Written By: Jonathan
Fact Checked By: Caroline Dezendorf
Reviewed By: Matt Tanner
There are so many types and options available for bike racks, yes sometimes it is confusing as to which one is best for your vehicle.
No matter if you want to take the bike to the mountains, across the city or to the beach, you need the right bike rack that will make traveling with your bike easier.
You can install racks for the roof, trunk, hitch, and you can even have them for truck beds, but you need to keep in mind that not every rack fits every vehicle perfectly, so you need to know what to look for before buying one.
This is the guide in which I explain How To Choose A Bike Rack with simple steps, so that you can finally choose the right bike rack for your car that really suits your bike and lifestyle.
Determine Your Needs First
You have to take a moment to think about your specific needs, before you just start shopping a bike rack.
So you need to ask yourself:
How Many Bikes Do I Need to Carry?
Because some bike racks are made for just one or two bikes max, while others can carry upto three or more: so you have to be specific about your bicycle usage and how many you wanted to carry actually.
What Kind of Bikes You Own?
Yes, it also makes a different for example, e-bikes are much heavier and may need a stronger rack, and otherwise kids bikes or even mountain bikes can have different frame shapes that might not fit all racks together.
How Often You Will Have to Use The Rack?
If you seriously want bike rack for biking once in a while, then you can get simple and easy-to-remove rack that works best without fuss.
But if you go for a ride every weekend or planning a long road trip, then you wanted something more secure and durable rather than easy to remove.
Where You Will Be Driving Your Vehicle?
If you have different goals as going for off-road or taking long highway trips rather then staying local, then it all depends what kind of bike rack you should use.
Now, if you have all the answers then you have successfully narrow down choice, so that it will be easy to choose the best type of rack.
2. Know Your Vehicle Type
The type of vehicle also plays a big role in choosing the right bike rack, as not all racks fit every type of vehicle, which is why it is very important to know which rack works best for your type of vehicle.
As an example:
Sedans and hatchbacks: They work best with trunk-mounted racks or roof racks if your vehicle has crossbars.
SUV: This supports hitch racks, roof racks, or even spare tire racks since SUVs typically offer more flexibility than other vehicle types.
Trucks: A truck bed rack would be the ideal choice for a truck driver, as it keeps your bike secure without blocking your view.
RV or Camper: Heavy-duty racks should be the first priority for larger vehicle types.
Furthermore, if you want to install a bike rack there, you also need to make sure to check the vehicle’s features, such as whether it should have a hitch receiver, roof rails, or spare tire placement. Choosing the right rack for your car is a very wise move, as it helps prevent any potential damage and also makes loading your bike much easier.
Types of Bike Racks
There are many types of bike racks available, yes they have their own advantages and disadvantages, but you have to be very specific about where to place them.
I have explained and listed 5 types of bike racks so that you can choose according to your vehicle type and decide which rack can best suit your needs.
1. Hitch-Mounted Racks
As the name suggests, a hitch rack attaches to the hitch receiver on the back of your car or SUV.
Additionally, there are two types of hitch-mounted racks available:
Platform Rack: These hold the bike by the wheels and are actually a very stable type of hitch rack.
Hanging rack: This holds the frame of the bicycle, making it much safer and easier to load and unload.
Hitch-mounted racks are really great for heavy bikes like e-bikes and you can easily load and unload them without any hassle. But just make sure that your vehicle has a hitch receiver, otherwise it can be very expensive.
2. Roof-Mounted Racks
Now, roof racks require roof crossbars across the top of your car, and they hold your bike in an upright position or by the front forks and you can also carry other gear like kayaks or skis.
This is very useful because it doesn’t actually block your trunk portion at all, and it’s good for vehicles with an existing roof, and you can carry other equipment as well, so it’s kind of an all-in-one bike rack.
Yes, you will have to lift the bike onto the roof and for taller vehicles this will be a tough task, and the height clearance will also be affected.
3. Trunk-Mounted Racks
If you have a good budget option then you should opt for trunk-mounted racks as they attach to the back of your car and also offer great compatibility with many sedans, hatchbacks, and SUVs.
Not only that, you can install them easily and they do not require any additional accessories like hitch or roof bars to install them.
You need to check how many bikes it can accommodate as most of the times they are compatible with less number of bikes.
4. Truck Bed Racks
For pickup trucks, truck-bed racks are a better choice than others, yes, there are multiple styles available including fork-mount, wheel-mount, and tailgate pad so you can position them the way you like.
It also keeps your bike very secure inside the truck, since you don’t need any extra hardware on the outside of the truck.
5. Spare Tire Racks
It is specifically designed for SUVs, as these racks are mounted above the tyre and you can mount it over the rear spare tyre for maximum stability.
It is very easy to install and does not block your license plate in any way.
| Rack Type | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hitch-Mounted | SUVs, trucks, vehicles with hitch | It is very stable, You can easily load & unload the bikes and actually great for heavy bikes. | It actually requires hitch and comes with higher price. |
| Roof-Mounted | Cars/SUVs with roof crossbars | The great thing is that it literally doesn’t block trunk part and it can simply carry other gear in a secure way. | You have feel harder to load bikes and also affects height clearance if your vehicle is already very taller. |
| Trunk-Mounted | Sedans, hatchbacks | Yes, it is a great budget-friendly and you can easily install them. | Usually comes with limited bike capacity so you have to be specific about how many bikes you wanted to carry. |
| Truck Bed Rack | Pickup trucks | It uses existing space and carry your bikes in a very secure way, as well as there will be no rear obstruction you’ll face with this. | Yes, it takes up truck bed space and you may require wheel removal for fork-mount type of truck bed rack. |
| Spare Tire Rack | SUVs with rear spare tires | Installation of this is no fuss and actually doesn’t need hitch or roof bars to install. | But you need to choose them wisely as they comes with vehicle-specific and usually holds fewer bikes, so choose them according to your needs. |
Key Feature to Consider for Choosing the Right Bike Rack
The features are also the deciding factor that it would make it safe, long-lasting and convenient, and you have to choose the correct one according to your requirements.
