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

What motorcycle shipping in Ohio costs and how long it takes

Most shipments to or from Ohio

$750 to $1,200

Coast to coast routes

About $1,300

Transit time

10 to 15 business days

What you pay comes down to distance, the size and type of motorcycle, whether it runs, how easily a truck can reach each address and how flexible your dates are. Treat these numbers as a guide, not a quote. Our motorcycle shipping prices page explains how a quote is put together, and you can request a free quote for your own route.

What the best motorcycle shipping company in Ohio does

Ohio winters mean salted roads for months, and a bike that rides on an open trailer through that is a bike you will be cleaning for a week. A good shipper keeps the motorcycle covered and handles it gently. Here is what to ask for:

• A fully enclosed trailer. Road salt, slush, rain and rock chips stay outside, and the bike is out of sight whenever the truck stops. Learn more about enclosed motorcycle transport.
• Soft tie-down straps. Soft loops go around solid frame points so no metal hook touches paint or chrome, and the bike stays upright without stress 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 lot you agree on if your street is too tight. See how it works.
• Insured carriers. Ask who provides the coverage and how a claim works, and make sure the bike is checked at pickup and again at delivery.
• A quote built for your shipment, based on your bike, both addresses and your dates.
• Live agents who pick up. You should reach a real person 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm ET. Ours are at (866) 216-7742.
• The option to palletize non-running bikes and projects.

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

Palletized shipping: an option most shippers do not offer

We can palletize a motorcycle. The bike is rolled onto a pallet, set in a wheel chock and held with soft tie-downs, then moved as one secured unit. It does not need to run, so this works well for a vintage bike headed to a show, a barn find going to a builder, or a high-value motorcycle that should be handled as little as possible. Tell us about the bike when you ask for a quote and we will tell you whether it ships palletized or rolled into the trailer.

Shipping a motorcycle within, into and out of Ohio

Inside the state, riders ship when a bike bought in Toledo needs to reach Cincinnati, when a project moves from Akron to a shop in Dayton, or when a motorcycle follows its owner from Cleveland to a new job in Columbus. With the I-70, I-71 and I-75 corridors tying those cities together, in-state routes are usually simple to schedule.

Bikes coming into Ohio often start next door. Riders buy from sellers in Pennsylvania and Michigan, and from farther away when the right bike turns up online.

Bikes leaving Ohio follow moves, sales to out-of-state buyers and the yearly trip south when the riding season ends. For the regions we cover, see our Ohio motorcycle shipping page or the service areas map.

Why Ohio riders ship instead of ride

• Getting ahead of winter. Once the cold sets in, many riders send the bike south so they can keep riding instead of storing it.
• Vintage Motorcycle Days. Owners of older bikes often ship to Mid-Ohio in Lexington in July rather than put road miles on a classic.
• Rally weekends. Sending the bike to Ohio Bike Week in Sandusky means you arrive rested and ready to ride.
• Buying out of state. Skip the trip out and the long ride home on a bike you do not know yet.
• Moving. Relocating in or out of Ohio is enough work without riding a motorcycle across state lines.
• Projects and restorations. A bike that does not run still needs to get to the shop.

Ohio tips: corridors, rally season and the end of the season

• Where we pick up and deliver. Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron and Dayton, plus the towns between them.
• Use the corridors. Addresses near I-70, I-71 or I-75 are the easiest for a truck to reach. If you live down a narrow lane, we can agree on a nearby lot instead.
• Plan around July. If your bike is going to Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio, book three to four weeks ahead so it arrives in time.
• Ship south before the snow. Book your fall shipment before the roads turn salty, and plan the spring return when you are ready to ride at home again.
• A stop in Pickerington. Riders visiting the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum can ship the bike ahead and ride once they arrive.
• Title and registration. If you bring a bike in from another state, check with the Ohio BMV for the current title and registration steps.

How to get your bike ready for pickup

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

• Wash the bike, including any road salt, and take dated photos of every side.
• Leave about a quarter tank of fuel or less.
• Empty the saddlebags and take off 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 Ohio and nationwide. Every bike travels door to door in a fully enclosed trailer, held with soft tie-down straps, with insured carriers.

When you call, a real person answers. Live agents are available 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm ET, to plan around your address, your dates and any rally or end-of-season deadline before you book, and to keep you updated while the bike is on the road. If you ship in Virginia too, read our guide to the best motorcycle shipping company in Virginia. When you are ready, request a free quote.