Quick Answer: Shipping a motorcycle from the US to Latin America costs $780-$2,600 door-to-port in 2026. A crated bike in a shared LCL container from Miami to Cartagena runs $780-$1,150 with 7-10 day transit. Air freight costs $1,900-$3,400 but moves in 3-5 days.
- Crated LCL ocean freight is the cheapest mode for one motorcycle: $780-$1,150 Miami to Cartagena, 7-10 days port to port.
- Air freight prices on chargeable weight, not actual weight — a crated Harley bills at 380-450 kg volumetric even if it weighs 320 kg.
- Landed cost is freight plus origin charges, destination handling, broker fees, duties and IVA. Duty-free entry only applies under a Temporary Import Permit (TIP).
- The calculator on this page prices crated motorcycle exports by lane, mode and crate size in seconds — no email required.
Crate size, not bike weight, decides most of your bill. A Road King and a KLR650 weigh within 100 kg of each other, yet the Harley crate can cost 25% more to move.
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Use the calculator above →How much does it cost to ship a motorcycle from the US to South America?
Quick Answer: Shipping one crated motorcycle from the US to South America costs $780-$2,600 by ocean and $1,900-$3,400 by air in 2026. Miami to Cartagena in a shared container is the cheapest lane. West coast and Southern Cone lanes like Long Beach to Valparaíso sit at the top of the range.
Price moves with distance, sailing frequency and crate volume. The Miami–Caribbean corridor carries the most weekly departures, so rates stay low. Southern Cone lanes have fewer direct sailings and longer transit, which pushes cost up.
Here is what a crated motorcycle export cost looks like across the main lanes as of 2026.
| Lane (LCL, crated) | Low | High | Transit days | Sailing frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami → Cartagena (COCTA) | $780 | $1,150 | 7-10 | Weekly |
| Miami → Montevideo (UYMVD) | $1,300 | $1,950 | 18-24 | Bi-weekly |
| Houston → Callao (PECLL) | $1,150 | $1,650 | 14-18 | Weekly |
| Newark → Santos (BRSSZ) | $1,400 | $2,100 | 16-21 | Weekly |
| Long Beach → Valparaíso (CLVAP) | $1,600 | $2,400 | 20-26 | Bi-weekly |
| Panama City → Bogotá (air) | $900 | $1,400 | 1-3 | Daily |
What the freight number includes
The quoted freight covers ocean transport, origin terminal handling (THC) and Bill of Lading issuance. It does not cover destination handling, customs clearance, duties or local storage.
Budget an extra 15-30% for the import side. That is the single biggest surprise for first-time shippers.
Why Harley shipping overseas price runs higher
A Harley shipping overseas price typically sits 15-25% above a mid-size bike. The reason is crate volume, not weight. A Road King crate measures 1.9-2.2 CBM once you account for the bars, fairing and panniers.
A dual-sport like a KLR650 crates at 1.3-1.5 CBM. That difference alone can swing the ocean rate by $250-$400 on the same lane.
PortMiami to Cartagena runs weekly on multiple carriers including Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM. It remains the fastest and cheapest ocean lane from the US into South America for a single crated motorcycle.
Riders shipping a bike alongside a car should compare both in one booking. Our Car Shipping Calculator: Miami to Colombia Rates & Costs 2026 covers the vehicle side of the same corridor, and a car plus a bike often share one 40' container efficiently.
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Use the calculator above →What is a motorcycle shipping calculator and what inputs does it need?
Quick Answer: A motorcycle shipping calculator is a pricing tool that converts your bike's crate dimensions, weight, origin, destination and transport mode into a freight rate. It needs seven inputs: origin city, destination port or door, crate length, width, height, gross weight and mode — air, LCL, FCL or RoRo.
A real motorcycle shipping calculator latin america tool does not guess. It applies live lane rates against your actual cube and weight.
The seven inputs that drive your price
- Origin city or port — Miami, Houston, Newark and Long Beach carry different base rates.
- Destination port or door — Cartagena, Callao, Santos, Valparaíso, Colón.
- Crate length, width, height — this produces CBM, the main ocean cost driver.
- Gross weight — bike plus crate, in kilograms.
- Mode — air, LCL shared container, FCL or RoRo.
- Declared value — feeds the marine cargo insurance premium.
