Transporting Bicycles & Surfboards on Vacation

As of July 2026

You can transport bulky vacation gear like bicycles, surfboards, or an extra suitcase with a P2P transport platform like MUVN starting at €20, significantly cheaper than using a shipping company (often €40 to €80). A verified driver heading to the vacation destination will take your item in their available cargo space. You can submit your request in just a few minutes in the app, saving you from trunk Tetris and expensive special transports.

Why Everything Suddenly Becomes Bulky in Summer

Summer vacations in Germany start staggered from June 29, and every year the same picture repeats: The car is full before half the family has even gotten in. Four people, luggage for two weeks, plus a bicycle, beach gear, and maybe a surfboard. By the time trunk Tetris comes into play, it’s clear that not everything will fit.

The classic alternatives are expensive or annoying. A bike rack costs money and blocks the view. The train only takes bicycles with a reservation, and in summer, the spots are often booked weeks in advance. Hiring a shipping company for a single surfboard is hardly worth it financially.

This is where the idea comes in to simply let bulky items travel ahead instead of dragging them along.

The Solution: Your Luggage Travels Ahead

MUVN is the ride-sharing service for items. The principle works like BlaBlaCar, but for things instead of people. Thousands of people are heading to the coast, mountains, or Lake Constance in summer anyway, and many have space in their trunks. The app matches your transport with this available capacity.

You submit a request, describe your item and the route, and a verified driver on your route will take it with them. Over 10,000 verified drivers and more than 16,000 active users (as of June 2026) are already on board, especially on popular summer routes.

What You Can Typically Send Ahead

• Bicycles and E-Bikes: The classic. Instead of a rack or expensive train reservation, the bike goes directly to the destination.
• Surfboards, SUP Boards, Kitesurfing Gear: Long, bulky, lightweight. Ideal as additional cargo.
• Camping Furniture and Tents: Tables, chairs, pavilions. Everything that just takes up space in the trunk.
• The second or third suitcase: You travel with carry-on luggage, and the rest is already waiting at the vacation home.
• Strollers and Travel Cribs: Bulky and hard to fit in a full car.

What Does It Cost? An Honest Assessment

There are no fixed prices at MUVN because each transport is individually negotiated between the driver and the sender. As a guideline: transports start at €20, with the sweet spot for medium distances around €60. A service fee of €3 fixed plus 8% variable applies to the mediation.

For comparison: Transporting a bicycle by train or traditional shipping company quickly costs €40 to €80. Platforms like Shiply, Bringhand, or Clicktrans also facilitate transports but are usually geared towards commercial carriers or larger shipments. The charm of additional cargo on a vacation route is that the trip is happening anyway, which keeps the price low.

Traveling Safely: MUVN Protect

To ensure your bicycle or surfboard is not unprotected during transport, every transport via MUVN Protect is insured. Coverage for items valued up to €250 is automatically included, and an extension to €1,000 can be added for €6 directly during the booking process. A further level up to €10,000 is in preparation. This is handled through our partner, the Schunck Group.

The insurance applies within the framework of the applicable insurance conditions. What is specifically covered and what requirements apply can be found in the terms and conditions and insurance conditions at muvn.de/agb.

How to Submit Your Vacation Request

1. Open the app and start your request. Simply take a photo of the item, and the AI will fill in all the information.
2. Set the route and time window. For example, Cologne to Lake Constance, flexible in the week before departure.
3. Wait for the match. A driver on your route will contact you, and you can clarify the details in the chat.
4. Hand over and secure. Hand over the item, secured through MUVN Protect, and you’re done.

Top routes in summer are typically Hamburg-Berlin, Berlin-Munich, Cologne-Hamburg, as well as connections from NRW heading north and south. On these routes, the likelihood of a quick match is highest.

Conclusion

You don’t have to cram everything into the car or book an expensive special transport. Bulky vacation gear travels ahead with MUVN, starting at €20 and secured through MUVN Protect. This way, you start your vacation relaxed, and your bicycle is already at the beach when you arrive.

👉 Submit your request now: www.muvn.de

FAQ

How do I transport my bicycle cheaply on vacation?

With a P2P platform like MUVN, you submit a request, and a driver on your route will take the bicycle with them. Transports start at €20, often significantly cheaper than train shipping or a shipping company (€40 to €80).

Can I also send a surfboard or camping gear?

Yes. Long, lightweight, and bulky items like surfboards, SUP boards, tents, or camping furniture are particularly well-suited as additional cargo because they are light but take up a lot of space in the car.

Is the transport of my items insured?

Every transport is insured through MUVN Protect. Coverage for items valued up to €250 is automatic, extendable to €1,000 for €6 during the booking process. The insurance conditions apply as stated on muvn.de/agb.

How far in advance should I submit my request?

Ideally, one to two weeks before departure. This allows enough time for a match, especially during the peak season on popular vacation routes.

What does transport with MUVN cost?

There are no fixed prices; each transport is created individually. As a guideline: starting at €20, medium distances often around €60. A service fee of €3 fixed plus 8% variable applies.

How does MUVN differ from Shiply or a shipping company?

MUVN utilizes the available cargo space of private drivers who are already traveling on your route. Providers like Shiply or Bringhand focus more on commercial carriers. This makes additional cargo through MUVN usually cheaper for smaller, bulky items.