Motorcycle Shipping Charges

What is the Motorcycle Shipping Charges?

If you’re in the market for a company to ship your motorcycle, there’s a few things that are probably high on your priority list. Of course you want a shipper that has the experience to do the job right in a professional and efficient manner, but you’re probably also looking for an option that’s affordable. Whether you need a bike shipped to a neighboring state, across the country, or internationally, these factors tend to remain at the forefront of what customers are looking for. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of companies and shipping options to choose from, which makes it easier than ever to find a reliable and cost effective transport company. In this article, we’ll take a look at how the process works, what costs you can expect, and the best approach for finding the right fit for your shipping your bike.

Most motorcycle shipping is done with door-to-door transport. Compared to shipping other types of vehicles like cars and trucks, motorcycles are easier to ship using the door-to-door method. The reason behind this is that motorcycles are more compact and therefore it’s easier to facilitate transport directly to and from a specific address. The other option, terminal to terminal shipping requires that you both drop off and pick up the bike from a nearby transport terminal, which can be a bit of a trek if you don’t live near a major metro area. Unlike car shipping, motorcycle transport is not much more when you go with the door-to-door shipping route.

Most motorcycle shipments range from $200 to $1,100, though the cost does depend on a number of factors and can fluctuate slightly from these figures. For example, if you’re shipping over a short distance, it could easily cost less than $200 and if you’re shipping from coast to coast or internationally, it can exceed $1,100 in some cases. Here are the main things that influence the total cost of motorcycle shipping charges:

• Type of Motorcycle - Almost any motorcycle shipper will be able handle shipment of just about every kind of bike on the market. Whether you need to ship a sport bike, chopper, touring bike, or any other kind, the main thing that will affect the cost is the weight. Just like shipping anything from a parcel to a vehicle, the weight is one of the key aspects that impact pricing.
• Distance Shipped - Transport distance is another important element of transport that goes right along with the weight of the shipment. The further you need a bike shipped, the more it is likely to cost.
• Type of Transport - While the difference is not nearly what it is for shipping cars, the method of transport also affects the cost. Door-to-door motorcycle transport does tend to cost more than other options (terminal to terminal transport), but as mentioned above, it’s not typically a significant cost difference.
• Import Fees & Duties - These cost factors only apply to shipping internationally, but they should not be overlooked. Depending on the country you’re shipping to, the import fees can add significantly to your total transport costs. In most cases, the additional cost is not astronomical, but it is something to consider. If you have questions about these costs, it’s helpful to discuss them with the shipper before going forward with the process.

Motorcycle Transport Resources

International Motorcycle Shipping - While we touched on it somewhat in this article, there are some key differences to shipping a bike internationally. Click on this link to learn more about the process and what to expect when shipping overseas.

Motorcycle Shipping Costs - More information about the costs of shipping a bike can be found here, including figures for recent shipments we’ve facilitated.