Whether you’re going camping or heading out on a bike excursion, being able to conveniently and securely take your bike with you can make or break your trip. The process of transporting your bike, let alone multiple bikes, is not a simple task without the proper equipment. You’ll either need a huge trunk with a large backseat, high quality bungee cords, or an extra sturdy bike rack that will hold your bike(s) firmly in place without damaging your car.
With the numerous types of bike racks available in Canada, some basic research is needed when it comes to finding the best bike rack for your need. To make the task much easier for you, we’ve done it for you and listed some of the best bike racks for cars that are available in Canada in 2025.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Bike Rack For Heavy Bikes or e-Bikes: Thule EasyFold XT 2
Jump to Review - Best Roof-Mounted Bike Rack: Thule 526 XT
Jump to Review - Best High Capacity Bike Rack: Allen Sports 5-Bike Hitch Rack
Jump to Review - Best Trunk-Mounted Bike Rack: Allen Sports Deluxe
Jump to Review - Best Bike Rack For RVs: Swagman Traveler XC2
Jump to Review
Keep reading to find the perfect bike rack for your car!
What is a Bike Rack?
A bike rack is essentially a carrier that is set to your vehicle, with which you can mount and transport your bike to the destination of your choice. By assembling the bike rack to your car, the process of mounting your bike becomes a lot easier compared to the manual binding process. In order to make it easier for your type of vehicle or the number of bikes you’re transporting, bike racks are available in many different shapes and sizes.
Most people are aware that transporting a bike without a rack can be a burden. With the help of a solid bike rack, you can make the moving process effortless. With this peace of mind, you can enjoy cycling wherever you want without hassle.
The 5 Best Bike Racks For Cars in 2025
Below are some of the best bike racks for cars that are available in Canada in 2025.
Thule EasyFold XT 2 Hitch Bike Rack
Made from durable aluminum, the Thule EasyFold XT hitch bike rack is heavy-duty enough to handle up to 130 lbs worth of bikes. This makes it suitable for transporting two 65 lb bikes, or a single heavy e-bike or mountain bike. Its ramp-like design makes it easy to load heavy bikes onto the rack.
The EasyFold XT’s major benefit is that it’s foldable and doesn’t require much room for storage. It also has a built-in carry handle with wheels to help with transportation. With wheel straps and torque knobs to secure your bikes in place, it can effortlessly fit two bikes.
The rack also comes with a bike lock to make sure your bikes don’t get stolen when parked. In terms of capacity, the EasyFold is suitable for up to 2 large bikes, weighing up to 65 lbs each.
Thule 526 XT Roof-Mounted Bike Rack
The Thule Circuit Fork Mounted Bike Rack is a simple yet highly effective bike rack that can be installed on the roof rack of your car. Made from solid aluminum, the rack is sturdy enough to securely transport a 35 pound bike.
With an adjustable fork mount, the rack can be adjusted to fit a wide range of bikes. The rack is easy to install, provided that your vehicle has cross bars on its roof. Roof rack cross bars must be purchased separately, so keep that in mind if you don’t already have some.
Allen Sports 5-Bike Hitch Bike Rack
Made of solid steel, the Allen Sports Hitch Bike Rack is highly sturdy and durable. With a weight capacity of 175 lbs, it can securely transport up to 5 lightweight bikes. Custing less than $200, it’s also an affordable bike rack.
To ensure that the bikes are tied securely, the rack has a dual compound tie-down cradle along with a set of straps. The rack has wobble-free bolts that protect the bikes from damage caused by movement. The rack also has a built-in locking loop for extra security.
Allen Sports Deluxe Trunk-Mounted Bike Rack
The Allen Sports Deluxe Trunk Bike Rack is our favourite bike rack for cars without a hitch. Whether you have an SUV, mini van, sedan, or a hatchback, this bike rack should be compatible.
Made of steel alloy, the rack offers excellent durability and first-class support. To accommodate women’s bikes and BMX’s, the rack comes with a convenient adapter bar. It also has a separate tie-down that secures your bikes in a safer way. This rack is currently one of the most popular 2-bike racks in the market.
Swagman Traveler XC2 Hitch Bike Rack
The Swagman Traveler XC2 hitch bike rack is highly versatile, durable, and convenient to set up. It can carry one to two lightweight bikes with a total weight capacity of 70 lbs. The Swagman is also the perfect great bike rack for an RV or 5th wheel.
In addition to standard 2-inch hitches, the Swagman can also be installed on an RV bumper using the included steel adapter. This means you can install the rack on pretty much any type of vehicle. To make the rack corrosion resistant, it’s coated with a unique black powder coating.
