Motorcycle Shipping Nationwide
CHD moves your bike door-to-door anywhere in the 48 contiguous states, with pickup typically within 1-3 days of booking and $2M cargo insurance on every load. One coordinator handles the move from quote to delivery.
- Door-to-door pickup and delivery, no terminals or drop-off depots
- Open or enclosed trailers matched to your bike's value
- Every shipment covered by $2M cargo insurance
Motorcycle shipping with Car Haul Direct moves your bike door-to-door anywhere in the 48 contiguous states, with pickup typically within 1-3 days of booking and $2M cargo insurance coverage on every load. Whether you are relocating, buying a bike out of state, or heading south for the winter, one coordinator handles your move from quote to delivery.
Reviewed by Mike Fergusson, EVP Operations, Car Haul Direct
Why riders choose Car Haul Direct
Bikes need different handling from cars, and the details are where shipments go wrong.
FMCSA-Licensed Broker
Car Haul Direct is a licensed auto transport broker, USDOT 4321158, matching your bike with insured, authorized carriers.
$2M Cargo Coverage
Every motorcycle ships under $2M cargo insurance while it is on the carrier.
48-State Coverage
Door-to-door motorcycle shipping across all 48 contiguous states, plus Hawaii and Alaska coordination.
1-3 Day Pickup
Pickup typically happens within 1-3 days of booking in metro areas.
Enclosed Options
Enclosed transport for high-value bikes typically runs 40 to 60 percent over the open rate.
Condition Documentation
The driver photographs and records your bike's condition on the Bill of Lading at pickup.
Secured, Documented, Covered
The figures that govern a CHD motorcycle move.
48
Contiguous States Covered
Door-to-door bike transport, plus Hawaii and Alaska coordination.
$2M
Cargo Insurance Coverage
On every motorcycle while it is on the carrier, documented at pickup.
1-3
Day Pickup Window
Typical metro pickup after booking; outlying areas can add 1-2 days.
7-10
Days Over 2,500 Miles
Cross-country transit; under 500 miles typically runs 1-3 days.
Motorcycle shipping questions, answered
Cost, crating practice, and prep, answered before you book.
How much does motorcycle shipping cost?
Motorcycle shipping is priced on distance, bike size and weight, trailer type, and timing. Open transport is the affordable standard, while enclosed typically runs 40 to 60 percent over open and suits high-value or custom bikes. Heavy touring bikes and trikes can cost more because they take more deck space. Your instant quote shows the exact figure for your route.
Is my motorcycle crated during shipping?
It depends on the carrier. Some carriers load bikes uncrated and strap them to dedicated securing points with wheel chocks, others use pallets or crates. Equipment and method vary, so CHD never promises one specific approach. Tell your coordinator what your bike needs, and you will know the carrier’s method before pickup.
How do I prepare my motorcycle for shipping?
Three steps cover most carriers’ requirements. Keep the fuel tank low rather than full, remove loose accessories like saddlebags, GPS units, and phone mounts, and photograph the bike from every angle before pickup. Disable any alarm. The driver’s pickup inspection adds an official condition record on the Bill of Lading.
Who ships a motorcycle?
Long-Distance Movers
Riding 1,500 miles to a new state sounds romantic until you price hotels, fuel, and days off work. Shipping puts the bike in your new driveway while you fly.
Out-of-State Buyers
You found the exact bike two states away. CHD picks it up from the seller or dealership and delivers it to your door.
Seasonal Riders
Riders who winter in Florida or Arizona ship the bike south in fall and north in spring instead of trailering it twice a year.
Rally Travelers
Fly to the event and have your bike meet you there. Fixed event dates pair well with a tighter pickup window.
Collectors and Custom Owners
High-value and custom bikes ride enclosed, typically at 40 to 60 percent over the open rate.
Services that fit your bike
Six ways the standard CHD service set maps onto a motorcycle move.
Open Transport
The standard, most affordable way to ship a motorcycle. Your bike rides secured on a multi-vehicle carrier with the same $2M coverage as any load.
Enclosed Transport
A covered trailer keeps weather and debris off paint, chrome, and custom work, typically at 40 to 60 percent over open. The common pick for high-value bikes.
Door-to-Door Transport
The carrier collects the bike at your address, the seller's, or the dealership, and delivers it to the destination address. No terminal visits.
Expedited Transport
Rally dates and move-in deadlines sometimes leave no slack. Expedited service tightens the pickup window when timing is fixed.
$2M Cargo Insurance
Coverage of $2M applies to every motorcycle while it is on the carrier. The pickup inspection documents condition before loading.
48-State Coordination
One broker handles the whole route, including Hawaii and Alaska coordination when a move crosses water. You never manage carriers state by state.
How motorcycle shipping works: 5 steps
Five steps from quote to delivery, with prep that carriers expect.
1. Get Your Instant Quote
Enter the route, your bike's make and model, and your timing. Size and weight still shape the price.
2. Book Your Pickup Window
Confirm open or enclosed and set your first available date. Pickup typically lands within 1-3 days of booking.
3. Prep the Bike
Run the fuel low, remove loose accessories, disable the alarm, and photograph the bike from all sides.
4. Hand Off at Pickup
The driver inspects the bike with you and records its condition on the Bill of Lading. Keep your copy until delivery.
5. Receive and Inspect
Compare the bike against the pickup photos and the Bill of Lading before signing. Note anything new on the delivery paperwork.
Motorcycle shipping FAQ
Cross-country cost, crating, combined loads, and prep, answered in plain terms.
Cross-country motorcycle shipping is priced on the same factors as any route: distance, bike size, trailer type, and timing. Hauls over 2,500 miles run 7-10 days in transit. Enclosed typically adds 40 to 60 percent over the open rate. The instant quote calculator gives you the exact figure for your route and bike.
Neither is universally better, and practice is carrier-dependent. Many carriers ship bikes uncrated using wheel chocks and soft straps at dedicated tie-down points; others palletize or crate. What matters is that the carrier secures the bike properly and documents its condition. Confirm your carrier’s method before pickup if you have a preference.
Yes, in many cases a bike can ship on the same order as a car, and combining them on one route simplifies scheduling. Availability depends on the carrier running your lane and the deck space the bike requires. Mention both vehicles when you request your quote so dispatch plans for them together.
No. Do not drain the tank or fluids. Most carriers simply ask that the fuel level be low rather than full, since less fuel means less weight and less spill risk. The bike should still run well enough to ride or push onto the trailer unless you have arranged inoperable handling.
Open transport works well for everyday bikes on standard lanes and costs less. Enclosed, typically 40 to 60 percent over the open rate, is the common choice for high-value, custom, or freshly painted bikes, since the covered trailer blocks weather and road debris. Both options carry the same $2M cargo coverage.
Yes. Full-dress touring bikes and trikes ship regularly, though their size and weight can raise the price because they occupy more deck space than a standard bike. Share the exact model and any modifications at booking so the carrier arrives with the right loading setup. Sidecars may also affect the quote.
Transit follows the same distance bands as car shipping: under 500 miles typically runs 1-3 days, 500-1,000 miles runs 2-4 days, and over 2,500 miles runs 7-10 days. Pickup typically happens within 1-3 days of booking in metro areas, so a mid-range interstate move often completes inside a week.
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Get Your Motorcycle Shipping Quote
Enter your route and motorcycle details in the instant quote calculator on this page and see your number before you book.