TSP vs PPM vs Full PCS: Which Option Saves You Money

When you get PCS orders, one of the first big decisions you face is how to actually move your household goods. The military gives you options, and the one you choose can mean the difference between a stress-free move and a few thousand extra dollars in your pocket. Understanding TSP vs PPM vs a full government PCS move is the key to choosing the option that saves you the most money while still protecting your belongings. Whether you are moving out of Joint Base San Antonio or NAS Corpus Christi, this guide breaks down each option so you can decide with confidence.

At Half Price Movers, we have been helping Texas military families move for over 40 years. Here is how the three options compare, and how to pick the one that fits your move and your budget.

The Three Ways to Move Your Household Goods

Let us start by defining each option clearly, because the acronyms get confusing fast.

Government-Arranged Move (Full PCS / HHG)

This is the traditional move where the government arranges everything through a contracted moving company. It is often called an HHG (Household Goods) move. A carrier packs, loads, transports, and delivers your belongings. You do very little of the physical work.

TSP (Transportation Service Provider)

A TSP is the actual moving company the government contracts to handle your HHG move. When people say "TSP move," they usually mean the government-arranged move executed by a specific carrier assigned through the Defense Personal Property System (DPS). In other words, a TSP move is the government-arranged path, just referred to by the name of the provider doing the work.

PPM (Personally Procured Move)

Formerly called a DITY (Do-It-Yourself) move, a PPM is when you handle your own move instead of using a government carrier. You rent a truck, hire labor-only movers, or use a container service, and the government reimburses you based on what it would have cost them to move your authorized weight. Any savings you create, you keep as taxable income.

You can see how our services support each of these paths on our services overview page.

How Each Option Affects Your Wallet

Money is usually the deciding factor, so let us focus there.

Government-Arranged / TSP Move: Lowest Out-of-Pocket, Least Cash Back

With a government-arranged move, the government pays the carrier directly. Your out-of-pocket cost is very low because you are not fronting the expenses. The trade-off is that you do not receive a reimbursement or keep any savings. It is convenient, but there is no financial upside for you.

Best for your wallet when: You value convenience over cash, you have a large household, or you cannot manage the logistics yourself.

PPM: Highest Cash Potential, More Effort

A PPM pays you a reimbursement based on weight and distance. The less you spend executing the move, the more you keep. This is where the real money is. Service members who rent a truck and hire labor-only movers often keep a meaningful portion of their reimbursement.

Best for your wallet when: You want to maximize cash back, you have a manageable household size, and you are willing to handle the logistics.

Partial PPM: A Balanced Middle Ground

You can combine both. The government moves most of your belongings through a TSP, and you move some items yourself under a PPM (like a vehicle's contents, tools, or valuables). You get some reimbursement without managing the entire move.

Best for your wallet when: You want some cash back but do not want to handle a full self-move.

For the official rules on how reimbursement is calculated, the Move.mil PCS planning portal is the only authoritative source.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Here is a quick look at how the three options stack up.

There is no single "best" option. The right choice depends on your household size, your timeline, your physical readiness, and how much you value cash versus convenience.

Why the PPM Usually Wins for Money-Focused Movers

If your main goal is to save (or make) money, the PPM is almost always the winner. Here is why.

You Keep What You Do Not Spend

The reimbursement is fixed based on weight and distance. If you move efficiently (rental truck plus labor-only crew), your costs stay low and you keep the difference.

Labor-Only Movers Make It Manageable

Many service members avoid PPMs because they picture doing everything alone. That is not the case. You can hire a labor-only crew to handle the loading and unloading (the hard part) while you handle the truck and the drive. This is the classic PPM play, and it is exactly what a value-focused mover is built for.

You Control Your Own Timeline

With a PPM, you rent the truck and set the schedule. You are not waiting on carrier availability during peak PCS season (May through August), when government-contracted TSPs are stretched thin.

To learn more about how labor-only works with a PPM, see our residential moving services page, which covers the full range of options we offer.

When the Government / TSP Move Makes More Sense

The PPM is not always the right call. A government-arranged TSP move can be better when:

• You are moving a very large home with a huge volume of belongings
• You physically cannot manage the packing, loading, or driving
• Your report date is compressed and you have no time to organize a self-move
• You are moving overseas (OCONUS), where logistics are far more complex
• You would rather have zero cash back than deal with weight tickets and receipts

Convenience has real value. If a stress-free move matters more to you than the reimbursement, the government-arranged path is a legitimate choice.

