If you’re heading on a trip and need more room for luggage, camping gear, or sports equipment, you might be tempted to attach a roof rack or box to your car club vehicle. Unfortunately, that’s not allowed.

Car clubs have strict rules about modifying or attaching anything to their vehicles. Roof racks, bike carriers, and roof boxes all fall under the category of “unauthorised accessories” — even if you own compatible equipment.

Why Roof Racks Aren’t Allowed

Fitting a rack or box involves clamping or fastening parts to the car’s roof rails or door frames, which risks damaging the paintwork or weather seals. Even minor scratches can lead to costly repairs, and car clubs need to keep vehicles in consistent condition for every member.

There are also insurance concerns. Car club policies only cover vehicles in their standard form. If damage occurs because of an added accessory, it won’t be covered — meaning the driver could face a repair bill.

Even when fitted correctly, roof boxes and racks can change how a car handles at speed. They increase wind resistance and height, which affects stability and fuel use. Because car clubs can’t check every installation for safety, they ban them altogether.

For these reasons, clubs prohibit members from attaching, removing or modifying any part of a vehicle, even temporarily.

What You Can Do Instead

If you need extra storage space, the safest option is to book a larger vehicle that suits your needs from the start. Many car clubs include SUVs, estate cars or people carriers with more boot capacity than standard hatchbacks.

Most models also have rear seats that fold flat, creating enough room for luggage, camping gear or sports equipment without needing a roof box.

For especially bulky loads, you can book a van through the same app. It’s fully covered under your membership and designed for heavier or awkwardly shaped items.

Vehicles With Built-In Roof Rails

Some cars come with manufacturer-fitted roof rails, but that doesn’t mean members can use them. Unless the car club specifically provides compatible accessories, members are not permitted to attach anything to them. Even factory rails can be damaged by incorrect fittings, so the rule applies to all vehicles, regardless of design.

Car clubs also need to maintain fairness between members. If someone caused damage while fitting a roof rack and didn’t report it, the next driver might be held responsible. The blanket ban avoids that kind of dispute entirely.

What About Peer-to-Peer Car Clubs?

Peer-to-peer car clubs are slightly more flexible because you’re renting from an individual owner. Some owners might allow roof rack use if the car already has compatible rails, but you must confirm this through the platform before booking. Written approval is essential, and any resulting damage would still be your responsibility.

In practice, even most peer-to-peer owners prefer not to allow attachments for the same reasons — potential damage and insurance complications.

Keep It Simple

In short, you can’t add a roof rack or roof box to a car club vehicle, and it’s not worth trying to bend the rules. The risk of damaging the car, invalidating insurance, or being charged for repairs outweighs the benefit of a bit of extra space.

If you need more room, choose a larger vehicle from the start or book a van for a few hours. It’s safer, covered, and fully compliant with the rules.