Categories
vacuums

10 Best Car Vacuum Reviews

LAST UPDATED: 04 Nov 2020


Best Car Vacuums – Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

Top Choice

car vacuum

Black & Decker Dustbuster


CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Top Value

car vac

Eureka EasyClean


CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Top of Line

paul hardwick

This product guide is written by Paul Hardwick

Anyone that has decided to get a car vacuum knows the options on the market are overwhelming. It’s important to get a vacuum that is easy to use, lightweight, and will actually keep the inside of your car clean. Make sure you consider whether you want a vacuum that is corded or cordless and if you want a handheld model or a wet/dry shop vacuum. Here are a few tips and reviews to help you find the best car vacuum for your needs.


About The Author

paul hardwick

Welcome to Vacuum Picker!

My name is Paul Hardwick. I am passionate about all things vacuum. From very early on I was fascinated with them and after earning an engineering degree in electro-mechanical systems, I have been able to appreciate them even more. Here I will share with you my insights on the options available in the market & help you pick the best for all your vacuum needs! Read more.

10 Best Car Vacuums

1

Black & Decker Dustbuster

Top Choice

car vacuum

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Perfect for vacuuming your car or for cleaning around the house, the Black & Decker Dustbusteronly weighs 2.6 pounds, so it super easy to use anywhere. This is a cordless car vacuum that you can use on dry materials and features a max voltage of 16 volts. With a suction power of 15.2 air watts, this car vac also comes with a washable dustbowl that features a capacity of 20.6 ounces.

Show More

The Black & Decker Dustbuster is super easy to empty out and clean up. Equipped with a lithium-ion battery, the Dustbuster only takes four hours to get a battery with a full charge on the included charging base. This battery can also hold a charge for up to 18 months that lets you keep it car to use as needed.

This vacuum is worth the investment, especially when you consider the features it comes with. It includes a gap tool and a flip-up brush attachment that is designed to be used on floormats and hard to reach corners. This is a medium-duty hand vacuum that will definitely keep your car clean with very little effort. Plus, it comes with a two-year limited guarantee.

Pros

  • This is a lightweight and powerful hand vacuum great for car use
  • It has a decent battery life and several attachments
  • It comes with a two-year warranty

Cons

  • You can’t use it on damp messes
  • The dustbowl doesn’t have a huge capacity

2

Armor All Shop Vacuum

vacuum cleaner car

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

For anyone looking for a wet/dry vacuum, the Armor All Shop Vacuum is a handy choice with a two HP motor. It features a 2 ½ gallon storage tank along with a ten-foot power cord giving you plenty of length to an outlet. Easy to move around, this replace/dry vac is a convenient way to clean out your car and take care of both damp and dry messes.

Show More

Featuring a six-foot hose attachment, the Armor All Shop Vacuum minimizes the needs for extension cords. It does come with a built-in blower function, which you can convert quickly into a blower when needed. The vacuum also comes with several other handy accessories that include a gap tool, blower nozzle, reusable cloth filter, deluxe car nozzle, a 2-in-1 utility nozzle, and foam sleeve you can reuse.

The Armor All Shop Vacuum offers a car vacuum cleaner option that makes it easy to dump out and clean since it isn’t as large as other units on the market. The tank is an adequate size, and it has enough power for almost any car owner. And, it comes with a two-year warranty

 

Pros

  • This is both a wet and dry vacuum
  • It's super portable and comes with several accessories
  • It comes with a two-year guarantee

Cons

  • This is a corded vacuum, so you’re limited with your movement
  • The tank is only five gallons

3

Dyson V6

Top of Line

vac for car

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

On any vacuum list, you would be remiss not to list a vacuum from Dyson. The Dyson V6 comes from this company that specializes in producing high-quality vacuums, so it makes sense that they would have this model that will clean your car out efficiently. One of the pricier options on our list, the Dyson V6 is also worth the investment.

Show More

Powered by a digital motor, the Dyson V6 features a max suction power of 100AW that is three times the suction of other handheld vacuums on the market. Comfortable to use, the Dyson V6 is designed with the center of gravity found closer to the grip to ensure easier handling. Only weighing 3.4 pounds, this vacuum has a pretty average handheld car vacuum weight.

15 cyclones work in parallel across two different tiers helping to increase the flow of air allowing the Dyson V6 to capture even the smallest dust particle. Featuring a max power mode, this portable car vacuum gives you six minutes of suction power when needed for those harder to clean messes. Otherwise, the vacuum should last about 20 minutes before you need to recharge the battery.

