Motorcycles (Domestic)

Motorcycle Shipping Services from A-1 Auto Transport

As a trusted leader in the auto shipping industry, A-1 Auto Transport can accommodate virtually any transport request, whether you need your motorcycle shipped across the state, country or even internationally. All of our quotes include real-time satellite tracking and insurance coverage while your vehicle is in our care. We are a full service auto transporter that is licensed, bonded and insured, offering you the most peace of at the most affordable price.

Motorcycle Transport Made Easy

A-1 Auto Transport caters to the needs of many different customers and all variety of bikes. We know the trust required in putting your bike in the care of a transport company and we pride ourselves on being thorough and professional while finding the best shipping option at the best rate possible.

Click here to browse through our motorcycle shipping company directory.

Cost & Time To Ship Your Motorcycle Examples

1. *Prices and times are estimated. They can vary depending on the season and what type of motorcycle you are shipping.
2. *$7000 insurance coverage is included per vehicle.
3. *Additional coverage is available.
4. *Call us for specific date requests. 

Why Use an Auto Transporter to Move Your Bike?

Customers opt for our transport service for a number of reasons. Some are buying or selling a bike and need it delivered to its final destination. Others are starting a road trip or attending a rally on the other side of the country (or sometimes in a foreign country). In either case, the common element among our customers is that they expect their shipment delivered safely and without the wear and tear of long distance travel.

We offer several options to fit the needs of our two wheel enthusiasts. These vehicles can be shipped on a semi-truck, flat bed, or a trailer that can be pulled behind another vehicle. We also have enclosed transport and door-to-door delivery options available for motorcycles.

Shipping Options

When transporting a motorcycle, there are several options you should consider to determine which method is best for you. Here are some of the options available:

• Enclosed transport
• Open air
• Door to door
• Terminal to terminal
• Crated transport

Enclosed Transport

is the safest and most secure way to move your bike. Using enclosed transport ensures that your shipment will be protected from the elements and any potential storage or transport hazards.

Open Air Transport

is also an option if you’re comfortable having your bike slightly exposed to weather and driving conditions. This method typically involves the bike being secured to a flatbed truck or a tow trailer.

Door to Door Transport

is exactly what it sounds like. We pick up your vehicle at the specified location and deliver directly to its destination.

Terminal to Terminal Transport

is more cost-effective, but it can mean having to pick up your bike at a depot which is not always convenient, depending on your proximity to the terminal.

Crated Transport

involves securing your bike to a pallet and loading it onto a truck in a wooden crate. This is a popular option but it’s important to keep in mind that crated transport does typically require some extra preparation. All fluids need to be drained, the battery needs to be disconnected and, in some cases, removal of mirrors and handlebars may be required.

Preparing for Shipping

Whatever option you choose, it is important to make sure that your bike is ready to be shipped when it’s time. This short list covers the basics:

• Clean the bike of dirt and deposits
• Remove any accessories or loose items
• Disable the alarm system if it has one
• Check fluids, tire pressure and battery
• Gas reading should not be above 1/4 tank before transport
• Inspect and document any existing damage for your records (photos recommended)

Other Considerations to Take Into Account

A-1 Auto Transport is a SmartWay Partner with the Environmental Protection Agency, with whom we work to reduce harmful emissions in the auto transport industry. We are also VeriSign Secured, which ensures that all online communications through our website are securely encrypted for the privacy of our customers.

While the various transport options may seem complicated at first glance, we strive to make the process as simple as possible at A-1 Auto Transport. It’s our goal to keep you aware of all the options available and to deliver on our promise of a trusted and affordable service. Whether shipping your standard, off-road or dual purpose bike, we have a motorcycle transport option that will work for you! To get started, fill out the form at the top of the page for a free quote today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does It Take to Ship a Motorcycle?

Generally, the answer depends on how far you’re shipping your motorcycle. Going from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, for example, might take two to four days, while shipping your motorcycle across the country averages about two weeks. 

There are options available for owners who need higher priority service, so contact A-1 Auto Transport for a quote to get a more specific timeframe for your move. 

How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Motorcycle?

