The Cheapest Way to Ship a Motorcycle
Here’s the quick answer: The cheapest ways to ship a motorcycle are hauling it yourself in a truck or trailer, or booking open transport with a motorcycle shipper for about $400 – $600 per 1,000 miles. Below, we compare seven ways to ship a motorcycle and the best motorcycle shipping companies to get quotes from.
rating
4.7 / 5
- Refundable deposit
- Discounts available
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4.5 / 5
- Price lock promise
- Free car wash
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4.4 / 5
- Price matching
- One-day pickup
Jump to the motorcycle shipping info you’re looking for:
What are the cheapest motorcycle shipping companies?
These three companies stand out for affordable motorcycle shipping, whether you want an instant quote, low base rates, or carriers bidding on your job.
Nexus Auto Transport: Best for instant quotes
Nexus Auto Transport ships motorcycles door-to-door on open or enclosed carriers nationwide. Its online calculator returns a motorcycle shipping quote in seconds, so you can price your route before you talk to anyone.
Nexus estimates 7 – 14 days for a cross-country motorcycle shipment on an open carrier. Like most shippers, its prices shift with your route, season, and carrier availability, so compare a couple of quotes before you book.
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4.7 / 5
AmeriFreight: Best for low rates & gap coverage
AmeriFreight earns our lowest price rating, alongside Navi Auto Transport, and its partner carriers go through a strict vetting process. AmeriFreight also sells an optional gap protection plan that helps cover your insurance deductible if your bike is damaged in transit.
Gap plan holders get 48 hours after delivery to report eligible damage. AmeriFreight doesn’t offer guaranteed pricing, so your final cost can change with carrier availability and season.
uShip: Best for bidding on price
uShip is a marketplace where you post your motorcycle shipment and carriers bid on the job. The competition can push your price down, especially when a carrier already has a load headed along your route.
You can read each carrier’s reviews before you accept a bid. uShip doesn’t verify carrier licensing or insurance, so check each carrier’s USDOT number yourself and never pay outside the platform.
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4.3 / 5
What are the best ways to ship a motorcycle?
The seven main ways to ship a motorcycle are renting a moving truck, hauling it in a pickup or van, towing a motorcycle trailer, hiring a full-service mover, hiring a motorcycle shipping company, shipping by freight, and packing it in a moving container. Here’s how they compare:
| Method | Best for | Cost | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moving truck | Bike & belongings | Low | High |
| Pickup or van | Short trips | Lowest | High |
| Motorcycle trailer | Bike-only DIY moves | Low | High |
| Full-service mover | Whole-home moves | Highest | Low |
| Motorcycle shipper | Hands-off shipping | Medium | Low |
| Freight | Crated bikes | Low | Medium |
| Moving container | Bike & belongings | Low | High |
1. Rent a moving truck
Some truck rental companies let you load a motorcycle into the back of a moving truck with the rest of your belongings. Policies vary by company and location, so ask before you book.
You’ll need a ramp rated for your bike’s weight, a wheel chock, and ratchet straps. Check the truck’s weight capacity so your bike and furniture stay under the limit.
How do you load a motorcycle into a moving truck?
Two people and a few basic tools make loading much safer. Follow these steps:
- Park on level ground. Line up the truck and the bike on firm, flat pavement before you set up the ramp.
- Check the ramp rating. Make sure the truck’s ramp or lift gate can hold your bike’s weight. If it can’t, use a ramp built for loading motorcycles.
- Secure the ramp. Hook the ramp to the truck and add ratchet tie-downs for extra hold.
- Push the bike up in neutral. Have at least two people walk the motorcycle up the ramp.
- Strap it down. Set the front wheel in a chock, then secure the bike with soft loop straps and ratchet straps.
- Shift into first gear. Putting the bike in gear keeps it from rolling during the drive.
Pros & cons
- Bike & belongings travel together
- Low cost if you’re already renting
- Not every rental company allows bikes
- You load & secure it yourself
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4.3 / 5
- Affordable pricing
- Online pricing
- Several discounts
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4 / 5
- Most expensive
- 4 truck sizes
- Unlimited mileage
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4.15 / 5
- Greatest coverage
- 7 truck sizes
- One way rentals
2. Haul it in a pickup truck or van
A full-size pickup truck bed or cargo van works well for short and medium trips if you already own one. You’ll need a loading ramp, a wheel chock, and several ratchet straps to keep the bike upright.
This is usually the cheapest way to ship a motorcycle because you mainly pay for gas. The trade-off is that loading a heavy cruiser into a truck bed takes skill and at least one helper.
Pros & cons
- Usually the cheapest option
- You control the schedule
- Heavy bikes are hard to load
- Best for shorter trips
3. Rent a motorcycle trailer
If you only need to move your motorcycle, a trailer towed behind your own vehicle is a cheap DIY option. U-Haul‘s motorcycle trailer has a built-in wheel chock, a spring-assisted ramp, and a 1,530-pound max load.
