The roof box is attached using the car’s roof racks. It is therefore important to pay careful attention to the roof racks. The best is to choose the manufacturer's original roof racks. If you choose universal roof racks, don’t skimp on quality: select a leading brand.
A well-secured roof box should not move. When you load your roof box, consult your vehicle's manual so you don’t exceed the maximum loads. In general, these vary from 50kg to 100kg depending on the type of vehicle.
When choosing a bike rack, you should think about how often you will be using it and the trips you will make with it. Is it for occasional use, are you going away for weekends, or for longer trips? How many bikes do you need to take with you?
If you are going on a longer journey and your vehicle allows this, choose either a rear-mounted bike rack with a tilt function which enables you to access your boot during your journey, or a roof-mounted bike rack.
If you need to transport an electric bike, check the compatibility of your bike rack, which may not be suitable for electric bikes because of their greater weight. This will be possible with a roof-mounted, or with a rear-mounted bike rack.
Finally, don't forget to secure the bikes with a padlock if this is not incorporated in the bike rack.
In general, it is advisable to attach your bike to the back of your car, for reasons of fuel consumption and bikes protection.
Driving with a roof box or a roof-mounted bike rack has certain consequences which should not be overlooked in terms of vehicle fuel consumption or accessibility:
- A roof box, or a bike rack on the roof, will result in extra fuel consumption of 5% to 15% depending on the model selected and on your vehicle;
- With a roof box or a bike rack, pay attention to the height of your vehicle because you may no longer have access to certain underground car parks. Similarly, with a rear-mounted bike rack, your vehicle will be longer and you may no longer be able to park it in certain standard-sized spaces;
- You have a roof box and you hear a whistling or rustling noise: this is normal, the noises come from friction with the wind.
You have decided to travel with a roof box or a bike rack and, unfortunately, you have an accident. We must distinguish between two scenarios:
Roof boxes and bike racks are accessories to your vehicle and are not automatically covered by your car insurance. You may need to take out additional cover.
In the case of your Drive insurance, it is the ‘accessories and lettering cover’ taken out for damage or theft which applies.
The contents of your roof box are accidentally spilled onto the road or a bike detaches from the bike rack. This incident causes damage? How is this damage insured?
In this case, it’s the Third Party Liability which covers the damage or injuries caused. Third Party Liability is included in all Drive car insurance plans.
You will soon be leaving on holiday and you have a roof box or a bike rack, don’t hesitate to verify with your agent the cover which is included with your car insurance