Editor’s Note – This list of the best inside car bike racks was updated on January 16, 2023, to improve content relevance and usefulness.
If having a semi-permanent bike rack on your vehicle’s roof or installed on your car’s hitch isn’t something you’d like to invest in, then an inside car bike rack is a great consideration. These bike racks are especially useful when you’re not a regular cyclist and don’t want the hassle of installing or removing racks and want to quickly load your cycles whenever you decide to take them out on a quick trail ride.
Besides the downside of detaching the front wheel to mount your bike to the inside car bike rack, these bike racks prevent common transportation situations such as bugs plastering the frame throughout the trip, making you constantly worry about overhead clearance or bikes falling off. There is also less worry about the rack or its bikes being stolen, like what would be an option if you had an externally mounted bike rack such as a hitch, trunk, or rooftop bike rack.
Our Pick!
Hollywood Racks T970 Fork Block
The Hollywood Racks T970 Fork Block is the master of versatility. Thanks to its practical and straightforward design, it can serve as an inside car rack, floor mount, wall mount, or truck bed mount.
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Hollywood Racks Offer the Best Overall Inside Car Bike Rack
The Hollywood Racks T970 Fork Block gets the vote for being the best bike rack for the interior of your vehicle. Thanks to its practicality and straightforward design, it can serve as an inside car rack, floor mount, wall mount, or truck bed mount. Not to mention, at $19.99, it’s a good investment if you’re on a budget.
1. Hollywood Racks T970 Fork Block
Dimensions:
7.3 x 3.2 x 3.6 inches
Material:
Steel and Aluminum
The installation is very straightforward and even easier to adjust according to your bike’s features and your car’s design. The entire fork block is quite heavy-duty, and once the bike has been mounted, it sits quite stable and secure.
Regarding carrying capacity, this is a single bike carrying block; however, given its affordable price, should you want to transport multiple bikes, you can have almost four times as many T970s for the price of a single high-end rack. Also, as with many, if not all, inside car bike racks, the T970 attaches your bike by the fork, so you’ll need to detach the front wheel. This will also significantly lower the bike’s profile, making it easier to fit inside your car. Still, watch out for angled windows on tailgates.
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The Saris Traps Triple Track Is Great for Multiple Bikes
The Saris Traps Triple Track is a great investment if you’re looking for an interior bike rack that specifically caters to multiple bike transportation. Capable of transporting up to four bikes, this inside car bike rack is easy to install and remove. It’s a perfect interior bike rack for quick weekend cycling trips with the family.
The Saris Traps Triple Track is mounted inside the back and trunk of your hatchback, SUV, or truck bed. The construction consists of 47 inches of a powder-coated aluminum frame, 2 inches wide and as many inches tall. The rack can hold up to four bikes; best of all, it easily mounts on any wall. It’s relatively lightweight, so you might want to bolt it down permanently or be careful about weight distribution when mounting the bikes.
The frame holds the bikes upright, locking the fork using fork-mount traps. However, this and the wheel mounts are sold separately, which I found disappointing. Still, it’s excellent value for the money, and you do get a sizable capacity for the whole family.
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The Interior Bike Rack From CyclingDeal Offers the Best Versatility
This multifunctional interior bike rack from CyclingDeal is great for versatility. Along with transporting bikes, this inside car bike rack can also be used as a crossbar adapter for your car, truck, or SUV. It can adjust its length from 13.5 to 23 inches and can fit almost any vehicle. Additionally, this bike rack can also be used to stabilize bikes when they’re mounted to bike repair stands, wall storage racks, or other car bike racks. Considering all of this and its agreeable price stage, this is my top choice when looking for a bike rack with many versatile storage and transportation options.
3. CyclingDeal Interior Bike Rack
Dimensions:
2.76 x 3.94 x 16.54 inches
Material:
Aluminum and Rubber
The bike’s frame is protected from scratching through rubber mount straps, while one of the strap ends is fully rotatable, meaning that this bike rack can be fitted to all bike frames. Upon inspection, the rack feels very lightweight due to its high-quality 6063 aluminum alloy construction. Although the bike rack only weighs around 1.3 pounds, it has a carrying capacity of 33 pounds.
Installation is done by strapping one end of the rack around the car’s interior door handle or rails inside the vehicle’s doors. The other end of the rack is then strapped to the bike, which is how the bike is kept upright, stable, and in position. There is no need for drilling or acquiring a tow hitch or additional bike mount.
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A Buyer’s Guide For Inside Car Bike Racks
If you’re looking to transport your bike inside your vehicle, an inside car bike rack is a great option. Before purchasing, here’s a helpful buyer’s guide to consider.
Your Vehicle
Choose the right type of bike rack for your vehicle. Most inside car bike racks are designed to fit standard sedans, SUVs, and hatchbacks, but you can also find models specific to certain vehicles.
Number of Bikes
Look at the bike capacity of the rack. Consider how many bikes you will need to transport, and choose a rack to accommodate them.
Ease of Installation
Think about how easy the rack is to install and use. Some racks are more complex and require more time for installation, while others are more user-friendly.
Security and Stability
Check out the security features. Some racks come with locks and security straps to ensure the bike is secure during transportation. Consider the weight of the rack. Choose one lightweight but still provides enough stability to keep your bike safe.
Budget
Compare the price range. Inside car bike racks can range from budget-friendly to expensive, so choose one that fits your budget.
Benefits of an Interior Bike Rack
Although it’s preferable to transport your bikes through exterior bike racks, some people prefer loading their bikes inside their vehicles. Although this isn’t the best solution for longer trips or saving on storage space, there are a few benefits to having an inside car bike rack.
Security
Bikes loaded inside your vehicle are less likely to be stolen than those secured onto outside bike racks.
Easy to Remove When It’s Not in Use
Unlike roof or hitch-mounted bike racks, inside car racks are extremely low profile and easy to put in and take out when you’re not using them. No drilling or bolting is necessary, and the rack can be moved within minutes without additional help.
Save Money
With an inside car bike rack, there is no need to buy additional peripheral items such as hitches, which can be expensive and time-consuming to attach. Also, interior bike racks are much more affordable than their roof or hitch-mounted counterparts.
Do you make a trap to hold an ebike made by specialized that has thru axle on the front fork?
Hi, I’d like to make loading and unloading my folding e-bike easier. I have a Honda fit and have been using a tarp/blanket to protect tail gate and then use it to help slide the bike in. Then I lay bike on its side and wedge towels and other things around it to protect it while I’m driving. Wondering if you know of a tray type slider that would work, that doesn’t cost more than the bike ($900 plus accessories)