New York to California Motorcycle Shipping

New York to California Motorcycle Shipping Rates by Bike Type

A standard cruiser or sport bike from New York City to Los Angeles costs roughly $900 to $1,225 on an open trailer and roughly $1,250 to $1,725 enclosed. From Buffalo to Los Angeles, the open range is about $825 to $1,150. New York City to San Francisco runs about $925 to $1,275, and to San Diego about $875 to $1,225.

On a run of almost 3,000 miles, fuel and the driver's time make up most of the price. Because so many carriers work this route, offers can vary quite a bit, so compare several before you choose.

Touring bikes with trunks and bags often carry a $50 to $100 premium. Sidecar outfits and trikes usually cost $150 to $300 more. Non-running motorcycles cost a bit more and need advance notice.

Season changes things too. Summer is the busiest time to move households and bikes across the country, and prices rise with demand. Winter storms in the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada can slow trucks on I-80, while the southern routes usually stay open. Our money-saving tips explain how timing and flexibility cut the bill.

Coast to Coast on the Big Interstates

A truck bound for the Bay Area usually takes I-80 nearly the whole way. It leaves New Jersey, crosses Pennsylvania and the Midwest, climbs into Wyoming, crosses Nevada and comes over Donner Pass in the Sierra before dropping toward Sacramento and San Francisco. Loads headed to Southern California more often take I-40 or I-70 west and then I-15 down through Las Vegas into the Los Angeles area.

Los Angeles is a huge spread of freeways, and a driver may serve the whole region from one route through it. San Diego is about two hours farther south on I-5. In Northern California, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Sacramento are all close enough for one truck to cover in a day.

Tight streets are common in parts of Los Angeles, and San Francisco has some of the steepest hills in the country. Many deliveries there move to a wide parking lot or a business park where a long trailer can stop.

Bringing a bike in from out of state means registering it with the California DMV. The DMV usually wants a VIN check on an out-of-state vehicle, so ask about that before your appointment.

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 transport keeps the bike out of rain, snow and road grit for the whole trip across the country. It costs more, so most owners save it for custom paint, vintage bikes or high-value models. Check the condition report against the motorcycle before you sign, and point out any marks it leaves off. Keep that report and your photos until the bike is unloaded in California.