If you like to bike ride in various locations, but do not want to ride the bike to get to that location, you will need to transport the bike. It may be difficult to carry a bike in your vehicle, especially if your vehicle is quite small.

The bike racks that have been traditionally used do not adjust well to features found on vehicles today, such as rear-mounted spare tires and aerodynamic car roofs (those without rain gutters) or fiberglass shells. The newer designed bike racks can adjust to vehicles today and often may do so without the use of straps or hooks. You are also able to open your trunk, back door or tailgate when the bike is affixed to the vehicle.

Even though most bike racks to be used on vehicles come with devices similar to locks, you should definitely secure your bike with an additional lock. For example on a pickup truck, you should fasten your bike to a heavy-duty steel bar-rack that you can install in the pickup bed. Make sure to get the proper rack for your truck. In four-wheel drive vehicles, the rack will hang on the spare. This rack is actually two arms that are slightly angled that attach to the rim of the rear mounted spare tire. Make sure that the bike has adequate clearance in case you drive across a deep gutter or rut. It is important that the tire mount be strong enough for this type of locking device.

For vehicles that do not have rooftop rain gutters, you may use clips that hook around the lip of the door frame. The rack will then attach to slips; there are different clips to match the make and model of your vehicle.

Fiberglass shells usually do not contain gutters. For these vehicles, you may use artificial gutters-brackets that are composed of plastic coated aluminum or steel in order to adapt a rack which is used for most vehicles (those with gutters). The brackets will bolt in position on the shell’s sides or tops. To prevent leaks, inside washers should be used. Then a standard modular rack can be set in position by slipping into the brackets. Make sure that the fiberglass shells are durable in order to hold the bike properly.

Since vehicles are becoming somewhat smaller, roof mounted bike racks have become more popular. These roof mounted bike racks also allow vehicles to use a trailer hitch to pull a ski boat or travel trailer, thus enabling you to haul your bikes on a water-ski or camping trip. These vehicles may be equipped with a factory mounted roof rack. These types of bike racks attach onto the vehicle roof's crossbars and include all the devices you need to install the rack. There are, however, disadvantages with the vehicle roof racks. If a bike is positioned on the roof of your vehicle, it could cause it to be too tall. You are also limited to two bikes per roof rack due to the design of the factory crossbars.