Carports and garages play an important role in many modern households, where they are used for vehicle storage and protection. Both garages and carports are fairly modern inventions, with garages invented by Henry Ford back in 1896 and carports by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1936. However, while garages and carports are often mentioned in the same breath, they have a number of unique characteristics. While a garage has four walls and a roof, a carport does not. While carports always include a roof for vehicle protection, they are always either free-standing or constructed on the side of a house. Because of this very literal connection to the architecture of a home, a number of contemporary carport designs have been invented over the years.

Carports never have four walls, and often rely on a larger architectural structure for stability and support. Because of this, carports are often designed in the same manner as a home, using the same materials, the same colour schemes, and the same geometrical constraints. Many carport manufacturers are able to customise their designs based on the individual needs and expectations of a home owner, and make a final product that looks like it has existed alongside the original home all along. Contemporary carport designers and manufacturers can be easily found on the Internet, through search engines and online advertisements.

While a few basic Internet skills would not go to waste, almost everyone who knows how to use a computer would be able to find contemporary carport businesses. With nothing more than a few keywords into your favourite search engine, anyone can find carport businesses that operate in your local area. Many of these operators also advertise in related media, such as home improvement magazines, real estate guides, and related print and online publications. A carport is normally a permanent addition to a home, so it is vital that the right kind of design is used from the very start, to protect the appearance and functionality of your domestic environment.