The DITY Move Explained!

The Do It Yourself (DITY) move is a kind of military moving solution that can save you money. According to Military.com, it’s a voluntary program that allows the Government to reimburse you for moving your own belongings. These kinds of moves are sometimes referred to as personally produced moves. They are not generally recommended for overseas relocation, but if you plan to relocate to another base, this is a great option!

Of course, like any other Government program, it has its rules and regulations. If you are making a Permanent Change of Station (PCS), a Temporary Duty (TDY), or Temporary Additional Duty (TAD) move, or separate, retire and move to or away from Government quarters under orders, you’re eligible for a DITY move. Some of the authorized methods of DITY moving include personally owned vehicles (POV), privately owned trailers, hiring a commercial moving company, the “you load, they drive” type of services and shipment via parcel post, which all means that if you use these during your Dity move, the Government can reimburse you.

These kinds of military moves sound like they might be a lot of stress and hassle, though, so why bother with them? Here are just a couple of the benefits that you should consider.

Benefits.

Firstly, since this is a voluntary program, you’re allowed the option of either taking on the full DITY move yourself, or taking only a portion of it, a partial DITY move. What this basically means is that if there is some aspect of your DITY move that you want the military to handle because it would save time, stress, etc., then you can still take advantage of the reimbursements for what you do yourself. When it comes to the DITY move, it’s not all or nothing.

Secondly, some of the expenses that you can choose to let the Government reimburse you for include the truck and trailer rental, the cost of packing materials (like bubble wrap, boxes, etc.), packing blankets and furniture pads rental, hand truck rentals, gas, oil, and tolls for rental trucks. With all those covered, it’s like you won’t even need to spend any money on your move!

However, this program is not without its drawbacks. Here are a couple of the downsides to a DITY move.

Drawbacks.

During your DITY move, any lost or damaged property that occurs is considered to be the result of improperly packaged or handled on the part of the service member or the handling company. This means that the Government is not liable of anything lost or damaged during a DITY move.

Another drawback is that the government is not authorized some expenses, which include tow dollies, auto transportation, any and all insurance fees, sales tax, meals, lodgings, and gas for any additional vehicles.

A DITY move can be a real lifesaver for a military family. With the proper planning, you can make a DITY move work for you, and possibly earn a little profit on it! If you have any questions about DITY moves, feel free to ask in the comments! More on this topic.