There are different methods of transporting your bike and the most popular are a roof rack, a hitch rack or a trunk mounted rack. I have owned both and this is my experience:
Roof Racks:
Advantages: looks cool, great for sedans/hatchbacks, lots of options for carrying the bikes, great option if your car cannot accommodate a hitch, harder to steal if locked properly. Because the bikes are mounted on the roof of the car, they are less affected by bumps in the road and are less likely to sway or bounce around.
Disadvantages: Reduced MPG, some wind noise, pain in the ass to load if your car is too tall, pricey, height restrictions, some cars are not compatible with roof racks.
Hitch Racks:
Advantages: Easier to load, easy to remove, some options are not as pricey, you can carry up to four bikes.
Disadvantages: Bikes can scratch on some racks, some racks can block the door to the trunk/hatch, not compatible with some small cars since the rack’s bottom can hit the street, some visibility issues.