The bin is super easy to empty out with a one-touch design that allows you to just push a button and the container will open and dump out all the debris and dirt it has collected into the garbage. The Dyson V6 also comes with a gap tool and attachments that can be purchased separately.



Pros

  • It has super powerful suction
  • The unit comes with a max power mode if you have heavy cleaning to do
  • The bin has a hygienic design that is great for removing allergens

Cons

  • It's on the expensive side
  • It doesn’t have a lot of attachments

4

Eureka EasyClean

Top Value

car vac

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Corded and compact, the Eureka EasyClean is a handheld car vacuum that comes with two motors. One motor is for suction while the other powers the brush. Designed for household use, this vacuum is also a great choice for cars due to its flexible hose that comes with a gap tool.

Show More

Only weighing five pounds, the Eureka EasyClean is a compact vacuum that features a 5.5-amp motor along with a 20-foot power cord. It also comes with a cleaning path that is six-inches wide that makes it great for cleaning floorboards, seats, and floormats. With a mid-range price, this is an affordable portable car vacuum that also comes with a one-year limited guarantee.


Equipped with a transparent tank, this bagless vacuum allows you to easily see when you need to empty out and clean the vacuum’s canister. The Eureka EasyClean also includes a “Riser Visor” feature that gives you the versatility to use it in horizontal and vertical applications, which makes it easier to vacuum door panels and seats.

Pros

  • It uses a two-motor system
  • You can use it both horizontally and vertically
  • It has an easy to empty out dust canister

Cons

  • It’s a little bit heavy
  • It has a cord that can limit your movement

5

Shark Cordless Pet Perfect II

auto vacuum

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Anyone that travels with their pet in their car knows how helpful having a vacuum that is designed just for sucking up pet hair can be. With the Shark Cordless Pet Perfect II, you get a pet brush that is motorized and created to suck up pet hair that is embedded on any surface. This 18-volt cordless vacuum only weighs 4.3 pounds making it a little heavier than other handheld vacuums on the market.

Show More

Featuring a rubberized handgrip, the Shark Cordless Pet Perfect II is super comfortable to use and is equipped with “Twister Cyclonic Technology” that provides a consistent, but strong suction as you clean. With its washable filter and easy to empty out dust cap, this bagless vacuum will save you money on expensive replacement bags. And, it comes with a Nickel Cadmium battery that gives you 15 minutes of runtime on just one charge.


Each Shark Cordless Pet Perfect II Vacuum’s includes a charger, a dusting brush, a gap tool, and an XL motorized brush. Ideal for any pet owner, this pet-friendly vacuum can be used anywhere you find pet hair. Plus, it comes with a two-year guarantee.

Pros

  • It was created to vacuum up pet hair
  • This vacuum has a comfortable rubber grip
  • Trusted brand

Cons

  • It’s a little heavy and has a really long charge time
  • The brush roll won’t rotate or swivel

6

Dirt Devil Scorpion Vacuum

automobile vac

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Our next choice is from the well-known Dirt Devil brand. The Dirt Devil Scorpion features a quick flip design that is handy when it comes to cleaning up a car. This handheld vacuum features this integrated gap tool to make it easy to vacuum out nooks and crannies. You also get a 16-foot cord as well as a 2 ½ foot extension hose attachment.

Show More

Only weighing 3 ¾ pounds, the Dirt Devil Scorpion has a bagless design that also includes an upholstery tool, a sliding brush, and a dusting brush. This is an affordable handheld vacuum option that comes with a 7-amp motor and a decent 3-year limited guarantee. Ideal for anyone that has pets, this is a nice, basic handheld vacuum that will keep your car spotless no matter how often you take your dog for a ride.

 

Pros

  • It features a powerful motor
  • This affordable vacuum comes with several attachments
  • It includes a flip-up gap tool and a long guarantee

Cons

  • It’s not very lightweight
  • The power cable isn’t super long

7

Vacmaster Wet/Dry Vacuum

vacuum for cars

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

If you have a larger vehicle, you may be in need of a decent wet/dry vacuum. The Vacmaster wet/dry vacuum features five HP and a 12-gallon capacity. Made for heavy use, this is a great investment for those that want powerful suction and a strong blower speed that also features a two-year guarantee.

