Motorcycle Shipping That Protects the Ride
Your motorcycle can move across the country without turning your calendar, tires, and weather app into a group project. AutoStar Transport Express helps coordinate motorcycle shipping with vetted carriers, clear quotes, and real support from pickup to delivery.
Trusted Motorcycle Transport Support
- Transport experience
- Since 2007
- Vehicles shipped
- 300,000+
- Vetted carriers
- 25,000+
- States served
- 50
Shipping the Motorcycle, Not the Headache
Motorcycles are built for the road, but that does not mean every move should become a long ride. Weather, distance, work schedules, hotel costs, tire wear, and one badly timed storm can make a simple plan feel less simple.
AutoStar helps arrange motorcycle transport when riding it yourself is not practical. That might mean bringing home a bike bought online, moving across the country, sending a motorcycle to a rally, relocating for military orders, or protecting a custom or vintage bike from unnecessary miles.
The goal is straightforward: a clear quote, the right carrier fit, documented pickup, steady communication, and a delivery that does not require you to become a logistics department.
Motorcycles and Moves AutoStar Can Help With
Different motorcycles and pickup situations need different details. The more we know up front, the cleaner the plan can be.
Online Motorcycle Purchases
Coordinate pickup from a dealer, auction, private seller, storage facility, or other approved pickup location.
Relocations and Seasonal Moves
Save time, miles, and weather exposure during work, school, military, or snowbird moves.
Rally and Event Transport
Ship the motorcycle for major events when riding the full distance is not practical.
Custom, Vintage, and High-Value Bikes
Share value, modifications, clearance, accessories, and preferred transport type before booking.
Sport, Cruiser, Touring, and Dirt Bikes
Make, model, dimensions, weight, ground clearance, running condition, and accessories all help shape the plan.
Multiple or Non-Running Motorcycles
Call first for multiple bikes, non-running units, sidecars, trikes, or hard-to-load motorcycles.
What Affects Motorcycle Shipping Cost?
Motorcycle shipping cost is based on shipment details, not a flat number that works for every route and every bike.
Longer routes usually cost more, but busy carrier lanes may be easier to schedule than remote pickups.
Touring bikes, large cruisers, trikes, sidecars, and modified bikes may need more carrier review.
Enclosed transport usually costs more because it adds protection and uses more specialized space.
A bike that rolls, steers, and loads normally is easier to plan than a non-running motorcycle.
Homes, storage units, dealerships, auctions, rally sites, and narrow streets can each create different access needs.
Urgent moves, peak riding season, rally dates, and weather patterns can affect availability.
Quote Planning
A Better Quote Starts With Better Details
Pickup and delivery ZIP codes, motorcycle type, running condition, transport preference, timing, and access notes help shape the quote. If any detail feels unusual, a quick call is usually the fastest way to get it reviewed.
Open vs. Enclosed Motorcycle Transport
The right option depends on the bike, route, weather, value, and how much protection you want during transit.
| Attribute | Option | Best For | What to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open motorcycle transport | Open motorcycle transport | Standard motorcycles, budget-conscious moves, flexible routes | Often more available and cost-effective, but the bike may be more exposed to weather and road conditions. |
| Enclosed motorcycle transport | Enclosed motorcycle transport | Custom, vintage, luxury, show, collector, or weather-sensitive motorcycles | Adds protection from weather and road debris, but usually costs more and may require more scheduling flexibility. |
| Call for review | Call for review | Non-running bikes, trikes, sidecars, low-clearance bikes, multiple motorcycles | A shipping specialist can help review fit, loading, access, and carrier requirements before quoting. |
- Open motorcycle transport
- Option: Open motorcycle transport
- Best For: Standard motorcycles, budget-conscious moves, flexible routes
- What to Know: Often more available and cost-effective, but the bike may be more exposed to weather and road conditions.
- Enclosed motorcycle transport
- Option: Enclosed motorcycle transport
- Best For: Custom, vintage, luxury, show, collector, or weather-sensitive motorcycles
- What to Know: Adds protection from weather and road debris, but usually costs more and may require more scheduling flexibility.
- Call for review
- Option: Call for review
- Best For: Non-running bikes, trikes, sidecars, low-clearance bikes, multiple motorcycles
- What to Know: A shipping specialist can help review fit, loading, access, and carrier requirements before quoting.
Transport Options
Open or Enclosed? Start With the Bike.
Open transport can be practical for many standard motorcycles. Enclosed transport may be worth reviewing for custom, vintage, collector, luxury, show, or weather-sensitive bikes.
Secure Handling
Inspection and Secure Loading Matter
Before pickup, the motorcycle condition should be documented. At delivery, the bike should be checked again before final paperwork is signed. AutoStar works with a vetted carrier network and helps coordinate shipment details before pickup.
