Do bike racks damage your car?

Bike racks can damage your car, but many won’t. To avoid scuffing up your paint job, be sure to read a bike rack’s reviews before making a purchase. You should also ensure you’re using a bike rack that’s recommended for your car size and style, and carefully follow the installation instructions.

The 10 Best Bike Racks of 2023

Cycling can be a great way to get from place to place. But sometimes, even your bike needs to be transported somewhere new, and outfitting you car with a bike rack becomes necessary. There are a number of styles of racks from hitch mount to rooftop so you'll be able to find one that suits your needs and style of vehicle.

Reviewed & Approved

Our best overall selection is the Allen Sports 2-Bike Hitch Rack because it's easy to install without tools and can carry two bikes at once. If you're looking for a budget-friendly option the Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Trunk Mount Rack is a great choice.

We considered bike racks for our list based on the style of rack, the weight of the rack itself, its bike and weight capacity, whether its easy to install, cost, and if its space-saving.

Looking for a bike rack for your next long-distance ride? Here are the best bike racks on the market.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Allen Sports 2-Bike Hitch Rack at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Budget:

Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Trunk Mount Rack at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Hitch Rack:

KAC Overdrive Sports K2 Hitch Mounted Rack at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Rooftop Rack:

Yakima FrontLoader Upright Bike Mount at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Truck Bed Rack:

Elevate Outdoor Apex TBBC-4 Truck Bed Rack at Walmart

Jump to Review

Best Spare Tire Rack:

Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Spare Tire Rack at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Compact:

Allen Sports Ultra Compact Trunk Mounted Bike Rack at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Adjustable:

Kuat Transfer V2 2-Bike Hitch Rack at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Travel:

Kuat Sherpa 2.0 2-Bike Hitch Rack at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Trunk Rack:

Saris Bones 2-Bike Trunk Rack at Saris.com

Jump to Review

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Verywell Fit

4.6

Courtesy of Amazon

Pros

Lightweight
Easy to install
Space efficient

Cons

Relatively expensive

Our best overall pick, the Allen Sports 2-Bike Hitch Rack is easy to install, easy to use, and capable of carrying up to two bikes at once. The rack easily attaches to the hitch of your car—no tools required—and you can use the built-in knob to lock the rack into place.

The rack’s adjustable rubber straps snugly secure bikes of different sizes, and since the carry arms are foldable, you can easily move them out of the way when they’re not in use. The rack extends from your hitch to the top of your trunk, storing your bikes in a space-efficient way. Thanks to the tilt-away design, you can easily access the inside of your trunk at any time.

Price at time of publication: $250

^{Key specs:
Style: Hitch rack | Weight: 10 pounds | Bike Capacity: Two bikes | Weight Capacity: 70 pounds}

Walmart

Pros

Lightweight
Easy to install
Space efficient
Budget-friendly

Cons

May not be as durable as some other options

Providing cyclists with a budget-friendly way to carry a couple of bikes, the Allen Sports 2-Bike Trunk Mount Rack is compact and lightweight. Since it ships fully assembled, it's easy to set up no matter your experience.

Simply place the rack on your trunk, use the built-in straps to secure it, and drape your bike over the carry arms. The carry arms come equipped with cradles, which are designed to securely hold your bike in place as you drive. To ensure you get a precise fit, the cradles come with adjustable straps you can use to hold bikes of any size.

Price at time of publication: $60

^{Key specs:
Style: Trunk rack | Weight: 9 pounds | Bike Capacity: Two bikes | Weight Capacity: 70 pounds}

Courtesy of Amazon

Pros

Durable
Space efficient

Cons

Heavy
Expensive

The versatile KAC Overdrive Sports K2 Hitch Mounted Rack attaches to your hitch and extends over part of your trunk, making the most of the space behind your car. The durable rack is crafted with powder-coated steel, and it’s designed to cut down on wobbling—keeping your bikes steady and secure as you drive.

