Everything You Need to Know About Shipping a Motorcycle Across Country

September 6th, 2022

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Anyone who’s ever ridden a motorcycle will agree there’s nothing quite like the feeling of being out of the open road. However, there are times when cruising on the highway is not the best idea. For example, if you’re moving to a new home across the country, your two wheels might not be the right choice if you want to stay safe. Moving your motorcycle in the back of a moving truck is also not a viable option. There is the option of towing it yourself, but do you have enough experience with a trailer, and are you prepared to risk damage or theft on the long haul ahead of you?

Luckily, there is a better option for getting your bike from point A to point B. You can ship a motorcycle across country with an auto transport company like SGT Auto Transport. Motorcycle shipping is one of the cheapest ways to ship a motorcycle across country, and it’s also hassle-free.

In this post, we’ll explore some of the aspects of shipping a motorcycle across country. We’ll explain how the process works, how much it costs, how to get your motorcycle ready for the journey, and much more.

Motorcycle shipping - what is it?

Motorcycle shipping is a way of transporting your motorcycle across country that comes with lots of benefits. It’s a very stress-free way of moving your motorcycle and the cost to ship a motorcycle across country won’t break the bank. 

The benefits of motorcycle shipping

So what about the benefits? Here are the most important ones:

It’s super convenient

Choose the best motorcycle transport company to ship your motorcycle and you’ll enjoy an end-to-end service. In other words, your dream machine will be picked up and dropped off at a location of your choosing. That location might be outside your front door, from a lock-up or storage facility, or where you work, 

Motorcycle shipping companies are experienced

If you do your research and find a professional motorcycle shipping company, you’ll get peace of mind because you know they’ll have the expertise to ship your motorcycle with the utmost care. 

They’ll also be equipped to deal with a variety of situations. For example, your motorcycle may require additional protection because of its custom paint job. Whatever is required, you can feel confident you’ll get a timely, smooth, and damage-free shipping experience for one of your most precious possessions. 

Motorcycle auto transport companies have all the best equipment

Shipping a motorcycle in a trailer is a little more involved than shipping a car. For example, it requires specialist equipment such as special hardware, motorcycle shipping trucks, and tie-downs. Only a company that specializes in providing motorcycle transport will be properly equipped.    

How to ship a motorcycle across country

If you’re thinking that shipping a motorcycle across country is complicated, you couldn’t be further from the truth. To help you understand how simple the process is, let’s walk you through it step by step. 

1. Get your motorcycle shipping quote and book the order

You start the process by getting a quote. You can do this right here by using our instant quote calculator.

Get your motorcycle shipping quote today

If you’d rather speak directly with one of our shipping advisors, they’re available at the end of a phone line or via our Live Chat option. 

Don’t forget that the quote you get from us is all-inclusive. There will be no extra costs, guaranteed. If you’re satisfied with the price, you can finalize the arrangements by clicking on the link in your emailed quote. 

Once the arrangements are made, you can start getting your motorcycle ready for shipping. You’ll find some tips on what to do below. 

When you’re making your booking, also check that 

2. Your motorcycle is picked up

We arrange for a motorcycle carrier to collect your vehicle and they’ll call a few hours in advance to check you’re home and able to release your vehicle. 

When the driver arrives, you inspect your motorcycle carefully together. Note any existing damage on the Bill of Lading. This paperwork is an important part of the motorcycle shipping process, but as soon as it’s completed, the driver will carefully load your motorcycle onto the shipping trailer. 

3. Your motorcycle is delivered

The carrier will call you once again, a few hours before they’re due to arrive at your chosen destination. Once again, they’re doing this to ensure you’re there to receive your motorbike. 

When the carrier arrives with your precious cargo, it’s time for you to inspect the motorbike once again, to make sure everything is in order. If it is, you sign the Bill of Lading and your motorcycle will be taken off the trailer and delivered to you. 

How much is it to ship a motorcycle across country?  

