The Best Motorcycle Shipping Company in Illinois: What Riders Should Look For

What motorcycle shipping in Illinois costs and how long it takes

Most shipments to or from Illinois

$750 to $1,200

Coast to coast (for example Chicago to California)

About $1,300

Transit time

10 to 15 business days

Your price depends on distance, the size and type of bike, whether it runs, how easily a truck can reach each address and how flexible your dates are. These are typical figures, not a quote. Our motorcycle shipping prices page explains how quotes are built, and you can request a free quote for your shipment.

What the best motorcycle shipping company in Illinois does

Between city access, winter weather and long trips south, Illinois shipments reward a shipper who plans ahead. Look for:

• A fully enclosed trailer. Road salt, slush, grime and rock chips stay outside, and the bike is out of sight whenever the truck stops. Read about enclosed motorcycle transport.
• Soft tie-down straps. Soft loops wrap solid frame points, so no metal hooks touch paint or chrome, and the bike rides upright without strain on the bars, levers or fairings.
• Door-to-door service. The driver comes to your home, dealer, shop or storage unit, or to a nearby wide street or lot you agree on. See how it works.
• Insured carriers. Ask who provides coverage and how claims work, and make sure the bike is checked at pickup and again at delivery.
• A quote for your exact shipment, based on your bike, both addresses and your dates.
• Live agents who answer. A real person should pick up 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm ET. Ours are at (866) 216-7742.
• The ability to palletize non-running bikes and projects.

For the full checklist, read how to choose the best motorcycle transportation company.

Palletized shipping: an option most shippers do not offer

We can palletize a motorcycle. It is rolled onto a pallet, set in a wheel chock and held with soft tie-downs, then moved as one secured unit. The bike does not need to run, which helps with a winter garage project, a restoration headed to a builder, or a vintage or high-value motorcycle that should be handled as little as possible. Tell us about the bike when you request a quote and we will say whether it ships palletized or rolled into the trailer.

Shipping a motorcycle within, into and out of Illinois

Out of Illinois, bikes head south for the winter, to buyers across the country, and to neighboring Michigan and Ohio. Many riders also send bikes to Tennessee for mountain trips.

Into Illinois, bikes arrive with new residents in Chicago and the suburbs, with buyers who found a bike out of state, and with riders lining up a Route 66 trip from the start of the road.

Within the state, a bike might go from a dealer in Peoria to a buyer in Aurora, or from Joliet to a shop in Rockford. For the regions we serve, see our Illinois motorcycle shipping page or the service areas map.

Why Illinois riders ship instead of ride

• Winter. Cold months end the riding season, so many riders ship the bike south and keep riding. See snowbird motorcycle shipping.
• Route 66. Ship the bike to Chicago and start the trip fresh, or ship it home from the far end of the road.
• Buying out of state. Skip the trip to the seller and the long ride home on an unfamiliar bike.
• Moves. A bike can travel separately while you handle the rest of the move.
• Projects and restorations. Non-running bikes need to move without being ridden.
• Protecting a new or vintage bike. Fewer miles means a lower odometer and no road salt on the finish.

Illinois tips: Chicago access, Route 66 and the winter season

• Where we pick up and deliver. Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, Joliet, Rockford, Peoria and Springfield, plus the towns in between.
• Chicago blocks. Tight streets, alleys and permit parking can keep a truck off your block. We agree on a nearby wide street or lot ahead of time so loading is quick.
• Alley garages. If the bike lives in an alley garage, plan to roll it out to the meeting spot, or tell us if it does not run.
• Ship south before the cold. Book the trip south early in the fall, and book the return at the same time if your dates are set.
• Route 66 timing. Work backward from the day you want to ride, using our transit time of 10 to 15 business days.
• Title and registration. If you bring a bike in from another state, check with the Illinois Secretary of State for the current title and registration steps.

How to get your bike ready for pickup

A little prep makes pickup quick and gives you a clear record of the bike. Our guide on how to prepare a motorcycle for shipping covers every step. In short:

• Wash the bike and take dated photos of every side.
• Leave about a quarter tank of fuel or less.
• Empty the saddlebags and remove loose accessories.
• Turn off the alarm and have the keys ready for the driver.
• Tell us about anything unusual, such as a lowered bike, a leak or a bike that does not run.

Why riders call Motorcycle Transporters

We are based in Richmond, Virginia and ship motorcycles to and from Illinois and nationwide. Every bike travels door to door in a fully enclosed trailer, held with soft tie-down straps, with insured carriers.

A real person answers when you call. Live agents are available 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm ET, to plan around city streets, winter dates and trip start days before you book, and to keep you updated while the bike is on the road. Shipping on the East Coast too? See our guide to the best motorcycle shipping company in Virginia. When you are ready, request a free quote.