How To Choose The Right Bike Rack For Your Car

Shopping for a car bike rack is simple enough, but requires some consideration to ensure you find the right rack for your specific needs.

With so many options available across a wide range of prices it can be tough to choose the bike rack best for you. Consider the type of vehicle you own to start, as there might be specific requirements for bike rack compatibility, like roof rails, or a hitch receiver, what kind of bikes are you looking to transport, and how many bikes do you need to transport at once?

To start, let's answer those questions to help zero in on a choice.

Which Bike Rack Works Best With My Car?

The type of vehicle you have will help point you toward the right type of bike rack.

Hitch-mounted racks are ideal for frequent use and heavy-duty transportation, offering sturdy and secure bike transport. These are a great choice if you have a hitch receiver already installed on your vehicle, or are willing to install one. Many trucks and SUVs are equipped with receivers, and they can be installed on sedans, hatchbacks, wagons, and even coupes.

When shopping be mindful of your hitch size, either 2” or 1.25”, and make sure the rack you want is compatible with your hitch size. Some hitch-mounted racks can block access to the trunk or hatch area—although many racks do have tilt functions. Your vehicle may not fit in the garage with the hitch-mounted rack installed and you could find parking more challenging.

Roof-mounted racks are best for sedans, hatchbacks and wagons with roof racks or crossbars. This type of rack still allows access to the trunk or rear hatch but requires lifting the bike over your head and on top of the car–ruling out SUV and CUV use for the most part. Brands like THULE and Yakima offer roof-mounted bike racks as part of larger cargo systems, so you can use the same roof rack for different accessories like cargo boxes, or tents.

Keep in mind the added height to your vehicle and potential clearance issues. Because of the additional height roof racks do affect your vehicle’s aerodynamics, causing worse gas mileage, and an increase in wind noise.

Trunk-mounted racks are perfect for occasional use and will only work with sedans or coupes. One of the big benefits of trunk racks is easy installation and removal. Drawbacks of using a trunk rack include a lack of access to the cargo area, limited weight capacity, and the potential to damage your vehicle or bike.

Will My Bikes Fit?

Make sure the bike rack you choose is compatible with the types of bikes you own, including frame styles, tire sizes, and weight capacity. For example, some racks can’t carry a children’s bicycle, which could be a problem if your planning to use the bike rack for family outings.

Look for features such as adjustable cradles, padded straps, and anti-sway mechanisms to protect your bikes and prevent them from coming into contact with each other or your vehicle during transport.

How Easy Is Installation?

You should gravitate towards bike racks with user-friendly engineering and features that make loading and unloading bikes easy and efficient. Look for tool-free installation, adjustable mounting arms, and quick-release mechanisms for added convenience.

How Much Do Bike Racks Cost?

Determine your budget range based on your needs and frequency of use. Remember to factor in any additional costs for accessories or installation services, if needed. There are bike racks available for almost every budget, so how much you want to spend is entirely up to you.

The Allen Sports family of hitch-mounted bike racks are compatible with cars, SUVs, trucks, and other vehicles equipped with a hitch. The Allen Sports Deluxe rack comes with dual hitch compatibility, meaning it works with 1.25” and 2” hitch receivers. This versatility allows them to be used with a wide range of vehicles.

These racks can hold multiple bicycles at a time, making them suitable for small families or groups of cyclists. It was designed to fold away when not in use, allowing for easier storage and simplifying access to the rear of the vehicle without having to remove the rack entirely.

Each bike on the rack is secured in place with individual cradles or straps, helping to stop swaying during transit and minimizing the risk of damage.

Allen Sports hitch racks typically feature a straightforward installation process, requiring minimal tools. They include detailed instructions to guide users through the setup. Some models even come with features to secure the bikes to the rack, such as locking mechanisms or integrated cable locks, providing added peace of mind against theft.

The Yakima FrontLoader Rooftop Bike Rack is a great choice for cyclists already part of the Yakima ecosystem or for those who prefer to transport their bikes on the roof of their vehicle.

The FrontLoader utilizes a wheel-mounted design, meaning it secures the bike by the front wheel rather than the frame, eliminating the need to remove the front wheel like some competitors. This makes loading and unloading bikes quicker and easier.

Unlike some bike racks that clamp onto the frame, the FrontLoader doesn't make contact with the bike frame, reducing the risk of scratches or damage to the bike's paint or components. The rack can accommodate a wide range of bike styles and sizes, including road bikes, mountain bikes, and bikes with wheel sizes up to 29 inches.

The Yakima rooftop bike rack is designed to be compatible with a wide range of crossbar styles, including round, square, factory, and aerodynamic crossbars. This universality makes it compatible with almost all vehicles equipped with roof racks.

Additionally, the FrontLoader uses a tool-free installation process, allowing users to easily mount the rack onto their vehicle's roof rack system without the need for additional tools. The rack's mounting clamps are adjustable, allowing for different sizes of crossbars and a secure fit.

It also uses Yakima’s integrated SKS (Same Key System) locks to secure the bike to the rack and the rack to the vehicle, preventing theft of both the bike and the rack itself.

Lastly, the aerodynamic shape of the FrontLoader helps to reduce wind noise and drag while driving, resulting in a quieter and more fuel-efficient ride compared to rooftop bike racks from competitors.

The Allen Sports Deluxe Trunk-Mounted Bike Rack is a convenient and affordable option for cyclists who can transport bikes using their vehicle's trunk. A great option for owners of sedans, hatchbacks, and coupes that won’t require additional installation work.

The bike rack attaches to the trunk or hatchback of a vehicle using straps and hooks, it's a popular choice for vehicles that don't have a hitch receiver or roof rack.

The Allen Deluxe Trunk-Mounted Bike Rack is available in various configurations, accommodating 2 to 4 bikes. This makes it suitable for solo cyclists, families, or groups of friends. Like the hitch-mounted rack, Allen’s trunk-mounted rack uses tie-down straps and cradles for each bike, preventing bikes from swaying during transit.

It features adjustable arms to fit a wide range of vehicle shapes and sizes, ensuring a secure and stable fit on most cars, SUVs, and hatchbacks. Because the rack mounts only with straps and hooks no additional tools are needed for installation.

Compared to other types of bike racks, trunk-mounted racks like the Allen Sports Deluxe are often more affordable, making them the most budget-friendly option.