How to Ship a Motorcycle Overseas from the USA: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to ship a motorcycle overseas, step by step

Shipping a motorcycle abroad has more moving parts than a move across the United States, but it follows a clear order. Here is how an overseas shipment works with us from the first call to the sea leg.

1. 1Get a free quote. Call or [request a free quote](/free-shipping-quote) and tell us the make and model, where the bike is now, where it needs to end up and whether it runs. A live agent builds a custom quote for your move.
2. 2Schedule door-to-door pickup in the US. We confirm a pickup window with you. A driver comes to your home, dealer or seller, so you do not have to ride or trailer the bike to a port yourself.
3. 3Your bike is palletized as standard. Every motorcycle we ship is rolled onto a pallet and secured with soft ties. This is standard on every shipment, and the pallet rides on a large enclosed truck, never a small low trailer.
4. 4The bike is prepared for ocean freight. Ocean freight is rougher on cargo than a road trip, so the palletized bike is prepared for the sea leg, for example in a crate or secured for a container.
5. 5Delivery to the port. We deliver the bike to the port for loading, which saves you a long day and the risk of handling a loaded bike around busy freight yards.
6. 6Export paperwork. The title, a bill of sale and a photo ID travel with the shipment so the bike can clear export. We help coordinate the paperwork and tell you what to have ready.
7. 7Ocean freight and delivery. The bike crosses the ocean, clears import at the destination and is released to you or your receiver.

For a closer look at each stage, see our page on international motorcycle shipping.

Export paperwork you will need

Every country and port has its own rules, but a few documents come up on almost every overseas motorcycle shipment. Start gathering them early, because a missing title can hold a bike at the port.

• The motorcycle title, in the name of the person shipping the bike. If a lender holds the title, ask them about export requirements before you book.
• A bill of sale, if you recently bought the bike or are selling it to a buyer overseas.
• A valid government-issued photo ID for the person shipping the bike.
• Any extra forms the destination requires. Your agent will tell you what to expect for your route.

Container vs. crate: how the bike crosses the ocean

Overseas, a motorcycle usually travels one of two ways. Which one fits depends on your bike, your destination and whether other vehicles or items are moving with it. Because the bike is already palletized, it can be prepared either way.

• Crate: the bike is built into a crate, usually wood, which protects it and lets it be handled as freight.
• Container: the bike is secured inside a shipping container, either on its own or shared with other freight, and the container is loaded onto the ship.
• Group moves: more than one bike, or a bike plus parts and gear, can sometimes share a container, so tell us everything that is going.

Your agent will talk through what your bike and destination need, so you are not guessing.

Relocating or moving abroad with the military

Many riders ship a motorcycle overseas because they are relocating for work, school or family, or because they are moving on military orders and want their own bike waiting at the new duty station. If you are in the service, our guide to military PCS motorcycle shipping explains how those moves work. Either way, tell us your destination country when you call, and give yourself plenty of time before the date you need the bike.

Buying or selling a motorcycle overseas

Some of the best deals on bikes are in another country, and some of the best buyers for a US motorcycle are overseas. If you are buying or selling across a border, get payment sorted and keep the title and bill of sale together, because the person shipping the bike needs both for export. Send us the seller or dealer address in the US, the destination and the make and model, and we schedule the US pickup and carry the move forward from there.

Shipping a scooter or moped overseas

The same process works for scooters and mopeds. They are palletized as standard, carried on large enclosed trucks in the US and prepared for ocean freight. See our page on moped and scooter shipping for how that works, including electric scooters.

Why international quotes are custom

We do not publish set prices for international motorcycle shipping, because the cost depends on your bike, the pickup location, the port, how the bike is prepared and where it is going. A custom quote is the only honest way to price the move. Tell us the make and model, whether it runs, where it is now and where it is headed, and any parts or gear that should travel with it. An agent comes back with a quote built for your move, with no obligation to book.

Get a free quote to ship your motorcycle overseas

Call (866) 216-7742 any time, 24/7, or request your free quote online and tell us the destination country.