U-Haul’s motorcycle trailer has to go back to the location where you rented it, so U-Haul suggests its 5-foot x 9-foot open utility trailer for one-way moves. You can also tow a trailer behind your rental truck if you’re moving the rest of your home.
Open vs. enclosed trailers
Open trailers cost less, but they leave your bike exposed to weather, road debris, and theft at overnight stops. Enclosed trailers cost more and protect your bike from the elements, and you can lock them when you stop for the night. Compare models in our guide to the best trailer rentals for moving.
Pros & cons
- Cheap for bike-only moves
- Built-in chock & ramp
- Needs a vehicle that can tow
- Motorcycle trailers aren’t one-way
4. Hire a full-service moving company
Some full-service movers will haul your motorcycle on the same truck as your household goods. National movers like Safeway Moving, American Van Lines, and Allied Van Lines rank among the best interstate moving companies, but confirm that each one handles motorcycles before you book.
Some movers hand vehicles off to a separate auto transport company. Ask who will actually haul your bike, and see our list of moving companies that ship cars for options.
moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator factors in distance, home size, services, and access, so you can price the household move first and see if bundling your bike beats a separate shipping quote. Safeway and American Van Lines are both moveBuddha Certified, which adds $1,000 in coverage and dispute mediation if something goes wrong.
Pros & cons
- One company for bike & belongings
- No loading or strapping
- Usually the most expensive option
- Not every mover ships bikes
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4.9 / 5
- Best overall value
- Veteran owned
- Portion to charity
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4.9 / 5
- Certified crews
- Flat-rate pricing
- Family-owned
rating
4.23 / 5
- Specialty packing services
- White-glove reputation
- 80+ years' experience
5. Hire a motorcycle shipping company
Auto transport companies like Nexus Auto Transport and Sherpa Auto Transport ship motorcycles on open or enclosed carriers, often with door-to-door service. It’s the most hands-off way to ship a motorcycle across the country, at about $400 – $600 per 1,000 miles.
Price isn’t the only thing to compare. Ask about insurance, surcharges, and pickup and delivery windows, since all three can change your final cost.
Pro tip: Look up the shipper’s USDOT number in the FMCSA company safety records database before you book. Our guide to brokers vs. carriers explains who actually hauls your bike.
Pros & cons
- No loading or driving
- Open & enclosed options
- Door-to-door service available
- Costs more than DIY
- Pickup windows can run several days
rating
4.7 / 5
- Refundable deposit
- Discounts available
rating
4.5 / 5
- Price lock promise
- Free car wash
rating
4.4 / 5
- Price matching
- One-day pickup
6. Ship it by freight
Shipping by freight is one of the cheapest hands-off ways to move a motorcycle, since a freight moving company prices by weight and space. Your bike usually needs to be crated or strapped to a pallet first.
Get a binding quote in writing and confirm your bike is covered for its full value. Our guide to moving insurance explains your coverage options.
Pros & cons
- Low price for long distances
- Weight-based pricing
- Bike must be crated or palleted
- Coverage may not match bike value
7. Pack it in a moving container
Some moving container companies let you ship a motorcycle with the rest of your belongings. U-Pack allows motorcycles in its ReloCubes and trailers, as long as you drain the gas and reserve extra space for the bike.
Not every container company allows bikes. PODS prohibits motorcycles and dirt bikes in its containers, so check the rules before you book. You’ll load and secure the bike yourself with a wheel chock, ratchet straps, and moving blankets.
Pros & cons
- Bike & belongings ship together
- Ground-level loading with ReloCubes
- PODS & some others ban bikes
- You must drain the gas tank
- Built for interstate moves of 100+ miles
- Only pay for the space you use
- No deposit or initial fees
- Transit averages four to six business days
- Instant online quotes 24/7
What motorcycle shipping options can you choose?
Once you pick a shipping method, a few service choices decide how much protection and convenience you get. These three have the biggest impact on price.
Open vs. enclosed transport
Open transport is the cheapest and most widely available option, and it works for most standard bikes. Enclosed transport typically costs 30% – 50% more, but it shields classic, custom, and high-value motorcycles from weather and road debris. Learn more in our guide to open vs. enclosed auto transport.
Door-to-door vs. terminal-to-terminal
With vehicle shipping companies, door-to-door service means the carrier picks up your bike at your old home and drops it off at your new one. Terminal-to-terminal shipping costs less because you drop off and pick up the bike at a carrier hub, but your bike may wait at the terminal until a truck is headed your way.
Crated vs. uncrated shipping
Uncrated, or ready-to-ride, shipping means the carrier straps your bike to the trailer with soft tie-downs, so you can usually leave about a quarter tank of gas and the battery connected. Crated shipping adds protection, but it usually requires draining the fluids, disconnecting the battery, and sometimes removing mirrors or handlebars.
