Gather the necessary documents. The U.S Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) requires you provide specific documents on your motorcycle depending upon whether it is used or new. If you are shipping a motorcycle you currently own, you must have the certificate of title and three copies. If there is a lien on your motorcycle or if it is leased, you need to provide a letter, in addition to the title, stating you have permission from the third party to export the vehicle. If you are exporting a brand new motorcycle and do not have a title, you need to obtain the manufacturer's statement of origin (SO) that should come with the motorcycle. If you don't have the SO, you need to provide some proof you are the owner of the motorcycle, such as the dealership bill of sale.
Research a freight shipping company. The website movecars.com provides a listing of companies that ship motor vehicles internationally, as well as those that cater to motorcycles. Compare prices and services. Many of these companies will provide door-to-door service; picking up your motorcycle from your home, taking it to the port, clearing customs, handling all paperwork and shipping it overseas and delivering it to you in Italy. However if you live in, or close to, a port city and do not want to pay for door-to-door service, you may ship your motorcycle directly to the port from which your motorcycle will be shipped.
Get marine shipping insurance. This will protect you should anything happen to your motorcycle en route to Italy. The shipping company will provide you with shipping insurance options or you may obtain it elsewhere. Present your insurance certificate when you deliver the vehicle to the port or the shipping company.
Prepare your motorcycle for shipment. Clean your motorcycle and thoroughly check for any current damage such as dents and scratches and keep note of them. Remove any items you may have in the seat or any other personal items that did not originally come as part of the motorcycle. Fill the gas tank to 1/4 full or less.
Bring your vehicle to the port the ship is leaving from at least 72 hours before your motorcycle is being shipped. CBP needs at least that much time to clear your motorcycle to be shipped. The shipping company will handle this for you or you may hire a port customs clearing agent to do so.
Pay for your shipping and hand over all applicable documents to the shipping company. Costs of shipping your motorcycle will depend upon the shipper and services you choose to use, type of motorcycle you have and how old it is. Costhelper.com estimates that shipping a motor vehicle overseas will cost you anywhere from $750 to $4,600. Turn over your keys and the documents you gathered to the shippers. In some cases, depending upon the port and the shipping company, you may need to give them or the customs agent a temporary power of attorney so they may arrange the shipment of your vehicle and handle all paperwork.
