Ship a motorcycle from the USA to Germany
Whether you’re a US military member PCSing to Ramstein, Grafenwohr, or Spangdahlem — or a civilian rider bringing your bike to the Autobahn — AA Motorcycle Shipping gets your motorcycle from any US address to the Port of Bremerhaven. Weekly sailings from 6 US departure ports. Door-to-port service, coordinated start to finish. In business since 1983.
Or call 1-888-347-1391 — available 7 days a week
6 US departure ports — weekly sailings to Germany
Germany sailings depart from 6 US ports. We coordinate pickup from anywhere in the continental United States and route your motorcycle to the most practical departure point for your location.
New York, NY
Northeast US departures
Baltimore, MD
Mid-Atlantic US departures
Charleston, SC
Southeast US departures
Brunswick, GA
Southeast US departures
Galveston, TX
Gulf Coast US departures
Port Hueneme, CA
West Coast US departures
Note: Germany sailings depart from 6 ports. Other European destinations may have different departure port combinations — call us if you have questions about your specific route.
Arrival port — Bremerhaven, Germany
All US-to-Germany motorcycle shipments arrive at the Port of Bremerhaven — one of the world’s most important vehicle and cargo terminals, located on the Weser River near the North Sea.
Port of Bremerhaven
Lower Saxony, Germany — North Sea coast, Weser estuary
The fourth-largest container port in the world and Germany’s primary vehicle import terminal. Handles a significant volume of motorcycle and vehicle traffic from the USA each week.
The appointed recipient collects the motorcycle at the port and settles any applicable duties and taxes on-site. From Bremerhaven, onward delivery can be arranged to cities across Germany including Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Berlin, and all major US military installations.
Cities served after Bremerhaven arrival
Once your motorcycle clears customs at Bremerhaven, it can be transported onward to virtually any city in Germany. Common destinations include:
Transit time — USA to Germany
From the US departure port to Bremerhaven, expect a transit of approximately 5 weeks — consistent from both the East Coast and West Coast.
The shipment begins with pickup at your US address. Our enclosed truck collects your motorcycle and delivers it to the designated departure port — New York, Baltimore, Charleston, Brunswick, Galveston, or Port Hueneme depending on your location. At the port, your bike is checked in, documented, and loaded onto the next available weekly sailing to Bremerhaven.
The ocean crossing to Germany typically runs 5 weeks door-to-port. Once your motorcycle arrives at Bremerhaven, a customs clearance broker assigned by AA Motorcycle Shipping handles the import process. The recipient — or an authorized representative — collects the bike at the port and pays any applicable duties on-site. For PCS military moves, it’s common for a unit representative or trusted contact to handle the port collection while the service member is still in transit.
RoRo vs container shipping to Germany
Two methods are available for the ocean leg. The right choice depends on your bike’s value, your timeline, and your budget.
RoRo — Roll-On/Roll-Off
Standard — the method most PCS and civilian shipments use
Think of a RoRo vessel like a multi-deck parking garage on water. Your motorcycle rides onto the ship and is secured to the deck in its own designated area. It’s not exposed to the open ocean — the cargo is fully enclosed within the vessel. Guaranteed departure and arrival dates, cost-effective, and the standard choice for the Germany route.
Container Shipping
Premium — for rare, vintage, or show-quality bikes
Your motorcycle is loaded into a sealed steel shipping container for the Atlantic crossing. The added layer of enclosure makes this the highest-protection option available. Bremerhaven is one of the world’s largest container ports, so container shipping integrates seamlessly into the terminal’s handling systems. Best for irreplaceable customs, pre-war classics, or competition bikes.
Getting your motorcycle from your door to the departure port
Every Germany shipment starts with a domestic leg — enclosed truck transport from your US location to the departure port. You can drop off at the port yourself, or we come to you.
Documents required to ship a motorcycle to Germany
Germany documentation is straightforward. Have the following ready before booking to avoid any delays to your departure date.
- Bill of sale
- Customs clearance broker — assigned by AA Motorcycle Shipping (contact details on your Document Receipt)
Military PCS moves to Germany often involve additional paperwork through your unit’s transportation office (TMO/PPO). We work with military members regularly — call us at 1-888-347-1391 with any questions specific to your orders before booking.
