Best Motorcycle Shipping Companies of 2018

Whether you want your Ducati MotoGP to meet you at your next destination or you finally caved on that Harley-Davidson Softail and need it delivered, you’re likely asking the question, How do I ship my motorcycle?

*Unless delivery location can’t accommodate an 80-foot trailer.

Just like car shipping, motorcycle shipping can eliminate the logistics and heavy lifting involved in moving vehicles.

Our top pick, uShip, offers the best price options, so you can find a company that meets your standards and budget to a T. Alongside our Best Car Shipping Companies list, we researched the other best motorcycle movers in the business, so you can know who’s good for what in the industry.

Read on to see which companies made the cut.

uShip is to the auto transport world as Angie’s List is to the average consumer. In short, it’s an online hub for shipping services. You post things you need moved and uShip funnels competing bids for those moves, then links you with the companies you’re interested in.

uShip is the smart, streamlined way to see all your motorcycle transport service options in one place, making the process of finding a motorcycle move specific to your needs easy as pie.

Reason #1: It lets you see all your options

The reason uShip floats straight to the top is simple: you can find the best motorcycle move for your budget here more easily than anywhere else. With uShip, you can search the parameters of your move, and it’ll pull a bunch of quotes from various companies for you to peruse.

Plus, uShip has a state-of-the-art graph that shows the low, medium, and high bids of your shipment and then aligns various companies’ bids on the spectrum so you can visually compare the costs.

But uShip doesn’t stop there. If you’re interested in a specific company and want to look into it more, uShip has a whole section of company reviews so you can make an even more informed decision.

Reason #2: You can set your own price

On uShip, you take the driver’s seat (or in this case, the throttle) by naming your price on a shipment. If you don’t want to sift through your options after you’ve listed the details of your shipment, you can narrow your search by price and let companies that fit the bill come to you to talk business.

Not only does this help you stay within budget, it speeds up the shopping process if you already know what you want in a move.

Feel free to give our uShip review a read if you want to know more.

Montway is another favorite in the auto transport world, but just as Montway provides superior car shipping services, it’s no different when it comes to motorcycle transport.

Reason #1: No size limit on vehicle

Since shipping reservations are based on open car-sized slots in a truck, Montway treats every motorcycle move the same as the move of a small sedan or coupe. Because of this, there are zero limitations on the size, weight, and height of your motorcycle—a perk that is not easy to come by.

Also, Montway ships every motorcycle with enclosed transport, so you can be sure your ride is getting top-notch protection on the road. Your motorcycle will ride comfortably with a car-sized spot to itself and stay safe from debris, dirt, or anything else that could scuff its custom paint job up.

So although the cost of moving your motorcycle is the same as moving a small car, if your biggest worry is having your motorcycle damaged during transport, it might be worth the extra dough to know your hog is safe.

Reason #2: Discounts galore

Montway offers the most discounts of any company in the industry—and they’re discounts that make a real difference on the final bill.

From rewarding its returning customers to saluting the armed forces, here’s a full list of discounts Montway offers:

• Military
• First responders
• Students
• Senior citizens
• Early bird
• Return customer
• Multiple vehicle

Montway also offers a cash discount on every move, since most truck drivers prefer to be paid in stacks anyway.

If you want to know more about our number-one company, check out our Montway review.

With a name dedicated to the craft, Motorcycle Shippers prides itself on doing the job right.

There are lots of things to like about Motorcycle Shippers: The company offers quick motorcycle delivery service, generous valuation coverage, and a quote generator as painless as we’ve ever used.

Reason #1: Instant quotes—that are actually instant

Motorcycle Shippers offers transparent and up-front prices, and its user-friendly quote generator makes it easy to figure out what these are.

Without requiring you to give any personal information beyond the basics of your move, Motorcycle Shippers’s quote generator can spit out a quote within seconds.

With most quotes, the price increases based on added features such as premium service. But with Motorcycle Shippers, there are no added fuel charges, no added costs to ship straight to your home, and no lift gate costs or other hidden fees.

So unless you tack on extra services after you get a quote, the price will be pretty spot on—allowing you to budget to the penny.

Reason #2: VIP express shipping available

One of the biggest reasons Motorcycle Shippers stands out from the crowd is its premium shipping service. With express shipping, you can set your own pickup and delivery dates.

A standard motorcycle shipment will take three to four weeks, but with VIP shipping, Motorcycle Shippers will prioritize your shipment by sending the first truck available for pick up and delivery—cutting the process down to two weeks.