1. Security
This is the one of the most important things to look for, as you don’t have to compromise with security features at all, look for as some racks come with built-in locks for both the bikes and rack itself that ensures the security of it, and helps the bike and rack to prevent any possible theft when you leave your vehicle unattended.
2. Ease of Installation & Removal
Also, you should check how easy the rack is to install and remove, as some racks can be set up in minutes without any kind of extraordinary tools, and other one takes more effort to install and remove both as it can be headache sometimes.
3. Weight Capacity
It is also the deciding factor, as if you have heavy bikes like e-bikes then you can carry less bikes or if you have to carry multiple bikes then you have to ensure the weight limit of vehicles and weight capacity of bike rack according to your actual needs.
4. Bike Frame Compatibility
If you want to fit a women’s bike you will need to pay attention to bike frame compatibility as you’ll have to attach the bike to the frame.
5. Tilt or Swing-Away Feature
If you wanted to access trunk areas of your car while the rack is on, then you have to look for a feature called tilt or swing-away feature as it ensure you to use the trunk area without removing the racks anytime anywhere.
6. Material Durability & Weather Resistance
This is the most important thing to consider despite all the features if your bike rack is made of cheap materials and build quality is not that great then it doesn’t matter what kind of rack you have purchased it will be just a piece of garbage and damage your vehicle and pocket both.
Budget & Value for Money
Bike rack prices can vary widely, with basic trunk-mounted racks typically starting at around $50, and high-end hitch and roof racks, on the other hand, can cost $300 or more.
It is very lucrative to go for the cheapest option available, but not always great, because long-term value is also important and you need to have a bike rack that not only lasts a long time but also keeps your bike and car safe while traveling.
Yes, there are plenty of cheap racks available, but they may actually lack the proper stability, protection or may not be all that weather resistant, which means they can get damaged over time.
To be on the safe side, you need to find a good balance between price and features, you really just need to ask yourself: does the rack offer the security, ease of use and durability required or not?
So sometimes spending a little more can help you avoid major problems that cost you more later.
Therefore, you should think of it as an investment in your bike and your peace of mind.
Safety & Legal Considerations
It is also important to know the legal regulations and if your rack or vehicle has any safety issues.
As some racks, especially trunk and hitch-mounted racks, can virtually block your license plate or taillights, which may be illegal in some areas. This is why you need a light kit or license plate transfer so that you can be legally protected and no one can complain about it.
You actually need to check your local traffic laws, as some places have rules about how far bikes can protrude or what safety level they have to be kept to.
Lastly, overloading your vehicle or roof is absolutely dangerous and can cause severe damage to your car, bicycle, rack or even a safety breach.
Real-Life Scenarios
I have listed out how many bikes you want to carry and what would be the best choice for the particular type of vehicle.
| Vehicle Type | 1 Bike | 2 Bikes | 3 Bikes | 4 Bikes | 5 Bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan | Trunk Rack | Trunk Rack / Hitch Rack | Hitch Rack (hanging) | Hitch Rack (platform) | Not Recommended (too much load) |
| SUV | Trunk or Hitch Rack | Hitch Rack (platform or hanging) | Hitch Rack (platform) | Hitch Rack (platform) | Hitch Rack (platform, heavy-duty) |
| Hatchback | Trunk Rack | Trunk Rack / Hitch Rack | Hitch Rack (platform) | Hitch Rack (platform) | Not Recommended (check vehicle limits) |
| Truck | Tailgate Pad / Bed Rack | Truck Bed Rack | Truck Bed Rack or Hitch Rack | Hitch Rack (platform) | Hitch Rack (platform, reinforced) |
| RV/Camper | RV-Specific Hitch Rack | RV Hitch Rack (reinforced) | RV Hitch Rack (platform) | RV Hitch Rack (platform) | RV Rack (platform, rated for 5 bikes) |
Conclusion On How To Choose A Bike Rack
All you have to do is remember the key points and think about how many bicycles you actually need to carry, and what type of bicycles they are, and what type of vehicle you drive, as well as how often you need to use the bike rack.
Yes, everything matters when it comes to choosing the ideal bike rack that works best for your particular vehicle.
You have to compare the features, and you have to choose something that will actually protect your bike and vehicle in every possible way.
FAQs: How To Choose A Bike Rack
Q1. Can I keep a bike rack installed all the time?
Answer: Yes you can leave your racks on, as if you have hitch or roof mounted racks you don’t need to worry about them, you just need to know that it might affect fuel efficiency a little bit and otherwise everything is fine.
Q2. Is it safe to take a bike rack through a car wash?
Answer: Big NO, you should not go to a car wash with bike racks as it can seriously damage both the rack and your vehicle, so you need to remove them before automatic washing.
Read Also
Jonathan, the passionate owner of Bicycle Time, brings a lifelong love for bikes and automotive craftsmanship, that reflects into every corner of the shop. With deep passion in both cycling and automotive accessories, Jonathan is more than just an expert.