This is especially true from Seattle if you are shipping the bike to another part of the country. Seattle is very distant from most other major cities which only increase the expense of sending your motorcycle across the country. Yet you can ship a motorcycle from any part of the country as many people do when traveling long distances, taking a considerable amount of luggage with you or simply purchasing a bike from another part of the US.
How Motorcycles are Shipped Across the Country
You have probably seen car haulers with several vehicles on the highways and standard bike transportation is basically the same. However, shipping a bike is actually less expensive than a standard vehicle thanks to the lower weight and smaller size making them easier to transport. While the practice is the same as with vehicles, most bike transportation uses enclosed motorcycle shipping inside containers which protect the contents.
The Cost of Shipping a Bike
Although smaller than a vehicle, a typical motorcycle does weigh a couple hundred pounds and the fees may add up especially from a distant location like Seattle. There may be extra costs during the winter depending on where you are shipping the motorcycle as passage through treacherous roads may require higher fees to cover transportation costs.
While your shipping will be directly related to the destination you choose, there are important factors that weigh into the cost that you will need to consider when getting a quote.
Weight: Shipping companies will often not talk about the weight of the bike when you shop around for a quote, only to pick up the motorcycle and then charge extra fees. So, be sure to include the weight of the bike as part of the shipping cost.
Time: No matter how far in advance you book the shipping, the delivery time is going to be the same. Proven, reliable shippers generally take 7 to 14 days to ship a motorcycle, so be sure to have some wiggle room on the delivery date. One advantage of booking well ahead is that many customers often get a discount.
Enclosed Motorcycle Shipping: Protecting your bike from the elements during shipping may cost extra, but in many cases a trusted shipper will always enclose the motorcycle simply for insurance reasons. You’ll want to include insurance in the price quote as well since accidents can happen at any time.
Taking a little time to ask the right questions will provide you with the answers needed to ship a motorcycle. Be sure to choose a reputable, reliable company when it comes to shipping a bike and get quotes from different companies so that you can choose the one that works best for your needs.