Teslas, Toggs, BMW i-series and other electric vehicles, along with classic or sport motorcycles, need different precautions than a standard sedan. This guide explains what you need to know about battery safety, charge level, securing, and insurance when shipping an EV or motorcycle from Europe to Turkey.
1. How are electric vehicles shipped?
Electric vehicles travel on the same enclosed or open specialised carriers as petrol/diesel vehicles. The only difference: the vehicle isn't driven on its own — it's loaded onto the platform by crane or ramp, which avoids unnecessarily stressing the battery.
2. Battery safety measures
- Before transport, the battery is checked for physical damage
- When securing the vehicle, care is taken to avoid impact to the battery area
- Transport teams operate vehicles equipped with fire extinguishing equipment
- If a damaged or swollen battery is suspected, extra safety measures are taken
3. Why does charge level matter?
A charge level of 20-50% is generally recommended for transport. A fully charged (100%) battery carries a higher thermal risk, while a completely empty one makes it harder to move during loading. Ideally, bring your vehicle's charge into this range before handover.
4. Motorcycle transport: securing and crating
Motorcycles are secured to the platform with specialised strap systems (wheel chock + tie-down); additional crating usually isn't necessary. For classic, rare, or very valuable motorcycles, a crate can be requested for extra protection — just let our team know ahead of time.
5. Insurance: any differences for EVs and motorcycles?
The insurance principle is the same — the vehicle is fully insured during transport. For EVs and valuable motorcycles, the insured amount is set based on current market value, which can increase the total price compared to a standard sedan. Valuable accessories (such as racing gear) should be flagged before transport for separate insurance.
6. Broken-down or accident-damaged EVs
EVs that can't move under their own power, are broken down, or accident-damaged are shipped on specialised flatbed carriers. The vehicle is loaded by crane or ramp and never started under its own motor — eliminating the risk of short circuits or battery damage.
7. Charging cable and accessories
The charging cable and portable charger can be sent secured inside the vehicle or trunk. For valuable or fragile accessories, we recommend notifying our team before transport.
Summary: The 5 key points
- EVs are loaded by crane/ramp, not driven on their own
- Ideal charge level for transport: 20-50%
- Motorcycles are secured with straps, crating optional for valuable units
- Insured amount is calculated based on the vehicle's current value
- Broken-down/damaged EVs ship without issue via flatbed — go to the transport page
For the general transport process, see our Vehicle Transport Turkey ↔ Europe Guide, and for customs rules, our Turkish-language customs guide.