Shipping a motorcycle from the USA to Turkey is more straightforward when you break it into clear steps: choose the right method, understand the cost drivers, prepare the bike correctly, and coordinate customs and delivery at the Turkish end. The main guide on shipping a motorcycle to Turkey, including costs, customs, and protection covers those three big questions at a high level; this article zooms in on the basic process from your garage to Istanbul.
West Coast Shipping ships motorcycles in containers to Turkey alongside cars and other vehicles, using regular consolidations into Istanbul and trusted destination agents. The international motorcycle shipping rates page provides global cost ranges, explains what each line of a quote pays for, and includes a calculator so you can see live rates for your own bike and route.
The first decision is how your motorcycle will travel. For Turkey, West Coast Shipping’s country and method guides point to two realistic options for most riders:
Enclosed container shipping (most common)
Air freight for urgent or higher‑value moves
RoRo exists for vehicles to Turkey, but bikes are typically better served by enclosed, properly braced transport.
Turkey‑specific pages identify container service as the primary method for vehicle shipments, including motorcycles:
Your motorcycle is loaded into a container at a WCS export warehouse (New Jersey, Florida, California, etc.).
It is placed on a skid or within a crate and secured with wheel chocks, soft straps, and bracing.
Multiple vehicles and bikes share the same box in a consolidated container, spreading costs.
This method:
Protects the bike from weather, salt, and casual contact.
Works well for both running and non‑running motorcycles.
Aligns with WCS’s weekly container consolidations into Istanbul.
WCS’s air‑freight page explains that air is the fastest—but most expensive—way to move vehicles and motorcycles:
Transit time can be days instead of weeks.
Airlines require full crating with solid floors and secure, enclosed packaging.
Pricing sits at a significant premium to ocean freight.
For Turkey, this is usually reserved for time‑sensitive moves (for example, high‑value bikes needed quickly in Istanbul or Ankara), while most private owners stick with shared containers.
If you are unsure which route fits your needs, the overview in Motorcycle Shipping 101 within the main Turkey motorcycle article is a good starting point.
Before you start shopping for a bike—or promising friends you will bring one to Turkey—get a ballpark cost and timing for your route.
West Coast Shipping’s international motorcycle and Turkey vehicle content highlight the same core cost components:
Origin: How far you are from a WCS export warehouse and which U.S. port you use.
Method: Shared container vs dedicated container vs air.
Season and schedules: Sailings, demand, and fuel surcharges.
Destination charges in Turkey: Terminal handling, agent fees, storage if needed.
The motorcycle rates page notes that global bike shipping typically runs from a few hundred dollars up to several thousand, depending on origin and method, and that destination charges (often around a few hundred dollars) are paid locally through partner agents.
For Turkey specifically:
Vehicle‑shipping guides describe base ocean freight for cars to Istanbul usually starting in the high‑$3,000 range and running higher for certain ports and container types.
Motorcycle freight in shared containers is generally lower than full‑size vehicles on the same lane, but sits in the same overall cost band once pickup, handling, and destination charges are included.
Because rates move with fuel, capacity, and schedule, WCS repeatedly steers riders toward live quotes rather than static tables. The international motorcycle shipping rates page includes a calculator that:
Takes your origin (ZIP), destination port (Istanbul), and bike details.
Returns instant rate estimates based on current shared‑container pricing.
Factors in typical handling and destination‑charge assumptions.
Use that calculator first, then layer on Turkey‑specific customs costs using the main guide on shipping a motorcycle to Turkey, costs, customs, and protection.
Correct preparation reduces the chance of damage and smoothing U.S. export and Turkish customs checks. Turkey car‑export and global motorcycle articles recommend similar steps.
Before the bike reaches the warehouse:
Clean it thoroughly, including wheels, underside, and chain area, to avoid agricultural contamination issues.
Reduce fuel to roughly a quarter tank or less.
Fix obvious fluid leaks and mechanical issues that could cause problems during handling.
Disable or secure alarms and trackers so they do not trigger in transit.
If the bike does not run:
Flag it as a non‑runner before quoting so the team can plan winching, skids, or crating.
Expect slightly different handling and, in some cases, additional fees for special equipment.
Motorcycle and vehicle prep guides emphasize that anything loose is a risk:
Remove phone mounts, GPS units, detachable luggage, tank bags, and soft cases.
Either ship riding gear separately or pack it carefully in a labeled box if allowed under your quote.
Fold or remove mirrors where practical and pad exposed edges.
The goal is to present a bike that can be strapped and moved without bits catching or shifting during loading.
Once you know your route and have prepared the bike, you need to get it to a West Coast Shipping export hub.
International motorcycle content explains two main options:
Self‑delivery:
You ride or trailer the motorcycle to a WCS warehouse (for example, New Jersey, Florida, or California).
This can reduce domestic transport costs significantly, especially if you live near a hub.
Domestic transport:
WCS can arrange a carrier to pick up your bike and deliver it to the export warehouse.
Open vs enclosed domestic transport and distance to the hub will affect price.
At intake, staff photograph the bike, record its condition, and stage it for the next suitable consolidation to Istanbul.
The U.S. and Turkey guides for cars map closely onto the motorcycle process at this stage.
For a typical personally owned motorcycle, expect WCS to collect and/or prepare:
A copy of your title and identification.
Bill of sale or value documentation, if requested.
A booking confirmation and export power of attorney.
The electronic export declaration submitted before the container leaves the U.S.
These steps are similar to car export; the difference is mainly in vehicle type and dimensions, not the core regulatory framework.
Once documentation is clear and the consolidation is ready:
The bike is placed on a skid or into a crate, depending on lane and packing plan.
Wheel chocks and soft straps are used to secure the motorcycle to the skid and to anchor points on the container floor.
Suspension is slightly compressed to keep tension in the straps without bottoming the forks.
Other vehicles and motorcycles are arranged so they cannot contact your bike even under heavy sea motion.
Photos are often taken after loading to show how the bike was secured before the container is sealed.
Once the container is sealed and loaded on the vessel, the process becomes a matter of tracking, customs, and pickup.
Turkey pages note that containers typically route to Istanbul, the main gateway for vehicle shipments:
WCS provides tracking information so you can follow the sailing.
Transit times generally line up with the 25–35 day window advertised for car containers from East/Florida ports, with some variation by origin and sailing.
On arrival in Istanbul:
The container is moved to a local warehouse used by WCS’s partner agents.
The motorcycle is unloaded and staged pending customs clearance.
At this point your Turkish customs broker or relocation advisor takes the lead on:
Choosing between temporary “guest” entry or permanent import,
Coordinating documentation with the Touring and Automobile Union of Turkey (Turing) for temporary use where applicable,
Calculating duties and taxes under the motorcycle’s HS code for permanent import.
After clearance and payment of local port and agent fees, you can collect the bike at the warehouse or arrange inland delivery.
For a deeper dive into how customs, duties, and protection work for bikes in Turkey, the main article on shipping a motorcycle to Turkey, costs, customs, and protection walks through those topics in detail.
Motorcycle Shipping 101 is easier when you start with real numbers instead of guesses. The international motorcycle shipping rates page includes a calculator that uses current shared‑container pricing, typical destination charges, and your origin/destination to estimate what it will cost to ship your bike to Istanbul.
Use the button below to open the calculator, enter your ZIP, choose Turkey as your destination, and see how your motorcycle shipping plan fits your budget and timeline before you book.