Just like with any kind of vehicle shipping, there are several variables that go into determining the cost to ship your motorcycle. These include the following:

Distance

In general, the farther you’re shipping your motorcycle, the more expensive it will be.

Weight

Heavier motorcycles will usually cost more to ship, since most trucks have a limited weight capacity.

Destination

Shipping your motorcycle to a major city will likely cost you less than shipping it to a location that’s more out of the way. 

Size

While weight is usually the determining factor, bikes that are unusually large or ones that have unusual dimensions might be more difficult to handle, which can make transport more expensive.

Season

The season can also affect the price. During the winter, there are usually fewer cars, meaning there’s less competition and prices are lower. However, winter weather can potentially delay your shipment. 

Summer avoids most weather delays, but more people are likely to be shipping vehicles, which means that you may pay more for your shipment. 

Delivery

A-1 Auto Transport helps owners to arrange both terminal-to-terminal and door-to-door delivery. While door-to-door service is more convenient, it costs less to deliver your motorcycle to a terminal, although you’ll have to arrange a time and method to pick it up from there.

Timeline

If you’re unable to pick up your motorcycle when it arrives or you need to store it for a short period before you schedule a pickup, there will usually be an additional fee.

What is the Cheapest Way to Ship a Motorcycle?

If you’re looking for the most affordable way to ship your bike, you have few options. First, have your motorcycle shipped from terminal to terminal. Then, choose the open-air shipment method. While this will expose your bike to the elements, open-air carriers are less expensive than enclosed trucks

What is Terminal-to-Terminal Shipping?

While you can have your motorcycle picked up and dropped off at your home or other location, it’s often cheaper to drop your bike off at a central shipping terminal instead. 

When you drop off your bike, it will be loaded onto the carrier there, along with several other bikes, saving the time and money of retrieving motorcycles from multiple locations.

Delivery works the same, but in reverse. Your motorcycle will be shipped to an arrival terminal near your destination, where it will be unloaded, waiting for you to come pick it up. 

While this is cheaper, it also means you’ll have to figure out a way to get to the terminal in order to retrieve your bike.

What is the Safest Way to Ship a Motorcycle?

It’s natural to want your bike to arrive at your destination in the exact condition you shipped it in, especially if you have a vintage, exotic, or classic motorcycle. If you’re looking to protect your bike, you should choose one of two options:

Enclosed Transport

In enclosed transport, your bike will be loaded into a carrier with hard walls and ceiling. This protects your motorcycle against the elements, like snow, rain, and hail, and keeps it from being damaged by road debris that may kick up along the way.

Crated Transport

If you’re especially concerned, you can have your bike loaded onto a pallet and crated up, then loaded onto an auto transport truck. While this option does add time and expense, it’s the surest way to ensure that your motorcycle arrives unharmed. 

How Do I Choose a Motorcycle Trailer?

Choosing the right trailer to transport your motorcycle is mostly about balancing how much protection your bike needs against the cost of shipping. The more protection you add, the less likely your motorcycle will be damaged. However, it also means you’ll spend more on shipping.

Open-air trailers are usually flatbed trucks. They’re the most cost-effective transport option, since they can accommodate more motorcycles and don’t necessarily require lift gates. However, they do leave your bike exposed to the elements, including road debris.

Enclosed trailers are basically semi-trucks with hard shells covering the truck bed. While they offer protection against damage during transit, they also tend to cost more, since they require more equipment on the truck. 

Because flatbed trucks are less expensive, there are usually fewer enclosed trailers on the road. Competition can drive up the price.

What Areas Can My Motorcycle Be Shipped to?

When you partner with A-1 Auto Transport, you can have your motorcycle picked up and shipped almost anywhere, including local, state to state, and international destinations. However, there are some things to keep in mind when you’re planning your shipment.

While door-to-door shipping is available, if your pickup location is in a tight space, the truck may have difficulty reaching you. If that’s the case, they’ll contact you about arranging an alternate location for pick-up.

