Enclosed motorcycle transport — how it works, what it costs, how to prepare your bike, and what to expect from pickup to delivery.
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Motorcycle shipping uses the same general auto transport infrastructure as car shipping, but the details differ in important ways. Motorcycles are smaller, lighter, more exposed, and require different securing methods than four-wheeled vehicles. Every motorcycle we ship goes on an enclosed trailer — no exceptions.
Enclosed motorcycle carriers transport bikes inside fully covered trailers using wheel chocks, soft tie-downs, systems designed specifically for bikes. Your motorcycle rides upright, secured at the wheels and frame, fully protected from weather and road debris. This is the only way we ship motorcycles because open transport simply does not have the proper flooring on the trailer to haul bikes. Also single rock chip on a motorcycle gas tank is a visible, and needs repair. Enclosed motorcycle transport eliminates that risk entirely.
Whether you're relocating, bought a bike online, shipping to a rally, or moving a vintage motorcycle to storage, here's what you need to know about getting your bike shipped safely with enclosed auto transport.
Motorcycle transport typically costs the same as or more than shipping a car — not less. Even though a bike is smaller, enclosed motorcycle shipping requires specialized securing equipment, dedicated trailer space, and carriers experienced with two-wheeled vehicles. The pool of enclosed motorcycle carriers is smaller than the general auto transport carrier network, which means availability is tighter and pricing reflects that demand.
Typical ranges for enclosed motorcycle shipping on a standard bike:
$400 to $700 for regional motorcycle transport
$600 to $1,000 for mid-range motorcycle shipping
$900 to $1,400 for long-distance bike transport
$1,200 to $1,800 for cross-country motorcycle shipping
Factors that affect motorcycle shipping cost include distance, bike size and weight (a Gold Wing costs more to ship than a Sportster), time of year, and pickup and delivery accessibility. Spring and early summer see higher motorcycle transport demand as riding season, rallies, and shows drive shipping volume. Request a free motorcycle shipping quote for your specific bike and route.
Motorcycle prep is straightforward but important for a clean Bill of Lading inspection and a smooth enclosed shipping experience.
Clean the bike thoroughly. A clean motorcycle makes existing scratches, chips, and wear visible during the pre-transport inspection. Document the condition of the paint, chrome, exhaust, wheels, and any existing cosmetic damage before the carrier arrives for your motorcycle shipment.
Check tire pressure and oil. Tires should be properly inflated for loading and unloading the bike onto the enclosed trailer. Check oil level. Fix any active leaks — oil dripping from a motorcycle onto the enclosed trailer or other vehicles is a problem during transport.
Battery. Make sure the battery is charged. If the bike has a kill switch, leave it in the "off" position. Disconnect the battery if the motorcycle will be in transit for an extended period on a cross-country enclosed transport run.
Take photographs. Photograph the bike from every angle — both sides, front, rear, top, and close-ups of any existing damage and the odometer. Timestamp the photos. This creates a personal record that supplements the Bill of Lading for your motorcycle shipment.
The carrier's cargo insurance covers your motorcycle during enclosed transport, the same as it covers cars during auto shipping. Coverage limits apply per vehicle, and standard carrier limits ($100,000 to $250,000) are typically more than adequate for most motorcycles.
For high-value bikes — custom builds, rare vintage motorcycles, or bikes with extensive modifications — confirm the carrier's coverage limit matches your bike's value before the motorcycle shipment begins. If your motorcycle is worth $50,000+ and the carrier's per-vehicle limit is $100,000, you're covered. If you're shipping a $150,000 custom build, verify the numbers with your auto transport coordinator.
The BOL inspection process is the same as car shipping: joint condition inspection at pickup, document everything, repeat at delivery. For motorcycle transport, pay extra attention to documenting the condition of paint, chrome, exhaust pipes (which scratch easily), and any accessories that remain on the bike during enclosed shipping.
Transit times for enclosed motorcycle transport are similar to car shipping by distance:
1 to 3 business days for regional motorcycle shipping
2 to 4 business days for mid-range bike transport
4 to 7 business days for long-distance motorcycle transport
The main timeline difference between motorcycle shipping and car shipping is carrier assignment. Dedicated enclosed motorcycle carriers are a smaller subset of the total auto transport carrier pool, so matching can take longer than standard vehicle shipping — especially on lower-traffic routes. Book motorcycle transport 10 to 14 days ahead for standard routes, and 2 to 3 weeks ahead for less common lanes or during peak motorcycle season (spring and early summer when rally, show, and riding season drives enclosed shipping demand).
Bought a bike online. Coordinate enclosed motorcycle transport pickup timing with the seller. If the seller is a dealership or private party, confirm they'll be available for the carrier during the pickup window. The seller or their representative needs to be present for the BOL inspection on the motorcycle shipment.
Relocating and shipping your bike with your car. If you're already booking auto transport for a vehicle, mention the motorcycle when requesting your quote. We can coordinate both shipments — your car on a standard carrier and your bike on an enclosed motorcycle transport — on the same timeline to simplify the move.
Shipping to a rally or event (Sturgis, Daytona, Laconia). Book enclosed motorcycle shipping early — transport demand spikes around major rallies. Carriers serving these events fill up weeks in advance. For Sturgis in early August, book motorcycle transport by mid-June. For Daytona Bike Week in March, book enclosed shipping by late January.
Seasonal storage relocation. If you store your bike somewhere warmer for winter riding, the fall southbound and spring northbound motorcycle shipping pattern follows the same seasonal flow as snowbird auto transport. Book enclosed transport ahead of the seasonal demand curve for the best carrier availability and motorcycle shipping rates.
Enclosed motorcycle transport typically runs $400 to $1,800 depending on distance. Regional motorcycle shipping under 500 miles starts around $400 to $700. Coast-to-coast enclosed bike transport runs $1,200 to $1,800. Motorcycle shipping costs are comparable to or higher than car shipping because enclosed carriers with specialized bike-securing equipment are in limited supply. Request a free motorcycle shipping quote for your specific route.
No. Every motorcycle we ship goes on an enclosed trailer. Open trailers lack the flooring thats necessary for safe bike transport. Enclosed motorcycle transport also protects your bike from road debris, weather, and spray throughout the entire shipment. This is the only way we handle motorcycle shipping.
Enclosed motorcycle carriers require specialized securing equipment — wheel chocks, soft tie-downs — and the pool of carriers with this equipment is smaller than the general auto transport market. Limited enclosed carrier availability and the additional care required for motorcycle transport means pricing is comparable to or higher than standard vehicle shipping.
Book enclosed motorcycle shipping 10 to 14 days ahead on standard routes. For less common lanes or during peak motorcycle season (spring and summer), book 2 to 3 weeks ahead. For rally shipping (Sturgis, Daytona, Laconia), book motorcycle transport 6 to 8 weeks before the event.
Yes. Every carrier in our motorcycle shipping network carries cargo insurance as required ATP. Standard coverage limits of $100,000 to $250,000 per vehicle cover most bikes. For high-value custom or vintage motorcycles, we confirm the carrier's coverage matches your bike's value before dispatch.
Yes. We coordinate both shipments — your car on a standard auto transport carrier and your motorcycle on an enclosed bike carrier — on the same timeline. Mention both vehicles when requesting your quote so we can plan the motorcycle shipping and car shipping together.
Clean the bike so existing damage is visible during inspection. Check tire pressure and oil level, fix any leaks. Remove loose accessories like saddlebags and GPS mounts. Take timestamped photos of every angle before the enclosed motorcycle carrier arrives. See the full prep section above for details.