How to Decide What Is Right for Your Move

Run through these questions before you commit.

• How big is my household, and how much am I moving?
• Do I want to maximize cash back, or minimize effort?
• Am I comfortable driving a rental truck to my next duty station?
• Do I have time to organize a self-move given my report date?
• Am I physically able to manage the logistics (or hire help)?
• Is this an OCONUS move with complex requirements?
• Do I have valuable or fragile items that need professional packing?

If most answers point toward "I want cash back and can manage it," go PPM. If they point toward "I want convenience and no hassle," go government-arranged. If you land in the middle, a partial PPM gives you the best of both.

For a deeper checklist on planning any PCS, the Military OneSource PCS planning resource is one of the best free tools available.

Where Half Price Movers Fits Into Your PCS

Half Price Movers was practically built for the PPM customer. We are family-owned, fully licensed and insured in Texas, and based in both San Antonio and Corpus Christi, right next to the bases our military families move to and from. However you choose to move, we can help:

• Labor-only crews to load and unload your rental truck or container for a PPM
• Crews on both ends of a long-distance PCS
• Fragile-only packing for valuables you do not want to pack yourself
• Full-service moving if you would rather we handle everything
• Specialty handling for pianos, antiques, artwork, and oversized items
• Local knowledge of JBSA Lackland, Randolph, Fort Sam Houston, and NAS Corpus Christi

We help you capture the reimbursement a PPM is designed to give you, while still getting the professional muscle that protects your belongings.

Ready to Choose the Option That Saves You the Most?

TSP, PPM, or a full government PCS. The right choice depends on your household, your timeline, and whether you value cash or convenience more. For most money-focused service members with a manageable load, a PPM with a labor-only crew keeps the most money in your pocket. Whether you are moving out of Joint Base San Antonio or NAS Corpus Christi, Half Price Movers is ready to help you do it the smart way.

You can request your free quote online or see all the Texas areas we cover on our areas we serve page.

Ready to make your move? Half Price Movers has been serving Texas families since 1979. Call (361) 405-6383 (San Antonio) or (361) 937-7615 (Corpus Christi), or get your free quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a TSP move and a PPM?

A TSP (Transportation Service Provider) move is a government-arranged move where a contracted carrier handles everything and the government pays them directly. A PPM (Personally Procured Move, formerly DITY) is when you handle the move yourself and receive a reimbursement based on what the government would have paid. TSP is convenient with no cash back. PPM takes more effort but lets you keep the savings.

Which option saves the most money?

For most service members with a manageable household size, a PPM saves the most money, especially when paired with a rental truck and labor-only movers. Because the reimbursement is fixed, keeping your costs low means keeping more cash. A government-arranged TSP move has the lowest out-of-pocket cost but offers no reimbursement.

Can I combine a TSP move and a PPM?

Yes. This is called a partial PPM. The government moves most of your belongings through a TSP, and you move some items yourself under a PPM. You get some reimbursement without managing the entire move.

Do I have to do all the work myself in a PPM?

No. A PPM does not mean doing everything alone. You can hire licensed labor-only movers to handle the loading and unloading while you provide the truck and the drive. This is the most popular way to run a PPM.

How is my PPM reimbursement calculated?

Reimbursement is based on what the government would have paid a contracted carrier to move your authorized weight allowance, factoring in distance. The exact amount depends on your rank, dependents, and actual weight moved. Your transportation office can give you a personalized estimate.

Are Half Price Movers licensed and insured?

Yes. We are fully licensed and insured in Texas, and our credentials can be verified through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. We are happy to provide our license number and certificate of insurance on request.

Do you help with both government and self-moves?

Yes. We offer labor-only crews for PPMs, fragile-only packing, full-service moving, and specialty handling. Whether you are doing a PPM, a partial PPM, or need civilian help alongside a TSP move, we can build a customized plan.

When should I start planning my PCS move?

Start at least 90 to 120 days before your move date, especially during peak PCS season (May through August). Counseling, paperwork, and reservations all take time, and the earliest planning gives you the most options and the best chance to maximize savings.