How much does it cost to ship a motorcycle?
Professional motorcycle shipping costs about $400 – $600 per 1,000 miles on average. A coast-to-coast shipment typically runs $700 – $1,200 on an open carrier and $1,000 – $1,800 in an enclosed carrier, while regional moves under 500 miles usually cost $300 – $500.
moveBuddha’s car shipping calculator only needs your pickup location, destination, and date to return a vehicle shipping price range, with no contact info required. That gives you a benchmark before you request motorcycle quotes. These factors move your price the most:
- Distance: Longer trips cost more in total because of fuel and labor, though the per-mile rate often drops on long routes.
- Transport type: Enclosed transport costs more than open transport because each trailer holds fewer vehicles.
- Pickup & delivery: Door-to-door service costs more than terminal drop-off because the carrier makes extra residential stops.
- Bike size & condition: Heavier bikes and non-running motorcycles that need extra loading help cost more to ship.
- Season & flexibility: Summer demand pushes prices up. A wide pickup window gives carriers room to offer a lower rate.
Motorcycle shipping averages $400 – $600 per 1,000 miles, and enclosed transport typically costs 30% – 50% more than open transport.
How do you prepare a motorcycle for shipping?
A little prep protects your bike and makes any damage claim easier to prove. Do these before pickup:
- Wash your bike. A clean bike makes scratches and dents easy to spot during the pickup inspection.
- Photograph any damage. Take dated photos from every angle, and make sure the bill of lading notes any existing damage before you sign it.
- Lower the fuel level. Most carriers want about a quarter tank or less for uncrated shipping. Crated, freight, and container shipments usually require a drained tank.
- Check the battery and tires. Set your tires to the recommended pressure and disconnect the battery if your carrier asks or the bike will go into storage.
- Remove loose accessories. Take off saddlebags, GPS units, cameras, and anything else that could fall off, since personal items usually aren’t covered.
- Turn off the alarm. A disabled alarm keeps the bike from draining its battery or going off in transit.
- Have your documents ready. Domestic shippers typically ask for your title, registration, and photo ID.
Which way to ship a motorcycle is best for you?
The best option depends on your distance, budget, and whether the rest of your home is moving too:
- Short trip with your own truck: Haul the bike in your pickup or van. It’s the cheapest option if you’re comfortable loading it.
- Whole-home move: Bundle the bike with a full-service mover or a U-Pack shipment so everything arrives together.
- Bike-only, long distance: Book open transport with a motorcycle shipping company for the best balance of cost and convenience.
- Classic or high-value bike: Pay extra for enclosed transport to protect it from weather and road debris.
Whichever way you go, get quotes from at least three companies. On average, moveBuddha users save more than 30% by comparing movers before booking.
FAQ
What is the cheapest way to ship a motorcycle?
Hauling it yourself in a pickup truck or on a rented trailer is usually the cheapest way to ship a motorcycle. For hands-off shipping, open transport with terminal drop-off or a uShip bid usually costs the least. Compare at least three quotes before you book.
How much does it cost to ship a motorcycle?
Motorcycle shipping costs about $400 – $600 per 1,000 miles on average. Enclosed transport typically costs 30% – 50% more than open transport. Distance, bike size, season, and door-to-door service all affect your price.
How long does it take to ship a motorcycle?
Cross-country motorcycle shipping usually takes 7 – 14 days after pickup. Trips under 500 miles often arrive in 1 – 3 days. Plan for a pickup window of a few days on top of transit time.
Can you ship a motorcycle that doesn’t run?
Yes, most motorcycle shippers will transport a non-running bike. Tell the carrier when you book so it can bring extra loading equipment. Expect to pay more than you would for a running motorcycle.
Do you need to empty the gas tank to ship a motorcycle?
Most carriers ask for about a quarter tank or less for uncrated shipping. Crated, freight, and container shipments usually require a drained tank. Follow your carrier’s rules, since policies vary.
How did we choose the best motorcycle shipping companies?
We analyzed more than 2,500 car shipping companies nationwide and rated them using our moving methodology. Here’s what we considered:
- Standard services (30%): We looked at whether each company offers open transport, enclosed transport, or both, plus door-to-door or terminal delivery. Companies that ship motorcycles, RVs, and other specialty vehicles scored higher.
- Add-on services (25%): We gave extra points for optional services like expedited shipping, guaranteed pickup times, and free washes.
- Customer satisfaction (20%): We analyzed reviews on Yelp, Google, Trustpilot, and other platforms, and we checked federal licensing and Better Business Bureau grades.
- Availability (15%): Companies with nationwide or international coverage scored higher than those that serve fewer states.
- Scheduling & payment (10%): Shippers with easy online booking, price matching, discounts, and transparent quotes that include insurance ranked higher.
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