8 best bike racks for family car rides and solo adventures

Best: Overall

Loading this carrier couldn’t be easier – you can have your bike securely on the roof and hit the road in minutes. The frame is held in place by an adjustable arm with soft rubber jaws which are tightened by a simple click wheel. Once that’s done up you just hold the wheels in place with ratchet straps. It’s a nice, simple design which works with most frames. You can lock the jaws closed to stop anyone stealing your bike and lock the carrier to the roof bars for extra security. Fittings are included for most modern Thule roof bars, but if you have the basic square bars you will have to buy an adaptor. If you plan to use more than one of the carriers on your car you can swap the arm from one side to the other to make access easier.

Best: For simplicity

There is very little to go wrong with this one, so it should last for years without giving you any problems. You fit Pendle’s mounting block to your towbar and then the arms slot in every time you want to use the rack. Bikes simply rest on the arms, although you might want to buy some simple foam panels to slip between them to stop them rubbing together on longer trips. It will carry up to four bikes – as long as they have a traditional top tube – and comes with a light and number plate panel included as part of the package. If you have two tow bar-equipped cars you can buy an extra mounting block so you can swap between vehicles.

Best: For looks

Your sleek racer will look fantastic on this stripped-down design. There are no arms to hold your bike in place – you just have to slip out the front wheel before clamping it in place via the forks. The AcuTight knob on the clamp clicks loudly when tight enough, so you don’t have to worry whether it’s secure as you head off down the road. If your bike uses non-standard axles you may have to buy an adaptor to make it fit correctly. The rear wheel is held in place by a plastic loop and buckle, the position of which can be adjusted according to the size of your frame. We particularly liked the built-in lock in the rear of the carrier – it’s a tough braided metal cable which you can loop through your rear wheel and frame to prevent anyone swiping it.

Best: For hatchbacks

Some boot-mounted racks won’t work on cars with rear spoilers, but this one should – just make sure yours is compatible before buying. It’s a stylish design which holds your bikes clear of the vehicle at chest height, making it much easier to load than roof-mounted rivals. The fact it doesn’t need a towbar means costs are kept down and you can swap it between compatible cars at will. Four pads support the weight of your bikes against the tailgate and the whole thing is held in place by adjustable straps. Make sure you use it with a light and number plate board or you risk a fine if spotted by the police.

Best: For e-bikes

Many e-bikes are just too heavy to lift onto a car roof or load into a hatchback. This clever – but very expensive – rack might be the answer to your problems if your car has a tow ball. Being low to the ground it’s a lot easier to lift e-bikes or heavy mountain bikes into place. They are held in position using adjustable and removable arms with clamps which click loudly when at the correct tension, so you won’t damage expensive frames. The whole assembly can be tilted out of the way of your rear tailgate at the press of a foot pedal, so you can still access the boot.

The cleverest feature of the XT 2 is its ability to fold up for easy storage in a garage or shed – there’s even a built-in carrying handle to make it easier to move around. Its big brother, the XT 3, even has a wheel so you don’t even need to lift it. The design includes built-in rear lights and a number plate holder.

Best: For kids’ bikes

This one won’t win any prizes for innovation or looks but it’s a decent budget choice if you only want to carry your bike on the roof once in a blue moon. The wheels are held in position by plastic wedges with simple plastic straps, while the frame is secured by a double-sided arm with rubberised jaws closed by a lockable lever. If your bike has a frame with wider tubes you may struggle to accommodate it, but for children’s cycles and more traditional frames it will be fine.

Best: For sports cars

If you need to use a rack on more than one vehicle, or you don’t own a car that can easily accommodate roof bars, this clever design is certainly worth a look. That first trip out with it will be a test of nerves though, as you’ll be wondering whether it’s going to stay in place. The Talon uses a clever system of vacuum cups which will stick to glass, metal or fibreglass to hold bikes up to 20kg in place without marking the bodywork.

Your front forks are clamped in place on a plate with three suckers while the rear uses a simpler single-sucker unit to stop it moving around. It’s rated for use up to 70mph, but if you’re sceptical about its ability to stay in place, take a look on YouTube where you can find footage of it in action at speeds up to 165mph – not something we’d recommend!

Best: For family adventures

Got a hatchback and need a rack for occasional use? This one rests on the back of the car on cushioned pads and is held in place with straps. We’ve used racks like these many times without any problems, although it’s a good idea to double-check everything is tight and still in place each time you take a break on a long journey. This one will carry three bikes – kids or adult sizes – and you just have to lift them into place in the frame holders before securing them with rubber straps. It won’t work on cars with prominent roof spoilers or all-glass boot lids. Remember to buy a light board/number plate holder to stay on the right side of the law.