- Incoterm — decides which charges appear in the total.
Why declared value matters
Declared value sets your insurance premium, normally 1.2-2.5% of CIF value. A $12,000 bike costs $145-$300 to insure all-risk.
It also sets the duty base in most Latin American countries. Overstating value raises your tax bill. Understating it invites a DIAN or SUNAT valuation challenge.
Why Incoterm selection changes the total
Pick FOB and the calculator shows freight only. Pick CIF and insurance folds in. Pick DAP and destination handling plus inland delivery appear — but duties stay on you.
Pro Tip
Any quote given without crate dimensions is an estimate, not a rate. Measure the crate — not the bike. Crates add 8-12 cm per side for framing and bracing. Feed the crate numbers into the calculator at #quote-calc and the price you see is the price we book.
Air freight vs LCL vs FCL vs RoRo: which mode wins?
Quick Answer: LCL shared container wins on cost for a single motorcycle. FCL makes sense at three bikes or more. Air freight wins only when you need the bike in under a week. RoRo suits large touring bikes and trikes that roll, but most LatAm carriers require a crate or pallet for two-wheelers.
| Mode | Cost range (1 bike) | Transit | Crating required | Risk level | Best use case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCL shared container | $780-$2,400 | 7-26 days | Yes — full crate | Low-medium | One or two bikes, cost priority |
| FCL 20' container | $2,300-$3,100 total | 7-24 days | Crate or strapped cradle | Low | 3-6 bikes, dealers, clubs |
| Air freight | $1,900-$3,400 | 3-5 days | Crate or pallet | Low | Urgent moves, race bikes |
| RoRo | $900-$1,700 | 10-25 days | Cradle or flat rack | Medium-high | Trikes, sidecars, large tourers |
LCL shared container
You pay only for your cube. A 1.5 CBM crate travels with other shippers' cargo in a consolidated box. Cost per bike stays low, but the container waits until it fills. Destination adds 2-4 days for CFS deconsolidation after vessel arrival.
FCL 20' container
A 20' from Miami to Cartagena runs $2,300-$3,100. It holds 4-6 crated motorcycles. Split four ways, cost per bike drops under $600. You control loading, sealing and timing — no CFS stripping at destination.
RoRo reality check for motorcycles
RoRo means roll-on, roll-off. Cars drive on. Motorcycles do not — they fall over. Most carriers serving Latin America require bikes on a flat rack, cradle or pallet, strapped down.
That erases much of the price advantage. RoRo stays useful for trikes, sidecars and Gold Wing-class tourers that stand on their own.
Air freight has dangerous goods rules
Per IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, a motorcycle moving by air needs the fuel tank drained and purged, and the battery disconnected and taped. Airlines reject bikes with fuel in the lines. Ocean carriers are more relaxed, but most NVOCCs still require near-empty tanks to avoid a hazardous cargo classification.
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Use the calculator above →How do I calculate motorcycle shipping costs by air versus by sea?
Quick Answer: Air freight prices on chargeable weight: crate length × width × height in centimeters divided by 6,000 gives volumetric kilos. Carriers bill the higher of volumetric or actual weight. Ocean LCL prices per cubic meter or per revenue ton — whichever is greater — with a one cubic meter minimum.
Worked air freight example
Take a crated Harley touring bike. The crate measures 230 × 90 × 130 cm.
- Multiply the three dimensions: 230 × 90 × 130 = 2,691,000 cm³.
- Divide by 6,000: 2,691,000 ÷ 6,000 = 448 kg volumetric.
- Compare to actual gross weight of 320 kg.
- Pay on 448 kg, the higher figure.
At $4.50-$6.80 per kilo Miami to Bogotá, that crate bills $2,015-$3,046 in air freight alone. Add origin handling, AWB fees and screening.
Worked ocean LCL example
The same crate is 2.69 CBM. Ocean LCL rates on the Miami–Cartagena lane run $95-$140 per CBM in 2026.
That is $256-$377 in base ocean freight. Fixed charges then apply: origin THC, B/L fee, ISF filing, AES filing and destination handling. Those fixed items are why the all-in number lands at $950-$1,400 for a big touring crate.
What is a revenue ton?
