Step 1: Get shipping quotes
When you ship a motorcycle cross-country, one of your top priorities will be calculating the cost of transporting it. Therefore, you will first choose a few of the best auto transport companies, and then request a quote for the shipping cost from each of them.
Several factors will impact the final cost of shipping your motorcycle, including:
How far you want to move it
Pick-up and delivery location (see below)
What time of the year you’ll be shipping it
Keep reading to learn more about how much it costs to ship a motorcycle cross-country.
Pickup and delivery cost factors
Location
Options for pickup and delivery include door-to-door service, transportation from one distribution center to another distribution center, or a combination of these. In the case of door-to-door pickup and delivery, there may be occasions when – due to a high-traffic city street or a driveway that is not accessible to the truck – that you’ll need to work with the driver to determine a nearby location for safe pickup and/or delivery of your motorcycle.
Scheduling
Pickup and delivery dates are also important when you ship a motorcycle cross-country. If you want a guaranteed date and time for pickup and delivery, you’re going to pay more for that option – as you're limiting other income opportunities for that truck during the journey. If your schedule is more flexible, you should be able to lower your costs by choosing a window of a few days at each end of the shipping process.
Season
Naturally, the time of year can impact your cost. Some seasons are busy road travel seasons. Weather can also cause transportation delays. Because of these and other unpredictable events, it’s a good idea to include 1-4 days of flexibility in your schedule.
Step 2: Pre-shipment preparation
Before you ship your motorcycle cross-country, you’ll want to make sure that it’s ready for the trip. There may be carrier-specific rules that you’ll need to follow, but these are some things that you should do:
Make sure the tires are inflated
Have no more ¾ of a tank of gas
Fix any fluid leaks
Make sure the battery is charged
Leave the steering wheel unlocked
Remove any personal items from your bike
The easy way
At GP Auto Logistics, we simplify this process for you by doing all the hard work and walking you through any steps that may be required of you. We do this to guarantee the quality and timely delivery of your motorcycle. For any further questions on how to ship a motorcycle cross-country or if you’d like to work with us, give us a call to get a free quote.