How much you have to pay to ship your motorcycle across country depends on several factors, such as:

• How far your motorcycle has to travel
• Whether the pick-up and drop-off locations are in or near a city or a more remote area
• The type of motorcycle you want to ship
• Whether you’re in a hurry to get your motorcycle shipped and need an expedited or guaranteed pick-up service
• Open vs. enclosed motorcycle trailer: motorcycles tend to be transported in an enclosed trailer. This is the option that provides maximum protection. However, if your budget is very tight or you’re in a particular hurry, open motorcycle shipping is also available. We should point out that open transport means your motorcycle is exposed to the elements and traffic grime.
• The condition of your motorcycle (running or not)
• The time of year

To give you a rough idea of the cost to ship a motorcycle across country, here are some estimated prices. 

Distance	Type of transport	Average price per mile	Sample distance	Sample price
0-799 miles	Enclosed	$1.42	700 miles	$1249
800-1499 miles	Enclosed	$0.84	1300 miles	$1349
1500 - 2399 miles	Enclosed	$0.54	2200 miles	$1449
2400+ miles	Enclosed	$0.41	3050 miles	$1549

 

These prices reflect current market conditions as of January 2022. The rates could change at any moment due to the price of gas, pick-up and delivery locations, and seasonal fluctuations. 

How to get your motorcycle ready for shipping

You’re putting your trust in the motorcycle transport company to do the very best they can to keep your motorcycle safe and free of damage. However, there are a few things you can do to help ensure a smooth operation. 

To start with, clean your motorcycle and remove any grime or dirt from the tires or bodywork. Now your motorcycle is gleaming and shiny, it’s the perfect time to get some shots of your baby before it’s shipped across the ocean. You’ll also be able to see any damage clearly and record it on the Bill of Lading. Having before and after shipping photographs could be very useful if the unlikely event of something happening. 

You should also secure or remove any connections and leave 1/4 gas in the tank. Make sure you let the carrier know if your motorcycle is inoperable. 

Other things to take care of include:

• Disabling any alarms
• Unlocking the steering wheel
• Check there is sufficient air in the tires

If you have any further requirements, now is the time to communicate with a member of the staff. 

Should you arrange your motorcycle shipping in advance?

This is a very common question in the auto shipping industry. Ideally, you should try to make the arrangements a minimum of four weeks ahead of the preferred pickup date. Six weeks would be better because there are fewer carriers with the ability to move motorcycles. Make it your aim to schedule your shipment for several weeks ahead of your preferred delivery date.  

How long does motorcycle shipping take?

Motorcycle shipping times can be affected by several factors. They are as follows:

• Distance: It’s going to take longer to ship a motorcycle from San Diego to Boston than it would from New York to Boston. The longer the distance, the higher the cost. 
• Remote vs. metropolitan locations: The more remote the pick-up and delivery locations, the higher the cost. This is because the carrier has to travel further. They may also need to make other stops on the journey which increases the time frame.
• Weather conditions: How fast your motorcycle is shipped can be affected by weather conditions. Traffic flow is influenced by conditions such as hail, snow, ice, thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornados.
• Volume of traffic, detours, and road construction can also impact the timeframe.
• Driver’s hours are the last factor on the list. Truck drivers can only drive for a specified number of hours every week. This number is set by the Department of Transport and is currently 70 hours per week.  

Tips on finding the best motorcycle shipping company

When you’re looking for a company to ship your motorcycle, there are several factors to consider. One vital element is that you want a motorcycle shipping company that’s got a good reputation. 

You can start the process of looking for that company by asking your fellow motorcycling buddies. As well as asking riders for referrals, you can also check the many online review websites. 

Something else to check is that the motorcycle carrier's insurance is up-to-date and that they have all the necessary liability coverage. Don’t hesitate to call the company and speak to its representatives and this will give you a good feel for the quality of the customer service. 

Remember to ask about any hidden expenses or fees. You may find some carriers charge additional fees for unusual services that might be required during the transport. 

Choose SGT Auto Transport, however, and you’re guaranteed to get an all-inclusive quote.

Make sure the shipping company is going to keep you updated on the progress of your motorcycle across the country. 

Once you’ve gathered a few names of companies that meet your criteria, research each one of those companies carefully before you make your final decision. Spend as long as you can doing your research, because it’ll go a long way toward making sure you get the best motorcycle transport service available.  

Now you know a little bit more about shipping a motorcycle across country, you might be ready to get in touch and make your booking. You can speak with our shipping advisors directly by calling (864) 546-5038 or by using Live Chat.