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Audited & Verified: Jul 24, 2025, 4:24pm
Reviewed By
| Staff EditorShipping your motorcycle is a big decision. To ensure that you get the best protection during transportation for the best price, it’s important to choose a reliable auto shipping company near you. Our research team compared 44 car shipping companies nationwide and obtained almost 75 real quotes to find the best motorcycle shipping companies and simplify your search so that your motorcycle is in good hands.
Our team is committed to bringing you independent, unbiased ratings and information. We use proprietary data and expert advice to inform all of our content, including the pros and cons of the top car-shipping companies and tips for choosing the best company for you. Plus, our advisory board of licensed professionals fact-checks and reviews our content for accuracy and relevancy. You can read more about our editorial guidelines for the ratings below.
Featured Partners
1
Nexus Auto Transport
BBB Score
Excellent
States Serviced
50
International Shipping
Yes
2
Navi Auto Transport
BBB Score
Not Accredited
States Serviced
50
International Shipping
No
3
Montway Auto Transport
BBB Score
A+
States Serviced
50
International Shipping
No
| COMPANY | FORBES HOME RATING | BEST FOR | ESTIMATE* | LEARN MORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 4.7    | Best Overall | $799.00 | On Montway Auto Transport's Website | |
| 4.7 | Best Service | $1,200.00 | From Participating Partners | |
| 4.6 | Best Customer Ratings | $1,000.00 | From Participating Partners | |
| 4.6 | Best Value | $853.00 | On AmeriFreight's Website | |
| 4.6 | Best Transparency | $829.00 | From Participating Partners |
Best Overall
Best Overall
Montway Auto Transport
Montway Auto Transport was founded in 2007 and has quickly grown into one of the biggest auto transportation companies in the country. The company has a strong reputation, with high customer satisfaction, price transparency and a $100 military discount. We also like that it doesn’t require a deposit to start receiving services.
The main disadvantage of choosing Montway Auto for motorcycle shipping is its high cancellation fee of $249 if you’ve already been assigned a carrier. This was among the highest fees across the board when compared to other transportation companies. The company also does not appear to offer open shipping for motorcycles.
Learn more: Montway Auto Transport review
Based on the quotes we obtained, Montway Auto Transport charges around $800 for enclosed motorcycle shipping from Brooklyn, New York (11202), to Charlotte, North Carolina (28105). The company does not appear to offer open shipping.
| MONTWAY AUTO TRANSPORT COMPANY DETAILS | |
|---|---|
Shipment Tracking | Yes |
Insurance Coverage | Yes |
Multicar Transport Available | Yes |
International Shipping | Yes |
Enclosed Containers | Yes |
DOT License Number | 2239816 |
Services:
In our 2025 consumer survey, we surveyed 1,600 respondents who had used car shipping services within the last 24 months. Out of those who chose Montway Auto Transport, 89% said they’d recommend Montway to others, 85% said that pricing was transparent, 88% were satisfied with communication before the shipping and 84% were satisfied with the communications they received during the shipping.
Best Service
Best Service
Easy Auto Ship
Founded in 2013, Easy Auto Ship operates in 50 states, Canada and Mexico. The company is known for having a live chat with human representatives on the other end, simplifying the process for customers to receive responses to questions or concerns. Easy Auto Ship also has rental services and car wash services, which are nice additional features that other companies don’t necessarily offer.
There are a few downsides to choosing Easy Auto. For one, 24% of respondents in our survey reported paying significantly more to ship their vehicle than in their original quote. Additionally, the company is a broker, not a carrier, meaning it uses third-party movers to ship motorcycles. This can make it hard to know exactly what your experience will be like.
At the same time, Easy Auto has a solid reputation for working with reputable companies, and its partnerships allow it to have widespread availability.
Learn more: Easy Auto Ship review
Based on phone inquiries from our research team, Easy Auto Ship quoted us around $850 for open motorcycle shipping and $1,200 for enclosed motorcycle shipping from Brooklyn, New York (11202), to Charlotte, North Carolina (28105).
| EASY AUTO SHIP COMPANY DETAILS | |
|---|---|
Shipment Tracking | Yes |
Insurance Coverage | Yes |
Multicar Transport Available | Yes |
International Shipping | Yes |
Enclosed Containers | Yes |
DOT License Number | 3149259 |
Services:
Of the respondents in our consumer survey who used Easy Auto for auto shipping, 87% said that they would recommend the company. The company had lower scores compared to other competitors on our list for price transparency, with only 76% of respondents saying that the pricing was transparent, and only 75% were satisfied overall with the communications they received before and during the shipment.
