Request for Reimbursement of Expenses Involved in Return of Automobile to Permanent Duty Station

An employee appealed the denial of reimbursement for the expense of transporting his automobile back to his permanent duty station. While on temporary duty travel, the employee had incurred bodily injury which prevented him from driving the automobile himself. The Government paid for his return air fare; however, it has previously been held that in such cases there is no authority permitting reimbursement for the additional expenses of transporting the employee's vehicle. GAO, believing its previous interpretations of the law were too restrictive, overruled those decisions. Since the employee was not incapacitated due to his own misconduct while on official travel away from his duty station, the employee was allowed reimbursement for the cost of the transportation of his automobile.