Bicycles

Bicycle racks and carriers

Information about the types of bicycle carriers and a checklist to make sure you're following the rules for having one on your car.

Note: If you don't follow the road rules for bicycle carriers, you may be fined.

Types of bicycle carriers

There are two main ways to carry a bike on your car.

Bicycle carrier typeDescription
Rear mount

Rear-mounted bicycle carriers usually attach to the towbar or the car's boot/hatch. These carriers may fit up to six bikes, depending on the manufacturer's instructions.

The vehicle's rear overhang, including any rear-mounted bicycle carrier and any bike attached to it, must not exceed 60% of the vehicle's wheelbase or 3.7 metres, whichever is less.

They also can't stick out more than 150mm from either side of the vehicle.

Roof mount

You can use specially designed racks to fit two or three bikes on your car's roof.

Make sure you can lift the bicycles on to your roof before buying a rack.

View overhang limits on trucks and cars.

Don't forget that your bike might fit in your car's boot, especially if the rear seats fold down. You'll probably need to remove the front wheel.

Bicycle carrier checklist

  • A rear-mounted bicycle carrier or attached bicycles may block your car’s brake lights, tail lights or indicators. In this case, you must reposition it or fit portable, rear lights.
  • Rear-mounted bicycle carriers must not exceed rear overhang limits:
    • if your bicycle carrier or bicycle sticks out more than 1.2 metres from the rear of your vehicle, the rear edge of the carrier or bicycle must be fitted with a warning signal.
    • in the daytime, this warning signal may be a brightly coloured piece of material at least 30 centimetres long and 30 centimetres wide. If you’re driving at night, the warning signal must be a red light that can be seen for at least 200 metres. 
  • Don’t exceed your vehicle’s gross vehicle mass, which you can find by consulting the owner’s manual for your vehicle.
  • Ensure your bicycle carrier and attached bicycles don’t have any sharp or dangerous edges.
  • If you have a rear-mounted carrier, it should be removed from your car when not in use.

Your rear number plate must be visible

Don't attach a hand-painted number plate to your bicycle carrier if your rear number plate is blocked from view.

You should either:

  • remove the number plate and attach it to the bicycle carrier (remember to put the number plate back on your car when you remove your bicycle carrier)
  • buy a bicycle rack number plate from VicRoads.

Road rules for bicycle carriers