June 18, 2025 Dean Horton

Do I Need Roof Bars or Roof Rails — And What’s the Difference?

One of the most common questions we get is:
“Do I need roof bars or roof rails — and aren’t they the same thing?”

Spoiler alert: they’re not the same — and knowing the difference can save you a lot of confusion (and money) when setting up your vehicle for a roof box, bike rack or tent.

🧭 What Are Roof Rails?

Roof rails are the factory-fitted raised or flush rails that run front-to-back along the roof of some cars, vans or SUVs.

🚙 You’ll often see them on:

SUVs
Estate cars
Vans
MPVs

There are two main types:

Raised rails: with a visible gap between the rail and roof
Flush rails: sit flat against the roof with no gap

🔧 Important: Roof rails aren’t load carriers on their own — they’re just a mounting point. You still need to add roof bars across them to carry weight.

🛠️ What Are Roof Bars?

Roof bars (aka crossbars) are the actual load-carrying bars that span from left to right across your roof.

They attach:

To roof rails (if fitted)
Directly to the roof using fixed points or door clamps

They let you mount:

Roof boxes
Bike racks
Roof tents
Kayak holders
Trade ladders

🔗 Find Roof Bars for Your Vehicle

🆚 Roof Rails vs Roof Bars — What's the Difference?

Feature	Roof Rails	Roof Bars
Factory-fitted?	Often, yes	Usually aftermarket
Direction	Front to back	Side to side (left to right)
Load-carrying?	❌ No	✅ Yes
Needed for roof box?	✅ If using bars on rails	✅ Yes
Types available	Raised / Flush	Steel / Aluminium / Aero

❓Does My Car Have Rails or Not?

Many modern cars don’t come with rails as standard — and some may appear flush but still have hidden fixed points for roof bars.

✅ Use the Vehicle Lookup Tool to check exactly what your roof setup is and which bars you’ll need.

🔩 Can I Fit Roof Bars Without Rails?

Yes — if your car has:

Fixed mounting points (small covered holes on the roof)
Door frame mounting (bars clamp into door recesses)
A T-slot system (less common, mostly in vans)

We stock roof bars for:

Cars with or without rails
Models using door clamp kits
Specific vehicle years, trims and roof types

🔗 Shop Roof Bars for Your Car

🧰 What If I Already Have Rails?

Then all you need is a roof bar kit that fits your:

Vehicle brand and model
Year
Rail type (raised or flush)

📦 Your kit will usually include:

2 cross bars
Mounting feet or clamps
Security locks and tools

🔗 Related: Steel vs Aluminium Roof Bars

🧠 Final Tips

Don’t guess your roof type — always check manufacturer specs or our lookup tool
Flush rails need specific foot packs — don’t buy bars for raised rails by mistake
Never exceed your car’s roof load limit (usually 60–100kg)