Best trunk bike racks: The easiest option to safely and securely transport your bike on your car

When you need to transport a bike (or two or three), you might not want to try and shove them into your car. Dirty chainrings and interior finishes don't go together very well and even if that's not an issue, getting a bike into a car isn't exactly easy. You need a better solution and there is nothing that's simpler than a trunk-mount bike rack. 

It doesn't matter what kind of car you have, there's an option available to you among the best bike racks for cars. You don't have to worry about installing a hitch, as you do with a hitch-mounted rack, nor do you need to worry about what the top of your roof looks like, as is the case for the best roof bike racks. Your vehicle is (almost) unimportant in the conversation. The designs for trunk-mount racks are clever enough to work with whatever gets you around. 

Trunk-mount racks are also a great option for anyone who doesn't want to leave a rack on their vehicle. They are super light, easy to store, and tend to be the least expensive option. With all that in mind, it makes sense that people are searching for the best trunk-mount bike racks available. 

The team here at Cyclingnews has spent the time and done the legwork to bring you a list of the best trunk-mount bike racks, that are strong and reliable options. You've already spent your money on one of the best road bikes or one of the best hybrid bikes, and now there's no need to risk damaging it with a bad rack. Keep reading to see our list or jump to the bottom for more information about how to choose a trunk-mount bike rack. 

Best trunk-mount bike racks available today

This design was first introduced in 1996 and hasn't changed all that much since, though there have been some extra models added to the lineup over that time. This list highlights the original Saris Bones 2-bike version, which is the lightest and least expensive, while there's a 3-bike version available in this design as well. If you need better clearance for a spoiler, then the Bones EX weighs and costs a bit more but adds volume under the arc, with better clearance for a spoiler and there is both a 2-bike and 3-bike version available. There's also the Super Bones in a 3-bike version with the smaller volume of the original Bones. Meanwhile, the Super Bones adds retractable straps and locks. 

There's a basic formula for trunk-mount bike racks. Some system of straps holds something that hangs the bikes from the top tube. The advantage of a hitch mount rack is that you open yourself to the world of platform tray racks that support the bike from the bottom. The Thule Outway Platform splits the difference. You still get the ease of install that comes with a trunk-mount rack but it supports the bike with a platform under the wheels. The downside is that the rack is more expensive than most trunk-mount options and it's heavy. It does, however, keep the number plate clearly visible and the bikes won't swing while on the move, so it might be well worth any downside. As you are shopping around, be aware that there is also a hanging version with the same name.

This affordable and foldable bike rack from Decathlon sits high up so as not to get in the way of your registration plate or rear lights, and has a three-bike capacity. When not in use it folds flat and can be easily stored away until you need it again. It features adjustable straps for a good fit, and the rubberised feet that come into contact with the car should protect the paint work. It does come with some padding to protect your bike frames from damage, however, we'd also recommend supplementing it with a bit extra to be safe.

If you're looking for something simple and budget-friendly, the Hollywood F9 Express E3 bike rack could be the ticket. It's super sturdy and capable, as long as you use all six of its straps to achieve adequate grip on a solid area of your car. Without this there's a risk of wobbling. To keep things as simple as possible, the rack arrives readily assembled, so there's no need to scratch your head with an instruction manual. When it's not in use you can fold it neatly away into the boot for storage. Rubber tabs keep the car's paintwork protected, while rubber separators shield the bike frames from each other.

If you have a car with a spoiler, you'll find that a lot of the trunk-mount bike racks won't work. There's not enough clearance under them to handle the height of the spoiler. Hollywood racks not only has plenty of room under the rack to deal with a spoiler but there's also provisions for spoilers higher up the car. In that situation the high-rise frame keeps the straps from wrapping over the top of a spoiler as well. Just because you've got a sporty vehicle doesn't mean you can't make a trunk-mount bike rack work and Hollywood racks makes that abundantly clear. 

The Yakima Fullback is another take on a design that's reminiscent of the Saris Bones design. There's the same double arc design that holds the bikes stable on the car and stable away from the car. Instead of plastic, Yakima uses a premium high gloss metal construction. Holding the bikes to the rack is something Yakima calls the ZipStrip. Instead of needing to fight with a rigid plastic strap that will inevitably be in your way when loading, the Yakima design is fully removable. There's also an anti-sway strap and, like all Yakima racks, there's a bottle opener for post ride drinks. 

There are situations where you might want the ability to carry a bike if something does not go according to plan. The Allen Sports MT1 is smaller than anything on the list and weighs almost nothing. It's not a big expense if you put it in the trunk and forget about it until you need it. The flip side of being a super small, light, and cheap option is that it's not the most robust. If you are looking to travel across the country with a bike there are better options on this list. None of them are so small or cheap though.   

How to choose a trunk-mount bike rack