What happens when your motorcycle arrives in Germany
Bremerhaven handles an enormous volume of vehicle imports from the United States — the port’s customs process for motorcycles is well-established and routine. AA Motorcycle Shipping assigns a licensed German customs clearance broker to your shipment. You’ll receive the broker’s details on your Document Receipt after booking.
The person collecting the motorcycle at Bremerhaven is responsible for settling any applicable German import duties and taxes at the port — typically paid in cash on arrival. The duty amount depends on the declared value of the motorcycle and EU import regulations in effect at the time of delivery. We do not quote duty estimates in advance as rates are subject to regulatory change.
For US military personnel on PCS orders to Germany, customs duty exemptions may apply under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). Your unit’s transportation office or JAG office can advise on your specific eligibility. We recommend confirming your SOFA status before booking so your documentation reflects it correctly.
Shipping a motorcycle from the USA to Germany — four steps
Request a quote
Fill out our international quote form with your bike’s year, make, and model, your US pickup zip, and Germany as the destination. Military members — mention your installation for routing guidance. Or call 1-888-347-1391.
We pick up at your US address
We dispatch an enclosed truck to your home, base housing, or storage unit. Your motorcycle is secured for the domestic leg and delivered to the appropriate US departure port — New York, Baltimore, Charleston, Brunswick, Galveston, or Port Hueneme.
Weekly sailing to Bremerhaven
Your bike is loaded onto the next available RoRo or container vessel sailing to Bremerhaven. Guaranteed departure and arrival dates on RoRo sailings. Ocean transit runs approximately 5 weeks from all US departure ports.
Collection at Bremerhaven
Your assigned customs broker clears the shipment on arrival. You — or a trusted representative — collects the motorcycle at Bremerhaven port, settles any duties, and arranges onward transport to your German city or installation.
The USA–Germany motorcycle shipping specialists since 1983
Germany is the single biggest destination for US military motorcycle shipments in Europe. The concentration of US Army, Air Force, and NATO installations — Ramstein, Grafenwohr, Spangdahlem, Kaiserslautern, Vilseck, Hohenfels, and others — means we process PCS motorcycle shipments to Germany constantly. Service members know the drill: orders arrive, the bike needs to follow. We’ve been handling that for over four decades.
Civilian riders have their own reasons. Germany’s Autobahn is the obvious one — no federal speed limit on large sections of it, and the road infrastructure to match. Beyond that, the Black Forest, the Bavarian Alps, the Rhine Valley, and the roads around Garmisch-Partenkirchen offer some of the best motorcycle touring in Europe. Riders who relocate professionally or retire to Germany routinely ship their bikes rather than sell and repurchase.
Bremerhaven is one of the most efficient vehicle import ports in the world — the fourth-largest container port globally. Your motorcycle doesn’t sit in limbo at an unfamiliar facility. The customs process is routine, the port infrastructure handles motorcycle volumes weekly, and the broker we assign knows it well. From Bremerhaven, your bike can move onward to any city or installation in Germany — Munich, Stuttgart, Berlin, Frankfurt, or straight to your unit’s front gate.
When you book with AA, you’re not getting handed to a subcontractor. We coordinate the full journey — domestic pickup, port delivery, ocean freight booking, documentation, and customs broker assignment — under one roof. You get one point of contact, one company responsible, start to finish.
Every motorcycle type ships to Germany
Germany is BMW’s home turf — we ship plenty of GSs heading back where they belong. But we ship everything else too: Harleys, Ducatis, Triumphs, Hondas, Kawasakis, Indians, and everything in between.
- Harley-Davidson (all models — extremely common on the Germany route)
- BMW motorcycles (R, S, F, G, K series)
- Sport bikes & crotch rockets
- Cruisers & touring bikes
- Adventure & dual-sport bikes
- Vintage & classic motorcycles
- Custom builds
- Electric motorcycles
- Trikes & sidecars
Electric motorcycles and oversized trikes may have special ocean freight handling requirements. Call us before booking to confirm your configuration qualifies.
