Three ways to transport a motorcycle
There are three options for a motorcycle transport: a transport company (around €129 to €419 depending on the distance, you do not have to drive yourself), a rented van (enclosed, but more expensive and with opening hours) or your own trailer (from €35 per day plus fuel, the lowest price, you need a tow hitch). The calculator below shows the real costs of all three options for your route.
A rented trailer has to go back to the location, so transporting it yourself usually counts the distance twice.
Which method when?
On price alone, your own trailer is almost always the cheapest. The other methods still have their place when it is not only about the price.
| Method | Best when … |
|---|---|
| Your own trailer | you have a tow hitch, can drive yourself and want the lowest price. €0 deposit, can be picked up around the clock. |
| Van | you want enclosed, weatherproof transport and the extra cost is worth it to you. |
| Transport company | you do not want to drive yourself at all, have no tow hitch or are only moving the motorcycle one way (one-way long distance). |
Renting a trailer at a DIY store – does that work?
DIY stores such as OBI, Hornbach or toom usually only rent out general-purpose car trailers with a flat loading area, without a motorcycle rail and not tilting. On top of that come deposits of 80 to 175 euros, opening hours only (closed on Sundays) and, at Hornbach, often the condition of buying goods. A specialised, tilting motorcycle trailer with secure lashing points, a €0 deposit and 24/7 pickup is the more suitable and safer choice for transporting a motorcycle.
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to have a motorcycle transported?
Depending on the distance, a motorcycle transport company costs around €129 to €419 (degressive fixed price, as of 2026-07). With a rented trailer from Trailer Swarm you pay from €35 per day plus fuel for your own tow vehicle; in return you drive yourself and need a tow hitch.
Is your own trailer really cheaper than a transport company?
On price alone, almost always, because the rental trailer is very cheap. A transport company is worth it if you do not want to drive yourself, have no tow hitch or are only moving the motorcycle one way. The cost calculator shows both options honestly side by side.
Van or trailer – which is better?
A van is enclosed and weatherproof, but more expensive and tied to opening hours. The open trailer is cheaper, can be picked up around the clock and is usually entirely sufficient for a secured motorcycle.
Why does the tool calculate a range for the transport company?
The transport market is degressive: short distances cost much more per kilometre than long ones. Depending on the provider, that ranges from a cheap transport exchange to a classic fixed-price transport company. That is why the calculator shows a realistic, dated market range instead of a single price.
Transport it yourself and save?
Tilting motorcycle trailer, €0 deposit, with the 100 km/h approval (Tempo 100) and available for pickup around the clock.
Rent a trailerMotorcycle transport costs at a glance
Related guides on transporting safely: Tying down a motorcycle properly (in German), collecting a used motorcycle (in German) and the Tempo 100 calculator for getting there faster.
Status & last update
By Florian Stein, founder of Trailer Swarm. Trailer Swarm prices are loaded live from the system. Third-party comparison prices (transport company, van) are dated market examples, as of July 2026, and are only a rough guide.