7 best motorcycle shipping companies of 2024
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While riding your motorcycle cross-country may seem like a good idea, it can put unnecessary miles on your vehicle, lead to damage from debris and be a pain when you’re in the middle of a big move.
Shipping your motorcycle across the country protects it, especially when moving it out of state. To help you find the best motorcycle shipping companies, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to the seven best motorcycle shippers based on customer service, reputation, service offerings, pricing, available discounts and much more.
Easy Auto Ship: Best motorcycle shipper
Star rating: 5 out of 5
Online quotes: Yes
Carrier type: Open or enclosed
Availability: All 50 states, international
Compare rates at Easy Auto Ship
Why we picked Easy Auto Ship
Easy Auto Ship is our top choice because of its massive service offerings, fair pricing and excellent customer reputation. This A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) rated company stands by its services, offering a free cancellation and refund should you change your mind within 24 hours of booking. A standout feature of its international shipping is its guaranteed pickup on a specific day — a big plus over many providers that offer a several-day pickup range.
My biggest issue with Easy Auto Ship is its online quote tool. While using it, I continually received error messages despite trying the online quote tool in several browsers, in incognito mode and on a different computer.
Who should use Easy Auto Ship
If you’re unsure about shipping your bike, Easy Auto Ship offers a great cancellation and refund policy and many excellent service offerings to make the process easier.
Pros
Offers international shipping
Free cancellation and refund
All-inclusive, binding quotes
Cons
Newer to the industry (less experienced)
Faulty online quote tool
Limited phone service hours
We Will Transport It: Best for flexible delivery options
Star rating: 4.8 out of 5
Online quotes: Yes
Carrier type: Open or Enclosed
Availability: 50 states and 2 U.S. territories, international
at
Why we picked We Will Transport It
We Will Transport It offers a user-friendly online quote tool and offered me a 10% discount for calling for a quote, which is a nice bonus. No upfront deposit or down payment is required when booking with We Will Transport It. In addition, this provider provides expedited shipping options and international shipping, giving you plenty of options regardless of your destination and timing.
Even though We Will Transport It has many excellent services, its customer support options still need to be improved. The provider doesn’t have a live chat option, community forum or help page. I also noticed that its phone service hours aren’t listed on its website.
Who should use We Will Transport It
We Will Transport It is a smart choice if you need flexible delivery. You can opt for door-to-door transportation or delivery to a storage facility, airport parking lots or long-term parking lots.
Pros
Real-time GPS tracking
Door-to-door motorcycle shipping options
Vets carriers before arranging your shipment
Cons
More expensive
Lacks customer support options
No rental car services if the shipment is late
American Auto Shipping: Best for vehicle variety
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5
Online quotes: Yes
Carrier type: Open or enclosed
Availability: All 50 states, all U.S. territories
at
Why we picked American Auto Shipping
American Auto Shipping offers binding price quotes and a damage-free guarantee, meaning you won’t be surprised with hidden fees or be left with a scratched-up bike after picking up your shipment. If your delivery is excessively delayed, American Auto Shipping provides you with a rental car so you aren’t stranded while you wait.
Most impressively, this provider offers a wide array of shipping services — including military, cross-country, door-to-door and freight shipping — giving you plenty of ways to book your motorcycle transit.
Even though American Auto Shipping has all these features, consider other providers if you want real-time tracking. It also doesn’t offer a multi-car discount, so if you’re shipping multiple bikes, you should look into AmeriFreight or Easy Auto Ship, which provides this helpful discount.
Who should use American Auto Shipping
Military members can significantly benefit from American Auto Shipping’s overseas shipping and military discount.
Pros
Ships to overseas U.S. territories
Offers a military discount ($25 to several hundred dollars, depending on services)
Accredited by the BBB
Cons
No multi-car discount
No GPS tracking
Down payment required when booking
A-1 Auto Transport: Best for pricing and discounts
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5
Online quotes: Yes
Carrier type: Open or enclosed
Availability: All 50 states, 190+ countries
at
Why we picked A-1 Auto Transport
A-1 Auto Transport stands out for its impressive specials and discounts, including student, senior, military, snowbirds, first-time shippers, seasonal and multi-car discounts. When I used its online booking system, it offered me a lower rate when booking online and a 20% off “before you go” coupon as a one-time moving offer when I went to leave the page.
The one discount A-1 Auto Transport lacks is price matching. While providers like AmeriFreight offer price-matching discounts, A-1 Auto Transport doesn’t, limiting your negotiation capabilities if you find a better deal elsewhere.
Who should use A-1 Auto Transport
Motorcycle owners who qualify for any A-1 Auto Transport discounts, such as seniors and students, should take advantage of these savings.
Pros
Multi-car discount offered
Freight shipping available (less expensive transport type)
Online booking discount
Cons
Doesn’t offer free cancellation
No price matching
No live chat
AmeriFreight: Best for customer support
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5
Online quotes: Yes
Carrier type: Open or enclosed
Availability: 50 states
at
Why we picked AmeriFreight
This customer-centric provider offers excellent support with live chat (with a human), phone service, a help base, a blog and a FAQ page. In addition, it’s an accredited Better Business Bureau company with an A+ rating and 20 years of experience in the industry.
