car bike rack

If you have a bike and a car, there is a chance you will consider getting a bike rack. You may not need one now, however, sooner or later you will consider taking your bike on your next road trip, especially when you are considering taking your ride to the next level. Click here to see our #1 pick on Amazon.com

Just like bike stands, bike racks for cars come in different styles and sizes. There are three basic rack types. There is the roof mounted, trunk mounted, and trailer hitch mounted.

Top 3 Best Bike Rack For Car on the market

Top 10 Best Bike Rack For Car Reviews

1. Allen Sports Deluxe 3-Bike Hitch Mount Rack

Our Rating: (4.3 / 5)

Allen deluxe 3-bike hitch mount bike rack for car is a bike carrying rack that can be attached to a trailer hitch receiver of 1.25 or 2 inches. It is a rack capable to carry and transport my bikes without the chances of them pilling the bikes over each other when loaded. Loading the bike on the rack is easy, because it has a very low height, I will not stain when loading the bikes. I find driving comfortable because of the low height of the rack. Although I have used many bike racks for cars, but there are some special reasons I consider this hitch bike rack. 

The bike rack for car is very easy to assemble. I can put it together in less than five minutes. Deluxe rack makes use of one pin mechanism that enables the rack to fold flat, the arms fold downwards when it is not in use, making it easy to pack at the back of the vehicle. This has contributed to 95% of users to express their satisfaction.

Many people using this bike rack for car are happy with the way it has been given a smart finish with well-finished joints and well-done holes. Many of those are happy with the way the carry arm folds, because they say that this eliminates the chances of a person falling into it accidentally. The easy assembling process is making many people appreciate the rack. I find many benefits using the rack, when many other racks failed to offer me.

Although some people found the wobbling problem, but the few people I talked did not find any problem, because the anti-wobble joint works just fine. I did not find any problem. This mount Rack is one of the best racks in the market with the best features and affordable prices. If you are finding one of the best bike racks for cars, then I must recommend this bike rack for you.

2. Hollywood Racks HR1400 Sport Rider

The Hollywood Rack HR400 hitch bike rack is made in a way that it can be used to carry four bikes at the same time. It can be adjusted in such a way that it can carry two bikes or still it can be adjusted upwards to carry four bikes comfortably and it is easy to adjust either way. Let me talk about the product come about the things why I have included it as one of the best bike racks for cars in my list. 

Our Rating: (4.5 / 5)

 For a start, Hollywood HR1400 is the best bet, because it is able to accommodate bikes of all sizes and shapes. It comes with an adjustable wheel tray and the padded top arm clamping system. The Hollywood Racks HR1400 hitch bike rack is the best way to transport bikes regardless of size.

This rack is able to fit well into a two-hitch receiver when it is being used, but when it is not in use; it folds up nicely at the back of the car for easy parking. The Hollywood Racks HR1400 Sports Rider is a heavy-duty rack designed to carry four bikes and it weighs 85 lbs.

This bike rack for car has a nine-foot security cable, a hitch pin to lock and it includes cable to tighten it when on the hitch. A wheel tray is used to keep the bike wheel. This tray can be adjusted to fit the width of the wheels according to different sizes of bikes. The wheels are then strapped in place with a Velcro strap to make sure the bikes are safe. Each bike has a hook to keep it in its place, this hook slides up and down along the vertical arm used to hold the bike.

This hitch bike rack has adopted this kind of clamping so that it can be able to accommodate all types of bikes regardless of size or shape of the bike. This kind of clamping makes it possible to carry even the smallest bikes and even the bikes that have thick frames. Unloading the bikes is easy, because I only need to press a lever at the back of each hook. The lever releases the ratchet, making it possible for the hook to move up releasing the frame of the bike.

