Winters in Florida and the southern states are delightfully mild. Lows are usually around 60 degrees, making it a perfect time to be outside and enjoy some sunshine. And what better way is there to take in the scenery while driving than on a motorcycle? But if you’re further up north, driving all the way down to Florida can be a little too cool and chilly to your liking. With motorcycle shipping you’ll be able to enjoy driving your motorcycle in sunshine weather without having to worry about the cold journey you’d have make to get to warmer weather.

How to Ship Your Motorcycle

To ship your motorcycle, you’ll have to find a company that’s reliable to help you transport it. Choosing the right motorcycle shipper is essential is you want shipping to be stress-free and easy. Do your research to find the best motorcycle shipping company. Going with the first company you find could end up costing you dearly. When it comes to motorcycle shipping, not all companies are equal. There are a few things you should keep in mind during your search.

Does the Company Offer Free Quotes

Never trust a company if you can’t get a free quote from them. If you think about it, the idea of having to pay to find out how much a service will cost you is ridiculous. You don’t have to pay to find out what things in the shops will cost you, this information is readily available to help consumers make the best choice for themselves.

The same principle should count when you’re shopping for a service. You’re the consumer and the company should be making it as easy as possible for you to get a quote. That way the company can attract clients who can afford their services and you can easily know if their service will fit your budget. It’s a win-win situation. Some companies even offer free online estimates if you provide some information about the vehicle you want to ship. Of course, not having an online cost calculator doesn’t make a company bad, but it does make the process of getting quotes easier.

Is the Motorcycle Shipping Price Competitive?

Once you have a few quotes, you’ll know what most companies will charge for shipping your motorcycle. Don’t fall for the cheapest price, especially not if it’s unrealistically low. You need to know whether or not the company you’re planning to work with has insurance and whether or not their service is reliable.

For instance, if a company gave past clients certain pickup and drop-off dates, did they keep to the planned schedule, or are they regularly late? Misfortune can strike at any time, so even the best company could be a little late sometimes. But there’s a difference between a company that’s been late because circumstances were beyond their control and one that doesn’t prioritize delivering as promised. These are things you should learn more about before settling for a motorcycle shipping company.

To avoid problems during shipping you should aim to get the best company you can at the lowest reasonable price. Companies that quote substantially lower often end up charging extra for costs they claim were unforeseen. In reality, they dishonestly lure customers in with low quotes and end up charging them more later.

How Should I Prepare My Motorcycle for Shipping?

You don’t have to do anything in particular before shipping your bike. However, to ensure your bike doesn’t leak fluids while shipping, it’s best not to ship it with a full tank of gas. Not all auto shipping companies have the same rules about how you should prepare your motorcycle for shipping. Some might even ask you to drain all fluids, so this is something you’ll have to ask your shipping company about.

Regardless, your company will require a signature upon picking up and delivering your bike. To see to it that your bike wasn’t damaged during shipping, you should carefully inspect it and make a list of any scratches or other damage you see on the bike before the auto shippers come to pick it up. If you want, you could even take photos of different parts of your bike and all the scratches you see before handing it over to the shipping company.

This will help you determine whether or not damage you see after shipping was already there before. If you see new damage, your shipping company’s insurance should be willing to pay for it. Good companies almost never damage vehicles during shipping – damaging vehicles simply isn’t good for business. But as life tends to be, no company can give 100% guarantee that your motorcycle won’t be damaged while it’s being transported. This is exactly why reliable shipping companies must always have insurance.

But don’t dishonestly take advantage of your shipping company. Trying to claim for damage that was there before you got motorcycle transport is dishonest. Companies take out insurance to protect clients’ best interest in case of accidents while they have the motorcycle, not for any damage that your motorcycle has beforehand. This is why it’s important that you know what condition your bike is in before handing it over.

If you want to enjoy the lovely southern sun this winter, feel free to get in touch with us! We can transport your motorcycle, or any other vehicle you might want to use to enjoy the weather. We specialize in transporting motorcycles, boats, over-sized vehicles, and inoperable vehicles. It doesn’t matter if you’re moving for your dream job, or just for the season, we can help you safely and easily get all your vehicles to their final destination.