How to pay for your Germany motorcycle shipment
- Zelle
- Venmo
- Bank of America deposit
- Wire transfer
- Cashier’s check
- Regular check
- Credit card
- Debit card
We also ship motorcycles to these European countries
Germany is one of more than a dozen international destinations we serve in Europe. Shipping to a neighboring country? We handle those routes too.
Belgium
View detailsFrance
View detailsGreece
View detailsItaly
View detailsNetherlands
View detailsNorway
View detailsSpain
View detailsSweden
View detailsSwitzerland
View detailsUnited Kingdom
View detailsGoogle reviews — AA Motorcycle Shipping
“My experience with AA Motorcycle Shipping was excellent. My Softail HD is spotless with no blemishes — it was picked up in Wisconsin and dropped off in California in the same condition. The staff and drivers were kind and professional. I would highly recommend them.”
Shipping a motorcycle from the USA to Germany — common questions
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How much does it cost to ship a motorcycle from the USA to Germany?
Cost depends on several factors: your US pickup location relative to the nearest departure port, your motorcycle’s year, make, and model, whether you choose RoRo or container shipping, and whether you use our pickup service or deliver to the port yourself. Use our international quote form or call 1-888-347-1391 for a quote specific to your shipment.
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How long does it take to ship a motorcycle from the USA to Germany?
Ocean transit from the US departure port to Bremerhaven runs approximately 5 weeks from both East and West Coast ports. Add a few days for the domestic leg from your pickup location to the departure port. Planning ahead is important — book early to secure your preferred sailing date, especially around PCS season.
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Which US port does my motorcycle depart from for Germany?
Germany sailings depart from 6 US ports: New York, Baltimore, Charleston, Brunswick (GA), Galveston (TX), and Port Hueneme (CA). We’ll route your pickup to the most practical port based on your US location. Note that Germany uses Port Hueneme on the West Coast rather than Long Beach, which serves some other European routes.
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I’m PCSing to Germany — can AA handle military motorcycle shipments?
Yes — military PCS motorcycle shipments to Germany are one of our most common international moves. We ship regularly to Ramstein, Grafenwohr, Spangdahlem, Kaiserslautern, Vilseck, Hohenfels, Stuttgart, and other installations. Military and Veteran discounts are available — get a quote online first, then call 1-888-347-1391 to apply it. We also recommend checking your SOFA status with your unit’s transportation office, as duty exemptions may apply.
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What documents do I need to ship my motorcycle to Germany?
You’ll need the bill of sale for your motorcycle. AA Motorcycle Shipping assigns a licensed customs clearance broker whose details appear on your Document Receipt after booking. Military members on PCS orders should also coordinate with their TMO/PPO office for any additional required documentation related to their orders.
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How do customs and import duties work at Bremerhaven?
Your assigned customs broker handles the import clearance at Bremerhaven. The recipient settles any applicable German import duties on-site at the port — typically in cash. Duty amounts are based on the declared value of the motorcycle and applicable EU import regulations. US military personnel under SOFA may be exempt from duties — confirm with your unit’s JAG or transportation office before shipping.
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What is the difference between RoRo and container shipping to Germany?
RoRo (Roll-On/Roll-Off) is the standard method — your motorcycle rides onto the vessel and is secured inside, protected from the elements, with guaranteed departure and arrival dates. Container shipping loads your bike into a sealed steel container for the Atlantic crossing — the highest protection level available and a natural fit for Bremerhaven, one of the world’s top container ports. Most Germany shipments use RoRo; container is recommended for rare, vintage, or show-quality motorcycles.
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How should I prepare my motorcycle for shipment to Germany?
Clean the bike thoroughly and photograph it from all angles before pickup — document any pre-existing marks or scratches. Disable the alarm system, disconnect the battery, and reduce the fuel level to a quarter tank or below. Remove any loose accessories or personal items. We’ll send you a full preparation checklist when you book.
Ready to ship your motorcycle from the USA to Germany?
PCS move or civilian relocation — submit your details online and we’ll quote your specific route to Bremerhaven. Military discount available on request.
Get an international shipping quote →Or call 1-888-347-1391 — available 7 days a week. Live chat also available.