After the bikes are unloaded, I can still have the rack attached at the back of my vehicle, but it can be easily folded nicely at the back of the vehicle, making it easy to pack or to enter into the garage. The arm at the center and platform folds downwards, making it very easy to enter the car from the back. This comes as an added advantage, because it reduces the bulkiness of the rack. Considering it as one of the best bicycle racks, the rack is very durable, it is well designed, and it has a pin that fastens the rack in the hitch by screwing into it to make the rack firm when carrying the bikes.

After production, these racks sold fast to other bike retailers, because they are of the highest quality. I find the company very caring, as they are very practical in this industry. They know what they are offering their customers. To prove this, they are offering a lifetime guarantee to all the people that purchase HR1400 bicycle racks. This is a way of giving their clients a peace of mind. I recommend this bike rack for anyone.

3. Allen Sports Ultra Compact Folding 1-Bike Trunk Mount Rack

This bike rack is one of the best Allen bike racks, it is a super compact one bike carrier and it is best for commuting and travelling.  What we love about this bike rack from Allen Sports is that it is fold-able until it could fit inside a carrying bag or your backpack. It comes with three padded legs that rest against your car. It comes with adjustable straps for security.

You can tie your bike and put some padding that comes with Allen Sports Ultra Compact Folding 1-Bike Trunk Mount Rack to separate it from the vehicle. This will make it more secure.

Our Rating: (4.3 / 5)

If you have a sedan, minivan, SUV, or hatchback, this bike rack is perfect for you. If you are looking for an on the spot carrier bike and you don’t want to carry a standard size bike rack, this is a good option.

It comes with a powdered gray coated frame that is best fits SUVs, minivans, hatchback or sedans. It could hold your bike safely without even touching your vehicle.

This Allen Sports bike rack is ideal for commuting or travelling. It is a portable bike rack that is very useful for bike transport.

Allen Sports Bike Racks has been a trusted bike rack manufacturer in the industry. It sells sporting goods all over the world.

The Allen Sports Ultra Compact Folding 1-Bike Trunk Mount Rack is very compact, which is why it is considered as the smallest bike rack in the market. You can keep it in your backpack and you can put it easily in your car anytime. It is very easy to assemble. Even if it is just a small bike rack, it could safely protect your bike with its pads for your bike’s frame. It also makes sure it is securely tied in your vehicle.

4. Swagman XC Cross-Country 2-Bike Hitch Mount Rack

The Swagman XC Cross-Country Hitch Mount Rack is a great model of an upright bike for all categories for children and adults. The wheelbase length is as long as 51.5 inches. There are many reasons I consider this hitch bike rack. The Swagman makes full suspension downhill bikes to be securely loaded without any other troubles. Therefore, there is no need in playing around with removal of the front wheels. In a few seconds, I can load my “riding horse” safety without additional troubles.

Our Rating: (4.4 / 5)

The frame of the bike is fixed due to the grip arms covered with soft finish so that the bike will not be scratched and it prevents from any other unwanted damages. They hold the bike in place, assuring a firm position to it and it also they can be adjusted by only pushing the specific button that can move them up or down. Each of the two bikes is firmly held and secured at three points, including the frame and the wheels. This kind of mechanism is very simple and practical in use.

Besides this, the rack has a great advantage of its easy storage. After the bikes are taken off, the rack can be folded with the arm, making it very convenient for I can freely put it into the rear side of the car. The top center arm of this rack can be folded down or the base can be folded up to keep the rack away when it is not used.

The adjustable tire hoops fitting up to 3.5-inch wide tires create a secure and stable place to carry my bikes. The Swagman XC may fit any cars, which can be joined to a back of trailers, vehicles with spare tires, RVs, campers. It makes me free from any stressed related to the transportation of my bike. Both bikes are separately secured in stable points. This guarantees a safe condition, keeping me free from worries. I find this rack reliable for moving my bike.

5. Swagman XTC-4 Cross-Country 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack

No matter the place, I am moving my bicycles to; the Swagman XTC-4 Cross-Country Hitch Mount Rack can fit about four bicycles at once. Since it fits a receiver hitch of about two inches, this bike rack loads and unloads the bikes easily from ground altitude.

