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

What motorcycle shipping in Pennsylvania costs and how long it takes

Most shipments to or from Pennsylvania

$750 to $1,200

Coast to coast (for example Pennsylvania to California)

About $1,300

Transit time

10 to 15 business days

Your price depends on the 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 exact shipment.

What the best motorcycle shipping company in Pennsylvania does

Between city streets, hills and back roads, a Pennsylvania pickup can take some planning. The right shipper asks about access before the truck shows up, and protects the bike once it is loaded. Look for:

• A fully enclosed trailer. It keeps road salt, rain, grime and rock chips off your motorcycle and keeps it out of view when the truck is parked. 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 flatter or wider spot you agree on when your street will not work. 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 choice for a barn find, a restoration headed to a shop, 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 tell you whether it ships palletized or rolled into the trailer.

Shipping a motorcycle within, into and out of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is wide, and crossing it takes a full day. Riders ship within the state when a bike bought in Erie needs to get to Philadelphia, when a project moves from Scranton to a builder in Lancaster, or when a motorcycle heads from Allentown to a new home near Pittsburgh. Shipping also makes sense for short trips when the bike does not run or is not plated yet.

Shipping into Pennsylvania often starts in a neighboring state. Riders buy bikes from sellers in New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Ohio, and from farther away when the right bike turns up online.

Shipping out of Pennsylvania follows moves, sales to buyers in other states, and riders sending bikes south for the winter. For the regions we serve, see our Pennsylvania motorcycle shipping page or the service areas map.

Why Pennsylvania riders ship instead of ride

• Summer rallies. Ship to Thunder in the Valley in Johnstown in June or Gettysburg Bike Week in July and arrive with fresh legs.
• A trip to York. Riders heading to York, home of a Harley-Davidson plant, can send the bike ahead and ride once they get there.
• Buying out of state. Skip the trip there and the long ride back on an unfamiliar bike.
• Moving. Relocating in or out of Pennsylvania is enough work without riding a motorcycle across states.
• Projects and restorations. Non-running bikes need to move without being ridden.
• Protecting a new or vintage bike. Fewer highway miles means a lower odometer and less grit on the paint.

Pennsylvania tips: rowhouse streets, hills and rally season

• Where we pick up and deliver. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, Scranton and Erie, plus the towns in between.
• Philadelphia rowhouse streets. Many are too narrow for a truck and trailer to stop. We agree on a wider street or open lot nearby ahead of time.
• Pittsburgh hills. Loading on a steep street is not safe, so we plan a flatter spot close to you.
• Rally timing. Book three to four weeks before Thunder in the Valley in June or Gettysburg Bike Week in July.
• Title and registration. If you bring a bike in from another state, check with PennDOT 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 Pennsylvania 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 your street, your dates and any rally deadlines before you book, and to update you while the bike is on the road. If you ship in Virginia too, see our guide to the best motorcycle shipping company in Virginia. When you are ready, request a free quote.