Ship a Motorcycle
Whether you are moving, selling your bike or you want your motorcycle to be available at a vacation location without riding it all the way there, knowing how to ship a motorcycle can be a costly endeavor if you don't know what you are doing. You want to look for a US Department of Transportation compliant motorcycle specific shipping company with an active an current DOT license and Motor Carrier (MC) license along with active and current cargo insurance coverage while at the same time you need to consider cost effectiveness. You can check DOT and MC license compliance for any legitimate shipping company at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website.
Contents
Steps
- Choose a website that allows you to compare prices and motorcycle shipping vendors before you decide on your choice.
- Ship your motorcycle via semi truck.
- Transport your motorcycle internationally.
- Use an international service to send your motorcycle overseas. Cost from the United States would be roughly $2,500 to $3,500 depending on the shipper and destination location.
- Be realistic about transport time. If you are sharing extra space on a trailer, the transportation time will depend on that vehicle's route, which may be all the way cross country. If you need expedited shipping or your transport is time sensitive (e.g. if you are needing your bike to up with you for use on a vacation), talk to your shipper about your options and the additional costs it may incur.
- Allot approximately 30 minutes at pickup because your shipper will need you to fill out paperwork, and they will most likely inspect your bike for previous damage that they do not want to be held accountable for on the other end.
- Inspect your bike thoroughly when it arrives. Look at the paint, the chrome, the mirrors, your windshield, etc. It is critical to note any damage caused by the transport as soon as possible to be eligible for insurance compensation on your claim.
Tips
- Shipping your bike via enclosed trailer as opposed to open will help reduce damage from the elements, vandalism or any other road hazards.
- Be on time to meet your shipper. You are probably one of many stops on his or her route, and it is impolite to cause him or her to become off schedule.
- If your shipper does not offer door-to-door service, you may have to meet your shipping truck at a public location such as a large parking lot to load or unload your bike.
Warnings
- Be sure to only work with motorcycle shipping companies that have active and current DOT and Motor Carrier licenses. Also ask all motorcycle transport companies for a copy of their cargo insurance certificate and make sure both the licenses and cargo insurance is currently active.