Ocean LCL bills on revenue ton — 1 CBM or 1,000 kg, whichever is greater. A motorcycle is bulky and light. Bikes almost always bill on volume, never on weight.
Shave 15 cm off crate height and save real money
Remove the handlebars, turn the forks, and drop the mirrors. Cutting crate height from 130 cm to 115 cm on a 230 × 90 crate removes 50-60 chargeable kilos by air and 0.31 CBM by ocean. On an air shipment that is $225-$400 back in your pocket.
The same cubic meter math drives shared container pricing everywhere in the region. Our breakdown of LCL Shipping Miami to Panama 2026: Small Business Cost Calculator and Transit Times walks through the CBM formula and consolidation cut-offs in detail.
What does a full landed cost for a motorcycle include?
Quick Answer: Landed cost equals freight plus origin charges, destination handling, customs broker fees, duties, IVA and insurance. For a $9,000 motorcycle entering Colombia permanently, expect $780-$1,150 freight plus $350-$600 clearance and $2,400-$3,200 in duty and IVA — roughly 38-45% of declared value on top of freight.
Three worked landed-cost examples
| Cost line | Miami→Cartagena (permanent) | Miami→Panama (TIP) | Houston→Callao (permanent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean freight LCL | $780-$1,150 | $720-$1,050 | $1,150-$1,650 |
| Crating at origin | $280-$450 | $280-$450 | $280-$450 |
| Marine insurance (1.8%) | $162 | $162 | $162 |
| Destination handling / DTHC | $140-$260 | $120-$220 | $160-$290 |
| Customs broker | $250-$450 | $180-$320 | $300-$550 |
| Duty | 10-15% ($900-$1,350) | $0 under TIP | 0-6% ($0-$540) |
| VAT / IVA | 19% ($1,900-$2,100) | $0 under TIP | 18% ($1,750-$1,900) |
| Estimated total | $4,412-$5,922 | $1,462-$2,202 | $3,802-$5,002 |
The hidden fees calculators usually skip
| Charge | What it is | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| THC | Origin terminal handling | $85-$160 |
| DTHC | Destination terminal handling | $120-$290 |
| ISPS | Port security surcharge | $12-$35 |
| BAF | Bunker adjustment (fuel) | $40-$120 |
| CAF | Currency adjustment | 2-5% of base freight |
| Documentation / B/L | Bill of Lading issuance | $45-$95 |
| Port storage | After free time expires | $25-$70 per day |
| Demurrage | Container held past free days | $65-$140 per day |
| Fumigation | Wood crate ISPM-15 treatment | $60-$140 |
| Agent commission | Local handling agent | $80-$200 |
Free time at Cartagena and Callao typically runs 5-7 days. Miss it and daily charges start immediately. Clearance delays on a missing title are the number one cause.
"All-in" quotes are rarely all-in
Most online motorcycle quotes exclude destination handling, local broker fees and IVA charged on services at destination. Colombia applies 19% IVA to local logistics services, not just to the bike. Always ask which side of the port the quote stops at — origin, port of discharge, or your door.
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Use the calculator above →Which Incoterm should you pick for a motorcycle shipment?
Quick Answer: For a single motorcycle, FOB or CIF gives you the cleanest cost split. CIF means the shipper pays freight and insurance to the destination port. DAP means delivery to your address with import duties still on you. DDP puts import-side duty and tax liability on the seller, which rarely works across LatAm borders.
| Incoterm | Seller pays through | Buyer picks up at | Appears in calculator total |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXW | Nothing — bike at the garage | Origin pickup | Freight only, no origin services |
| FCA | Delivery to carrier / warehouse | Export handling | Pickup + crating |
| FOB | Loaded on vessel | Main freight | Crating, THC, export filing |
| CFR | Destination port, no insurance | Import side | Above + ocean freight |
| CIF | Destination port + insurance | Import side | Above + marine cover |
| DAP | Buyer's address, duties excluded | Duties and IVA | Above + drayage |
| DDP | Everything including duties | Nothing | Full landed cost |
Why EXW looks cheapest and is not
EXW quotes exclude origin pickup, crating and the AES export filing. Those three items add $400-$750 on a typical US motorcycle export. Compare EXW against FOB only after adding them back.
