Cost of Shipping a Motorcycle Overseas

Compared to the cost of moving a car, the price of delivering a motorcycle overseas is relatively affordable, though some of the same issues come up. While the costs on their own may not be exorbitant, the import taxes in certain countries are. Because this is the case, it’s important to have a good understanding of what you’re likely to pay or work with a shipper that does.

Motorcycles are easier to accommodate in moving terms because they are smaller and weigh less than cars. Just like delivering within the United States, a bicycle can be created or shipped on its own by way of RORO (roll on, roll off) transport. The more common method is to move it inside of a container, which has the added benefit of being able to haul personal items and household goods along with the bike.

An important thing to keep in mind is that there may be limitations in certain countries as to the engine size of a bike. While not all countries will outright deny entry based on engine size, you may end up paying a steeper tax than expected for larger engines.

Required Paperwork & Import Taxes

Just like the issue with engine size, import taxes can vary widely from country to country. Some countries have an extraordinarily high import tax--sometimes more than the value of the bike itself--so it’s good to know what you’re up against.

Paperwork is one of the key ingredients to successfully moving any vehicle overseas and a bike is no exception. Even if everything else goes perfectly, having improper or incomplete paperwork can easily double the cost of your shipment while trying to get everything resolved.

In most cases, the requirements are what you’d expect. A passport and visa are often required, as is the bill of lading and original purchase invoice, in addition to any internal documents required by the laws of that particular country. License and registration operate in pretty much the same way as in the U.S., though you may have to obtain local paperwork for both if they don’t accept a U.S. or international license.

Though it’s not directly related to the shipment, it’s important to note that the traffic signs and laws may be different depending on where you’re headed. Make sure you are well aware of all signage and what it means before driving internationally--you may see signs that are unfamiliar to you if you’ve only driven within the U.S.

Are you considering moving overseas? Call us today at the number at the top of the page to find out how we can help! We have ample experience in overseas shipments of a variety of motorcycles and we consistently deliver with some of the cheapest prices in the industry!