Our Rating: (4.3 / 5)

It also includes tire hoops that have a quick release to be adjusted fast. A ratcheting top arm can be used to fit almost type of bicycle frames. When the bike rack is not being used, the center arm folds down, making it possible to access my vehicle easily without removing the bike rack.

In addition, the bike rack will not rust, as the Swagman XTC has a powder coat. This bike rack for car also comes with improved wheel straps for more security for my bikes. If you ask me why I have included this hitch bike rack in my list, the straight answer is I find everything I need to make my life easy.

A top arm helps me carry a wide variety of bike frames, which folds down when it is not in use. It is created with a lift to give additional ground clearance, allowing easier loading, and unloading of the bicycles. As I said before, the Swagman XTC can hold up to four bicycles in a secure way, even a woman’s frame bike. When the bikes are firmly locked, they do not move at all.

Another good thing I find on this bike rack is that it tilts upward, offering a more secure feeling while driving bumpy roads. In addition to this, the arms of the bike rack ratchet down and the bikes can be positioned better. Other bike racks use arms that screw down, an annoying process if done too many times. The ratcheting element and the arms of the rack ensure that the bikes are tightly fit. In fact, I am pleased to have such a rack to meet my daily needs.

I can easily put the bikes on, yet it may take a few seconds to think what the finest sequence would be for four bikes. For example, I make a simple arrangement like placing two of the bikes to face one direction, and the other two bikes facing the other direction. I can also do sliding the hooks all the way down and fold down the out arm while loading the first two bicycles.

Once I design my own system, everything will go smoothly. In only about two minutes, I can load four bicycles, although the first time it took me about ten minutes. Because the bike rack has a substantial weight, it is easier to leave it on my car throughout the year I use it. In the receiver, the bolt used to hold it comes with a bigger head. The bolt is threaded. I will need channel locks or a crescent wrench. Overall, the Swagman XTC can adjust easily to bike sizes and can keep them secure. This is one of the best bicycle racks I have ever found!

6. Allen Sports Deluxe 4-Bike Hitch Mount Rack

Allen Sports Deluxe 4 Bike Hitch Mount Bike Rack fits perfectly for cars with rear mounted spare tires. If your vehicle has an external spare tire, there is no bike rack for cars that would perfectly fit with it except this bike rack(Bicycle carrier)

Our Rating: (4.5 / 5)

This bike rack can accommodate four bikes with a two inch trailer hitch. The arms can be folded easily dropping out when the rack is not in use. It is a very sturdy rack made from solid steel with powder black coat finish. It is very easy to install and set up. It will only take less than five minutes to install this hitch mount bike rack. It does not need any adapter. Its comes with twenty two inches long arms that could safely secure all the 4 bicycles with the Allen’s patented tie down system . It only weighs 24.9 lbs.

This bike rack for cars is a best buy because it has a lifetime warranty by Allen company. You will love the easy installation system that does not have a wobble bolt, which holds it still within the hitch. You can easily drop off the way the carrying arms and you will be able to fold it down flat using a single patented pin mechanism. The bike rack will tilt up in order to allow easy access to the lift gate.

Allen Sports company started producing its Allen Bike Rack products in 1971 where they were sold on different major bike distributors nationally. Today, Allen company owns 3 dozen flexible product line of bicycle racks. Dick’s son, Alex, operates and owns the business.

7. Thule 2 Bike Platform Hitch Rack

Thule Hitch Bike Rack is also a good choice if you are looking for a bicycle rack for cars. It offers a mixture of convenience and quality performance for both professional and casual riders. The hitch bike rack from Thule has a bike tray that gives full strength and protection against rust from below. It comes with a smooth ratcheting secure hook supports on top to hold two bikes firmly and keep them from getting any scratches during transport.

