Disclaimer: TowCars.com is a nationwide towing information and referral service. We don’t tow, dispatch, or store vehicles, and we aren’t responsible for the work, prices, or conduct of any towing company. If you send us a request, we pass it to independent providers who set their own prices and terms. See our disclosure.
Motorcycles are light, but they are not easy to tow. A bike balances on two wheels, has fragile bodywork and controls that stick out, and can be ruined by a strap in the wrong place. Motorcycle towing uses a flatbed or trailer fitted with a wheel chock, soft tie-downs and the right anchor points so the bike rides upright and doesn’t shift.
When you need a motorcycle tow
- A breakdown, flat tire or dead battery that can’t be fixed at the roadside.
- After a crash or a tip-over, even if the bike looks fine. Damage to forks, brakes or controls is not always visible.
- A bike that won’t start after storage and needs to go to a shop.
- Moving a non-running project bike, or a bike you bought from a private seller.
If you were hurt or the crash involved another vehicle, deal with safety and the police report first. Our after a car accident checklist covers the same steps for riders.
What a good motorcycle tow looks like
Ask how the provider will carry the bike. You want to hear about a front-wheel chock or cradle, soft loops around the handlebars or triple clamp rather than hooks on painted parts, and straps pulling down and forward so the suspension is compressed but not bottomed out. Sport bikes with fairings, large touring bikes and trikes may need different equipment, so give the exact model. Our article on the hardest vehicles to tow explains why two-wheelers need special care.
What affects the cost
Distance is usually the biggest factor. Others include the size of the bike, whether it rolls, whether it has to be lifted from a ditch or a tight spot, and the time of day. Some providers have dedicated motorcycle trailers, others use a flatbed with a chock.
Every provider sets its own price, so treat any figure you see online as a rough guide, not a quote. Our tow truck cost guide explains how base fees, mileage and extras fit together, and the tow cost calculator gives a ballpark range built from published rate schedules. The calculator includes a “Motorcycle” vehicle type. Always ask for the total in writing before work starts.
What to have ready
- Your exact location and the safest place for the truck to stop.
- Make, model and type (sport, cruiser, touring, dirt, trike) and roughly how heavy it is.
- Whether the bike rolls freely, the front wheel turns and the kickstand works.
- The keys, especially if the steering lock is on.
- The address of the shop or home where it should go.
Safety tips for riders
- Get yourself and the bike off the traffic lane if you can do so safely. Do not push a heavy bike up a slope or across lanes.
- Wear your jacket and keep your helmet nearby; being visible matters while you wait.
- Take photos of the bike from all sides before loading.
- Remove saddlebag contents, a tank bag and anything loose.
- Watch the tie-down and speak up if a strap is on a mirror, a lever or the exhaust.
Frequently asked questions
A standard wheel-lift is not designed for motorcycles. The safer option is a flatbed or trailer equipped with a wheel chock and soft tie-downs. Ask the provider what equipment they will use.
Some providers allow a passenger in the truck and others do not. Ask when you request a quote.
Practices vary. Some operators leave it in neutral with the bike compressed against the chock, others prefer it in gear. Follow your owner’s manual and the operator’s method, and ask if you are unsure.
Some memberships and insurance policies cover motorcycles and some do not, and limits vary. Check your policy before you book a separate tow.
Tell us about your bike and where it is, and we’ll pass your request to independent providers in your area.