Another huge benefit is its gap coverage plan, which will cover your insurance deductible and any incurred damages that standard carrier insurance doesn’t cover. While carriers must legally have insurance to protect your vehicle during shipment, there are often exclusions, which can leave a gap where the carrier’s insurance isn’t required to pay for damage to your bike, making AmeriFreight’s gap coverage a great benefit.
On the other hand, AmeriFrieght isn’t the provider for you if you need international shipping as it only transports motorcycles within the United States.
Who should use AmeriFreight
If you value service above all else, go with AmeriFreight, which has the most comprehensive service options.
Pros
Return customer, medical personnel and first responder discounts
Gap coverage plan provides extra protection
Dedicated care specialist
Cons
No international shipping
No terminal-to-terminal shipping services
No binding quotes
eShip Transport: Best for customizable pricing
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5
Online quotes: Yes
Carrier type: Open or enclosed
Availability: All 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, the Bahamas and other countries
at
Why we picked eShip Transport
eShip offers many discounts, including multi-vehicle, military and snowbird discounts — a big plus for anyone in these groups. Another huge benefit is its price-lock and assigned-driver guarantee, which means eShip will pay for any damage to your bike if a driver is not adequately insured. You’ll even receive a complimentary rental reimbursement of $300 if your motorcycle shipment is delayed more than 48 hours.
Unlike some providers, eShip’s online quote calculator doesn’t provide an instant estimate. Instead, you must wait to hear back from the company via email or phone, slowing down the research process when looking for a provider.
Who should use eShip Transport
If you’re concerned about your motorcycle being damaged in transit or arriving late, eShip offers multiple guarantees and rental reimbursement to give you greater peace of mind.
Pros
Arranges nationwide home moving services
Reimburses you if the shipment is late
Ships luxury and antique bikes
Cons
No freight shipping options
Doesn’t offer free cancellation
Slow quote process
SGT Auto Transport: Best for enclosed shipping
Star rating: 4.4 out of 5
Online quotes: Yes
Carrier type: Enclosed
Availability: 50 states
Compare rates at SGT Auto Transport
Why we picked SGT Auto Transport
SGT Auto Transport offers competitive pricing for enclosed motorcycle shipping, with sample prices for a distance of 700 miles costing approximately $995. This provider also offers a Sunday Savings deal, which offers discounted auto transportation prices on Sundays.
The online quote process was fast, and I received an instant quote of $1,616 for the enclosed shipping of a Harley Davidson Sportster from Phoenix to San Diego. In addition, the estimated delivery time was only two to three calendar days after pickup, which is faster than many providers I’ve encountered, which take at least four to seven days after pickup for domestic transit.
However, if you want the most affordable prices, open shipping is usually less expensive, which SGT doesn’t offer for motorcycles. In addition, I found its website less than user-friendly, with many annoying pop-ups.
Who should use SGT Auto Transport
SGT Auto Transport is an excellent choice if you want more affordable, enclosed shipping options to protect your bike, especially if you have a classic or antique motorcycle.
Pros
Price matches direct competitors
Competitive enclosed shipping prices
Instant quote provided
Cons
Website isn’t user-friendly
No open shipping (for bikes)
Our picks at a glance
What didn’t make the cut
Here are a few motorcycle transport companies that just missed our best-of list:
RoadRunner Auto Transport: While RoadRunner Auto Transport has more than 30 years of service shipping vehicles nationwide, it has a poor rating with the BBB and a 2.0 rating on Yelp.
Nationwide Auto Shipping: Nationwide Auto Shipping has an excellent A+ BBB rating, but it doesn’t offer a customer live chat or comprehensive phone service hours, leaving you with no way to contact the provider should anything go wrong.
Montway Auto Transport: Offers a huge variety of shipping services but doesn’t provide GPS tracking or include rental services if your car is behind schedule.
How to choose the right motorcycle shipper
Choose the right motorcycle shipper for your needs by following these steps:
Check the company’s licensing: All motorcycle shipping companies must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which gives them an MC number. Verify this information on FMCSA’s website and check for a valid U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) number on the provider’s website.
Read customer reviews: Look up customer reviews on third-party websites like Trustpilot and Yelp, as well as the BBB, for insight into how a company treats its customers.
Verify the company’s insurance: All vehicle shipping companies must legally provide insurance, but you’ll want to double-check that the company provides enough insurance coverage for your motorcycle. This step is critical if you have an antique or luxury motorcycle.
Pay more for experience: If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Look for binding quotes, no hidden fees and a reputable company with plenty of experience transporting motorcycles to avoid running into problems.
Breaking down motorcycle shipping costs
Motorcycle shipping costs come down to these main factors:
Distance
Gas prices
If your motorcycle is oversized or heavy
Labor
Route and possible toll fees
Time of year
Timing (expedited shipping costs more)
Your bike’s condition (running versus not running)
Methodology
The CNN Underscored editorial staff evaluated each vehicle shipping company based on weighted criteria, including:
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.
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