Best Bike Rack For Car in Australia (2023 Buying Guide)

Are you looking for a bike rack for your car? If so, you’re probably wondering which one is the best option. 

There are a lot of different bike racks available on the market, and it can be overwhelming to decide which one is right for your car. This blog post will look at the 3 best bike racks for cars and help you decide which one is right for you. 

Top 3 Best Bike Rack For Car

We have narrowed it down to 3 from 100’s of products through extensive research and reading bike rack reviews, so you don’t have to. 

Check also Can you have a bike rack without a tow bar?

So, what is the best bike rack for a car?

The VENZO 4 Bike Bicycle Platform Style Carrier is the perfect way to transport your bikes. It is our top pick for best bike racks for car for a good reason. 

This car bike rack is much easier to put your bicycles on than a clamp holder and is compatible with all bicycles. The bike securely sits in the tire holders, so there is no heavy load on the top tube compared with other carriers. No more swinging handlebars and spinning wheels may cause scratches on cars or bikes.

Plus, there’s an adjustable foam protector to prevent scratching or hitting bicycles. For example, the arms could be folded for you to access the car rear boot or easy storage when not in use.

The AUSELECT Bike Rack for Car can accommodate up to three bikes, although ideal for two. When properly installed, the 6-strap design assures stability. Bicycles can be secured and protected using a two-arm individual bike tie-down system. It keeps your bikes safe for travelling and commuting. 

The heavy-duty steel frame can hold up to three bikes, and the padded lower frame protects your car’s finish.

The thick pads help share weight evenly and keep your bikes safe. Don’t worry about speed – this bike rack is designed to fit even SUVs, and it has a max capacity of 60kg.

AUSWAY Bike Carrier Tow Bar Bike Rack features a tilting design that makes accessing the rear of your vehicle easy, even when bikes are loaded. 

It’s also made with high-strength aviation-grade aluminium alloy material, making it firm and durable. Plus, it has a customised oversized screw for quality assurance. The rack also comes with flexible and convenient clamps for fastening the bike frame. 

It also has an adjustable wheel stopper with soft straps to suit different bike tyre sizes.

Best Bike Racks For Car Buying Guide

Bike racks allow you to move your bikes over long distances or in worrisome weather without jeopardising their safety, comfort, or vehicle condition. [1]

When considering various bike racks, there are many choices available. However, there are many different types, and the best option for you depends on your needs and budget.

How To Choose The Right One?

1. Type of rack:

There are two types of carriers: roof-mounted ones and trunk/hitch mounted ones that go into a receiver hitch at the vehicle’s back end. 

Trunk racks can either be rear or front-wheel holders, depending on whether they’re designed for hatchbacks or regular saloon cars. 

They both support bikes by the wheels only, but if you choose a roof-mounted carrier, that will help your bikes by their frame and not just the wheels.

Don’t forget the clearance on your vehicle changes with bikes on the roof. When fully loaded with gear, your vehicle might not fit in certain low-clearance areas, such as parking garages. To avoid damage, always be mindful of this. [2]

2. Type of bikes:

Bike racks come for supporting standard size bicycles and also smaller children’s bikes with 20 inches or 24-inch tires. 

Also, rear rack carriers can be purchased that carry up to three bicycles as long as they all have a quick-release tire system or at least one has such a system (a cable lock secures the spare wheel). 

This type can take full-suspension mountain bikes as well as road bikes.

3. Capacity:

Racks capacity depends on how many bicycles it holds; there are options for carrying four and two simultaneously, and every manufacturer has its own standard. 

Some racks carry more than two bicycles, but they require assembly, and some vehicles can’t support it (make sure you check your car’s weight capacity). 

To make sure that you feel comfortable with bicycle transport in your car, always check the manufacturer’s instructions before buying anything.

4. Price:

Bike racks vary significantly in price, depending on their quality and included features. 

The basic roof-mounted bike rack is the cheapest option; the advanced ones usually include locking arms or cables that secure bikes. Some also include locks for securing the carrier itself to your car (so it doesn’t come to lose/off during driving) and built-in locks for cyclists.

It helps to secure their bikes to the rack (this is especially important in places with high car theft rates).

5. Ease of use:

This heavily depends on how many bikes you transport, the number of arms that support them and whether they fold or not for more accessible storage when not in use.

Locking mechanisms should be easy to set up (don’t forget to check manufacturer’s instructions) but secure enough to deter thieves. Your racks also need to be secured well; otherwise, you will hear annoying rattling when driving at higher speeds. 

If it takes too long to install, you might consider if it’s worth buying given the amount of space it takes in your trunk/hitch receiver, though roof-mounted carriers are usually fast and easy to put into place.

It’s also better to choose racks with rubber cradles that don’t damage the paint on your vehicle. If you want to be 100% sure that it won’t, look for “no-scratch” or “frame friendly” products.

6. Accessories included:

Bike carriers are usually sold separately from locks. So, make sure that the chosen rack has them included in the set; otherwise, you need to purchase them separately, which can get quite expensive. 

Also, there are models of bike racks explicitly designed for getting your mountain bikes up on a car roof without extra hassle.

You have to check the manufacturer’s manual before looking for compatible racks so that you don’t buy one incompatible model of carrier/lock/accessory set (also check out our article on how to transport mountain bikes safely )

7. Durability:

Make sure that the bike carrier is made of durable materials and has a warranty (most of them do) because it will make your investment last longer. 

For example, when buying roof-mounted carriers, you should look for ones with adjustable rubber pads to provide a tight fit, which saves energy while driving. Make sure they are secure enough to withstand high speeds and extreme temperatures without letting the bikes wobble too much. 

Also, keep in mind that trunk/hitch mounted racks have more parts that can get damaged so if possible, check out other people’s reviews before making a final decision.

Final words

The best bike rack for cars is the one that fits your needs. It can be hard to find a car carrier, but our buying guide should make it easier to decide which type of product you need!