Bike Transport from Mumbai: Train vs Road, Charges and Documents
You can send a bike from Mumbai to another city in two ways: as a railway parcel, which you book, pack and collect yourself at the station, or by a road carrier that collects it from your door and delivers it to your new address. By road, our published charges start at ₹2,500 for distances up to 500 km.
Below: how each method works, what it costs by distance, the documents to carry, and how to get the bike ready so it arrives without scratches.
Should I send my bike by train or by road?
Choose the train if you are comfortable doing the station work yourself and your new home is close to a railway station with a parcel office. Choose a road carrier if you want pickup from your building and delivery to your door, or if you are shifting household goods at the same time.
| Step | Railway parcel | Road carrier (door to door) |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup | You ride or carry the bike to the station parcel office | Collected from your building |
| Packing | You arrange it, usually through packers near the parcel office | Done by the crew before loading |
| Delivery | You collect from the destination parcel office | Delivered to your new address |
| Charges | By weight and distance, plus packing and porter costs | By distance band, quoted in writing |
| Best for | One bike, station at both ends, time to do the paperwork | Bike moving with household goods, or no time for station visits |
How do I send a bike by train from Mumbai?
Indian Railways carries two-wheelers in two ways. As luggage, the bike travels on the same train as you and you need a journey ticket. As parcel, it travels without you and you or someone else collects it at the other end.
- Go to the parcel office of the station the train starts from, with the bike and your documents. Go well before the train's departure, because booking closes ahead of time.
- Empty the fuel tank. The railways do not accept a two-wheeler with petrol in it.
- Get the bike packed. Headlight, mirrors, tank and silencer need padding. Packers are usually available near large parcel offices.
- Fill the forwarding note and pay. The charge depends on the bike's weight slab and the distance.
- Keep the receipt. You need the original to take delivery. Collect the bike promptly, because storage charges apply after the free period.
Rules and rates are set by the railways and change, so confirm them at the parcel office or on the railway parcel website before you go.
What are bike transport charges from Mumbai by road?
By road, a bike or scooter costs about ₹2,500–₹5,000 for distances up to 500 km, ₹4,000–₹9,000 for 500–1,500 km and ₹7,000–₹15,000 beyond 1,500 km. The engine size, the type of packing and whether it shares a truck with household goods move the figure inside the band.
| Distance from Mumbai | Example routes | Bike or scooter | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 500 km | Pune, Nashik | ₹2,500–₹5,000 | ₹5,000–₹10,000 |
| 500–1,500 km | Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi | ₹4,000–₹9,000 | ₹8,000–₹18,000 |
| Beyond 1,500 km | Kolkata, Guwahati | ₹7,000–₹15,000 | ₹12,000–₹25,000 |
Transit insurance is optional and charged separately, typically about 3% of the value you declare. For a bike declared at ₹1,00,000 that is roughly ₹3,000. The final charge is confirmed in a written quotation after a survey, and may vary with the volume of goods, building access, distance, moving date and prevailing fuel and toll costs.
Route pages give a tighter figure for the busiest lanes: see Mumbai to Goa, Mumbai to Chennai and Mumbai to Ahmedabad.
Which documents are required for bike transport?
Keep a copy of the registration certificate (RC), the insurance policy and your photo ID. The railway parcel office asks for the RC and ID at booking. A road carrier needs the same papers to prepare the consignment note.
- Registration certificate (RC): a copy travels with the bike. Carry the original yourself.
- Insurance policy: a valid policy copy.
- Photo ID: Aadhaar, driving licence or passport of the person booking.
- If someone else hands over or receives the bike: tell the carrier in advance and give that person a signed authorisation with ID copies.
If you are moving to another state for good, the bike will also need re-registration there after the period the law allows. That is a transport department process, separate from the move itself, and starts on the Parivahan portal.
How do I prepare my bike for transport?
Wash the bike, photograph every side, and note existing scratches on the handover sheet. Clean paint shows damage clearly, and dated photos settle most disputes before they start.
- Leave only a little fuel for a road move. For the train, the tank must be empty.
- Remove loose accessories: saddle bags, phone holders, helmet locks and after-market mirrors.
- Check for oil or coolant leaks and tell the crew about any.
- Hand over one key only and keep the spare.
- Note the odometer reading on the handover sheet.
- At delivery, check the bike against your photos before you sign.
How long does bike transport from Mumbai take?
By road, plan for about a day to Pune, 2 to 3 days to Ahmedabad, Goa or Hyderabad, 3 to 4 days to Bangalore and 4 to 5 days to Delhi or Chennai. A bike travelling on a shared truck can take longer than one on a dedicated vehicle, so ask which you are being quoted for.
If the bike is moving with your household goods, it normally arrives with them. Our car and bike transport and bike shifting pages explain the packing and the carrier types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send my bike by train without travelling myself?
Yes. Book it as a parcel at the station parcel office instead of as luggage. You do not need a journey ticket, but someone must collect the bike at the destination with the original receipt and ID.
Do I have to empty the petrol tank?
For the train, yes: the railways do not accept a two-wheeler with fuel in the tank. For a road carrier, leave only a small amount so the bike can be moved at both ends.
Is insurance included in the bike transport charge?
No. Transit insurance is optional and charged separately, typically about 3% of the value you declare. Ask what is covered and how a claim works before you book.
Can I transport a scooter or an electric scooter the same way?
Yes. Scooters fall in the same rate band as motorcycles. For an electric scooter, tell the carrier the model in advance, because battery handling and packing are planned differently.
Can someone else receive the bike for me?
Yes. Tell the carrier beforehand and give the person a signed authorisation with a copy of your ID and theirs. At a railway parcel office they will also need the original receipt.
How much does it cost to send a bike from Mumbai to Pune?
Mumbai to Pune falls in our lowest band, about ₹2,500–₹5,000 for a bike or scooter by road. The exact figure is given in a written quotation.
Sending a bike or car from Mumbai? Tell us the model and both pin codes and we will send a written price with the packing and carrier type listed.
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