Does the government travel card cover a rental car for pcs moves?

2014-12-19T14:08:17-05:00

I'm pcsing from Hawaii to hood. I'm applying for a gtc. My orders don't specify which transportation it covers and noone can seem to give me a answer. I want to ship my pov early.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2014 3:24 PM

2014-12-19T15:24:31-05:00

Your orders cover you for what will be paid back by the military. If it's not covered, you just have to pay it back yourself - nothing to do with the actual credit card. I've accidentally used my government card (it looks just like my USAA card) for all kinds of stuff. You just have to pay it back if there's not reimbursement through DTS. The government card doesn't bill the government, it bills you.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2014 8:41 PM

2014-12-19T20:41:02-05:00

SGT(P) Daniel McBride: I was the program coordinator for GTCs in my Battalion.

For PCS, you are ONLY authorized to use the card if your unit authorized you to use it for PCS! That means if your current unit (the losing unit) does not authorize you to use it, you cannot use it!

If you have questions, Google "DoD Financial Management Regulation (DoDFMR), Volume 9, Chapter 3". Here's the specific text in that regulation regarding using the GTC for PCS:

"Use of an IBA for PCS travel is at the discretion of the Component. If use of the IBA is
authorized by the Component, the Component will establish guidance on which expenses will be placed on the IBA with the exception of the purchase of City Pair airfares when a leave location is involved. For specific instructions concerning City Pair airfares with a leave location involved refer to paragraph 030504"

Note: IBA stands for "Individually Billed Account" - this means that YOU are going to be billed for the charges on the card, and YOU will be responsible for paying those charges if you fail to file a travel claim or are NOT reimbursed. There is also a "Centrally Billed Account" - where the unit owns the card and issues it to the unit leaders for certain official travel.

Now, IF you unit has authorized you to use the card, you can use it for your PCS, and you can use it for hotel accommodations and possibly rental car - but that has to be worked out with your losing unit (NOT your gaining unit)

Your travel orders will normally state what you are authorized to use the card for (for example: "Rental Car Authorized", "Hotel Accommodations Required", etc.), and everything pretty much requires authorization from your unit. That authorization CAN be verbal or written, as long as you document who you spoke with and who authorized it (it has to be a program manager or OIC in charge of travel for your unit).

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2015 6:09 AM

2015-02-03T06:09:03-05:00

No. When I PCS'd to Hawaii, I had to pay out of pocket for a month til my vehicle arrived.