Shipping a motorcycle is definitely not the same as shipping a car or boat. In fact motorcycle shipping usually proves harder than shipping a car for various reasons. That’s why sometimes better is to use a specialist motorcycle shipper than a car shipper that offers motorcycle shipping as an extra service.

There are some other specific considerations you should know about when hiring an auto transport company to move your motorcycle.

Motorcycle Shipping #1: Pick a Reputable Shipping Company

If you care for your motorcycle, you may pay a bit more but you will have the experience and guarantee of a safe motorcycle shipping transaction. Ask family and friends that own motorcycles if there is a good shipping company they’ve used and can recommend to you.

Read the shipping policies and motorcycle insurance for the travel very carefully. Once you are happy with all the clauses, you can trust your motorcycle to the shipping company and hope for the best.

Motorcycle Shipping #2: Make Sure You Are Properly Insured

Your motorcycle should be insured against damage and theft by your motorcycle shipping company. Make sure you request a copy of the motorcycle shipping company's insurance coverage before you finalize shipping and check to see if there is any deductible you will be required to pay if damage should occur. It is likely that your personal motorcycle insurance policy may cover your vehicle in transit; and we recommend that you contact your insurance company to verify this coverage.

Motorcycle Shipping #3: How Expensive is Motorcycle Shipping?

You might think that motorcycle shipping would be cheaper because of the difference in size of vehicles, but this is rarely the case. Since motorcycles are not as stable as cars, they need extra care and protection. While a car has four wheels for extra stability a motorcycle is quite different by design and has only two wheels with nothing to keep the bike stationery apart from the stand.

The carriers use either the palettes specially designed for the purpose of motorcycle shipping or specially fitted tracks. It means that a motorcycle basically takes up the same room as a car when it needs to be shipped anywhere.

The further you are traveling and the more services you require the higher the price is likely to be, but you will receive a discount from the right company if you are shipping more than one motorcycle so do shop around and check any quotes you receive carefully.

Motorcycle Shipping #4: Payment Methods

While some motorcycle shipping companies may not require payment in advance, others require a deposit (10-25% of the total cost) prior to shipping. If a deposit is given, the balance remaining is always required at time of delivery. You will need to have a Cashiers Check or Cash ready when the truck arrives. Some motorcycle shipping companies may allow you to pay with a credit card upon delivery, but this is not common.

Motorcycle Shipping #5: Open or Enclosed?

The vast majority of motorcycle shipping is done using enclosed trailers. This is done for several reasons. Motorcycle shippers can fit dozens and dozens of bikes in an enclosed trailer that may only hold eight cars.

Motorcycles are also a little more sensitive to the elements; many people don't want their brand new Harley Davidson getting snowed on. Finally, motorcycles are more of a security risk on open trailers. For this reason, experts strongly suggest using open motorcycle shipping only for shorter distances (under 500 miles).

Motorcycle Shipping #6: Crated or Uncrated?

Most of the companies do not crate your motorcycle during shipping, as they use specialized trailers which are designed to carry motorcycles specifically. Some companies use a pallet or "pop-up crate" system to secure your bike to in the back of a semi trailer. This can be a cost saving option, but it also can mean a lot more work for you. You may have to buy or build an approved crate yourself.

Also, it is common when you ship your motorcycle crated to be required to remove the gas and battery from your bike. While not a huge undertaking, this can be time consuming, because you’ll not be able to ride as soon as it rolls of the trailer.

Motorcycle Shipping #7: Door to Door Service

Door to door does not always mean a truck will be able to pull up to your front door. Door to door means that the truck driver will get as close to your specified pick-up or delivery spot as he can legally and safely get. Large towns and cities often restrict large trucks and prohibit them from entering into some residential areas.

Motorcycle shipping trucks can be up to 75 foot long, and drivers will need lots of room to maneuver and turn around. When access to your residence is restricted by narrow streets, low-hanging trees, speed bumps or tight turns, the driver may ask that you meet the truck at a large parking lot nearby, such as a grocery store, school, or shopping mall.