You found the right bike. The problem is that it is in Milwaukee and you are in San Diego, and riding a brand-new Road Glide 2,100 miles home in March sounds better in your head than it will feel in Nebraska. So: what does it cost to ship a motorcycle, and does it need a crate?

Most motorcycle shipments in 2026 cost $400 to $1,200 on a standard carrier, and crating adds $150 to $400. ABC’s motorcycle shipping service runs all four methods, and this guide tells you which one your bike actually needs.

Quick answer: Shipping a motorcycle costs about $300 to $600 under 500 miles, $500 to $900 for 500 to 1,500 miles, and $800 to $1,300 cross country on an open or enclosed carrier, uncrated. Crated freight shipping adds $150 to $400 for the crate and handling. Uncrated transport on a carrier that uses wheel chocks and soft tie-downs is the standard and is right for most bikes; crating is for vintage, exotic, or non-running motorcycles and for freight that will be handled by forklift.

Motorcycle shipping cost in 2026, by distance

A motorcycle takes up far less trailer space than a car, so it ships for roughly half the price of a sedan on the same route. Here are current ranges for a standard bike, upright on a carrier, uncrated.

Distance Open carrier Enclosed carrier Transit time
Under 500 miles $300 to $500 $400 to $650 1 to 3 days
500 to 1,000 miles $450 to $700 $550 to $850 2 to 4 days
1,000 to 1,500 miles $550 to $850 $700 to $1,000 3 to 5 days
1,500 to 2,000 miles $700 to $1,000 $850 to $1,200 4 to 7 days
Over 2,000 miles $800 to $1,200 $1,000 to $1,500 7 to 10 days

As with cars, the per-mile rate falls as the trip gets longer, because the carrier’s fixed costs are spread across more miles. A Milwaukee to San Diego run of 2,100 miles might quote at $900 to $1,100 uncrated, which is under 50 cents a mile.

The four ways to ship a motorcycle

The crated-versus-uncrated question is really a question about which of four methods fits your bike. ABC runs all four.

1. Open carrier, uncrated (the standard)

The bike rides upright on an open trailer, held by a front wheel chock and soft tie-downs that compress the suspension slightly and keep it from moving. Heavier cruisers get reinforced straps and rear-tire stabilization. This is how the majority of motorcycles move around the country, and it is the cheapest method. The bike is exposed to weather and road spray, the same as it would be if you rode it.

2. Enclosed carrier, uncrated

Same chocks and tie-downs, inside a covered trailer. The bike arrives as clean as it left. This adds 20 to 40 percent over open and is the right choice for a new bike, a custom paint job, a bike heading to a show, or any long winter route. Sport bikes with delicate fairings are usually loaded by lift gate and secured with padded straps on enclosed trailers.

3. Palletized

The bike is strapped to a heavy shipping pallet, usually inside an enclosed trailer. It is a middle option: more stable than straps alone, cheaper and faster than a full crate, and it lets the bike be moved by pallet jack at a terminal. Dealers use this a lot for new inventory.

4. Crated freight

The bike is bolted through its wheels into a custom wooden crate and ships as freight, which means it can travel on a standard freight truck and be moved by forklift. This is the most protective method and the most expensive, because someone has to build the crate (or you buy one), and the crate adds size and weight. Crating runs $150 to $400 on top of the transport, and more for a very large bike.

Crated or uncrated: how to decide

Uncrated shipping on a proper motorcycle carrier is not the cheap option in the way people sometimes assume. The chock-and-strap system is how manufacturers and dealers move bikes every day, and a carrier that ships motorcycles regularly has the right equipment and the hands to use it. For a modern street bike, cruiser, or adventure bike that runs, uncrated is the right default.

Crating makes sense when:

  • The bike is vintage, rare, or freshly restored, and any contact with a strap or a chock is a risk you do not want
  • It does not run, cannot be rolled, or has no front wheel, so it cannot be chocked normally
  • It is going into a freight network, such as to a port or a long-term storage facility, where forklifts will handle it
  • It has fragile bodywork, a tall custom windshield, or accessories that cannot be removed
  • You want it fully sealed from weather on a long route and an enclosed carrier is not available on your lane

If none of those apply, pay for an enclosed carrier instead of a crate. You get the weather protection without the crate cost, and the bike is handled by people who ship bikes for a living rather than by a freight dock.

What else changes the price

Bike size and weight. A 900-pound touring bike takes more trailer space and more securing effort than a 400-pound sport bike. Expect $50 to $150 more for full-dress tourers, trikes, and bikes with sidecars.

Whether it runs. A running bike is rolled on under its own power or pushed up a ramp. A non-runner has to be winched or lifted, which adds $75 to $200 and narrows the pool of carriers.

Lane and season. Routes between major cities price lower than rural pickups, and spring is the busy season for motorcycles as riders buy before summer. March through May and the weeks before major rallies cost more; late fall and winter cost less, except on southbound lanes into Florida and Arizona.