The DDP trap in Latin America
DDP makes the seller the importer of record. A US seller with no RUT in Colombia or RUC in Peru cannot file the entry. Worse, a DIAN or SUNAT valuation assessment issued against a non-resident is nearly impossible to contest.
CIF value is the duty base
Colombia, Peru, Chile and most of the region calculate duty on CIF value — cost plus insurance plus freight. Every dollar you add to declared value raises duty and IVA. Declare honestly, but never pad the invoice to "cover" insurance. Duty and tax questions belong with a licensed customs broker in the destination country.
Riders buying a bike in Texas and shipping it themselves almost always use FCA or FOB. You control the freight booking and see every line item.
Do I need a temporary import permit to ride my motorcycle in Latin America?
Quick Answer: Yes. Almost every Latin American country requires a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) to ride a foreign-plated motorcycle. A TIP is a customs document that lets you bring the bike in duty-free for a set period — usually 90 to 180 days — tied to your passport and the original title.
| Country | Main entry port | Customs authority | TIP duration | Clearance cost | Permanent duty + VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia | Cartagena | DIAN | 90 days, extendable | $180-$320 | 10-15% + 19% IVA |
| Panama | Colón / Balboa | ANAM | 90 days | $150-$280 | 10-15% + 7% ITBMS |
| Peru | Callao | SUNAT | 90-180 days | $250-$450 | 0-6% + 18% IGV |
| Chile | Valparaíso / San Antonio | Aduana de Chile | 90 days | $220-$400 | 6% + 19% IVA |
| Argentina | Buenos Aires | AFIP / Aduana | 240 days | $280-$520 | 20-35% + 21% IVA |
| Brazil | Santos | Receita Federal | 90 days | $350-$650 | 20-35% II + ICMS |
| Mexico | Veracruz / Manzanillo | SAT | 180 days | $200-$400 | 15-30% + 16% IVA |
| Uruguay | Montevideo | DNA | 365 days | $200-$380 | 23% + 22% IVA |
| Ecuador | Guayaquil | SENAE | 90 days | $180-$350 | 15-35% + 15% IVA |
| Costa Rica | Limón / Caldera | Aduana | 90 days | $180-$320 | 30-50%+ combined |
Carnet de Passages and Mercosur rules
A Carnet de Passages en Douane is not required for most of South America. Standard TIPs work. The Carnet matters if you continue to Africa, the Middle East or parts of Asia.
Mercosur members — Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay — sometimes recognize a TIP issued in one member state for onward travel. Rules shift by border post. Confirm with a licensed broker before you ride.
Never overstay a TIP
An expired TIP means fines, and in several countries the bike is legally trapped — you cannot export it until the case closes. Colombia and Chile both flag the VIN in the customs system. Extend the permit before it lapses. Extensions are routine when requested early and painful when requested late.
What documents are needed to ship a motorcycle to Latin America?
Quick Answer: You need the original title, a bill of sale or commercial invoice, your passport, the signed Bill of Lading or Air Waybill, and an AES filing with an ITN number. CBP requires the original title at the port 72 hours before export. Copies are rejected — no exceptions.
US export checklist
- Original certificate of title — no liens, physical document, no photocopies
- Bill of sale or commercial invoice — with VIN and declared value
- Passport copy of the exporter or owner
- Power of attorney for the customs broker at destination
- Packing list showing VIN, crate dimensions and gross weight
- AES filing with ITN number — mandatory under the Foreign Trade Regulations
- Lien release letter on bank letterhead if the bike was financed
No ITN means no loading. According to CBP regulations, vehicle exports require the title presented at the port of export 72 hours before departure. Carriers will not accept the crate without the stamped export clearance.
Destination-side paperwork
- Factura Comercial — commercial invoice in Spanish
- Certificado de Origen — where a trade agreement lowers duty
- RUT / NIT for Colombia; RUC for Peru and Ecuador; DNI or CUIT elsewhere
- Manifiesto de Carga — filed by the carrier
- Original B/L or telex release to take delivery
Start the lien release early
Banks take 2-4 weeks to issue an original lien release letter. Request it the moment you decide to ship. A bike sitting at the CFS waiting on a lender letter accrues storage at $25-$70 per day.
Vintage and collector bikes carry extra title and valuation issues. The same rules that apply to classic cars apply to pre-1990 motorcycles — see our guide to the Classic Car Shipping Calculator: 2026 Rates from $1,850 for appraisal and documentation handling.
