By Matthew Loveridge

Published: Friday, 25 February 2022 at 12:00 am


The best bike racks for cars make transporting your ride less of a chore and are an absolute essential if you can’t squeeze everything inside your vehicle.

There are multiple bike-rack styles available at a range of budgets, and this guide covers everything you need to know when you’re deciding which one suits your needs.

Keep reading for a full explanation of roof racks, boot or trunk-mounted racks, and hitch or towbar-mounted racks, with reviews of those that scored highest when rated by our expert team of testers.

If you’re heading off on a cycling holiday, check out our article on how to pack your road bike for a trip abroad.

The best bike racks for cars in 2022, as rated by our expert testers

What type of bike rack do I need?

The first question is: how far and how frequently do you need to carry bikes? Then what type of bikes and how many bikes you need to carry. Which vehicle – or vehicles – do you have, and will you be taking a mixture of bikes? Are they heavy, do they have thru-axles, and will they be getting dirty?

The next question is how do you want to carry the bikes? On top of the vehicle? Off the back? Does your vehicle have a receiver hitch? Bike’s front wheel on or off? Another thing to consider is if you want or need to carry other sporting equipment.

Bikes vary widely in cost, style, size and weight too, all of which should be factors when looking for a means of transporting them. You probably won’t want to risk carrying your road bike on a rack that costs less than one of its ultra-light tyres.

Also consider practicality: whether the rack will suit your needs now and in the future; ease of use – how easy it is to fit to the vehicle and load; security – whether it holds the bikes safely and locks the bikes to the rack and the vehicle; and how much storage space it will take up when not in use.

The main types of bike rack are roof-mounted, boot or trunk-mounted and towbar or hitch-mounted. Plus there are options for truck beds and speciality racks for unique situations.

Roof-mounted bike racks

"droprack
A T-bolt attachment is compatible with the the most common bike racks.
Russell Burton / Our Media

Most roof racks consist of feet that attach to your vehicle’s roof, and cross bars to which the accessories attach. Bike racks for roof racks vary between ones that require front-wheel removal and racks that allow both wheels to remain on the bike.

Front-wheel removal keeps the bike lower (great for tall SUVs), can be easier and lighter to load, and is the classic way of hauling bikes up-top.

Bike racks that keep both wheels on the bike are taller, generally cost more, and can be less stable. However, they avoid frequent wheel removal and re-installation.

Either option often includes integrated locks to secure your bike to the rack. And, of course, the rack is locked to the bars, and the bars are locked to your vehicle.

There are simpler roof-mounted bike racks available that don’t require a dedicated base bar setup, such as the SeaSucker rack (below), which uses suction cups to attach to your car. There are also roof-mounted bike racks that attach to your vehicle’s factory-installed roof rack.

"Roof-mounted
Roof-mounted bike racks can be simple and much less involved.
Sea Sucker

While not permanent, roof racks generally stay on your vehicle all the time because they are hugely versatile – being able to add and remove sport-specific accessories enables you to carry bikes, kayaks, skis, SUP boards, cargo boxes, etc.

Basically, any big, bulky item is fair game for a roof rack, even ladders, lumber and other non-sport items.

"Roof-mounted
Roof racks can be used for a huge variety of gear-hauling duties.
Yakima
  • Pros: Super-versatile for all kinds of gear hauling; one of the most secure rack types available; doesn’t hinder access to any doors/boot/hatch/tailgate
  • Cons: Drive under something low if you’ve forgotten about your bikes and you could wreck them and damage your vehicle; you’re also adding aero drag to your vehicle, so fuel consumption will likely increase

Thule ProRide 598

5.0 out of 5 star rating
"Best
The Thule ProRide 598 is a brilliant roof rack as long as you don’t mind clamping directly onto the frame.
David Rome / Immediate Media
  • £117.50 / $199.95 / AU$299
  • Holds one bike
  • 20kg maximum load
  • Holds bike by its wheels and clamps onto down tube with large, soft jaws
  • Requires roof bars

The Thule ProRide 598 is a benchmark for roof racks and a great all-round choice as long as you’re happy to clamp directly onto the down tube of your bike (the jaws are designed in such a way as to minimise the risk of damage).

The 598 is ideal if you want to transport bikes with mudguards/fenders because, unlike those that hold the bike by its wheels only, the rack won’t interfere with them.