No matter how much you're carrying, the rack can easily fold or expand to hold a single bike or multiple bikes at a time. And thanks to the tilt-away design, you can easily move the rack away from your car when you need to open up your trunk.

Price at time of publication: $500

^{Key specs:
Style: Hitch rack | Weight: 50 pounds | Bike Capacity: Two bikes | Weight Capacity: 60 pounds}

Courtesy of Amazon

Pros

Lightweight
Easy to install

Cons

Makes your car significantly taller
Relatively expensive

This rack rests on top of factory bars, making it easy to install and ensuring it doesn't rough up your car's paint job. Maneuverable and versatile, it can easily accommodate bikes of different sizes.

To install, simply adjust the rack’s length to secure wheels between 20 and 29 inches, and expand its width to grip tires up to 3 inches wide. The metal parts of the rack will only touch your bike’s tires, so you won’t have to worry about scratches or scuffs.

While heavy, the 18-pound rack boasts ultimate durability, so you can rest assured knowing it will support your bike.

Price at time of publication: $230

^{Key specs:
Style: Rooftop rack | Weight: 18 pounds | Bike Capacity: One bike | Weight Capacity: 40 pounds}

Courtesy of Walmart

Pros

Lightweight
Easy to install
Space efficient
High capacity

Cons

Relatively expensive

If you need to store a few bikes in your trunk bed, the Elevate Outdoor Apex TBBC-4 Truck Bed Rack has you covered. It can accommodate up to four bikes at once, and since it organizes them into neat rows, you don’t have to worry about your truck bed feeling cluttered or crowded.

Each bike slides between two sturdy steel tubes, which are padded with foam to prevent scuffs and scratches. The rack is lined with pin clips you can use to lock your bikes into place, and if you want to keep your bikes really secure, you can always loop straps (not included) around the bikes and tie them to your truck bed.

Price at time of publication: $107

^{Key specs:
Style: Truck bed rack | Weight: 23 pounds | Bike Capacity: Four bikes | Weight Capacity: n/a}

Courtesy of Amazon

Pros

Lightweight
Easy to install
Space efficient

Cons

Works best on cars with mounted spare tires

The Allen Sports Deluxe Spare Tire Rack is a bike rack that fits snugly over the spare tire on the back of your car. Simply place the rack over the tire, use the straps to lock it into place, and the rack is ready for use.

With narrow carry arms, the rack makes it easy to load and unload up to two bikes at a time. The carry arms are lined with cradles that hold your bikes in place as you drive, and the cradles come equipped with adjustable straps you can use to snugly secure your bikes into place.

Price at time of publication: $80

^{Key specs:
Style: Spare tire rack | Weight: 10 pounds | Bike Capacity: Two bikes | Weight Capacity: 70 pounds}

Courtesy of Walmart

Pros

Lightweight
Space efficient
Budget-friendly
Foldable

Cons

May not be as durable as some other options

If you’re looking for a bike rack that’s both budget-friendly and space-efficient, the Allen Sports Ultra Compact Mounted Trunk Rack is a solid option. At 14.37 x 7.28 x 3.54 inches, the rack is remarkably small, and since it’s foldable, it’s easy to store between uses.

The trunk rack conveniently fits sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, and minivans, thanks to the tie-down cradles. Lined with padding, the rack is designed to cut down on the potential for scratches on your bike and car.

Price at time of publication: $80

^{Key specs:
Style: Trunk rack | Weight: 6 pounds | Bike Capacity: One bike | Weight Capacity: 35 pounds}

Courtesy of Rei

Pros

Lightweight
Adjustable
Space efficient

Cons

Expensive

The Kuat Transfer V2 2 Bike Hitch Rack is an adjustable bike rack that ensures a snug, precise fit. The rack can accommodate two bikes at a time, and the foldable design is ideal for saving space.