International shipping involves more complications. Depending on where you ship your bike, you will need to abide by their import laws. All paperwork and taxes will need to be complete before you ship your motorcycle. When you work with A-1 Auto Transport, we’ll help to ensure you know what documents and taxes you’ll need to take care of.

Do I Need to be Present When the Truck Driver Arrives to Pick Up My Motorcycle?

Either you or a designated representative will need to be there when your motorcycle is picked up. When your driver arrives, you will be given a bill of lading that states the condition of the bike and the final destination. You or someone you name will need to sign the paper. 

If you’re unable to attend yourself, let us know as soon as possible who will be there instead so we can give this information to the driver. 

While we’re happy to work with you to make pickup and delivery as smooth as possible, we can’t accept or release vehicles to individuals who don’t have prior authorization to act on your behalf. 

Can I Choose the Time and Date that My Motorcycle is Picked Up and Delivered?

When you request a date for pick-up, we will do our best to make that happen. However, if we are unable to accommodate your request, we will arrange for a date as close as possible, usually within two to three days. 

It’s harder to predict when your bike will be delivered, however. We will give you a window, but the actual date may change based on factors we can’t control, including weather, traffic, and limits on driving time enforced by the Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT caps drivers at 500 miles per day and limits the number of days in a row that a driver can work.

However, we do offer door-to-door customers the option to guarantee a delivery date for a small additional fee. Make sure to let us know that you’d like to guarantee delivery when requesting motorcycle transport quotes.

When Should I Book My Motorcycle Shipment?

Don’t wait too long to book your motorcycle transport services. The rule is generally the earlier you book, the more likely you are to find the dates you need (and usually at a lower price). If you wait until too close to when you want to ship your bike, you may find that there are no carriers available.

How Do I Prepare My Motorcycle for Shipping?

There are several steps you need to take to prepare your motorcycle for shipping, all of which help to ensure that your bike arrives undamaged, while protecting the shipping equipment itself. Here are the basic steps you should take:

• Completely drain all of the fluids from your bike
• You can leave up to ¼ tank of gas in your fuel tank
• Disable any alarm systems on your bike
• Disconnect your motorcycle’s battery
• Clean your bike before shipment, including excess debris, grime, and grease
• If using a crate, remove handlebars and other parts that stick out
• Take pictures of your motorcycle to document its condition
• Make sure your bike is mechanically sound before loading it

While all of these steps may sound like a lot, they’re intended to protect both your bike and the bike carrier, helping ensure a smooth, easy, damage-free trip.

How Do I Crate My Motorcycle?

You have two options:  You can crate your motorcycle yourself, or you can leave it to your vehicle transport professionals. While doing the work yourself may save you some money, transport professionals likely have more experience crating bikes for shipment and may be able to secure your bike more effectively.

When you’re crating your motorcycle, it will first be attached to a wooden pallet or “skid.” Once it’s securely fastened, it will be completely enclosed within a crate. The crate is then loaded into either a carrier or a shipping container, where it’s secured in place a second time, making sure it stays in place during the journey.

Can I Pay a Company to Crate My Motorcycle for Me?

Yes, many carriers will provide crating services for your motorcycle, although it will usually increase the cost of shipping.

Are There Discounts for Dealers?

It depends. A-1 Auto Transport works with a number of carriers, all of whom have their own promotions and discounts. While there is a good chance that dealers may be eligible for discounts (especially for bulk transfers), we can’t guarantee that they will be available.

You can request a quote to know for sure if you qualify for any discounts, including discounts for dealers, military personnel, students, or seniors.

How Long is My Quote Good for?

Quotes from A-1 Auto Transport are typically good through the end of the business day, although we reserve the right to make changes to the quote if we determine that you require additional services not included in the original quote. 

Because the factors that determine a shipping rate change quickly, we can’t guarantee a price beyond the end of the business day.

Can I Track My Motorcycle While It’s in Transit?

Satellite tracking of your shipment is available on almost all shipments. This means you can get real-time information about where your bike is on any internet-capable device, including computers, phones, and tablets.

Will My Motorcycle Be Insured?

Yes, your bike will be covered under our insurance policy. All auto transport companies are required by law to have insurance covering their shipments, which means that your bike will be covered in the rare event that it becomes damaged during shipment. 