What is the cheapest way to ship a motorcycle from Panama to Colombia?
Quick Answer: The cheapest way to cross the Darién Gap is a shared container from Colón to Cartagena, at $650-$950 per motorcycle when four bikes split a 20' container. Air freight from Panama City to Bogotá costs $900-$1,400 and clears in 2-3 days. Sailboat transfers run $1,100-$1,600 including passage.
No road crosses the Darién Gap. Every rider heading south from Central America must ship the bike.
| Option | Cost per bike | Port-to-port | Door-to-door | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared 20' container (Colón→Cartagena) | $650-$950 | 3-5 days | 7-12 days | Cheapest with 4 bikes |
| Air freight (Tocumen→El Dorado) | $900-$1,400 | 1-3 days | 3-5 days | Fastest, daily flights |
| Sailboat via San Blas | $1,100-$1,600 | 4-6 days | 5-8 days | Includes your passage |
Colón(PAONX)
Cartagena(COCTA)
Panama City(PTY)
Bogotá(BOG)
Group up and cut cost by half
Four riders sharing a 20' container cut per-bike cost by 45-60%. Riders coordinate in Panama City hostels and overlander Facebook groups. A container booked solo for one bike makes no financial sense.
Colombian clearance at Cartagena
You need a local broker and a TIP issued by DIAN. Budget $180-$320 for the clearance package. Bring the original title, passport and B/L.
Three ways to cut the bill
Build your own crate from 2x4s and plywood — it saves $200-$350 versus professional crating, but the wood must be ISPM-15 stamped. Book port-to-port instead of door-to-door and handle drayage yourself. Avoid October through mid-December peak season surcharges, which add $100-$250 per bike.
Riders continuing north through Central America face similar crating math. Our Car Shipping El Salvador Calculator: Rates 2026 and Car Shipping to Costa Rica Calculator: 2026 Rates cover those lanes. For mode-by-mode Central American motorcycle detail, see Motorcycle Shipping from USA to Central America: 2026 Rates and Container Options. Independent benchmarks from uShip's motorcycle shipping cost calculator, international motorcycle shipping rates and this 2026 motorcycle shipping guide track similar ranges on US-origin lanes.
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Use the calculator above →Book your motorcycle shipment with real numbers
Quick Answer: Enter your crate dimensions, bike weight, origin and destination into the calculator on this page. It returns LCL, FCL and air freight rates for Latin American lanes in seconds. With thousands of shipments processed across the Miami-LatAm corridor, our rates reflect live carrier contracts, not estimates.
Measure the crate, not the bike. Drop the bars and mirrors. Then run the numbers.
The motorcycle shipping calculator latin america tool above is pre-set for crated two-wheelers and priced by lane, mode and cube. Use it to compare a shared container against air freight before you commit — no email required, no follow-up calls. For breakbulk, oversized trikes or dealer-volume moves, the same form switches to a custom quote request.
Port-to-port transit from PortMiami to Cartagena is 7-10 days on weekly sailings. Add 3-5 days for crating and export filing at origin, plus 2-4 days for CFS deconsolidation and customs clearance at destination. Realistic door-to-door is 14-19 days.
A crated Harley touring model costs $950-$1,400 by LCL ocean from Miami to most Caribbean and Colombian ports, and $2,200-$3,400 by air. The premium over a mid-size bike comes from crate volume — a Road King crate measures about 2.0-2.2 CBM versus 1.3 CBM for a dual-sport.
Yes for air freight, and almost always for ocean. IATA dangerous goods rules require the tank drained and purged and the battery disconnected for air shipments. Ocean carriers generally allow up to a quarter tank, but most NVOCCs require near-empty tanks to avoid a hazardous classification.
No. CBP requires the original certificate of title, presented at the port of export at least 72 hours before loading. If the bike is financed, you need an original lien release letter from the lender on bank letterhead. Photocopies and electronic titles alone are rejected.
Yes. Carrier liability under a Bill of Lading is capped at about $500 per package, far below any bike's value. All-risk marine cargo insurance costs 1.2-2.5% of the declared CIF value and covers damage, theft and total loss. On a $12,000 bike that is $145-$300.