The Different Types of Bike Racks
There are many different types of bike racks available to make the transportation of your bike as easy as possible. The most popular bike racks are the hitch, carrier, or mounted varieties. Each of them has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. The choice you make will depend on a number of factors.
Here is an overview of the three best types of bike racks:
Hitch Mount Bike Racks
The most affordable and easy to install type of bike rack is the hitch bike rack. You can simply install it onto the hitch of your vehicle and attach your bike to it for a secured ride. The hitch tube will allow you to rest the wheels of your bike well above the ground, so the stability is maintained without any disruption. Designed in a way to handle high amounts of stress, hitch bike racks are very stable.
Hitch bike racks can typically accommodate one or two bikes. However, the process of attaching them to the vehicle is easy and can be done within minutes. Make sure to check the compatibility with your particular vehicle before buying one. You will need to make sure that your vehicle has a hitch.
Carrier Bike Racks
A carrier bike rack is an improved version of the hitch rack, and it can hold a higher number of bikes. This type of bike rack can be assembled to the trails and tow bars of your car. Being slightly elevated when compared to hitch bike racks, a carrier bike rack can generally hold up to four bikes.
Being one of the most popular designs on the market, most people opt for carrier bike racks as they offer more bike carrying space and are less trouble to the vehicle carrying the bike. Carrier bike racks are also quite affordable and are suitable for a wide range of cars in a highly versatile manner.
Roof Mount Bike Racks
A roof-mounted bike rack is fixed to the roof of your car. This type of bike carrier will be the best pick for you if your vehicle has crossbars on the roof. Otherwise, you would need to purchase these separately. The number of bikes that can be mounted in a time will largely depend on the size of your car. Some large vehicles can fit up to six bikes on roof-mounted bike racks. The mounted bike rack is the best choice when it comes to driving to group cycling events.
The advantage of roof-mounted bike racks is that your front and rearview remain undisturbed. The only thing you need to be cautious of when using a mounted bike rack is to make sure that nothing is overhanging. Also, be sure to check the weight limitation of your vehicle before mounting multiple bikes on your roof.
How to Choose The Best Bike Rack
There are many factors to consider when choosing the right bike rack for your vehicle or particular bike requirements. Since the process can be overwhelming, we’ve put together some points you should consider:
Number of Bikes Being Transported
The first criteria you need to think about is the number of bikes you’ll need to fit onto the bike rack. The range of capacity differs with each of the bike racks available in the market. A mounted bike rack can often hold more than four bikes, while a hitch bike rack can only hold up to two bikes. For that reason, it’s mandatory for you to select a type of bike rack based on your vehicle’s requirements and on their capacity.
Weight Limitations of The Bike Rack
Another important factor to consider is the weight limitation of the bike rack. Inform yourself of the maximum weight that the bike rack is capable of holding, and then you can be sure whether it can safely hold your bike (or multiple bikes). By choosing the right weight category, you can avoid significant damage to your vehicle or bikes while traveling. In general, carrier bike racks are your best pick for carrying heavy-weight bikes.
Compatibility With Your Bike(s)
Tire and wheel width differs based on your bike. Most electric bikes and mountain bikes have thick wheels in order to endure rocky terrain. For that reason, it’s important to make sure the bike rack you’re considering is suitable for your bike’s particular type of wheels. If you own a non-standard bike, pay extra attention to a bike racks’ compatibility criteria before buying it.
Weight/Design Limitations of Your Vehicle
Before installing any type of bike rack on your car, refer to your car’s manual to assess any potential weight limitations. Oftentimes, the weight criteria of your vehicle is lower than you expect. If you’re considering buying a hitch rack, you would need to check your vehicle’s towing limit and capacity. It’s also important to consider the design of your vehicle and which type of rack would make the most sense. For example, most cars will not come with a hitch.
Tips For Buying a Bike Rack
When it comes to buying a bike rack in person (compared to online), we highly recommend taking the bike rack for a test drive when possible. Having the rack fitted to your car for a test run will help save you from potential problems down the road. You’ll be able to first-handedly figure out if the bike rack is suitable for your type of vehicle or if it’s simply incompatible with your bike. If ever the bike rack doesn’t fit as planned, there are often add-ons such as a tube adapter or a cork that can be added to the rack.
When attaching or mounting your bike to the bike rack, cautiously attach the bike’s tire to the hitch of the rack in a secure manner in order to avoid it loosening up on the highway. You can always use a bungee cord or a strap to help with this process. Be sure to purchase some additional straps or ropes to have handy in your car if ever you’re going on a road trip with your bike(s).