If you do notice some damage that wasn’t there before, contact us right away so we can start the claims process. We’ll document the claim, then send it to our insurance company, who will give you more information on how you can get your motorcycle repaired or replaced.

Be aware, though, that most transport coverage only covers $7,000 per vehicle. If you feel you need more coverage, you can purchase supplemental insurance from your provider.

Can I Send Extra Parts Along with My Shipment?

Unfortunately, no. The only thing you can ship is the bike itself. Anything else -- including spare parts, loose and unsecured parts, paperwork, boxes, and keys -- must travel separately. 

You can ship your helmet, but only if it’s securely fastened to your motorcycle. This is to prevent any parts from getting lost during transport, especially since these parts are not covered by our insurance.

How Can I Get a Discount?

The only way to know if you can receive a discount is to ask! Contact our team of experts to see whether you qualify for any discounts or promotional deals from one of our carriers. Among the more common discounts are those for:

• Seniors
• Students
• Military personnel
• Dealers
• Seasonal discounts

Not all of our discounts are available at all times, so make sure to contact us to find out how much you can save on transporting your motorcycle.

How Does Enclosed Transport Work?

If you’re looking to keep your bike out of the elements but don’t feel that you need the protection of crating, then an enclosed transport is likely the best solution for you. 

Unlike open air carriers, which are usually flatbed trucks, an enclosed carrier is covered on all sides by either hard or soft material, offering protection against debris and weather.

Enclosed transport is more expensive than open-air transport, but it is usually much cheaper than crating, making it an excellent midpoint when you want to provide affordable protection for your bike.

My Motorcycle Hasn’t Been Delivered Yet. Why Not?

While we will provide you with a delivery window, the variables that go into delivering your bike can sometimes cause delays. Whether it’s a significant traffic jam or a major snowstorm, delays are sometimes inevitable. We’ll do our best to let you know when they occur.

When delays do occur, we’ll contact you as soon as possible so that you can adjust your schedule to find a delivery time that works for you. And with our satellite tracking, you can keep an eye on your shipment, too.

Can I Ship More than One Motorcycle at a Time?

Absolutely! It’s not uncommon for auto transport companies to ship multiple motorcycles for one customer. Whether you’re a dealer or a collector, we’ll work with you to ensure that your motorcycles get transported safely and quickly. Make sure to ask about any possible discounts, including a bulk shipping rate.

Will A-1 Let Me Know When They’re Coming to Pick Up or Drop Off My Motorcycle?

You should receive word from your carrier 12 to 24 hours before your expected pick-up or delivery date. While we can’t give you an exact time of day, we can provide you with a window of time in which you can expect your driver to arrive. 

If any problems with the schedule come up, we’ll get in touch with you to schedule an updated delivery or pick-up time.

Who Will Actually Be Shipping My Motorcycle?

A-1 Auto Transport works with professional auto transport companies around the country, and it’s our mission to ensure that your motorcycle arrives safe and sound, without cutting any corners. There’s a reason our core values are expertise, authority, and transparency. We ensure that all of our partners live up to these standards, as well.

When we started A-1 Auto Transport in 1988, we had a single tow truck. A little more than 20 years later, we’re now one of the largest logistics and shipping companies in the nation, serving local, interstate, and international customers. 

When you partner with A-1 Auto Transport, you can rest assured that your motorcycle is in the right hands.

Will You Ship My Trike?

Yes, we will! Shipping a trike is much like shipping a motorcycle, although they usually weigh more and have much bulkier dimensions. That’s why shipping a trike is usually more expensive than shipping a motorcycle. However, with the more stable base, it’s also much safer to transport a trike.

When you’re looking for a carrier to ship your trike, be sure to let us know when you’re requesting your quote, so you make sure you get the most accurate quote possible.

How Do I Pay for My Motorcycle Shipment?

At A-1 Auto Transport, we want the process to be as stress-free as possible. That’s why we offer a number of different payment methods for our customers, giving you the flexibility to pay in whatever way is most convenient to you.

