Ship Motorcycle Cost

What's in this article?

Cost To Ship A Motorcycle
What Factors Determine Cost Of Motorcycle Shipping
Mode Of Transportation
Distance
Route
Motorcycle Size, Weight, And Dimension
Shipping Company
Destination Point
How The Bidding Process works Without A Broker
How Shipping Companies Ensure Safe Transport Of A Motorcycle
How Can You Keep The Cost Of Shipping Motorcycle Minimal?
How To Prepare Your Motorcycle For Shipping
Cost Of Shipping Motorcycle Overseas
Conclusion

Have you fallen in love with that vintage motorcycle you saw at the auction and want to buy? Or perhaps you are moving to a different state and want to send your bike there.

Besides, there could be some other reasons why you may wish to ship the motorcycle.

You might want to attend a motorbike rally or take your bike on vacation with you, and some of you might want to sell it to someone who lives in a different state. All these factors make you consider shipping motorcycles locally or nationwide, but the most crucial consideration is how much it will cost.

People enjoy buying motorcycles for several reasons, including their affordability and fuel efficiency, environmental friendliness, adventure potential, the convenience of parking, ability to maneuver through traffic, and general appearance.

In 2020, about 8.32 million motorbikes were registered in the states of the District of Columbia, among public, private, and commercial ownership. Approximately 62,000 motorbikes were licensed in Florida during that year.

California claimed to have the most private and commercial motorbikes registered nationwide in 2020, accounting for about 12% of the total population. Less populated states like Wyoming and Alaska, Rhode Island, Delaware, and the District of Columbia with fewer than 25,000 registration. The statistical data shows how much Americans love motorbikes. So, let’s dive deeper into the complete process of shipping a motorbike!

Cost To Ship A Motorcycle

You cannot determine the precise cost of transporting a motorcycle without receiving estimates from various shipping service companies. The price of motorbike shipment is determined by multiple factors, many of which we have covered in this post and which you will later encounter.

A 1,500-mile journey in an enclosed trailer costs, on average, $1,140, according to quotes from the leading shipping service providers in the United States. You will pay $590 for open trailer transportation from 500 to 1,000 miles and $670 for an enclosed trailer.

The costs vary according to factors like distance and mode of transportation. The least expensive alternative, most preferred, is open transport (a trailer with no walls or a roof), which is also the riskiest (some of the best motorbike shipping firms don’t even offer it).

You can ship your Harley in an enclosed container or send your mountain bike on open transport, thanks to the flexibility offered by motorcycle shipping providers. But we would say again, you can’t get an exact cost without negotiating with shipping companies, so it’s better to discuss it with them.

What Factors Determine Cost Of Motorcycle Shipping

As we previously stated, it is tricky to determine the precise cost of transporting your motorcycle without collecting estimates from shipping firms. However, we have discussed the variables that can influence delivery costs here. It will help you understand how shipping costs are calculated.

Mode Of Transportation

It allows you to select between an open trailer and an enclosed trailer for your motorcycle shipping. Since an available trailer lacks a canopy and side walls, inclement weather like rain, storms, and sweltering heat can seriously damage your motorcycle’s appearance. For this reason, some shipping firms do not provide this option.

Comparatively speaking, shipping in an open trailer is quite affordable. Your motorcycle is transported by an enclosed trailer in a covered, closed, and more protective truck. Compared to the empty trailer approach, it is more expensive.

Certain people use air freight services to move their expensive and opulent motorcycles. While these services can be speedy and handy, relatively few people opt for them because of the high expense.

Distance

If you have to ship your motorbike just a couple of 150 to 200 miles, it might cost you $600 to $700. However, if your dispatching and shipment destination is miles and miles away, it will cost you a lot. It might not be too expensive to ship it inside the same city or to the next state, but it will cost you a lot to ship it from Virginia to Alaska due to the distance.

It requires additional fuel and logistics, which raises the cost of transportation overall. You pay more charges the further the shipment travels and the more regions it passes through.

Route

Transporters’ routes are also important; they significantly affect how much it costs to send bikes. On a map, the shipment’s destination might appear to be only a few miles away, but roadworks, heavy traffic, and maintenance of roads can all lengthen the distance traveled and increase travel time.

Motorcycle Size, Weight, And Dimension

The actual cost will increase if the motorcycle you are exporting weighs a lot and takes up more space in the truck the shipping company uses to transport. In contrast to other vehicles, motorbike sizes are often uniform, although weight varies considerably from bike to bike.

Since the Mountain Moto FX5 is lighter and smaller than the Honda F6B, which weighs 385 kg, you will pay more for the latter.

Shipping Company

Most consumers do not think it is a significant concern regarding the high cost of shipping motorcycles. The shipping provider you select also determines the cost of shipping. Be prepared to pay more for shipping if you choose one of the top American shipping service providers. These businesses offer top-notch services but also ensure you pay a fair price for them.

Destination Point

Since your motorcycle is picked up and delivered close to your home, the shipping company dropping it at your doorstep will cost you more. Doorstep transport is more expensive than transit transportation.

