Motorcycle Shipping

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Moving Motorcycles with uShip

When you need to ship your motorcycle, you want the best motorcycle delivery service at the best price, and we can help you do just that. Whether you bought a new bike on the other side of the country, or you’re trying to get a little closer to Sturgis, we are here for you. uShip will help you figure out how to safely ship a motorcycle, help you get rates from reliable transporters and give you tips on preparing your bike for its journey. If you take a wrong turn, or just need better directions, take a look at our help center, and contact us if you can’t find what you need. We’ll get you on your way to finding the best motorcycle delivery service available.

 

uShip’s marketplace makes it easy to find the best motorcycle transport options to meet your needs and your budget. Create a listing with your shipping needs, the make and model of your bike, and be as detailed as possible. Once your listing is complete, transporters who specialize in shipping motorcycles will submit quotes for your review. You’re able to talk to them and review their transport history, safety records and customer-rated feedback as multiple carriers compete for your work. This ensures you get the best motorcycle shipping rate.

 

How Much Does it Cost to Ship a Motorcycle?

The average motorcycle shipping costs between $350 to $700 to ship approximately 1,000 miles. For shipments under 1,000 miles, carriers give motorcycle shipping quotes ranging between $180 to $300. Additionally, the cost to ship a motorcycle will vary based on the carrier and these various factors:

 

  • Distance of travel
  • Make and model of the motorcycle
  • Expediting the shipment
  • Residential fees
  • Extra coverage

 

For more shipment details, check out our cost to transport a motorcycle index. We have thousands of motorcycle shipments completed through the uShip marketplace for you to review and see a bit more about how we work.

 

To get a free, no-obligation quote on motorcycle transport service, fill out the information below.

 

What are you shipping?

Pickup Location

CITY OR ZIP

 
Delivery location

CITY OR ZIP

Motorcycle Home Delivery

Motorcycle shipping companies usually operate on a door-to-door basis. However, many residential areas have narrow streets, low-hanging branches, dead ends, restrictions against large trucks, and other obstacles to make pickup or delivery at your front door difficult. If this is the case, the transporter will coordinate with you to meet in a nearby parking lot to safely load or unload your motorcycle.

 

Tips For Motorcycle Shipments
  • Know how to properly prepare your motorcycle for transport.
  • Know how to build a detailed listing on uShip
  • Know how to research prospective transporters.
  • Know your insurance options and how you’re protected.

 

How to Prepare Your Motorcycle for Transport

Before your motorcycle movers arrive for pick up, you should prepare your motorcycle for transport. First, check your motorcycle for pre-existing damage. By documenting the condition of your bike, you can avoid problems in case of an insurance claim. To check for and record damage:

 

  • Thoroughly clean your motorcycle
  • Note chips, dings, scratches or other cosmetic damages
  • Write down any mechanical issues or problems
  • Take pictures of your bike from several angles, along with detail shots of existing damage
  • Date all records, and show them to your mover when they arrive

 

Unless you are moving your motorcycle as freight through a carrier, you will not need to drain your gas tank or remove the battery. However, your motorcycle does not need to be crated or packaged during the motorcycle transport service. Additionally, remove all loose items from your motorcycle. Your motorcycle mover is not responsible for these items, and if accessories are lost or damaged, they will not be covered by insurance.

 

Furthermore, make sure your motorcycle is in good working condition. If it is not in working condition, it is important that this detail is in your listing so that bidding transporters will be prepared. While it will be avoided at all costs, sometimes your carrier may need to drive your motorcycle into a motorcycle transport trailer. Fix all mechanical problems before the move and write down any special operating instructions. For successful motorcycle moving, make sure to:

 

  • Inflate tires
  • Charge the battery
  • Fill gas tank to 1/4 or 1/2 full
  • Check and fix all fluid leaks

 

How to Choose a Motorcycle Transporter

Choosing the right motorcycle transporter comes down to choosing the company you’re most comfortable with. Once you have received bids from carriers, you have a limited time to accept the winner. You should choose your motorcycle hauler based on their authority, insurance, and experience. Only once you verify carriers’ credentials should you start to compare motorcycle hauling quotes and service levels. There are enough legal, experienced motorcycle hauling companies available that you should have no problem finding one that fits your needs.

 

  • Make sure you know the type of trailer you want for transporting your motorcycle, and make sure the company you hire offers a motorcycle delivery service with the option you want. You have the option of enclosed and open trailers.

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  • Communicate with carriers using the question and answer function on your listing. Here you can clarify one another’s questions and get a clear understanding of all issues before booking.

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  • Check each transporter that you consider for DOT and MC numbers. All motorcycle transporters are required to be registered with the Department of Transportation and must have an active DOT and MC number. The exceptions to this rule are forwarders and brokers, who only have MC numbers. Registered motorcycle transporters have the licensing, accountability and quality you want in somebody you are trusting with your personal belongings.

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  • Review your motorcycle transporter’s insurance coverage and liability on their uShip profile. Carriers are required to have both liability and cargo insurance to legally transport your motorcycle. Request written proof of your carrier’s coverage before entering into a deal with them. Read the fine print, and make sure the coverage is appropriate for your transaction. Your personal motorcycle insurance will probably not cover your motorcycle in transport, but it’s a good idea to check in and ask what you are covered for in the transit process.