Pickup window. Give a 4 to 5 day window and the dispatcher can slot your bike onto a truck already heading your way. A single fixed date costs more.

Multiple bikes. Two or more bikes on the same carrier are cheaper per bike. ABC takes up to 15 percent off per vehicle for multi-vehicle bookings, and the same discount applies to a car and a bike shipping together.

Guaranteed dates. If the bike must arrive by a specific day, ABC can pick it up early and hold it at a secure terminal, then deliver on the date for $150 to $300.

Shipping versus riding it home

Riding a new bike 2,000 miles is a great trip if you have the week and the weather. As a way to save money, it is weaker than it looks.

Cost of riding 2,000 miles Typical amount
Fuel (45 mpg) $140 to $180
Hotels, 3 to 4 nights $400 to $600
Meals $150 to $250
Break-in service on a new bike, brought forward $150 to $300
Tires and chain, 2,000 miles of wear $60 to $120
Your time 4 to 5 days

That is $900 to $1,450 in hard costs before you value your time, against $900 to $1,100 to ship the same bike uncrated. For a used bike you know, riding can still make sense. For a new one, or one you have never ridden, shipping usually wins.

How to prepare a motorcycle for shipping

The carrier will do the securing. Your job is to make the bike easy and safe to load.

  • Leave about a quarter tank of fuel. Carriers will not take a full tank.
  • Wash the bike. Clean paint makes the pickup inspection accurate, which protects you if there is ever a claim.
  • Photograph every panel, the wheels, the mirrors, and the odometer, with the date visible.
  • Remove soft saddlebags, tank bags, GPS units, and anything that unclips. Locked hard bags can stay.
  • Leave tall windshields and fairings on unless the dispatcher asks for them to come off for trailer clearance.
  • Disable the alarm and lock the steering; give the driver the key if the bike needs to be moved.
  • Check tire pressure. A soft tire makes a bike hard to chock.
  • Note any fluid leaks on the Bill of Lading so they are not mistaken for damage at delivery.

The driver completes a Bill of Lading with photographs at pickup, and you sign it. Do the same inspection at delivery before you sign again. ABC’s guide to inspecting a vehicle at pickup and delivery applies to bikes exactly as it does to cars.

Insurance on a shipped motorcycle

Every motorcycle carrier in ABC’s network is required to carry cargo and liability insurance, and coverage runs from the moment the bike is loaded until it is delivered. ABC provides the carrier’s certificate on request before pickup, with limits scaled to the bike’s value, so if you are shipping a $40,000 custom or a rare vintage machine, ask for the limit in writing. Your own motorcycle policy may also cover transport; our post on whether insurance pays for auto transport explains how to check. Accessories left on the bike are generally not covered, which is another reason to remove what unclips.

How ABC ships motorcycles

ABC has moved motorcycles alongside cars from Irvine, California for more than twenty years. The process is the same as for a car: a free quote from your ZIP codes and bike details, booking with no deposit, pickup within a 4 to 5 day window that narrows to 1 to 2 days once a carrier is assigned, a Bill of Lading with photos at pickup, and door-to-door delivery with a four-hour arrival window. Payment is collected only after a carrier is secured. Riders heading to Sturgis, Daytona, or Laconia often ship the bike down and fly in, and ABC’s small boat and motorcycle guide covers the rally logistics.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to ship a motorcycle 1,000 miles?

About $500 to $800 uncrated on an open carrier, or $650 to $950 enclosed. Add $150 to $400 for crating.

Is it cheaper to ship a motorcycle crated or uncrated?

Uncrated is cheaper. Crating adds the cost of the crate and the freight handling. Choose a crate for a vintage, non-running, or very fragile bike; otherwise choose an enclosed carrier if you want weather protection.

Do I have to drain the fuel to ship a motorcycle?

No. Leave about a quarter of a tank. Only crated freight shipments and overseas shipments sometimes require a near-empty tank.

How long does motorcycle shipping take?

One to four days for regional moves and 7 to 10 days cross country, the same as a car. Transit starts when the bike is picked up, not when you book.

Can I ship a motorcycle and a car together?

Yes, and it is cheaper per vehicle. ABC’s multi-vehicle discount of up to 15 percent applies when both ship on the same carrier from the same origin to the same destination.

Can I leave gear on the bike?

Locked hard bags can stay. Soft bags, helmets, and loose accessories should come off, because they are not insured and can shift in transit.

The bottom line

Shipping a motorcycle in 2026 costs roughly $300 to $1,300 depending on distance, with enclosed transport adding 20 to 40 percent and crating adding $150 to $400 on top. For almost every running street bike, uncrated transport on a carrier with proper chocks and tie-downs is the right choice, and an enclosed trailer is the upgrade worth paying for. Crates are for vintage, exotic, non-running, or freight-bound bikes.

Get a free motorcycle shipping quote from ABC Auto Shipping, with no deposit and the full price up front. Or call 877-686-5611, describe the bike, and the dispatcher will tell you which of the four methods it actually needs.