How The Bidding Process works Without A Broker

Get quotations from several shipping businesses, compare them, and choose the one that is substantially less expensive. You should find an economical motorcycle shipping company.
Go for a shipping company that is insured and Bonded.
Sign a contract and arrange for the collection; or delivery of your motorcycle on the agreed-upon day and time.
Prepare your motorcycle for shipping. Upon pickup, give the firm immediate access to your motorbike.
Your motorcycle will be transported by the shipping company driver, who will also let you know when your bike is expected to arrive in the location you choose.
You can transport your motorcycle safely to the selected place; if you prefer, the shipping firm will deliver it to the shipping address, or you can arrange a pickup at the shipping company warehouse.
How The Bidding Process works Through Brokers
Estimating the cost of shipping motorcycles is challenging because the estimating technique is similar to shipping companies for transporting cars and other vehicles.
Because of this, your initial quote is usually the best estimate of what your whole bill will be. Motorcycle shipping firms (also known as brokers) will submit the specifics of your shipment to participants in an online shipping auction once you receive a quote. Then, carriers, or truck drivers, make a bid for your shipment.
The broker chooses the most affordable carrier it can locate within your available time. Final expenses are approximately 25% more than your initial quote, but you can cut costs by booking a few weeks in advance (that gives the bids ample time to fall to their lowest levels).

How Shipping Companies Ensure Safe Transport Of A Motorcycle

Choose the shipping company with a strong reputation, providing excellent services, and the one with whom customers have a good experience.

The shipping companies take firm steps to protect your motorcycle from damage during shipping. Motorcycles are placed on a special trailer and secured with soft straps so they won’t move while transported. Shipping Companies may offer wheel chocks, spacing bars, or harnesses to ensure the smooth transit of your motorbike. All other units, excluding motorcycles, are strapped directly to the truck. The shipping companies have special equipment to load them in the car.
The drivers load the motorcycles using specialized tools and loading techniques. The shipping firms may transport motorcycles with fuel, and the fuel tank doesn’t need to be drained!
Motorcycle shipping is typically done by enclosed vehicles. Transports are therefore completely enclosed, have traction control, and have extra-large liftgates suitable for lifting motorcycles.
Shipping companies are insured and bonded in case of any damage caused to your motorcycle during shipment. The company compensates the customers for the damage.

How Can You Keep The Cost Of Shipping Motorcycle Minimal?

If you follow the following steps and be a little vigilant, you can reduce the actual cost of your motorcycle. Let’s have a detailed look at these steps:

Choose a shipping company after thorough research, get quotations from different companies, then go for the one that is the least expensive.
If the company is insured in case of damage, you will at least get compensated for the damage. So keep the insurance point in mind too.
If you can not afford a shipping company, you can hire a person who can do the shipping for you, but you can't hire any tom dick or harry. Some people work individually. Do your thorough research as you might be scammed.
Choose the cheaper transportation mode. Don’t go for the air transportation option or enclosed trailer option. Open transportation options are more affordable than these.
Avoid door drop service; it can also add to the total cost. Choose pickup from the shipping warehouse.
You can receive the best deals if you book a reservation a week or two in advance. That enables the truck drivers to conduct their research and find the best deals. However, it would cost you a lot if you ask a shipping company to pick up your motorcycle for shipment tomorrow. Preparation pays off.
The supply and demand principle underlies the car transport industry. Find those deals since these businesses frequently provide discounts when demand is low, particularly during the bitter winters or sweltering summers.

How To Prepare Your Motorcycle For Shipping

While the carrier you select will play a significant role in ensuring the safe delivery of your motorcycle to its new location, there are a few things you can do to prepare your bike for the journey thoroughly. These simple actions can simplify the procedure and safeguard your vehicle.

Before picking up your motorcycle, the shipping firm will inspect its condition, so it is best to clean it and get rid of all the dirt. It’s a good idea to take pictures of the motorcycle when you ship it so you can file a claim for compensation if there is any damage during transport.

Do that in front of the delivery person who will pick it up for shipping. Make cautious about securing any loose connections to prevent your bike from disassembling while being transported.

Although some shipping firms may transport bikes with fuel, it is best to drain the cycle of all power before shipping. Most transporters require you to have just over 1/4 of a fuel tank. Before transportation, disengage the steering wheel and turn off any alarms.

Ensure your bike tires have air so the movers can roll them. Otherwise, liftgate-type equipment requires to be put onto the truck, increasing your costs.

Cost Of Shipping Motorcycle Overseas

Motorcycles would be expensive to move abroad because they require various logistics and transportation methods. Whether you select air or sea freight as your mode of transportation will determine this. The distance between the dispatching and delivery locations, the form of transportation, the motorcycle’s size, type, and weight, and whether you want speedy delivery are all factors that affect how much it will cost to send a bike.

Your choice of shipping firm is essential as well. Depending on the destination nation and the motorcycle’s packaging, costs might range from $1,000 to $2,000 to send a bike abroad, according to data from some reputable shipping companies. If you want to ship a motorcycle internationally, it would be better to discuss it with a reputable shipping firm.

Conclusion

Similar to shipping other types of vehicles, shipping motorcycles is accessible. The same elements determining the cost of transporting other items also affect its price. The choice of firm and the effort you are willing to put into making the transportation hassle-free will determine how smoothly it goes.

If you bear in mind the points we’ve covered in this post when choosing to transport your motorcycle, we’re confident that everything will go smoothly.