Our Rating: (4.5 / 5)

Additional features we love are its hitch model receivers specific to 11/4 in or 917XTR T2 and 2 in or 916XTR T2. It is also compatible with 20 in-29 in bike wheel diameter that has up to 3 in wide tires. It serves to lock the bike to the rack securely as well making the rack lock to the vehicle. It can accommodate until 4 bikes for the 2 in 916XTR T2 model.

The secure hook of Thule Hitch Bike Rack is so cool because it secures the cable lock without making any frame contact. It comes with an adjustable wheel strap that secures quickly the back wheel to the tray. The combination of the wheel tray and secure hook provides easy loading and unloading of bikes with less lifting for more convenience.

We also like this bike rack because it protects the bikes that are mounted on it from thieves with its multi-tiered locking system, which comes with an integrated cable. It locks bikes securely to your car. The snug title lock also helps in eliminating the hitch carrier movement.

The hitch bike rack switch feature provides a unique leaning and folding functionality. The pin based mechanism, located at the base of this bicycle rack for car, allows the flexibility of folding the bike trays when not in use. It also locks them securely in place.

8. Saris 805 Bones 2-Bike Trunk Rack

The Saris Bones 2 Bikes (#805) Trunk Mount Rack is a trunk mount track that uses a vehicle’s rear bumper for support. It can be adjusted to fit many types of vehicles. The top tube is something that holds it. Other than hard tail mountain bikes, it best fits road bikes.

Our Rating: (4.3 / 5)

☞ Check Price on Amazon

It cautions me to avoid off-road use just like the majority of rack manufacturers. Furthermore, it warns that the rack is not suited for speeds over 65 mph. Although I have experienced no issues when I tested this particular rack at 75 mph on the highway, I still need to follow the instructions set by the manufacturers. The rack has highly adjustable support arms that make it fit into various types of vehicles.

Furthermore, the Saris Bones is ready to use and does not require any assembly. It offers an easy-to-follow manual, made of pictogram with no written instructions. I might need some trial and fault to get the ideal spot for the support arms. The rack gets support from the bumper, thus it is crucial that the lower arms are in contact with the vehicle’s bumper.

It might be a bit complicated to attach, since it uses nylon straps to fasten the rack to my vehicle. It uses an attachment that comes with six points. Three straps are threaded in and out of the rack’s main body. It might also be hard to center the rack, since there should be an equal number of straps passing through each cam buckle for it to be centered.

It is easy to load and unload bikes on the Saris Bones 2, because I find that the bike has a low loading height. I do not need to remove the front wheels, thus removing a step that should be done with other kinds of bicycle racks. The rack also has an extra strap that can be wrapped about the seat tube. This is a feature included because this is a way of preventing back and forth movement. This particular feature is not included on other bike racks for cars I have tried such as the Allen Deluxe 3. Once I have mounted the Bones to my car, there is no need to access to the trunk.

I would like to say the product is an excellent fit for holding hard tail mountain bikes and road bikes. On the other hand, it is not suitable for carrying bikes with frame shapes or full suspension bikes. This rack is recommended for individuals who will transport bikes for short distances and for those who will not be leaving their bikes or the rack alone on the vehicles.

9. Hollywood Racks Express Trunk Mounted Bike Rack

With a growing number of overweight people around the world, one of the best things each one should consider is doing exercises. The exercise is the cheapest option to keep your body fit. One most popular exercise is cycling. When you have bought a bike to meet your fitness goals, at the same time you should consider buying a rack.

Although the market has many types and brands of racks, one excellent brand is Hollywood Racks E3. This is a trunk mount rack that comes in the market to meet your fitness goals. With the experience of using such a bike rack for the car, I would like to discuss something about the product you should know before buying it.