Best Customer Ratings
Best Customer Ratings
Direct Connect Auto Transport
Direct Connect Auto Transport has nearly 25 years of experience transporting vehicles across the country. The company offers free cancellation and a service guarantee to ensure customers receive the best services. We like that Direct Connect is both a carrier and broker, giving customers the ability to work with an in-house transportation team or third-party transportation companies when necessary.
Additionally, Direct Connect offers a $100 per vehicle military discount and flexible insurance plans with custom payment options. Customer ratings also highlight Direct Connect’s dedication to communication and timeliness.
A few notable downsides to choosing Direct Connect are that the company charges more to ship motorcycles on average than competitors, requires a deposit and does not offer rental services or transport motorcycles to Canada or Mexico. If you are moving to other parts of North America, you might need to work with a company that has more international shipping options.
Our phone research team received a quote for $1,000 to ship a motorcycle from Brooklyn, New York (11202), to Charlotte, North Carolina (28105), using an enclosed freight truck, but our research team completed the online estimate and received a $1,150 quote for the same motorcycle and distance. The company does not appear to offer open transport services for motorcycles.
| DIRECT CONNECT AUTO TRANSPORT COMPANY DETAILS | |
|---|---|
Shipment Tracking | No |
Insurance Coverage | Yes |
Multicar Transport Available | Yes |
International Shipping | Yes |
Enclosed Containers | Yes |
DOT License Number | 2244227 |
Services:
In our customer service, Direct Connect Auto Transport had strong customer feedback, particularly with its punctuality and communication during the transportation process. Ninety-one percent of respondents said that their vehicle shipped on time, which is higher than the other companies that made it to the top of our best motorcycle shipping companies list.
Though Direct Connect scored a little lower on customer satisfaction with the communication before shipping, with only 74% of customers saying they were satisfied, the company made up for it with an 86% satisfaction rate during the transportation process.
Best Value
Best Value
AmeriFreight
Founded in 2006, AmeriFreight has over 500 fleets nationwide to help customers transport their motorcycles and other vehicles. The company prides itself on offering some of the lowest costs for transporting motorcycles and doesn’t require a deposit to start services. In addition, the company offers a $35 military discount, which is less than some of the companies that offer $100 military discounts, but still worth mentioning.
However, because the company doesn’t offer binding quotes, the quote you receive initially may change by the end of your services.
Learn more: AmeriFreight review
Our research team reported receiving an average quote of $500 for open transport and around $850 for enclosed transport of motorcycles from Brooklyn, New York (11202), to Charlotte, North Carolina (28105), using AmeriFreight.
| AMERIFREIGHT COMPANY DETAILS | |
|---|---|
Shipment Tracking | Yes |
Insurance Coverage | Yes |
Multicar Transport Available | Yes |
International Shipping | No |
Enclosed Containers | Yes |
DOT License Number | 1450565 |
Services:
AmeriFreight scored high points across the board in our consumer survey. Eighty-six percent of respondents said that they would recommend the company, and it had a high price transparency score of 82%. Eighty-nine percent of customers were satisfied with communication during the transportation process, which is one of the highest customer satisfactions out of all companies we surveyed, and 90% of AmeriFreight customers reported that the company transported their vehicle on time.
Best Transparency
Best Transparency
A-1 Auto Transport
A-1 Auto Transport serves over 190 countries and has delivered more than 2 million vehicles in its nearly 40 years of operation. The company specializes in international motorcycle transportation, making it a great option for those who are moving out of the country. A-1 Auto’s website is extremely informative to those looking to ship their motorcycles, with transparent pricing, time frames and other helpful information.
What stands out most from A-1 Auto is its lack of a deposit to get started with services. The company also has high customer scores in our survey, which suggests that it’s a reliable company with an outstanding reputation.
At the same time, A-1 Auto has a hefty cancellation fee of $200 if the truck was already dispatched, doesn’t offer binding quotes to protect your initial estimate, lacks a service guarantee and has no live chat to answer questions quickly.
