Texas Motorcycle Shipping: Rates & Free Quotes

In This Guide

Quick Facts
Ship a Motorcycle to Texas
Cost to Ship a Motorcycle
How Getting Quotes Works
Shipping a Motorcycle From Texas
Highways and Pickup Points
Texas Shipping by Season
Rallies and Race Weekends
Military Moves
Challenges & Tips
FAQs
All Texas Routes

Texas Motorcycle Shipping at a Glance

Main Highways	I-10 (El Paso, San Antonio, Houston), I-20 (Fort Worth, Dallas), I-35 (Laredo to the Oklahoma line), I-45 (Galveston, Houston, Dallas), I-30 (Dallas to Arkansas), I-40 across the Panhandle
Largest Cities	Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Austin
Typical Transit	1-3 days between the big Texas cities, 4-8 days from Los Angeles or New York
Popular Routes	Texas to California, Texas to Florida, California to Texas, Florida to Texas
Tight Booking Weeks	Republic of Texas Biker Rally in Austin just after Memorial Day, Lone Star Rally in Galveston in November
Weather Watch	Gulf hurricane season, June through November, and ice on the Panhandle in winter
Phone Quotes	1-800-590-6492, available 24 hours a day

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Ship a Motorcycle to Texas and Choose the Right Drop-Off City

Decide on the delivery city before anything else. Houston, Dallas and San Antonio are the biggest drop-off points, with Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston the two largest metro areas in the state. Austin is the fourth. I-35 runs straight through it on the way between San Antonio and Dallas.

Houston has its own habits. The Katy Freeway, which is I-10 west of downtown, was widened and finished in October 2008 to as many as 26 lanes counting the frontage roads, and a driver heading for the western suburbs spends time on it. If your street is tight or your homeowner association has rules about large trucks, offer a shopping center lot nearby and the driver will be glad to hear it.

Small-town Texas is where timing can stretch. A ranch address sixty miles off the interstate can add time, and it helps to tell each carrier exactly where the pavement ends. The driver needs a person at the address to sign the inspection sheet. If you will be away, line up an adult to stand in for you.

Coming in from another state? Look at the California to Texas, Florida to Texas and New York to Texas lanes.

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Texas Motorcycle Shipping Rates and Transit Times

Last updated: October 2026

Distance sets the price more than anything else, and Texas has plenty of it. Houston to Dallas, around 240 miles, comes in at about $325 to $450 on an open trailer with 1 to 3 days on the road. Take that same bike 1,500 miles and the range is about $600 to $850 over 4 to 8 days. The cost per mile falls as the trip gets longer, so a cross-country haul is not three times a regional one.

Want the bike under a roof? Enclosed runs 30% to 50% above open. A crate costs $150 to $400 more, a trike or sidecar $150 to $300 more, and a big tourer like a Gold Wing about $50 to $100 more. Every row below is an open-trailer estimate for a standard bike, with days counted from pickup. Pickup itself can take another one to three days to line up.

Route	Distance	Transit Time	Open Carrier	Enclosed
Houston, TX to Chicago, IL Texas to Illinois	~1,075 mi	3-6 days	$500 - $700*	$700 - $975*	Get Quote
Dallas, TX to Denver, CO Texas to Colorado	~790 mi	2-5 days	$450 - $625*	$625 - $875*	Get Quote
San Antonio, TX to Phoenix, AZ Texas to Arizona	~980 mi	2-5 days	$500 - $675*	$700 - $950*	Get Quote
Austin, TX to Seattle, WA Texas to Washington	~2,130 mi	6-9 days	$750 - $1,025*	$1,050 - $1,425*	Get Quote
Los Angeles, CA to Houston, TX California to Texas	~1,545 mi	4-8 days	$625 - $850*	$875 - $1,200*	Get Quote
Miami, FL to Dallas, TX Florida to Texas	~1,310 mi	3-6 days	$550 - $775*	$775 - $1,075*	Get Quote
New York, NY to Houston, TX New York to Texas	~1,615 mi	4-8 days	$625 - $875*	$875 - $1,225*	Get Quote
Houston, TX to Dallas, TX	~240 mi	1-3 days	$325 - $450*	$450 - $625*	Get Quote

*Estimates for a standard motorcycle, updated October 2026. Distances are approximate road miles. Real prices depend on your bike, the pickup and delivery locations, open or enclosed transport, and the time of year. Complete the form at the top of this page or call 1-800-590-6492 for free, no-obligation quotes so you can compare prices for your exact route before you book.