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  • Evaluate your transporter’s uShip profile for feedback. By viewing the feedback left by previous customers, you can see how the carrier performed on shipments similar to yours, and their previous success with clients. Make sure the transporter has experience shipping motorcycles; an excellent car transporter may have never shipped a motorcycle before. After the transaction is complete, we encourage you to leave feedback and share your experience. This way, you can help future customers decide on a vehicle transporter. There’s no better way to thank your transporter for a job well done than by leaving a glowing feedback score and comment.

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  • When choosing the best motorcycle shipping quote, let your knowledge and research be your tools. By researching transportation companies and asking them questions, you can choose the best hauler for you. Some questions you may want to ask a carrier include:
    1. 1. What are your pickup and delivery procedures?
    2. 2. Do you have any specific policies or procedures I should be aware of?
    3. 3. What are your payment and deposit procedures?

 

Your decision is based on the carrier’s ability to accommodate your time schedule, type of service they offer, insurance, price, and credibility. Use common sense and follow the uShip terms and conditions when choosing a transporter for a comfortable and safe transaction.

 

How to Choose a Motorcycle Trailer

Most motorcycle transporters let you choose from either an open trailer or an enclosed trailer, though most motorcycle moving is done on an enclosed trailer. Because motorcycles are small and very susceptible to damage from the elements, it is usually the best choice to ship on enclosed motorcycle transport trailers. The following are the top benefits of choosing an enclosed trailer.

 

  • Dozens of motorcycles can fit on one enclosed transport trailer: This allows several shipments to travel at the same time.
  • Keeps your motorcycle safe from theft or loss: With multiple stops, a closed and locked trailer can prevent parts from falling off and being stolen.
  • Adds stability: With four secure walls, an enclosed motorcycle trailer provides a stable base for a bike to be attached to.
  • Protects against various weather and debris: Can help to protect against heavy winds, rain, hail, and other unpredicted weather conditions.

 

Although most shippers choose an enclosed motorcycle transport trailer, there are some instances when an open trailer is the better choice for motorcycle transport service.

 

  • If you are only shipping your motorcycle a short distance: If only shipping under a few hundred miles, then your motorcycle can probably be shipped safely on an open motorcycle transport trailer.
  • Your motorcycle can be transported in one trip: It is highly unlikely that your motorcycle will incur as much damage from the elements or be open to theft when on the road for a short time.
  • If you are on a tight timeline: You may have an easier time finding a carrier to haul your motorcycle on an open transport trailer than having to arrange shipment on a large, enclosed, multi-motorcycle transport trailer.

How to Ship a Motorcycle

Your motorcycle delivery is just three steps away.

 

1 | Create Your Listing on uShip

 

First, find out your needs and budget for your shipment. Think about the timeframe and whether you’d want your motorcycle on an open or enclosed trailer for transport. You’ll see an option when creating your listing of either an open trailer or an enclosed trailer, though most motorcycle moving is done on an enclosed trailer as it’s the safest way to ship a bike. Open trailers provide little protection but are often able to give you an affordable shipping rate.

 

How to Ship a Motorcycle

Your motorcycle delivery is just three steps away.

 

1 | Create Your Listing on uShip

 

First, find out your needs and budget for your shipment. Think about the timeframe and whether you’d want your motorcycle on an open or enclosed trailer for transport. You’ll see an option when creating your listing of either an open trailer or an enclosed trailer, though most motorcycle moving is done on an enclosed trailer as it’s the safest way to ship a bike. Open trailers provide little protection but are often able to give you an affordable shipping rate.

 

2 | Choose the Best Motorcycle Shipping Company

 

Once you’ve created your listing, you’ll start to get motorcycle shipping quotes from shipping companies as they compete for your shipment. As the quotes come in, you can ask a question on the quote and talk directly to the carrier. We also encourage you to review their carrier profile.

 

Each carrier on uShip has their own profile with their transport history, safety records, and customer-rated feedback. Check out what kind of trailer they have. Most transporters have pictures of their equipment on their profile so you know what your motorcycle will be transported on. You can see each of their completed shipments and the experiences previous customers had with them. We encourage reviewing these profiles to feel confident in getting safe and reliable motorcycle transport.

 

2 | Choose the Best Motorcycle Shipping Company

 

Once you’ve created your listing, you’ll start to get motorcycle shipping quotes from shipping companies as they compete for your shipment. As the quotes come in, you can ask a question on the quote and talk directly to the carrier. We also encourage you to review their carrier profile.

 

Each carrier on uShip has their own profile with their transport history, safety records, and customer-rated feedback. Check out what kind of trailer they have. Most transporters have pictures of their equipment on their profile so you know what your motorcycle will be transported on. You can see each of their completed shipments and the experiences previous customers had with them. We encourage reviewing these profiles to feel confident in getting safe and reliable motorcycle transport.

 

3 | Motorcycle Pickup and Delivery

 

Once you have selected your transporter, contact them directly with any additional details, questions or concerns. Set up a meeting place and time for pick up and delivery, and give them any contact information for third parties if applicable. Have payment ready at the agreed upon time. If you run into any issues with your motorcycle shipper, please let us know.

 

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3 | Motorcycle Pickup and Delivery

 

Once you have selected your transporter, contact them directly with any additional details, questions or concerns. Set up a meeting place and time for pick up and delivery, and give them any contact information for third parties if applicable. Have payment ready at the agreed upon time. If you run into any issues with your motorcycle shipper, please let us know.

 

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