Car roof bars are an excellent way of transporting excess luggage and awkward loads on your vehicle. They are easy to fit, can be adapted to carry items such as surf boards, ladders or bicycles and save a lot of time and hassle. They also don't require any specialist driving knowledge, unlike towing a trailer.

The possibilities of what you can carry on roof bars are endless. For many people, a car roof box will be the main item of transport. Into these boxes you can put all of your luggage, for a more comfortable journey if you're heading off on a driving holiday, camping equipment, sports gear and a range of other items.

Roof mounted cycle carriers also require a set of roof bars, meaning you can easily transport up to three bikes on the top of your car.

If you are into outdoor sports and enjoy kayaking, canoeing or even more 'back to basics' activities such as raft building, it's surprising how much you can fit securely on to a roof rack. And if you're building something or doing DIY, planks, wood and even furniture can be securely attached to a set of roof bars with ratchet straps or ties.

If you're thinking about buying a roof rack for your car, there are a few important things to consider first. Not all cars are the same – not all roof racks will fit all cars, and you want to be sure you select the correct type for your vehicle before you make a purchase.

Generally there are two types of car roof – those with gutters and those without. What type of roof rack you need depends on what type of roof your car has got.

For example, a 2004 Ford Focus has a gutterless roof, so for Ford Focus roof bars you will need a gutterless roof bar system.

A BMW 3 series 5dr Touring from 2005 has a roof with a gutter, so to fit roof bars for BMW 3 series car, you need a gutter-fitting roof rack system.

If you're not an auto expert, this can be a little confusing, which is why FasterOnline's FasterFinder roof bar system is so good.

All you need to do is select the make, model and year of your car and you'll instantly be presented with the exact roof bar fitting kit needed for your vehicle, with all the parts you need clearly shown so you know exactly what to buy and how much it will cost. There are no hidden extras (no 'extra information' once you've reached the check out telling you that to fit your roof bars you will also need X, Y and Z fitting kit – it's all presented in one place so you know exactly what you're spending).

FasterOnline stock Thule roof bars and Mont Blanc roof bars, the leading manufacturers in the roof bar market, guaranteeing that you will have quality, dependable products you can rely on.

You can try out the FasterFinder system by visiting FasterOnline and comparing the range of roof bar products available for your car.