How Can I Ship A Motorcycle?

What's in this article?

Having a motorcycle is many persons' dream. Nothing beats being out on the open road, feeling the wind against your body as your adrenaline pumps the faster you go.

But, when it's time to relocate your life to say another apartment/house, across the country and even an overseas country, the process to ship your motorcycle slows things down for you a bit. You'll have to find a motorcycle shipping company that will take very good care of your motorcycle during the shipping process while still offering affordable motorcycle shipping costs.

Finding the best motorcycle shipping company for the job means you have to do proper research. Professional motorcycle shippers are not necessarily hard to find, and once you find someone to transport your motorcycle safely and quickly, you're just about covered and can move on to securing shipping options for the rest of your stuff.

A-1 Auto Transport offers various services of which motorcycle shipment and delivery is a significant part. When you're ready to ship a motorcycle, all you have to do is reach out and make your request. We are here for you.

How does motorcycle transport work?

Motorcycle transport works pretty much the same as having your car or truck shipped. They have the same shipping methods both locally and internationally, and prices vary based on the shipping method and delivery option.

Shipping methods

Domestic

Open shipping

This is the cheapest motorcycle transport method used over land. Open trailers leave your motorcycle exposed to the elements during transport, and your motorcycle is one of many vehicles on the carrier.

When the carrier arrives, you can expect your bike to be dirty from road debris and other dust that comes in contact with the carrier.

Enclosed transport

A fully enclosed carrier for motorcycle shipping is the more expensive shipping method over land since fully enclosed trucks carry a limited amount of vehicles at a time. The extra cost for fully enclosed motorcycle transport keeps your motorcycle clean and scratch-free.

International

Ro-Ro shipping

Ro-ro shipping, or roll-on/roll-off shipping involves driving your motorcycle onto the ship and allowing it to be transported as-is, using tie-downs and skids. It is a popular form of open-air shipping used when crossing a body of water.

Container shipping

Container shipping is a type of enclosed transport. This is most cost-efficient when shipping multiple motorcycles or a car along with a bike. A shipping container provides more protection for your vehicle during transport and may be shared with other car and vehicle owners for a more affordable price.

Crate shipping

Crate shipping is another enclosed transport option for those who are not comfortable with open shipping for motorcycles. Sometimes called 'palletized shipping', the motorcycle is secured within a crate on its own and placed on a pallet for transit.

Delivery Options

Door-to-door

Door-to-door delivery is the most convenient option for motorcycle shipments. Your motorcycle can be picked up at your home in the US and brought to your home in another city, state, or country at an additional cost.

Terminal-to-terminal

This is the cheapest delivery option available for shipping motorcycles. You're responsible for bringing your bike to the terminal and picking it up once it arrives at the destination terminal.

Terminal-to-door /door-to-terminal

You can always mix your delivery as you see fit. Our terminals allow for convenient pickup, however, you may choose to have it delivered if you're unfamiliar with the new area. Similarly, if you're too busy with your move, or don't want to risk transporting it yourself through narrow streets we can make this leg of the move easier by scheduling pickup at your home.

What do I need to do to ship a motorcycle?

Shipping your motorcycle requires you to do three main things: Prepare the bike, gather the documents and choose a pickup day.

Prepare your bike

Here's a checklist for preparing your motorcycle prior to transit:

Give it a wash and take pictures of its condition (make note of any scratches or dents)
Remove any accessories that did not come with the bike (e.g spoiler, toll tags, GPS, luggage rack)
Check for leaks and fix them
Leave tank 1/4 way full and/or charge battery
Check tire pressure (they must be inflated)
Disable alarm
Mention any special instructions for operating motorcycle (leave a note)

Gather the documents

Gather the following for your motorcycle transport prior to approaching shipping companies:

Title or Manufacturers Certificate
Photo ID
Certificate of release if a lien or loan is involved
Proof of ownership or bill of sale
Proof of insurance
Keys
Power of Attorney (If applicable)
Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Finalize shipment details

Pay the necessary fees to the services you require, and finalize a convenient pickup day for your bike. Our frequent carrier availability means your vehicle should be ready to go on this day to avoid any delays in delivery.

How to spot bad motorcycle shipping companies

We all want to make a smart choice when shipping a motorcycle or any vehicle. The choice can become difficult to make when you have a ton of motorcycle shipping companies offering what appears to be the same service.

The truth is, there are good motorcycle shipping companies as there are bad ones. Being able to distinguish between the two can save you the headache of poor service and empty promises.

These are the trademarks or signs of a bad motorcycle shipping company:

Off-putting customer service

First impressions say a lot, and when shipping a motorcycle, you need someone you can trust. If your interactions with the staff are unprofessional, it sets the tone for what you should expect when you ship your motorcycle with them. If the employees don't care, don't expect your shipment to be taken care of either.

Extremely low cost to ship or large upfront deposit

Cheaper isn't always better, but expensive doesn't mean it's great. Scrutinize every motorcycle shipping rate you get.

A low price for motorcycle transport may be attractive but stop for a second to ask yourself why they would charge so little for the shipment, especially when using an enclosed trailer or container. Perhaps this is their way of attracting customers because no one wants to deal with their bad business practices.

A large upfront deposit to get your motorcycle transported may also be a sign of trouble. Deposits are standard with companies in this industry, but overly expensive deposits may indicate a huge money grab. This usually happens when a company is not confident in their ability to transport and wants to make sure they have the money in hand so customers can't withhold it if something goes wrong.

Poor customer reviews

Make sure you check the company's motorcycle shipping reviews before making a decision. Pay attention to why the customer gave a low review and the frequency of those complaints. If the same issue recurs, perhaps you should do with a different shipping company.

No proof of legitimacy

Every auto transport company must be authorized under law to transport your motorcycle and other vehicles. If you are unclear about their legitimacy, ask for proof.

A reputable company will have no problem with doing so. Avoid illegal companies no matter how cheap they may be. If the shipment is seized, it will be a while before you get back your motorcycle.

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What you can expect from our motorcycle shipping company

A1 Auto Transport has been in the business of transporting everything from a pin to an anchor both domestically and internationally for a few decades. During this time, we have worked towards a common goal: Helping people move at a fair price while providing excellent customer service.

This is what you can expect when you ship a motorcycle with the best motorcycle shipping company in the U.S:

Upfront prices

At A1 Auto Transport, we don't believe in hidden fees and taking advantage of our customers for the services we provide. So, we tell you the exact price to ship and prepare you for what to expect when vehicle shipping internationally.

How much does it cost to ship a motorcycle with A1 Auto Transport? Fill out our quote form to find out. We provide FREE, no-obligation motorcycle shipping quotes!

Excellent customer service

We put our customers first. We know this is a hectic time for you and we strive to make moving as hassle-free as possible.

Our staff at A1 Auto Transport considers all our customers as part of our family. Let us take care of you.

Call today to speak to one of our representatives during normal business hours who will guide you through the shipment details and all things related to motorcycle transport services.

Frequent carrier availability

A-1 Auto Transport is one of the largest auto transport companies in the U.S with multiple carriers, guaranteeing on-time pickups and promised deliveries.

We do, however, advise you to make your bookings as early as possible so we can serve you as best as possible.

Verifiable insurance

Though vehicle shipping is usually safe and uneventful, every legitimate auto transport agency is required to provide insurance. This ensures that if anything happens your motorcycle is covered to a certain extent and you have an insurance claim.

Contact your insurance agency to learn more about providing maximum protection for an expensive motorcycle during transit.

Value for Money	★★★★★	4.9
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