Motorcycle Shipping Overseas from the UK | Ship Cars Ltd

Ship Cars Ltd ships motorcycles internationally by sea freight container from UK ports including Felixstowe and Southampton to over 50 destinations worldwide. Every bike is professionally created in ISPM-15 certified heat-treated timber before loading — a mandatory requirement for international sea freight. Shared container is the most cost-effective option; Dedicated Containers are available for high-value or multiple bikes. For European Destinations, we offer enclosed road freight delivery in 2–6 working days, with no crating or port charges required.

How Does Motorcycle Shipping Work?

A motorcycle cannot be shipped the same way as a car. Unlike a standard vehicle, a motorbike cannot be driven onto a RoRo vessel, secured to a deck, and sent on its way. It has no four-point footprint to anchor it safely in transit — which means it requires professional crating and container shipping for any international sea freight journey.

Ship Cars handles motorcycles of every type: sports bikes, adventure tourers, classic machines, custom builds, scooters, competition bikes, and electric motorcycles. Every bike is prepared, crated, and loaded with the same care we apply to classic cars and prestige vehicles. The size of the shipment does not change that standard.

For international destinations, we use Container Shipping as our method. For European destinations, enclosed road freight is the faster and simpler alternative.

International Motorcycle Shipping — Container Options

Shared Container (Consolidation / LCL)

Your crated motorcycle shares a 40ft container with other cargo or vehicles heading to the same destination. You pay only for the space your crate occupies. This is the most cost-effective option for international motorbike shipping and is the most popular choice for customers sending a single bike overseas.

Dedicated Container (Sole Use / FCL)

Your motorcycle travels alone in a 20ft or 40ft container. This is the preferred option when shipping multiple bikes, a very high-value or irreplaceable machine, or when you want to include additional personal effects or spare parts alongside the motorcycle.

Bike on a pallet on RORO vessel

Your motorcycle travels on a Pallet along with other vehicles. This is the preferred option when shipping to countries where containers are expensive.

All these options provide the same core protection: your crated bike is loaded into a sealed steel container that is not opened again until it reaches the destination port. 

Why Does My Motorcycle Need to Be Crated?

Crating is recommended for international motorcycle shipping by sea, and for good reason. A motorbike has no four-point footprint — without a crate it is vulnerable to toppling and oscillating throughout a voyage that may last anywhere from two to eight weeks. Bodywork, exhaust systems, mirrors, and painted panels are all at risk.

A properly constructed crate solves this entirely. The bike is secured inside a timber frame — wheels clamped and anchored, frame supported at the correct points, the entire assembly rigid and stable. The crate is then fixed to the container floor, making the motorcycle genuinely immobile for the full duration of the voyage.

How Ship Cars Prepares Your Bike Before Crating

Before crating, every motorcycle we handle is prepared as follows:

• Fuel tank drained or reduced to the level required for the destination (typically no more than a quarter full; Australia and New Zealand require fully empty)

• Battery disconnected and terminals insulated

• Tyre pressures checked and adjusted for sea transit

• Loose or protruding components — mirrors, screens, luggage racks — removed or secured

• The bike is photographed in detail before crating, providing a pre-shipment condition record

All crates are built to the specific dimensions of your motorcycle and constructed from ISPM-15 certified heat-treated timber — a biosecurity requirement for wooden packaging on all international shipments.

What Types of Motorcycles Do Ship Cars Ship?

We handle powered two-wheelers of virtually every type, including:

• Sports bikes and superbikes — including high-value performance machines

• Adventure tourers and trail bikes — including tall, wide machines requiring specific crate configurations

• Classic and vintage motorcycles — including non-running bikes and restoration projects

• Custom and modified builds — café racers, choppers, and bespoke machines where standard dimensions do not apply

• Scooters and mopeds — crated and shipped in the same way as full-size motorcycles

• Competition and race bikes — where condition on arrival is critical

• Electric motorcycles — container only; Dangerous Goods Declaration required for the battery

Non-running motorcycles are handled using appropriate equipment at our depot — the bike does not need to be in running condition to ship with us.

Motorcycle Shipping to Europe — Road Freight, No Crating Required

For customers shipping a motorcycle to a European destination — France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and beyond — sea freight and crating are not required. Ship Cars offers a dedicated road freight service for European motorbike shipments that is faster, simpler, and more cost-effective than routing through a container port.

Your motorcycle is collected from your UK address and transported to the European destination on a specialist enclosed or covered road freight vehicle. Because the bike is loaded and unloaded just once at each end, crating is not necessary.

Transit times for European road freight typically range from 2 to 6 working days depending on the destination country. Our team advises on standard and express service levels at the point of enquiry.

Real example: A customer in Birmingham shipped a Ducati Panigale V4 to a dealership in Barcelona, Spain, via our European road freight service. Collected on a Tuesday morning, delivered to the dealership on Thursday afternoon — two days, door to door, no crating, no port charges.

International Motorcycle Shipping Routes from the UK

Ship Cars operates on regular weekly sailing schedules from UK ports including Felixstowe and Southampton. Key international routes:All transit times are sea voyage only and exclude UK collection, crating, depot processing, and destination customs clearance. For Australia and New Zealand, biosecurity inspection on arrival is mandatory and adds 3–7 working days. A full end-to-end timeline is provided at the point of booking.

Documents Needed to Ship a Motorcycle from the UK

Every international motorbike shipment from the UK requires the following as a minimum:

• V5C logbook — Section 11 completed and submitted to the DVLA for permanent export

• Bill of sale or purchase invoice — required for UK export customs and destination duty assessment

• Passport or photo ID — for the exporter and consignee if a different person

• Dangerous Goods Declaration — required for electric motorcycles due to lithium-ion battery classification

For Motorcycle shipping to Australia, a Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) obtained via the ROVER portal is mandatory before the bike is shipped — not after arrival. Ship Cars advises on this requirement and the application process at the point of booking.

Frequently Asked Questions — Motorcycle Shipping from the UK

Do I need to crate my motorcycle for international shipping?

Yes. All motorcycles shipped internationally by sea must be professionally crated. Ship Cars arranges crating in ISPM-15 certified heat-treated timber for every international shipment as standard.

Can I ship a motorcycle via RoRo?

No. Motorcycles cannot travel via RoRo on international sea freight routes. They require container shipping and must be crated before loading. For Europe, ShipCars offers enclosed road freight in 2–6 working days with no crating required.

Can I ship a non-running motorcycle?

Yes. Non-running bikes — including restoration projects and machines awaiting repair — are handled at our depot using appropriate equipment. Please advise us at enquiry stage so loading and crating are planned correctly.

Can I ship an electric motorcycle?

Yes, by container only. A Dangerous Goods Declaration is required, and the battery must typically be at or below 30% state of charge at time of loading. ShipCars handles all DG documentation and provides specific battery preparation guidance before collection.

Do I need marine insurance for my motorcycle?

We strongly recommend it. Carrier liability under international shipping conventions is calculated on a per-kilogram basis and will never cover the actual value of a motorcycle. Marine cargo insurance covers the full agreed value of your bike from UK collection through to release at the destination port. Ask our team for guidance when requesting a quote.

Get a Motorcycle Shipping Quote

Ship Cars handles motorcycle shipments week in, week out — from single private bikes to multi-unit trade consignments. Whether you are shipping a commuter to Australia, a classic to the USA, or a race bike across Europe, we manage everything: collection, crating, documentation, and delivery coordination at the destination.

Get an Instant Quote — or call us on 01495 320540 to speak with our team directly.