Best Bike Racks for Cars 2027

Bike racks for cars come in three types: towbar carriers, boot-mounted racks and roof carriers. This guide is for families and casual riders who take their bikes to the coast, the islands or the mountains. The best bike racks 2027 on Amazon.de are the EUFAB Premium 2 as the best value for e-bike load capacity, the Thule EasyFold 3 as the most compact folding carrier and the Saris Bones 3 for cars without a towbar. We compared seven models with live prices as of 26 October 2026, from 146.90 to 744.99 euros.

A quick tip before anything else: if your car has a towbar, get a towbar carrier. You don't have to lift the bike over your head, it carries heavy e-bikes, and fuel consumption doesn't jump the way it does with a bike on the roof.

Quick overview: best bike racks 2027

All bike racks in this comparison are available on Amazon.de with delivery to Croatia and most of the EU. Click a name for the current price.

How to choose a bike rack

Towbar, boot or roof. Bike racks differ first of all in where they mount. A towbar carrier is the most practical: the bikes sit low, they are easy to load, and a 60 kg capacity is enough for two e-bikes. A boot-mounted rack is the cheapest option without a towbar, but the bikes hang on the tailgate and often cover the number plate and lights. A roof carrier leaves the back of the car free, but you have to lift the bike onto the roof and you need roof bars.

Load capacity for e-bikes. Not all bike racks are made for e-bikes. An e-bike often weighs over 20 kg, so two of them need a towbar carrier rated around 60 kg. The carrier's capacity is not the only limit: check the towbar's permitted vertical load in your vehicle documents, because the weight of the carrier itself counts toward it.

Tilting and folding. Better towbar bike racks tilt, and some also fold. A carrier that tilts back lets you open the boot without taking the bikes off. A folding carrier fits in the boot or a storage room, which matters if you have no garage.

Lights and number plate. Towbar carriers usually have their own rear lights because the bikes cover the car's lights. In Croatia, the car's number plate must stay visible; more on that in the rules section.

1. Thule EasyFold 3

Photo: Thule, Amazon

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The Thule EasyFold 3 is a platform towbar carrier for two bikes, and with a folding adapter it takes a third. Load capacity is 60 kg in total and 30 kg per bike according to Amazon.de, which is enough for heavy e-bikes too. The lights are built into the wheel rails.

The reason people buy it is the folding. Folded, it fits in the boot instead of taking up half the garage. The frame holders take tubes from 20 to 90 mm. The listing does not state its own weight, plug type or tilt function, so check those with the seller before you buy.

Pros: most compact folding, 30 kg per bike for e-bikes, expandable to three bikes.

Cons: most expensive on the list, listing doesn't state weight, plug or tilt.

Our opinion: The EasyFold 3 is for people without a garage who want to store the carrier in the boot. If that doesn't matter to you, the EUFAB carries just as much for half the money.

2. Westfalia BC 60

Photo: Westfalia, Amazon

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Westfalia normally makes towbars, so it is no surprise that the BC 60 has the most complete kit in this comparison. According to the listing on Amazon.de, it carries 60 kg, has a 13-pin plug and separate locks for the carrier and for the bikes.

It tilts even with bikes loaded, except on the VW T5/T6 and Mercedes Vito and Viano. It takes tyres up to 70 mm and a wheelbase up to 1,300 mm, and the spacing between bikes is 22 cm. It folds, arrives pre-assembled, and with a separate kit it carries a third bike.

Pros: locks for carrier and bikes included, 60 kg capacity, folding and pre-assembled.

Cons: tilting doesn't work on some vans, 22 cm spacing is slightly tighter than the Atera's 23 cm.

Our opinion: The BC 60 is the best pick if you often leave the bikes on the car, say while stopping for lunch on the way. Locks for both the carrier and the bikes are a big plus here.

3. Atera Strada E-Bike XL

Photo: Atera, Amazon

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The Strada E-Bike XL is Atera's towbar carrier for e-bikes with a long wheelbase. According to the listing on Amazon.de, it carries 59.2 kg and weighs 14.9 kg itself. It sounds like a detail, but the carrier's weight is deducted from the towbar's permitted load.

