Florida to Washington Motorcycle Shipping

Florida to Washington Motorcycle Shipping Rates by Bike Type

A standard cruiser or sport bike from Miami to Seattle is priced at about $1,000 to $1,400 on an open carrier, or about $1,400 to $1,950 enclosed. Leaving from Orlando, the open range drops to about $950 to $1,325. Spokane, on the east side, is about $950 to $1,325 open from Miami.

Mileage is most of the bill, and Florida to the Pacific Northwest is one of the longest hauls a motorcycle can take. Seattle and Tacoma see steady freight, so trucks there are easy to find. A bike going over the mountains to the east side can sit a while until a driver with room is heading that way.

Weighty baggers often run $50 to $100 over the standard rate. Because of their width, trikes and sidecar bikes run $150 to $300 above the base figure. Drivers can handle a bike that will not start, but they need notice to bring the right gear.

Dates change the offers. Summer is busy at both ends, and snow in the Cascades can close the passes in winter. Florida riders who head north for the summer also fill trailers in spring, so a flexible pickup window helps. See our money-saving tips for practical ways to lower the cost.

The Cascades, Puget Sound and the Dry East Side

The Cascade Range splits Washington into two very different halves. On the west side, I-5 carries nearly all the traffic from the Oregon line at Vancouver through Olympia, Tacoma and Seattle up to Bellingham. A driver bringing a bike from Florida usually unloads somewhere along that one highway. Seattle has steep hills and slow rush hours, so a lot in Kent, Tukwila or Everett beats a downtown curb.

Two passes connect the halves. I-90 crosses Snoqualmie Pass, which is just over 3,000 feet, and US 2 climbs over Stevens Pass at about 4,000 feet. Winter storms and avalanche work can shut either one for hours, and chain rules for trucks may add more delay for a bike headed east.

East of the mountains the country turns dry and open, with long gaps between towns. I-90 reaches Spokane, and I-82 serves Yakima and the Tri-Cities, so a trailer can generally get to an address in any of those cities. Spokane lies about 280 miles from Seattle, which is why a bike for the east side often rides a separate leg of the trip.

Islands and the Olympic Peninsula are another case. Washington State Ferries run to Bainbridge, Whidbey and other islands, and a driver will almost never put a trailer on one. The usual plan is a handoff near the ferry terminal on the mainland.

How Your Motorcycle Is Loaded and Secured for the Trip

A good driver loads a motorcycle upright. The front wheel goes into a chock so it can't move, and soft straps go around solid points like the frame or the lower triple clamp. The straps are tightened enough to hold the bike but not so much that they bottom out the forks. Hooks stay off your bars, levers and paint.

Enclosed trailers add a roof and walls, which is welcome on a run that starts in Florida humidity and finishes in cool Pacific rain, with plains wind and mountain cold in between. Owners of custom paint and vintage bikes often pick enclosed for exactly that reason. Stand with the driver during the check-in and make sure every dent or chip is written down. Hold on to the report and pictures until the bike is parked safely in Washington.