Abstract: A roof rack assembly for a motor vehicle includes a roof railing that can be fastened to a vehicle roof of the motor vehicle, and a load carrier that can be mounted to the roof railing. The load carrier is provided with at least one fastening device which after installation of the load carrier encompasses the roof railing on both sides, at least in sections, and which is provided with a latching projection, which after installation engages through a passage with a latching recess of the roof railing. A covering is provided, by way of which the passage can be closed when the load carrier is in an unmounted state, and a detecting device is provided, by way of which a covered state of the passage can be detected.