The spacing between bikes is 23 cm, frames can be 2.5 to 8 cm thick and tyres up to 2.4 inches wide. It has rear lights, a tilt mechanism and theft protection. With an add-on it takes a third bike, and capacity then rises to 67 kg.

Pros: light for its capacity, made for e-bikes, lights and tilting.

Cons: listing doesn't state plug or folding, tyres wider than 2.4 in need different straps.

Our opinion: The Strada E-Bike XL is a good pick if you have two e-bikes and your towbar has a modest permitted load. Fewer kilos of carrier leave more margin for the bikes.

4. EUFAB Premium 2

Photo: EUFAB, Amazon

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The EUFAB Premium 2 carries 60 kg and costs 336.99 euros. No carrier on the list gives that much capacity for less money. According to the listing on Amazon.de, it folds and comes with a bag, tilts via a foot pedal and locks.

It takes frames up to 6 cm, including Y and oversize frames, and tyres up to 2.2 inches. It weighs about 21 kg, more than the Atera. The manufacturer doesn't give a per-bike capacity but warns that the load should be evenly distributed.

Pros: 60 kg for under 340 euros, folding with bag, lockable.

Cons: heavy, tyres only up to 2.2 in, per-bike capacity not stated.

Our opinion: For most families this is the right bike rack: it carries two e-bikes, folds and costs less than half a Thule. Just watch out with mountain bikes on very wide tyres.

5. Bullwing SR2

Photo: Bullwing, Amazon

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The Bullwing SR2 is the cheapest towbar carrier in the comparison. According to the listing on Amazon.de, it carries 50 kg in total and 25 kg per rail, and weighs about 17 kg itself. It tilts, so you can open the boot with bikes on the carrier.

The savings show in the details. The rails are only about 18 cm apart, so the bikes sit close together, and the frame holders don't lock. The manufacturer doesn't recommend it for vans, only for cars with a normal tailgate.

Pros: lowest price, tilting, 25 kg per rail takes a lighter e-bike.

Cons: bikes close together, frame holders not lockable, not for vans.

Our opinion: For two normal bikes and a few trips a year the Bullwing is enough. For two e-bikes and long summer trips, get the EUFAB or the Atera.

6. Saris Bones 3

Photo: Saris, Amazon

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The Bones 3 is Saris's boot-mounted rack for three bikes and cars without a towbar. According to the listing on Amazon.de, it weighs only about 5 kg and carries up to 15.9 kg per bike. Its arched arms hold the bikes at different heights so they don't knock together.

It fits over most spoilers, rubber feet protect the paint, and the bikes are secured with ratchet straps. It is not for e-bikes, and the listing doesn't mention a lock. Also note that on many cars, bikes on the tailgate cover the number plate and lights.

Pros: no towbar needed, very light, carries three bikes.

Cons: not for e-bikes, lock not stated, bikes may cover the plate and lights.

Our opinion: The Bones 3 is the cheapest solution for a family with three normal bikes and a car without a towbar. Before you set off, check that the plate and rear lights are visible.

7. Thule ProRide 598

Photo: Thule, Amazon

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The ProRide 598 is Thule's roof carrier for one bike up to 20 kg. According to the listing on Amazon.de, locks for the bike and the carrier are included, and it has passed the City Crash test and carries the TÜV/GS mark. A torque-limiting knob stops you from overtightening the frame.

For two bikes you need two carriers, plus roof bars bought separately. The carrier holds the bike by the frame, so take care with carbon frames. It can be switched from one side of the car to the other without tools.

Pros: locks included, crash tested, back of the car stays free.

Cons: needs roof bars, bike must be lifted onto the roof, care needed with carbon frames.

Our opinion: The ProRide is the best roof carrier if your car has no towbar and you don't want to worry about the plate with a boot rack. If you already carry a roof box, measure whether there's room on the bars for the carrier too.

Rules for bike racks in Croatia

In Croatia, a bike rack needs no technical inspection or certificate of conformity, says the Ministry of the Interior (MUP). The law does not provide for a third number plate for add-on equipment, so a carrier doesn't need one, and you can't get one anyway.

