Moving to a new country or taking an extended vacation and need to move your motorcycle as well as your personal luggage and other property? If so, it is easier today than ever before to have a motorcycle shipped overseas to virtually every country around the world. Whether you own a street bike or have an expensive racing bike, taking careful precautions when you need to have it moved is something that will be very important to the life of your bike. No matter what your reason is for heading across the ocean to a new country or even if you are selling your motorcycle to someone overseas, here are a few tips on ensuring your motorcycle reach its new destination as quickly, and safely as possible as it is being moved across the world. Hiring a Pro to Ship the Motorcycle
For a bike owner, there is most likely not much that is more stressful than having to be parted from your motorcycle and entrusting it to someone else’s care. When you are making a move overseas and need to have your bike shipped along so that you may use it or even sell it to a new owner, you will need to make arrangements with a professional and reliable motorcycle shipper such as A1 Auto Transport INC to have them handle the transport of your bike for you. When you start searching for the right company for your motorcycle, there are a few things you should keep in mind during your search.
1. Check with at least three motorcycle shipping companies so you can compare rates and services offered. It takes time to speak to company agents and get a true feeling for how professional and customer friendly a company is.
2. You should begin to contact companies no less than two to four weeks prior to the date you need to have the motorcycle shipped. When shipping overseas, it can take several weeks to prepare the bike as well as to secure a shipping date from the port the bike needs to ship from.
3. Avoid companies that give you a quote that is not competitive with other companies. If a company is offering suspiciously low pricing, they are apt to add extra cost to your bill after they know you are booking your bike with them. Keep in mind that you are hiring someone to entrust your pride and joy and the price should reflect the care they will use when handling the shipment.
4. Ask upfront if the company has experience with international shipments. Not all companies can ship overseas and not all have the necessary experience to make sure your bike will be safe during shipment so it is very important to verify that the company you hire has the knowledge, licensing and experience needed to keep your bike safe.
5. Check customer reviews online to see how well the company has performed for previous customers. It is also a good idea to ask for personal references from the company itself so you may be able to email or speak to customers directly when possible. Many businesses will have a file of references available upon request.
6. You must be prepared to pay customs fees and taxes when you ship a motorcycle overseas. Depending on the country you are shipping to, you can expect tariffs that range anywhere from nothing at all to more than 75% of the value of the motorcycle. Your agent will be able to go into full detail with you about the fees you must pay to ship the bike overseas.
Getting Your Motorcycle Ready for Shipment2. You should begin to contact companies no less than two to four weeks prior to the date you need to have the motorcycle shipped. When shipping overseas, it can take several weeks to prepare the bike as well as to secure a shipping date from the port the bike needs to ship from.
3. Avoid companies that give you a quote that is not competitive with other companies. If a company is offering suspiciously low pricing, they are apt to add extra cost to your bill after they know you are booking your bike with them. Keep in mind that you are hiring someone to entrust your pride and joy and the price should reflect the care they will use when handling the shipment.
4. Ask upfront if the company has experience with international shipments. Not all companies can ship overseas and not all have the necessary experience to make sure your bike will be safe during shipment so it is very important to verify that the company you hire has the knowledge, licensing and experience needed to keep your bike safe.
5. Check customer reviews online to see how well the company has performed for previous customers. It is also a good idea to ask for personal references from the company itself so you may be able to email or speak to customers directly when possible. Many businesses will have a file of references available upon request.
6. You must be prepared to pay customs fees and taxes when you ship a motorcycle overseas. Depending on the country you are shipping to, you can expect tariffs that range anywhere from nothing at all to more than 75% of the value of the motorcycle. Your agent will be able to go into full detail with you about the fees you must pay to ship the bike overseas.
Unlike a quick trip down the interstate, an overseas voyage will be a little rough on a motorcycle and careful precautions need to be taken to ensure that it remains safe and sound during the trip. Before you even begin to think about having the bike loaded onto a truck or ship, be sure to take care of the regular maintenance so you will not need to worry about that once it is in another country where motorcycle parts may not be quite so simple to access. Some things that you may want to consider taking care of ahead of time are:
1. Changing the oil and oil filter. If the bike has a filter screen, be sure to change this as well.
2. Have a complete brake check taken care of and replace any parts that may be worn or in need of repair.
3. Check the wiring and all electrical components to make sure everything is plugged in correctly and that there are no electrical shorts anywhere.
4. Check the battery and make sure it is fully charged. Chances are that it will need to be disconnected before the bike is shipped but you really need to make sure it has a full charge beforehand. If it is an older battery, you may want to consider replacing it ahead of time.
READ ALSO: The Ultimate Guide to Motorcycle Shipping
5. You will also need to check the motorcycle to make sure there are no fluid leaks as it will not be loaded if the shipper sees any leaking fluids at all. The gasoline needs to be driven down to a minimum or, in some instances, it will need to be completely drained in order to be packed inside of a crate for shipment. If the bike is being shipped on an open transport ship (RORO) then you will need to make sure the key is attached to the bike.
6. It is usually best to secure a key with packing tape to the handlebars of the bike where the shipper can access it easily. If you are shipping personal items at the same time you ship the bike, it may be more convenient to ship in a large shipping container so you can pack everything into one container. If you are in a hurry however, it may be best to ship things separately as household items and personal items can often delay shipments due to customs checks.
Motorcycle shipping, especially when shipping internationally, can take up to several weeks. It is best to plan ahead of time so that you will not have to worry about serious delays, especially if you will want to have your bike shipped as quickly as possible to the new country so you can have it to enjoy riding or for delivery to the new owner. 2. Have a complete brake check taken care of and replace any parts that may be worn or in need of repair.
3. Check the wiring and all electrical components to make sure everything is plugged in correctly and that there are no electrical shorts anywhere.
4. Check the battery and make sure it is fully charged. Chances are that it will need to be disconnected before the bike is shipped but you really need to make sure it has a full charge beforehand. If it is an older battery, you may want to consider replacing it ahead of time.
READ ALSO: The Ultimate Guide to Motorcycle Shipping
5. You will also need to check the motorcycle to make sure there are no fluid leaks as it will not be loaded if the shipper sees any leaking fluids at all. The gasoline needs to be driven down to a minimum or, in some instances, it will need to be completely drained in order to be packed inside of a crate for shipment. If the bike is being shipped on an open transport ship (RORO) then you will need to make sure the key is attached to the bike.
6. It is usually best to secure a key with packing tape to the handlebars of the bike where the shipper can access it easily. If you are shipping personal items at the same time you ship the bike, it may be more convenient to ship in a large shipping container so you can pack everything into one container. If you are in a hurry however, it may be best to ship things separately as household items and personal items can often delay shipments due to customs checks.
By: Jenna Oppenheimer