How should I carry my bikes?

I use the 4 bike version of this. Got it on Black Friday for $40.

I can't vouch for it's safety but it carried 2 mountain bikes and one toddler bike without issue. It probably scratches the car. I don't see how it wouldn't. I put a towel where metal touches metal but I still think I get scratches. I didn't check because I don't care. Anywho, I am a dirt cheap father of three, it fits the bill for carrying my family's bikes at ease. If it dents, it dents. It's a Prius with 123k miles not a Mercedes. It's easy to take off and put on. That's already worth it's cheap price. Anything else (roof or hitch) would cost easily 10x's more.

 

Actually you can open the hatch with this mostly installed. Obviously, don't open with the bike installed. Some of the straps are held on by tension and would fall off. It would behoove you to detach these straps or they might fall and dent the car.

And that's where the problem is for me. When you go over bumps, all that weight goes down and then up. If you did not properly tighten it down, it may come off. And if that metal piece comes off and starts flapping in the wind, you can imagine what damage it will do. This hasn't happened to me but it is why I don't particularly recommend this product. I loaded a bike to my friend's Civic and she drove from LA to SF 350 miles without a problem. So I do trust the product for my usage.

 

I have never like the carriers that only hang on to edges and lips. Always leave marks and the straps always buzz.
With a carrier on the back you will probably loose the ability to open the hatch without taking the bikes off.
Additionally, it is going to add drag and put a dent in your mileage. I don't mind loading into trunk to keep the mpgs up.
Just my 0.02.

 

I used the carrier like modem posted. I think it was the Allen brand, 2-bike vesion, $35-40 bucks.
I used it only once. Two reasons why I didn't like it:
1. Felt like a parachute; I could feel the drag slowing down the car. It lowered my MPG probably 5-10mpg.
2. It seemed slightly unstable. It held up for a 3 hr, 180mi trip but I felt a little uneasy with it.
Ever since then I always load my two adult bikes in the trunk, I have to take at least one wheel off for them to fit, but overall I like it way better.
If you just go for short trips the Allen might work nicely for you and it's cheap. If you're taking long trips it may be better to put them inside. Just my personal opinion.
Happy biking