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

What motorcycle shipping in Texas costs and how long it takes

Most shipments to or from Texas

$750 to $1,200

Coast to coast (for example Virginia to California)

About $1,300

Transit time

10 to 15 business days

What you pay 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 put together, and you can request a free quote for your exact shipment.

What the best motorcycle shipping company in Texas does

In a state this big, your bike may spend a long stretch on the road between pickup and delivery. That makes the trailer, the tie-downs and the people answering the phone more important than shaving a few dollars off the price. Look for:

• A fully enclosed trailer. It keeps direct sun, dust, hail, rain and road debris off your motorcycle and keeps it out of view at truck stops. See enclosed motorcycle transport.
• Soft tie-down straps. Soft loops wrap around 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 house, dealer, shop, storage unit or base housing, as long as a truck and trailer can safely reach it or a nearby spot you agree on. Read how it works.
• Insured carriers. Ask who provides coverage and how a claim works, and make sure the bike is checked at pickup and again at delivery.
• An honest quote for your shipment, based on your bike, both addresses and your dates.
• Live agents. You should reach a real person 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm ET, which is 7am to 7pm Central. Ours are at (866) 216-7742.
• The ability to palletize non-running bikes and projects.

Want the full list of questions to ask? Read how to choose the best motorcycle transportation company.

Palletized shipping: an option most shippers do not offer

We can palletize a motorcycle. It goes onto a pallet, into a wheel chock and under soft tie-downs, and travels as one secured unit. Because the bike rides on the pallet, it does not need to start or run. That suits a ranch-shed find, a project headed to a restoration shop, or a vintage or high-value bike you want 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 Texas

Shipping within Texas is often as big a trip as shipping between states. A bike bought in El Paso and headed to Houston covers about 750 miles. Moves between Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and Corpus Christi are shorter but still long days, especially in summer. Riders ship in-state for private sales, for bikes headed to the Hill Country or the coast, and for projects going to a builder.

Shipping into Texas brings in bikes bought online and from sellers in Arizona, Colorado and Tennessee, plus riders relocating for work or a military assignment. Our military PCS motorcycle shipping page covers how we work around orders and report dates.

Shipping out of Texas follows moves, PCS orders and sales to out-of-state buyers. For the regions we serve, see our Texas motorcycle shipping page or the service areas map.

Why Texas riders ship instead of ride

• Distance. Crossing the state can take a full day or more. Shipping saves the miles and the motel.
• Summer heat. Long hours in the saddle in July and August are rough on riders, and an enclosed trailer keeps the sun off the bike.
• Rallies and racing. Ship to the Lone Star Rally in Galveston in the fall or to MotoGP at Circuit of the Americas in Austin and arrive ready to enjoy it.
• Hill Country rides. Send the bike ahead and spend your time on the back roads.
• Military moves. PCS orders come with enough to manage without riding a bike across several states.
• Buying online. Get the bike delivered without a flight and a long ride home.

Texas tips: heat, distance and military moves

• Where we pick up and deliver. Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso and Corpus Christi, plus the towns in between.
• Plan for the distance. Even an in-state shipment can cover hundreds of miles, so give yourself the full 10 to 15 business days of transit.
• Beat the heat. In summer, an enclosed trailer keeps direct sun off paint, leather and plastics during a long haul.
• Military moves. If you are moving to or from San Antonio, Killeen or El Paso, tell us your report date and whether pickup or delivery is on base so we can plan access.
• Event timing. Book three to four weeks before the Lone Star Rally or the MotoGP weekend in Austin.
• Title and registration. If you bring a bike in from another state, check with the Texas DMV and your county tax office for the current title and registration steps.

How to get your bike ready for pickup

A little prep makes pickup faster and protects you if a question comes up later. Our guide on how to prepare a motorcycle for shipping walks through it. The basics:

• 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 custom front end, 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 Texas and nationwide. Every bike travels door to door in a fully enclosed trailer, held with soft tie-down straps, with insured carriers.

Call and a real person answers. Live agents are available 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm ET, to talk through your bike, your route and any base access or timing needs before you book, and to update you while the bike is on the road. Shipping from Virginia too? Our guide to the best motorcycle shipping company in Virginia covers that side. When you are ready, request a free quote.