Our phone research team received a $579 quote for open motorcycle transportation and an $829 quote for enclosed motorcycle transportation costs from Brooklyn, New York (11202), to Charlotte, North Carolina (28105). However, when using the online calculator for shipping an enclosed motorcycle, we received a $625 quote for the same journey.
| A-1 AUTO TRANSPORT COMPANY DETAILS | |
|---|---|
Shipment Tracking | Yes |
Insurance Coverage | Yes |
Multicar Transport Available | Yes |
International Shipping | Yes |
Enclosed Containers | Yes |
DOT License Number | 1891726 |
Services:
A-1 Auto scored consistently strong ratings in our consumer survey. Consumers reported spending about average on shipping costs, with an average cost of $1,350 instead of the $1,390 reported by respondents who used other auto transportation companies. Notably, 86% of A-1 Auto customers said that the company had transparent costs, making it the most transparent motorcycle transportation company on our list.
Motorcycle shipping costs between $400 and $1,600, depending on the type of transportation you choose, the distance and the company. Open shipping costs around $650 or between $400 and $950, and enclosed shipping costs around $900 on average but can range from $475 to $1,600. Enclosed shipping can cost anywhere from 25% to 67% more than open motorcycle shipping because your bike won’t be exposed to the elements, but companies are typically not able to ship as many vehicles in the container.
| TRANSPORT TYPE | AVERAGE COST RANGE* | AVERAGE COST PER MILE |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosed | $475 - $1,600 | $0.75 - $2.50 |
| Open | $400 - $950 | $0.60 - $1.50 |
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There are two main ways for shipping a motorcycle: open and enclosed transport. Here’s how they differ—and the pros and cons of each.
Open transport motorcycle shipping is a popular and budget-friendly option. With this type of motorcycle shipping method, your motorcycle is placed on a trailer that doesn’t contain any enclosed walls or ceiling.The trailer can typically fit up to 10 vehicles. Fewer security measures are in place to protect your vehicle from stray debris, vandalism and burglary on the commute, but you’ll save money.
Enclosed motorcycle shipping adds an extra layer of protection to your bike during transportation. Motorcycles shipped with this method are fully enclosed on a trailer with walls, a ceiling and solid flooring, protecting them from the elements. However, this option is typically more expensive than open transport shipping because enclosed trailers can usually only hold up to three vehicles at a time.
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Receive a custom quote from a Car Moving Company today that's designed to meet your needs and budget by clicking on your state.
The best motorcycle shipping company can vary by location and third-party moving vehicles, making it important to know what to look for when deciding on a company near you. While we’ve researched some of the top overall motorcycle shipping companies nationally, it’s not a one-size-fits-all all, so follow these tips to help you home in on top local motorcycle shipping companies:
To determine the best motorcycle shipping company, the Forbes Home editorial team reviewed 44 major companies, taking into account attributes such as in-house customer net promoter score survey, pricing, services and features, nationwide availability and more.
You can find out more about how Forbes Home rates car shipping companies on our detailed methodology page.
Get Your Free Car Moving Estimate
Receive a custom quote that's designed to meet your needs and budget.
An enclosed carrier is more secure than an open carrier. If you’re concerned about your vehicle’s safety, choose an enclosed carrier, which protects your vehicle from damage, theft and vandalism during transit. If you’re after the lowest motorcycle shipping costs, choose an open carrier for its overall affordability.
Yes, when shipping a motorcycle, or any high-value belonging for that matter, it’s always a good idea to get insurance for it. Motorcycle shipping companies are required to offer some form of insurance, but read the fine print to ensure it covers all kinds of issues that can arise during the shipping process. The best motorcycle shipping companies offer several insurance plans to help protect your motorcycle.
Ashlyn is one of Forbes Home's in-house writers and a former civil engineer-turned content writer with over six years experience. Until recently, Ashlyn focused on creating content for Forbes Home as a freelance writer. Her areas of expertise range from home improvement, moving services, home warranties and home security. As a homeowner and tireless DIY enthusiast, Ashlyn combines her deep knowledge and practical expertise to provide valuable insights and advice. Her dedication to enhancing homeowners' understanding and skills in managing their properties has been the cornerstone of her writing career.
Kristin is a lead editor at Forbes Home and has nearly a decade of professional experience as a writer and editor. She's previously worked at sites like Talking Points Memo, Insider, Delish, Angi and HomeAdvisor. She has a passion for lifestyle topics and has extensive experience researching and reporting on topics that will help make your house a home.