Paying more in premium shipping costs means the difference between scheduling your life around a potential pickup date and getting your bike in time for the next motorcycle rally.

No matter the brand of bike you ride, motorcyclists alike can agree that the folks at HAULBIKES know what they’re doing—in part because all HAULBIKES professionals are motorcycle pros themselves. HAULBIKES’s bread and butter is motorcycle transport, so its equipment and shipping methods are tailored to accommodate any motorcycle-shipping scenario.

At one point, HAULBIKES even dabbled in snowmobile transport, but realizing it’d rather shift its energies on motorcycle transport, it narrowed its expertise on only motorcycle transport services.

While HAULBIKES isn’t as widely available as some national brands, its experience makes up for it if you’re in its service area.

Reason #1: Expertise transport in motorcycle-only trucks

Because HAULBIKES does only motorcycle transport (versus general auto transport), shipping with the company means your bike will get special treatment—treatment that other companies might not know how to provide.

For instance, auto transport companies like Montway and AmeriFreight place motorcycles on the same truck as cars. But HAULBIKES transports only motorcycles in an enclosed truck to protect against dirt, dust, and highway grime.

With each transport, HAULBIKES uses lift gates and ramp systems to pull the bikes in before strapping them down nose to tail. And the motorcycle fanatics at HAULBIKES know the unique needs of each bike make and model, whether it’s antique, luxury, or just in need of a little TLC.

Reason #2: Insurance up to $15,000 offered

HAULBIKES understands that your bikes are valuable, both to you and your wallet. Because of this, it offers $15,000 of insurance—the highest valuation offered by any company on this list.

Plus, if you pay $50, you can wave that potential $500 damage claim deductible fee goodbye.

Between a slew of decent discounts, an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and a money-back guarantee, AmeriFreight is a top-tier motorcycle shipping company competitive with the others on our list—even if it’s number five.

Although its services and prices are up there based on industry standards, its outdated, counterintuitive website stopped it from gaining another star. If you have specific questions, you’ll have to pick up the phone and call since its website gives vague answers.

Reason #1: Top-notch insurance options are available

Because no motorcycle transport is immune to accidents, and since no auto shipping company offers foolproof insurance, AmeriFreight created the AF Total Assurance Plan. It ensures you don’t have to pay out of pocket for the things your carrier insurance doesn’t cover, like flying pebbles or other road debris dinging your car.

The AF Total Assurance Plan offers three tiers, adding more features and coverage at the higher tiers. Here’s the breakdown:

• $40 plan
  • $600 insurance for minor damages (like pebbles, rocks, oil spills, etc.)
  • 48-hour grace period to inspect motorcycle before filing a claim
• $78 plan
  • Up to $2,000 deductible
  • $800 insurance for minor damages (like pebbles, rocks, oil spills, etc.)
  • $350 coverage if motorcycle keys are lost or damaged in transit
  • Rental car if motorcycle delivery is more than 15 days late
  • 48-hour grace period to inspect motorcycle before filing a claim
• $98 plan
  • Up to $2,000 deductible
  • $800 insurance for minor damages (like pebbles, rocks, oil spills, etc)
  • $350 coverage if motorcycle keys are lost or damaged in transit
  • Rental car if motorcycle delivery is more than 15 days late
  • 48-hour grace period to inspect motorcycle before filing a claim
    Waived cancellation fee

We love that every plan comes with a forty-eight-hour grace period for inspecting your bike after delivery. Rather than feeling rushed or on the spot, you can take your time inspecting your vehicle.

Reason #2: It offers a price match policy

AmeriFreight gets right down to business with its price match policy. It will price match any other company with an A+ Better Business Bureau ranking and above-average customer reviews on Transport.com.

Since motorcycle moves can be pricey endeavors to begin with, we appreciate how budget-minded AmeriFreight is.

Recap of our best motorcycle shipping companies list:

1. uShip
2. Montway
3. Motorcycle Shippers
4. HAULBIKES
5. AmeriFreight

What makes a good motorcycle shipping company?

Most motorcycle shipping services live under the umbrella of companies that focus on auto transport as a whole, rather than just motorcycle moves.

This can mean two things: auto transport companies might not provide as much expertise as a motorcycle-only transport company would, or they can service more areas while still providing solid service.

Regardless, each company brings something to the table the other doesn’t, and each is going to appeal to riders who have different needs for their move. You know your bike best and you know what you need in a move, but here’s what we think each company excels at:

Did this list help you decide which motorcycle transport company you want to ship with? Let us know in the comments section below!