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How Getting Quotes Works

You don't have to call company after company. One request goes out to the carriers that run Texas lanes, and the offers come back to you.

1. Send one request

Fill out the quote form at the top of this page, or call 1-800-590-6492 any hour of the day. Give us your pickup and delivery cities, the year, make and model of your bike, and the date you want it picked up.

2. Carriers respond

We pass your request to carriers that move motorcycles in and out of Texas. You can receive up to ten free quotes without spending hours calling companies one by one.

3. Compare the offers

Look at price, pickup date, and whether the carrier offers open or enclosed transport. You can check any company you're considering on the FMCSA SAFER system.

4. Choose your company

You pick the company you want to work with. Ask that company about its insurance coverage, deposit, and payment terms before you commit.

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Shipping a Motorcycle From Texas Without Losing a Week

Houston, Dallas and San Antonio are the easiest places to ship from. From Lubbock, El Paso or a small town, give carriers a pickup window of a week and not one fixed day, since the driver has to route to you.

Houston to Chicago is about 1,075 miles, and a standard bike on an open trailer runs about $500 to $700 with 3 to 6 days on the road. Dallas to Denver is shorter, about 790 miles, at about $450 to $625 and 2 to 5 days. Pick your own destination, then check the Texas to Illinois and Texas to Colorado pages to see how each lane looks.

Going west is the long way. A bike leaving San Antonio for Phoenix covers about 980 miles, and much of the I-10 stretch through West Texas is open country with long gaps between towns. Heading to Seattle from Austin is a different order of trip, about 2,130 miles and 6 to 9 days. If you are timing a move, ask for quotes early on the longest lanes.

Heading to the Sturgis rally from Texas? One option is to ship the bike one way and fly the other.

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Texas Motorcycle Transport on I-35, I-45 and Beyond

I-35 is the road that splits. North of Hillsboro it divides into I-35E, which goes through Dallas, and I-35W, which goes through Fort Worth, and the two rejoin at Denton. If your pickup is in Fort Worth, the carrier needs to know that, because the driver may be coming down the other branch.

I-45 runs about 285 miles from Galveston to Dallas, passing through Houston, and it is the main road between those two cities. I-20 runs about 636 miles from its I-10 junction in Reeves County, west of Pecos, to the Louisiana line near Waskom, passing Midland, Abilene, Fort Worth and Dallas. I-30 runs through Dallas to Texarkana and the Arkansas line, which is how many bikes reach the Texas to Arkansas lane.

The Panhandle is its own world. I-40 crosses it for only 177 miles, from the New Mexico line through Amarillo to the Oklahoma line.

If you want a bike delivered near the Hill Country riding roads, say so. The Twisted Sisters, which are Ranch Roads 335, 336 and 337 around Leakey and Camp Wood, are well off the interstates, and a trailer may not make some of those turns. Ask the driver for a meeting spot in Medina or another town on a main highway instead.

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Motorcycle Shipping to Texas by Season

Texas weather works against you in a few specific places. Hurricane season runs June through November, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October, and a storm on the Gulf coast can close roads and hold trucks for days. If your bike is waiting on the coast, ask the carrier what its storm plan is.

Summers are long and hot, and a bike on an open trailer sits in it. Owners with a new paint job sometimes decide enclosed is worth the extra cost.

Winter is mostly mild from Houston south. The Panhandle is the exception. Snow and ice have closed parts of I-40 near Amarillo, and a bike headed to Oklahoma or New Mexico in January may wait for a clear day.

Spring brings thunderstorms and hail. If your date is flexible, ask each carrier which weeks are easiest for your lane.

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Texas Rallies and Race Weekends

The Republic of Texas Biker Rally in Austin has run since 1995 and is held in the days after Memorial Day, late May or early June, with the main grounds at the Travis County Exposition Center on the east edge of the city. Event weeks can push quotes up on busy lanes.

Galveston hosts the Lone Star Rally every November. Galveston sits at the south end of I-45, which runs through Houston, so Houston is the nearest big city for a carrier to meet you.

Circuit of the Americas, outside Austin, also hosts motorcycle road racing. The MotoGP round there has been a spring race (late March in 2026).

