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

What motorcycle shipping in North Carolina costs and how long it takes

Most shipments to or from North Carolina

$750 to $1,200

Coast to coast (for example Charlotte 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 North Carolina does

Whether the bike is headed for a mountain cabin near the Dragon or a new home in Wilmington, the basics of a good shipper are the same. Look for:

• A fully enclosed trailer. Summer storms, road 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, storage unit or rental cabin. 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 makes this a good fit for a barn find from the Piedmont, 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 North Carolina

Into North Carolina, bikes arrive for mountain trips, with new residents in the Triangle and Charlotte, and with service members reporting to Fayetteville or Camp Lejeune. Because we are based just over the line in Virginia, these are some of the shortest trips we run.

Out of North Carolina, bikes head to buyers, new jobs and new duty stations, often to South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia, and as far as the West Coast.

Within the state, a bike might go from Raleigh to a cabin outside Asheville, or from a dealer in Winston-Salem to a buyer in Wilmington. For the regions we serve, see our North Carolina motorcycle shipping page or the service areas map.

Why North Carolina riders ship instead of ride

• Mountain trips. Fly in, find the bike waiting, and spend your days on the Tail of the Dragon, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Cherohala Skyway instead of the interstate.
• Military moves. Service members around Fayetteville and Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville often ship a bike to the next duty station. Read our military PCS motorcycle shipping guide.
• Buying out of state. Skip the trip to the seller and the long ride home on an unfamiliar bike.
• Job 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 less wear before you ride it.

North Carolina tips: mountain roads, the coast and base moves

• Where we pick up and deliver. Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Fayetteville, Wilmington and Asheville, plus the towns in between.
• Mountain cabins. Many rentals near Deals Gap and the Parkway sit up steep, narrow gravel drives. Tell us about the road, and we will agree on a spot the truck can reach if needed.
• Outer Banks addresses. Summer traffic to the beach can slow a truck, so allow extra time for pickups and deliveries on the Outer Banks in the busy months.
• PCS timing. Book as soon as you have your report date, and tell us if you live on base so we can plan where to meet.
• Plan around your trip. 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 NCDMV 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, a short run from North Carolina, and we ship motorcycles 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 mountain drives, beach traffic and report dates before you book, and to keep you updated while the bike is on the road. Shipping from our home state? See our guide to the best motorcycle shipping company in Virginia. When you are ready, request a free quote.