How to Choose a Bike Rack for a Sedan or Hatchback

If you drive a sedan such as a Toyota Corolla, Chevy Cruze, and Dodge Charger, the following racks will work well for you. You can choose from among hitch-mounted, roof-mounted, or trunk-mounted rack styles.

Learn more about these three main types of bike racks:

• Hitch-mounted - these racks attach to a hitch at the back of your vehicle
• Roof-mounted - these attach to a roof rack system that has crossbars
• Trunk-mounted - these racks attach to the trunk, hatch, or rear doors of your sedan or hatchback

Hitch-Mounted Bike Racks

Hitch-mounted bike racks are easy to mount and remove from your car - you just slide them into or out of a hitch and secure them with a pin or lock. Bikes are usually easy to load, too, on hitch-mounted racks because you don't have to lift the bikes very high or remove any wheels. The only contact these racks have with a car is at the hitch, so you won't risk damaging your vehicle's paint. If you need to open the trunk of your vehicle while the rack is installed, consider a folding or swing-away rack. These models either tilt down or swing out on hinges to allow you to get into your car's trunk or hatch.

If your car doesn't have a hitch, you can install one. Most hitches can be installed with basic hand tools and don't require drilling into your car. See our fitguide to find a custom-fit hitch for your car.

Roof-Mounted Racks

Roof-mounted bike racks attach to a car's crossbars, so they keep your bikes up out of your way. This makes it easy to open the trunk or hatch of your vehicle whenever you need to, which is handy, especially if you haul bikes frequently. Roof racks can be left on your car when you're not using them, and you'll hardly notice they are there.

You can carry more than 1 bike on your roof; however, you'll need a rack for each bike. The maximum number of bikes that you can carry will be limited by the width of your vehicle's crossbars and the maximum capacity of both the crossbars and your car's roof. And keep in mind that if you want to carry more than 2 bikes, you'll have to mount some of them near the center of your vehicle's roof, which means that you will have to hold a bike out far from your body to load it. This can be difficult for some people.

If your sedan doesn't have crossbars, you can have them installed or install them yourself. See our fitguide to find a custom-fit rack for your vehicle.

Trunk-Mounted Racks

Trunk-mounted bike racks are usually the most economical type of rack, especially if your car doesn't already have a hitch or crossbars. These racks attach to your vehicle's trunk or hatch by means of hooks, straps, and buckles. These racks usually have pads at the mounting points to avoid damage to your vehicle's finish. But it's a good idea to make sure the contact points of your car are clean and free of dirt before mounting the rack to help eliminate possible scuffing or scratching of the paint. Also, you can't open your trunk or hatch while a trunk-mounted rack is installed, so your access to the back of your car is restricted. And if your vehicle has a spoiler, be sure to choose a rack that is designed to clear this type of accessory.

Additional Articles

How to Choose a Hitch-Mounted Bike Rack

How to Choose a Roof-Mounted Bike Rack

How to Chosse a Trunk-Mounted Bike Rack

Written by: Raymond P.

Last updated: 1/12/18