For any of these, start asking for quotes three weeks out if you can. A pickup that is already on a driver's schedule is easier to fit than a late request.

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Military Moves to and From Texas

Fort Hood near Killeen, Fort Bliss in El Paso, Joint Base San Antonio and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi all move people on orders. Once you have a report date, collect quotes right away. Whether a carrier offers a military or multi-bike discount is something to ask each one directly. Killeen is smaller than San Antonio, so mention the base name when you book.

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Texas Motorcycle Shipping Challenges and Tips

Texas problems come from size and weather. The fixes are mostly about timing.

Long Gaps in West Texas

West of San Antonio, I-10 runs a long way between towns. A pickup out there may wait for a driver who is already headed that direction.

Gulf Storms Near Houston

A hurricane on the Gulf coast can close roads and park trailers for days. Most storm activity falls between mid-August and mid-October.

Tight Houston Streets

Narrow streets and homeowner-association rules about big trucks can complicate a driveway pickup, so the handoff may happen in a shopping center lot.

Tip: Name the Right Fort Worth Branch

I-35 forks at Hillsboro. Say whether your address is in Dallas or Fort Worth so the driver comes in on the right branch.

Tip: Book Early for Rally Weeks

Request quotes at least two to three weeks before rally weeks in Austin or Galveston, and expect them to rise as the date nears.

Tip: Strip the Bike

Take off bags, a GPS and any phone holder, run the tank down to about a quarter, and shoot photos of all sides before pickup. The prep checklist has the full list.

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Texas Motorcycle Shipping FAQs

What does it cost to ship a motorcycle to Texas?

It depends mostly on distance. Houston to Dallas, about 240 miles, is roughly $325 to $450 on an open trailer. A 1,500-mile trip runs about $600 to $850. Enclosed costs roughly 40% more, and season and bike type move the number too.

How long does it take to ship a bike from California to Houston?

Los Angeles to Houston is about 1,545 miles and usually takes 4 to 8 days on the road. Pickup scheduling adds a day or two, so think one to two weeks from first call to delivery.

Is it cheaper to ship to Houston or to a small Texas town?

Often Houston, Dallas or San Antonio. More carriers may run those lanes, so more of them can compete for your bike. A small town off the interstate can cost more or take longer, because the driver has to leave the main route.

Can I ship a motorcycle from Texas to Colorado?

Yes. Dallas to Denver is about 790 miles, roughly $450 to $625 open, with 2 to 5 days on the road. Winter snow on the way can add time, so ask each carrier how it handles that.

Will hurricane season slow things down?

Sometimes. The season runs June through November, and a storm near the Gulf coast can shut roads and keep trailers parked. If your pickup or drop is on the coast, leave extra room in the schedule.

Can I ship a bike to Austin for the Republic of Texas rally?

Yes. The rally is held in the days after Memorial Day. Space can get tight that week and prices can rise, so ask for quotes two to three weeks out.

Does someone need to be home for pickup and delivery?

Usually. You or an adult you name signs the paperwork at both ends. Walk around the bike with the driver and photograph any marks while the truck is still there.

Can I ship a motorcycle that does not run?

Often, yes, but say so when you ask for quotes. A bike that does not run is handled differently, and carriers may charge for it. Telling the dispatcher early keeps the price from changing at pickup.

For more questions about motorcycle shipping, visit our Motorcycle Shipping FAQ page. Choosing a company? Read questions to ask your motorcycle shipping company first.

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Motorcycle Shipping Routes From and To Texas

Pick the route that matches your trip to see estimated rates, mileage and transit time for that lane.

Ship a Motorcycle From Texas

Ship a Motorcycle To Texas

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Motorcycle Shipping in Nearby States

Related Guides

How to Ship a MotorcycleThe full process from quote to delivery.
How to Prepare a Motorcycle for TransportA checklist for the day before pickup.
Money-Saving Tips for Motorcycle ShippingWays to lower the price of a quote.

Helpful Links for Your Texas Shipment

FMCSA SAFER System - Carrier Safety CheckVerify any carrier's safety record, licensing, and insurance status before you book.
DriveTexasTxDOT's map of road conditions, closures and traffic in Texas.
Texas Department of Motor VehiclesTitle, registration and plate information for Texas vehicles.

Call now, 24 hours a day, at 1-800-590-6492 or complete the quote form on this page to find the best Texas motorcycle shipping rates and when a truck will be in your area.