Our Rating: (4.2 / 5)

Hollywood has been for a very long time been determined to produce safe, strong fittings that are easy for me to use as well as easy to fit. Hollywood bicycle racks are the best among others in the market. This bike rack for car is the most affordable rack in the market with a capacity of carrying three bikes. This rack has soft cradles that ensure that my bikes are safe from scratches.

The rack makes use of hub adjustment technology; this makes it to be easily fitted in all types of vehicles. The loading of bikes in this rack is safe because it has bike separators that I can easily fit with rubber. Other features this rack brings include it is easy to fold for storage and also it has straps ensuring road safety, soft cradles to prevent my  bike from scratches and the materials used to make this rack is also very durable.

This is a product getting huge popularity from many cyclists. I find some reasons for the popularity it is gaining. Some of the reasons are it is the only rack in the market fitted with rubber separators, straps that are well adjustable and thick padding. It has the best prices in the market and it is made of very durable materials.

The rack is pre-assembled so I can use it directly without assembling it first. This is very convenient to many users, as unlike other models I do not need to assemble first before using them. The other advantage is that this rack utilizes hub technology: This makes it very compatible with many cars. The soft cradles in this bike also ensure that my bike’s finish is well protected.

The bike carrier weighs just 13 lbs. and it can be folded flat for better storage. The rack fits on all kinds of vehicles. The rack is easy to assemble because it will take four to five minutes. The rack uses durable plastic. The plastic also saves my rack from scratches. The cradles holding the bikes also use plastic, keeping my bikes away from scratches caused by hard surfaces.

I found the rack has an average of 4.1 star rating, but I am amazed to find the performance it offers me. I find it is worth investing. The price is very reasonable putting into consideration that it carries three bikes. People with car models produced from 1995 are bound to enjoy this effective product as it has been mentioned in this review. If I consider the price of this rack, the safety features, the ease of storage and durability, I realize buying the bicycle racks is worth!

10. Allen Sports 102S Premium 2-Bike Trunk Mount Rack

The Allen Bike has developed a bike rack for trunk mounting, called the Allen Sports 102S rack. It is fully assembled so it can be installed faster. It is an improved adaptation of the previous Allen 102 trunk rack carrier and it includes many improvements, for example longer arms, as well as more clearance space. Although the Allen 102S has a first-class quality, its price is not as high as I may think, as it is more accessible. Here, I will present the key features of the rack so you can determine whether it fits your needs.

Our Rating: (4 / 5)

The rack can transport two bikes comfortably, because it has long arms. It does need any assembly and can be easily set up. The rack can fit most cars that have rear – mounted spoilers because of its internal clearance. The cradle system that secures the bikes individually is patented. It also offers a lifetime warranty. Besides the additional carry arms, this truck mount rack can easily hold up to two bicycles. Each bicycle is secured individually to the carry arms that use Allen patented cradle system for securely attaching the bikes. I do not have to waste time or energy because the rack is already fully assembled. This bike racks for cars come with a lifetime guarantee.

Immediately after purchase, the bike rack can be installed, as it is already pre – assembled. After unfold the rack and after locking the pins in, you have to install top hooks on my trunk’s top, correct the straps and secure the bottom strap to the bumper of your car. If there is no metal ridge under the bumper, try to secure the bottom straps on the inside of the trunk before you shut the lid. This rack has a great level of flexibility. And you must remember that before installation you have to clean the rubber pads to keep your car from getting grit or dirt from the pads. Overall, the installation process is simple and easy and does not take a lot of time after you familiar with it.

Whether you are driving for long distances or at 70 miles per hour, the Allen 102S is going to hold up well. More importantly, this bike carrier does not shift or sway during driving. Because of its design, it is not recommended to leave the bike on the rack unattended, since it is easy to eliminate.

Having a sturdy, solid design, the Allen 102S Trunk Mount can be an excellent option. With the lifetime warranty, it comes with is for material defects and workmanship. However, the bike rack for the car can be removed easily. The bike carrier has a maximum capacity of 70 pounds.