disassemble and reassemble your furniture.

Taking the Partial DITY Move Route

If having the freedom to pack up some of your household items and transport them with you while also getting reimbursed to do so sounds like it’s right up your alley, a partial DITY move may be the right choice for you. It will give you flexibility while also giving you peace of mind knowing that your larger, heavier items will make it safely to your new installation with the help of professional movers. Here’s your step-by-step process for successfully completing a partial DITY move. 

1. Apply for a Partial DITY Move.

You will first need to apply for this type of move with your specific transportation office. While each branch of service may have a slightly different process, the form each branch fills out is the same. Once you have your PCS orders in hand, you’ll need to fill out a DD Form 2278. And because you will also be using movers, you’ll need to head over to the Defense Personal Property System (DPS) to start the application for a shipment of your household goods and any unaccompanied baggage.

Here are the names of the transportation offices for each branch:

• Army: Installation Transportation Office
• Navy: Personal Property/Household Good Shipping Office
• Air Force: Traffic Management Office
• Marines: Distribution Management Office
• Coast Guard: Coast Guard Transportation Office

You’re responsible for packing the items that will go in your car or trailer — your movers will take care of the rest of the stuff!

2. Prepare for Your Partial DITY Move.

Once you have a moving company, you’ll receive a 7-day window in which they’ll arrive, pack your items, and load them up. Knowing this window is also helpful for the partial DITY part of your move. If you’re renting a PODS portable storage container, for example, you can have it delivered before or at the same time as that window and arrange for it to be picked up after you’re done loading it. If you’re arranging to rent a trailer to hitch to your car, you’ll want to start that process, as well.

Pro Tip: Make sure the insurance on your car and any rental trailers fully covers you, as state laws regarding liability and accidents can vary.

The next step is to start the packing process. Keep in mind, this involves only the items you’ll load into your container, car, truck, or trailer. Your movers will take care of the rest of the stuff. One of the most crucial parts of this type of move is ensuring you get your car weighed empty and completely packed up (minus driver and passengers), so you can determine the net weight of your property. Best practice here is to make sure you have a full tank of gas for both weigh-ins. You can go to the weigh station at your current installation or find a certified scale to weigh your vehicle. You’ll be given weight tickets, and these will determine your payout, so take extra care to hold on to them.
 
Our advice? Include a “first night” box in your car filled with everything you’ll need to avoid fumbling around moving boxes once you’re at your new place. Chances are high that you’ll arrive before your other items, which may have to wait in storage until a delivery date can be set. A first night box should contain:

• Bed linens
• Bath towels
• Shower curtain/liner/hooks
• Small appliances (coffee maker, toaster, etc.)
• Toiletries
• Clothing
• Basic kitchen items
• Basic cleaning supplies
• Small kitchen appliances
• Toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bag

3. Get Moving!

Once your moving day has arrived, you’ll want to make sure you’re there to supervise the moving company as they pack and load your items. Although you cannot help the movers pack the items they’re taking, you can take your own inventory of the items, ideally with pictures that depict their condition. The movers will inventory, pack, and label each box of items and present a full inventory of your belongings once they’re all done. Make sure you review this list and keep it close at hand throughout your move. Life will be a lot easier if there are any discrepancies or damage done during transit with this inventory list!
 
All that’s left to do is finish packing up your car, get it weighed (if you haven’t already), and start the drive to your next installation. Be sure to keep all the receipts for any packing materials, gas, oil, and tolls so you can turn them in at the end.

Use PODS for Your Partial DITY Move

If a partial DITY move is right for you, consider using a portable storage container from PODS to make the move a little less stressful. You’ll be able to pack up the container on your schedule. Not to mention the government will reimburse you 100 percent of what it would cost to use contracted movers, so you stand to make some profit with this type of move. PODS drivers will pick up the container when it’s ready and get it weighed, as well, which is one less thing for you to worry about.
 
When you’ve reached your new installation, PODS can either deliver it to your new home or store it in a local PODS Storage Center for as long as you need. And the best part? All Active, Retired, and Veteran service members are entitled to a 25 percent discount!