How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Motorcycle?

The average cost to ship a motorcycle is approximately $940, but prices vary based on things like transport type and distance. Open transport (a truck without walls or a roof) is your cheapest option, but it’s also the riskiest (some of the best motorcycle shipping companies don’t even offer it). Motorcycle shipping companies let you choose the price and risk level you’re most comfortable with, so you can send your dirtbike on open transport—or ship your Harley in an enclosed carrier.

We break down motorcycle shipping costs into two categories:

1. Transport type (open or enclosed)
2. Distance (total mileage)

Several things affect your motorcycle shipping cost (in addition to the bidding process):

• Transport type. You can ship your bike inside a fully enclosed semi or on an open transport truck that doesn’t have walls or a roof. Open transport is your cheapest option, but it also exposes your chopper to elements like the sun, dirt, and rain. Some of the best motorcycle shipping companies don’t even offer open transport because it’s so harsh on your bike’s finish.
• Motorcycle size and weight. The more space your bike takes up on the truck, the more you pay. Motorcycle sizes don’t typically vary as much as other vehicles (big trucks can be twice the size of compact cars), but it’s still something to keep an eye on. A heavy-duty Suzuki M1800 is probably going to set you back more than a lightweight Kawasaki Ninja 400.
• Distance. The farther you travel, the more it costs. You can ship your bike a couple of hundred miles for as little as $500, while a cross-country trip will often set you back twice as much.
• Route. You pay based on how far and long the carrier drives rather than how the crow flies. It may be only 800 miles to your destination on a map, but road closures, traffic jams, and construction can all add time and miles to your transport. Unfortunately, you can’t map this out on your own, but the best car shipping companies can keep you updated on how mishaps along your route might affect prices.
• Advanced reservations. This is where the bidding process we talked about comes into play. You can get the lowest prices by placing your reservation about two weeks in advance. That allows the truck drivers to do their research and cut costs as much as possible. On the other hand, you’ll pay through the nose if you call a company today and say you need your motorcycle picked up tomorrow. It pays to plan ahead.
• Number of motorcycles. You can usually find discounts for shipping more than one bike at the same time. So if you and your buddies are going to the same motorcycle show or dirt bike course, consider shipping them all at the same time with the same company. You might even save enough cash to afford a hotel upgrade or a fancy steak joint.

• Seasonality. Auto transport is a supply and demand business. You can often find deals when business is slow (in the winter), but you also pay higher prices when trucks are mostly full (in the summer).

It’s cheaper to ship your motorcycle on an open transport carrier than an enclosed trailer. Move.org compared more than 200 motorcycle shipping quotes and found that open transport saves you about $300. While enclosed shipping costs approximately $1080, you can often ship your bike on an open carrier for about $780.

But your cheapest option also comes with some pretty big risks. An open transport carrier is “open” to the elements. That means your bike gets hit with everything from dirt and rain to hail and slush—not to mention constant exposure to the sun. It’s torture on your bike’s finish, so open transport is recommended primarily for dirt bikes or motorcycles with plenty of wear and tear.

Note: Companies that specialize in motorcycle shipping often provide only enclosed shipping. It costs about $300 more but also keeps your bike much safer.

Motorcycle shipping prices are higher the farther you travel. We don’t like to use per mile costs (because there are so many variables at play), but our analysis of more than 200 motorcycle shipping quotes breaks down costs in 500-mile increments. We found that prices range from about $500 to ship your motorcycle less than 500 miles to a minimum of $990 to transport your bike 2,000 miles or more.

After the first 500 miles, each additional 500 miles cost about $120.

The average cost to ship a motorcycle is approximately $940. Prices range from about $500 to ship your bike a short distance on an open carrier to around $1,300 to transport it cross-country on an enclosed carrier.

It costs about $1,060 to ship a motorcycle across the country. Move.org found that the cheapest motorcycle transporters are uShip, Easy Auto Ship, and Ship a Car Direct.

You should look for affordable rates, bike expertise, and positive customer reviews in a motorcycle transport company. Move.org also recommends using a motorcycle shipper, like Easy Auto Ship, that has additional insurance coverage options.

You can ship a motorcycle in a moving truck, but most companies recommend renting a motorcycle trailer instead. If you use a moving truck, be sure to bleed the bike’s engine before loading it, and then make sure to strap down your motorcycle tightly so it doesn’t fall in transit.

You can find international motorcycle shipping by contacting a motorcycle transporter such as AmeriFreight, Montway Auto Transport, uShip, or Easy Auto Ship. Be sure to ask what documents you need to transport your vehicle overseas.

Yes, auto transport companies also ship motorcycles. Move.org says that Sherpa Auto Transport is a notable exception. While the auto shipping company scores well with customers, it doesn’t offer motorcycle transport services.

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Move.org calculates industry averages and identifies pricing trends by following a fourfold research approach:

1. Compare quotes. We collected more than 200 quotes from 10 different companies. The car shipping quotes included prices to ship a motorcycle across 11 distances on both open and enclosed transport.
2. Mystery shopping. We contacted auto transport companies posing as customers to gather pricing data and learn how the brokers formulate their prices.
3. Site visits. We invited several industry leaders to visit our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, and explain what goes into their pricing. We then compared their answers to information we independently obtained to verify accuracy.
4. Annual calendar. We repeat our research process every year and save our data so that we can compare trends over time.