Article 154 of the Road Traffic Safety Act says cargo must not cover lights, light-signalling devices or number plates. The fine for the driver is 130 to 660 euros, depending on the severity. So the car's number plate must stay visible with bikes on the carrier, as Revija HAK, the Croatian Auto Club's magazine, also warns.

Cargo may stick out at the back by at most one sixth of the length resting on the vehicle, and if it sticks out more than one metre it must be marked with a red cloth (Art. 155). At night and in poor visibility such cargo is marked with a red light and red reflective material (Art. 156), and the driver's fine is 60 euros. Rules differ in other countries, so check local law if you drive elsewhere.

Conclusion

The best bike racks for most drivers are towbar carriers. The EUFAB Premium 2 carries two e-bikes for 337 euros, and the Thule EasyFold 3 is worth the extra if you store the carrier in the boot. Without a towbar, choose between the Saris Bones 3 for the tailgate and the Thule ProRide 598 for the roof.

Before the first trip, check in your vehicle documents how much the towbar may carry, and walk round the car to see the plate and lights. Lock the bikes at rest stops with a good lock, and if you are still choosing a bike, see our mountain bikes guide.

Frequently asked questions

Which bike rack is best, towbar or roof?

Towbar bike racks are more practical: the bikes sit low, they are easy to load, and a 60 kg capacity is enough for two e-bikes. A roof carrier is a good choice if the car has no towbar, but you have to lift the bike onto the roof and you need roof bars.

Can I carry e-bikes on a bike rack?

Yes, but not all bike racks are made for it. Choose a towbar carrier rated around 60 kg, such as the EUFAB Premium 2 or Thule EasyFold 3. Boot and roof racks usually carry 15 to 20 kg per bike, and many e-bikes are heavier than that.

Do I need a third number plate for a bike carrier in Croatia?

No. According to MUP, the law does not provide for a third number plate for add-on equipment, so a carrier doesn't need one, and you can't get one anyway. However, the Road Traffic Safety Act forbids cargo from covering the vehicle's plate and lights, so the plate must stay visible.

How much weight can a towbar carry?

It depends on the vehicle. The permitted vertical load is in the vehicle documents or on the towbar's plate, and the carrier's own weight counts toward it. A 21 kg carrier with two 25 kg e-bikes adds up to 71 kg and quickly gets close to that limit.

Does a towbar bike carrier need lights?

Towbar carriers cover the car's rear lights, and the law forbids covering the vehicle's lights. That is why towbar bike racks usually have their own rear lights, which plug into the towbar socket. The EUFAB and Bullwing listings don't mention lights, so check before you buy.

Can I open the boot with bikes on the rack?

With a tilting towbar carrier, yes. According to their listings, the Westfalia, Atera, EUFAB and Bullwing tilt backwards, the Westfalia even with bikes loaded. The Thule EasyFold 3 listing doesn't mention tilting. With a boot-mounted rack such as the Saris Bones 3, you have to take the bikes off first.

How did we test and choose?

The bike racks in this comparison were not physically tested. We chose models to cover all types: five towbar carriers from budget to premium, one boot-mounted rack and one roof carrier. We checked each model on Amazon.de through the official API and took specs from the Amazon listings. Where a listing doesn't state something, we said so.

Prices are live from Amazon.de as of 26 October 2026 and change, so click the button for the current price. The rules come from MUP and the Croatian Road Traffic Safety Act.

Sources and references

1. MUP - Fitting a bike carrier to the rear of a vehicle (Croatian)
2. Croatian Road Traffic Safety Act (Zakon o sigurnosti prometa na cestama)
3. Revija HAK - Rear bike carriers and hidden number plates (Croatian)
4. HAK - Safe transport of bikes on vehicles (Croatian)
5. Amazon.de - Thule EasyFold 3
6. Amazon.de - Westfalia BC 60
7. Amazon.de - EUFAB Premium 2
8. Amazon.de - Thule ProRide 598
9. Amazon.de - Atera Strada E-Bike XL
10. Amazon.de - Bullwing SR2
11. Amazon.de - Saris Bones 3

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