How Motorcycle Shipping Works
A clear process helps keep seller pickup, carrier matching, and delivery from becoming guesswork.
- 1
Share the Bike and Route Details
Start with pickup and delivery ZIP codes, motorcycle type, make, model, running condition, preferred timing, and transport option.
- 2
Get a Route-Specific Quote
AutoStar reviews the route, motorcycle, timing, and transport option to provide a shipment quote.
- 3
Carrier Matching and Scheduling
Your shipment is matched with a vetted carrier that can handle the bike, route, and pickup conditions.
- 4
Pickup Inspection and Loading
At pickup, the bike condition is documented, then the motorcycle is loaded and secured according to the carrier process.
- 5
Transit Updates
AutoStar helps keep communication clear while the motorcycle is in transit.
- 6
Delivery and Final Check
At delivery, inspect the motorcycle before signing final paperwork.
How to Prepare a Motorcycle for Shipping
Clean the motorcycle so existing marks are easier to document.
Take clear photos before pickup.
Remove loose personal items, helmets, riding gear, removable electronics, and unsecured accessories.
Secure or remove saddlebags and detachable parts as directed by the carrier.
Confirm whether the motorcycle runs, rolls, steers, and brakes.
Check tire pressure enough for safe rolling and loading.
Provide keys and any alarm, steering lock, or access instructions.
Share pickup contact details, gate codes, storage rules, dealership hours, or auction release requirements.
Follow carrier instructions for fuel, battery, fluids, and accessories.
Pickup Prep
Tell Us What Might Matter Before Pickup
A low custom bike, dead battery, locked steering, narrow alley, storage-unit schedule, or seller who only answers texts can matter more than people expect. Share those details before pickup day.
Why Customers Choose AutoStar for Motorcycle Transport
AutoStar has helped customers ship vehicles since 2007, with more than 300,000 vehicles shipped through a nationwide network.
We help customers think through real transport details: Is open transport enough? Should enclosed be reviewed? Does the seller have access? Does the motorcycle run and roll? Is the event date tight? That is where a real phone call earns its keep.
AutoStar Transport Express is FMCSA Licensed - MC-600908 and DOT Registered - USDOT-2239014.
Common Use Cases
Online Purchase, Rally, or Relocation?
Motorcycle shipping can help with dealer purchases, private-seller pickups, auctions, rallies, military moves, seasonal relocations, and long-distance moves where riding is not the right answer.
Trust Signals
BBB Top Rated for Over 19+ Years
Inc5000 Accredited
FMCSA MC: 600908
U.S. DOT 2239014Motorcycle Shipping Customer Reviews
Review proof is pulled from the available live/default source when supported.
Based on 7,609 reviews
Motorcycle Shipping FAQs
Motorcycle shipping cost depends on distance, route, transport type, bike size, running condition, timing, and pickup or delivery access. Call AutoStar or request a quote for route-specific pricing.
Timing depends on route, distance, carrier availability, season, weather, pickup access, and delivery access.
The cheapest safe option is usually open transport with flexible timing, but the best option still needs to match the motorcycle, route, value, and handling needs.
Open transport can be practical for many standard motorcycles. Enclosed transport adds protection for custom, vintage, collector, luxury, show, or long-distance motorcycle shipments.
AutoStar works with licensed and insured carriers. Ask your transport coordinator about carrier insurance details for your specific shipment.
Clean the motorcycle, take photos, remove loose items, provide keys, document condition, confirm the bike rolls and steers, and share access details.
Follow the carrier instructions for your shipment. Requirements can vary by carrier, equipment, and motorcycle condition.
Non-running motorcycles may be possible with the right planning, but they need to be disclosed before quoting.
Yes. AutoStar can help coordinate pickup from a dealer, auction, private seller, storage facility, or other approved pickup location.
Motorcycle shipping can be useful for rally and event travel when riding the full distance is not practical. Call ahead for time-sensitive moves.
Multiple motorcycles may be possible depending on route, timing, bike sizes, and carrier availability.
Someone usually needs to be available at pickup and delivery to release or accept the motorcycle and complete the inspection paperwork.
Loose personal items, helmets, riding gear, electronics, and unsecured accessories should generally be removed. Ask your coordinator about saddlebags or attached accessories before pickup.
Ready to Move the Motorcycle Without Turning It Into a Long Ride?
Call AutoStar to talk through the route, bike type, timing, condition, and transport options. If you already have the details ready, you can also start with a motorcycle shipping quote.
- Since 2007
- 300,000+ vehicles shipped
- 25,000+ vetted carriers
- No upfront payment required