Equipped with a PerfectFit adjustment season, the rack is easy to load and unload, and easy to lock securely in place. It's made for wheels between 20 and 29 inches and tires up to 4.5 inches wide (when paired with a Phat Bike Kit). Thanks to its thoughtful design, you won’t have to worry about chipping the paint on your bike(s) or your car.

Price at time of publication: $450

^{Key specs:
Style: Hitch rack | Weight: 37 pounds | Bike Capacity: Two bikes | Weight Capacity: 90 pounds}

Courtesy of REI

Pros

Lightweight
Easy to use
Space efficient

Cons

Expensive

If you plan to do a lot of traveling, the Kuat Sherpa 2.0 2-Bike Hitch Rack is worth the investment. The hitch rack can accommodate two bikes at a time, and its pivot system makes it incredibly easy to load. Simply tap the rack with your foot, and it will drop down—helping you more easily place your bikes on the rack.

Fitted with folding tire cradles, the rack promises to hold your bike firmly in place as you drive while cutting down on back-and-forth wobbling. It also ships with a cable lock—so if you need to park your car and step inside, the lock will keep it secure while you're gone.

Price at time of publication: $629

^{Key specs:
Style: Hitch rack | Weight: 32 pounds | Bike Capacity: Two bikes | Weight Capacity: 80 pounds}

Courtesy of Rei

Pros

Lightweight
Space efficient

Cons

Relatively expensive

The Saris Bones 2-Bike Trunk Rack is a fan-favorite that's compatible with a variety of vehicles. The lightweight, rust-resistant rack is crafted with heavy-duty plastic and designed to resist regular wear and tear.

The rack's unique cradle is designed to accommodate a variety of bike frames, and its adjustable straps will hold your bike securely while you drive. Since it fits on a range of vehicles—including sedans, hatchbacks, and minivans—it's a reliable pick if you're looking for a trunk rack.

Price at time of publication: $200

^{Key specs:
Style: Trunk rack | Weight: 10 pounds | Bike Capacity: Two bikes | Weight Capacity: 35 pounds}

Final Verdict

If you're looking for a bike rack that’s solid, convenient, and relatively budget-friendly, The Allen Sports 2-Bike Hitch Rack (view on Amazon) is a great place to start. The bike rack is both sturdy and easy to navigate, and it can accommodate up to two bikes at once.

If you don't mind spending money on an upgrade, the Kuat Sherpa 2.0 2-Bike Hitch Rack (view on Amazon) is worth the investment. The bike rack is a best-in-class option that comes loaded with helpful features, like an easy-to-load pivot system and a built-in bike lock.

What to Look for in a Bike Rack

Style

Bike racks come in an array of different styles, including hitch racks, trunk racks, spare tire racks, truck bed racks, and rooftop racks. Each of these styles corresponds to a different installation method: Hitch racks attach to your car’s hitch, trunk beds attach to your trunk, and so on.

Weight

Some bike racks are extremely lightweight (6 pounds), while others are considerably heavy (50 pounds). Consider what you’d feel comfortable handling and installing, and look for a bike rack in that weight range.

Bike Capacity

Typically, bike racks can hold one to four bikes at a time. So if you’re planning to transport several bikes at once, be sure to look for a rack with a higher bike capacity. If you don’t intend to travel with more than one or two bikes at a time, look for a lower-capacity bike rack, as these may be smaller and more compact than higher-capacity options.

Weight Capacity

Bike racks can accommodate different weight capacities. The weight capacity typically corresponds to the rack’s bike capacity, but it’s worth double-checking—especially if you’re planning to transport a very heavy ride.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do bike racks damage your car?

Bike racks can damage your car, but many won’t. To avoid scuffing up your paint job, be sure to read a bike rack’s reviews before making a purchase. You should also ensure you’re using a bike rack that’s recommended for your car size and style, and carefully follow the installation instructions.

Why Trust Verywell Fit

As a seasoned health and fitness writer, Lindsey Lanquist understands how vital quality product recommendations can be. She is careful to recommend products that are reliable, comfortable, and genuinely well-reviewed by those who’ve tried them.