As the Malaysia to Indonesia motorcycle shipping route has reopened, you’ll find new information in this article with contact info and updated details as we get them.
Motorcycle Shipping between Malaysia and Indonesia
By Andy Davidson
Mad or Nomad - RTW motorcycle travellers
Pre Covid, motorcycle travellers heading from Asia to Australia (or vice versa) would simply ride to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, head to Port Klang and put their bike on a boat to Sumatra. Then they could start the ride towards Surabaya, Bali or Dilli to ship their bike out.
However, all boat transfers from Malaysia to Sumatra ceased over the Covid period. And it was only around August/October 2022 that the first crossing took place in three years.
This guide provides information we have obtained from contacts and travellers recently using this service again. Please feel free to comment or email us with any recent updates or questions.
How to cross from Port Klang to Sumatra with a motorcycle
Currently, there is only one cargo boat that takes motorcycles on board – but no passengers. So, you will need to load your bike onto the boat and take a flight or a fast ferry.
The flight is to Medan, from there you would need to take a taxi to meet your bike.
Expect the crossing to cost around 5,500,000RP (£289GBP / $350USD).
The contacts you need are Azwan (in Malaysia) and Tony (in Indonesia). They are partners and work together so you can contact either in order to arrange the shipment from Malaysia to Indonesia or vice versa.
Contact for Malaysia: Azwan +60 13303 1591.
Contact for Indonesia: Tony +62 823 6008 5666.
Recent experience shipping from Indonesia to Malaysia
Tony was great. He met us at our hotel so we could follow him to the port (Tanjung Balai) where he sorted out all the export paperwork with the local authorities (stamping the carnet and checking the bike was listed on the carnet). This took about 20 minutes.
The boat was 100 metres from the customs office. We loaded the bikes, it was a bit precarious but with lots of help it took around 25 minutes for two motorcycles.
We could not go on the boat with the bikes but could get a fast ferry, which took around 6 hours from the same port (Tanjung Balai) to Port Dickson, 2 hours south of KL. Here is the ferry website: indomalfastferry.com
Tony took us to the ticket office to buy the ferry tickets then dropped us back at our hotel. He then collected us from the hotel early in the morning and dropped us at the ferry terminal. Very efficient and friendly. We had the same efficient experience on the Malaysia side with Azwan.
Cost was 1850 RMB, cash, for a large BMW GS1250, all included (taxing us about in Indonesia, clearance formalities etc).
This recent update was kindly provided by Richard from 2Up From Down Under. Check out this adventures here:
- YouTube: 2upFromDownUnder
- Facebook:2upfromdownunder
Paperwork procedure
Timings
Tips
The alternative way of getting between Malaysia and Indonesia
If you are not able to do this route, then the current option (which we took in 2023) is to ship from Kuala Lumpur to Malaysia Borneo, cross the border to Indonesia Borneo and catch the ferry to Java.
We have dedicated guides on shipping your motorcycle to Malaysia Borneo and Indonesia Borneo from both Kuala Lumpur and Java. You’ll find all the shipping guides and more in the Indonesia Guides Page.
READ MORE:
Read more on motorcycle travel in Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo and Southeast Asia
Thanks for checking out this How to Ship Your Motorcycle from Malaysia to Indonesia Guide. We hope you enjoyed it! Here’s a few more articles on motorcycling in Southeast Asia that we recommend you read next.
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Hi guys, Just letting you know that your recommendation for shipping our bikes from Sumatra to Malaysia using Tony’s shipping worked! We arrived in Malaysia a few days ago. Tony was great. Very helpful indeed along with his colleague in KL. They helped us with all the export and import approvals for the bikes. We caught the fast ferry. Cost was RM1,850 each bike.
Hi Richard, thank you very much for posting your update! Glad to know it all worked out. And thank you for your excellent updates to this article.
Cheers,
Andy
Hi guys,
there must be another option. Its a while ago but i read something about a German girl travelling with a 250cc from Australia up to Europe. She was taking her bike on a normal person ferry, cost her peanuts, its a while ago and i forgot the port in Malaysia she was shipping it from.
I know there is no option from Penang anymore, after what i heard, Ferryservice has stopped because of the cheap flights from Penang to Sumatra. Thats unfortunate, because since i am living in Phuket it would have been really great, Penang or KL small ferry, putting my small 300L and this of a friend on the ferry.
If anyone having another option and/or remember the port from where they start in Malaysia for Sumatra, please let me know.
I still have not giving up planning a Sumatra round trip.
you can also contact me directly 24moskito at gmail dot com
It should be noted that the Port in Malaysia called as PORT DICKSON and not Port Dickinson
Thanks
Hi Muhammad, thanks very much for your email and for pointing that out – super helpful.
I have now amended that spelling mistake.
Cheers again and all the best,
Andy
hey how about answering REAL questions, instead of correct Words here?
this was one of the most useless posts i ever read
hahhahah
So good you answer to ths guy 10 month later but have no idea on the real question :/
Also Muhammad seems to have no idea, otherwise he would have answered…but hey, writing Dickison or Dickinson is much more important 😀 😀 😀
Hi Mos, thank you for your comment.
I see you left a comment back in February that I didn’t respond to. Sorry about that, sometimes comments get missed because this is a free website that I run in my spare time as I travel to help others.
Muhammed posted his comment on May 4th and I replied the next day, so I’m not sure what you mean by 10 months later. And I think his comment was important so people know where the port is.
In answer to your initial question… I have read through your comment again, it looks like you’re asking if I know if there is another way of getting from KL to Sumatra – other than the method I have explained in this guide…
If so, the answer is no. I don’t know another way and I don’t know who the person is you’re referring to. This article explains how to get from KL to Sumatra the best way we know how with updates from fellow travellers.
I’m sorry if you’re not happy with that method. I do hope you manage to find another way that suits your travels. And I wish you all the best with your adventures and upcoming ride in Sumatra.
Cheers mate,
Andy
Hahahaha nice one..guys good feedback will consider…going soon to se my gf in jawa…have a good day..cheers
Hi Andy and thanks for your reply,
I really belive it doesnt matter if you write Port Dickison or Port Dickson or Port Dickinson, since everybody in Malaysia will immidiately know what you are looking for.
Ok another story.
:
Yeah there was a German or Frensh girl, riding with her bike from down under to Europe and used another, a small Ferry, usually for passengers only. Actually many small motorcycles like Honda Dreams and Honda Clicks or Waves are transported by this ferrys since they are not heavy.
I thought someone heard about her and the port she left.
.
It was not close to KL, it was closer to Penang, wich would be much better for me and safe another 400km ride to Penang from Phuket where i live.
.
ok, i will keep up studying little ports and talking too people, it was so easy always going from Penang to Medan by Ferry until the Airlines make it so cheap travelling by plane, so they stopped the Ferries, may be i can find one anyways, will let you guys know here if i do.
.
cheers from LoS
mos
Hi Mos,
I see, yaeh, I haven’t heard about that. It does sound interesting though. I think your best bet for that would be to join Malaysian motorcycle groups on Facebook and ask around in there.
I hope you find it! Let us know how you get on and best of luck,
Cheers,
Andy