Can You Ship My Motorcycle If It Doesn’t Run?

In general, as long as your motorcycle will roll, then we can ship it. As long as the condition is noted on the paperwork, then your bike should be able to be transported as is. 

However, you must be sure that it isn’t leaking any fluids and that it’s been cleaned so that we can take note of any damage before it’s loaded onto the carrier.

Do You Ship Vintage/Classic/Exotic Motorcycles?

Yes, we do! We work with carriers who specialize in transporting high-value motorcycles, including classic makes, exotic varieties, and other bikes that may have more sentimental value.

There are a few things you should make sure of when you’ll be shipping a vintage or exotic motorcycle. First, you’ll want to be sure your bike is fully protected. Instead of relying on an open-air carrier, you’ll probably want to ship your motorcycle in an enclosed carrier to protect it from weather and road debris. For an added layer of protection, you can even have your bike shipped in a crate. 

Another benefit of these options is that it limits the number of interested onlookers who might take an interest in your motorcycle. While theft from a carrier is quite rare, enclosed and crate shipping both eliminate the temptation any passerby might feel to either steal or vandalize your motorcycle.

Finally, you will probably want to choose door-to-door service. While this is more expensive than terminal-to-terminal shipping, it also means that your bike will be both picked up and delivered right in front of you. That way, you can inspect your bike the moment it comes off the truck to make sure that it hasn’t sustained any damage.

Will You Ship Motorcycles for Online Buyers?

Shipping motorcycles after online sales or auctions is more common than ever these days. When you purchase a bike from an auction or an online seller, your best bet is to arrange delivery yourself. 

Online dealers and auction sites may offer to set up delivery for you, but they will likely charge you a premium for your service, which are often rolled into the price of your vehicle.

Instead, contact A-1 Auto Transport, and we’ll help you set up fast, affordable delivery on your new purchase.

Will There Be a Lot of Paperwork at Pick-Up or Delivery?

Not usually. Most of the time, when a driver picks up your motorcycle, they’ll give you a bill of lading and a copy of your insurance coverage. 

If you’re unable to be at pickup or delivery, your authorized representative may need an authorization form. Some localities require documents for lienholders, as well as photo IDs and title and/or registration.

Why Should I Ship My Bike Instead of Driving It?

There are many reasons why motorcycle owners may choose to ship their bikes instead of driving them to their destinations on their own. These include:

• To avoid putting excess miles on your motorcycle
• You’re moving and need to transport your car, too
• You don’t have the time to drive it yourself
• To avoid the danger of a long trip on a motorcycle
• Your bike isn’t currently running
• You’re currently restoring a bike and it needs more work
• To avoid damage during the journey
• You’re transporting a classic or vintage motorcycle to a bike show

These are only a few of the reasons why owners may elect to transport their bikes on a carrier. No matter what your reason may be, A-1 Auto Transport has the experience to get your bike where you need it, working to get it delivered as quickly and as safely as possible.

Related Information

• How much will shipping across the country cost you?
• Shipping calculator: get fast quotes from shippers
• Cheap transport options
• Crate and ship
• Enclosed shipping
• How do I ship my motorcycle?
• Shipping across country
• Shipping brokers
• Shipping by train
• Motorcycle shipping coast to coast
• Motorcycle shipping companies international
• Seasonal shipping discounts
• Door to door services
• Military discount
• Shipping Sturgis Bike Week
• Motorcycle shipping West Coast
• Shipping overseas
• Is it safe to ship my motorcycle?
• Shipping motorcycle to Hawaii
• Harley Davidson transportation
• Trike shipping
• Motorcycle shipping cost estimator
• Certifications and licensing that motorcycle shipping companies should have as validation
• Choosing the most reliable transport company to ship your motorcycle
• How to prepare for transport
• Shipping insurance
• The cost of shipping explained
• How long will my shipment take?
• How to keep your bike safe during transit
• What happens if my bike is damaged during the shipping process
• What's the difference between international and domestic shipping
• What's the most popular way to ship?
• Long distance motorcycle movers
• Ship three (3) motorcycles
• Ship two (2) motorcycles