A Personally Procured Move (PPM), often called a DITY move, lets eligible service members arrange some or all of their own household-goods transportation instead of using a government-arranged mover. Instead of the government paying a mover directly, you're paid an incentive — generally 100% of what the government would have paid a mover to move the weight you actually carry, up to your authorized weight — and you keep whatever you don't spend, minus taxes. It gives you more control, but also puts more of the planning, paperwork, and physical work on you. (Military OneSource's PPM fact sheet describes this payment.)
This guide is written for military service members with an authorized PPM. Civilian federal employees have separate relocation rules and tax treatment — if that's you, start with your agency's HR office and DFAS's civilian PCS guidance instead of applying anything here.
This guide is also written for CONUS (continental U.S.) moves. Overseas moves, Alaska/Hawaii, retirement or separation moves, Reserve/Guard orders, and other special circumstances have their own rules — confirm with your TO before assuming the general advice here applies.
The PPM/DITY process follows these basic steps:
- Contact your local transportation office (TO) and get approved — you need your official orders first.
- Decide on the strategy for your PPM.
- Choose from the options available for a PPM.
- Pack your belongings.
- Load your belongings into the truck or trailer.
- Travel to your new home.
- Unload your belongings.
- File your PPM claim with your TO and finance office.
Check it yourself
This overview summarizes official guidance. Rules, prices, and instructions change and differ by service, installation, and provider — open the sources below, confirm the current details for yourself, and get your move's specifics from your transportation office in writing.
Helpful Hints
- Get counseling and approval from your TO before you move anything. Moving at your own expense without prior authorization and documentation can mean a delay, a reduced payment, or no payment — ask your TO for specifics before you assume either outcome. If you've already moved without counseling, contact your TO now and ask what can still be done rather than assuming it's too late.
- Get an estimate of your payment from your TO before you commit to a plan. The government's calculation is based on your authorized weight and distance, not on what a commercial mover would charge you directly — the two numbers can differ substantially in either direction, so get the actual estimate rather than assuming. Ask for estimates both above and below your best guess at weight, since that's the hardest number to predict in advance. Remember that some of what you receive will be subject to tax.
- Weight limits still apply to a PPM. You are paid for the weight you actually move, verified by weight tickets, up to your authorized weight.
- The earlier you start this process the better off you will be. A rushed PPM can have many things go wrong, not to mention being very unpleasant. You can ask your TO questions early, but you need your official orders and your TO's approval before you move anything.
- Make sure you understand the different options available before deciding how you'll move your belongings.
In This Section
Contact Your Transportation Office
An overview of the military offices you should contact in order to properly arrange a Personally Procured Move (PPM).
Choosing a Strategy
Explains the different strategies for performing a military Personally Procured Move (PPM).
Your Move Options
Explains the available options for performing a military Personally Procured Move (PPM).
Reimbursement
How a PPM/DITY payment is calculated, what documents and weight tickets you need, and how taxes fit in.