Show More

The Vacmaster Wet/Dry Vacuum comes with a blower design that is detachable along with a 210-mph blowing speed. It’s also super easy to clean out thanks to its added large drain port. Other features include a foam sleeve, a gap tool, and a blower wand adapter, an air and noise diffuser, a blower nozzle, a car nozzle, and utility nozzle, a cartridge filter, a seven-foot hose, and a couple of extension wands.


Pros

  • It’s both versatile and powerful
  • This vacuum features a 210-mph blowing speed
  • It comes with several attachments and an added drain port

Cons

  • It’s pretty heavy
  • Not everyone needs this much power and all these attachments

8

HOTOR 4S Car Vacuum

vac to clean car

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

The Hotor 4S is a popular corded car vacuum that features 12-volts along with 4500PA of suction power. This is a lightweight option that only weighs 2.44 pounds, but comes with three attachments and a stainless steel HEPA filter. It also features a 16.4-foot power cable, so that you can maneuver around the inside of your car easily as you clean.

Show More

Included with the Hotor 45 are a brush, an extended tube, and a slim nozzle, which is ideal for cleaning tight areas or sucking up a spilled liquid. The extended tube allows you to get to a hard to reach spots like between the console and the front seats. And, the brush is perfect for cleaning up floorboards, pet hair, and floormats.


Pros

  • This is a lightweight and affordable vacuum
  • You get both dry and damp performance
  • You don’t need to be close to an outlet

Cons

  • You can only power it with a cigarette lighter
  • The converter is an additional purchase

9

Shop-Vac 5989300 5-Gallon

clean car

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

If you’re looking for a wet/dry vac with a large capacity, the Shop-Vac Wet/Dry Vacuum features a five-gallon capacity and a stainless-steel design. This is a popular choice thanks to its lightweight and compact size. Plus, it includes a wheeled dolly that measures the full circumferences of the vacuum allowing you to easily move it around as you vacuum out your car.

Show More

Featuring a 4.5 peak HP motor, the Shop-Vac Wet/Dry Vacuum is equipped with a max airflow of 175 CMF. You also get a six-foot-long power cable along with a seven-foot-long hose to give you plenty of length to maneuver around your car. And, it includes a floor nozzle, a gulper nozzle, a crevice tool, and several extension wands.


Pros

  • It has a five-gallon bucket capacity
  • There is a powerful motor
  • You get a ton of attachments along with a wheeled dolly

Cons

  • It’s corded, so your range is limited
  • It’s too big for some users

10

HOLIFE Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

vac for auto

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

The Holife Handheld Vacuum Cleaner is an affordable option that is available in two models. One is more compact and features a HEPA filter and 4000PA suction power while the other is a little bigger that features a typical filter, dry/wet use, and 6000PA suction power.

Show More

The compact model also includes a brush storage bag, wall-mount charger, 26-inch hose, a brush nozzle, and a crevice nozzle making it great for use in the car since the crevice tool can reach those tight and hard to reach areas. With 70 watts of power, you can vacuum up to 30 minutes on just one charge with this included 2200mAh lithium battery. Only weighing 2.2 pounds, this is one of the lightest handheld vacs on the market.


In comparison, the larger model is more powerful and can be used for both damp and dry applications. Featuring 90 watts max power, this unit includes two washable filters, a brush, a charging base, a crevice nozzle, a brush nozzle, and a rubber jar tool. Weighing a little more than its counterpart at 3.27 pounds, this unit also comes with a 2200mAh battery.

Pros

  • This is a lightweight, powerful, and affordable vacuum
  • It has a great battery life
  • It includes several attachments

Cons

  • It’s on the expensive side
  • It’s pretty heavy

Car Vacuum Buying Guide


Considerations When Choosing the Best Car Vacuum

vacuuming a car

Weight & Portability
A vacuum needs a little flexibility to maneuver in out of the corners of your car’s interior and behind its headrests, not to mention trying to get down in between the center console and the seats. A bulky shop vac may not be able to get into those small areas, so it’s important to consider the weight, mobility, and dimensions of the car vacuum you want to buy.

Besides the vacuum’s ability to work in a tight space, you also want to consider the capacity of its dust bin and how that will affect the weight of the unit. The weight displacement and portability of the unit can be greatly impacted by the hose management, cord location, and body style, so keep all these things in mind as you choose a car vacuum.

Dirt Containment & Capacity
Bagless vacuums are a good design to have in your car. Typically, a vacuum that is designed to operate as a bagless system will use multiple filters in order to capture dust particles of any size and shape and hold them in the dust bin.

The capacity of the dustbin varies depending on the body style of the vacuum. In a shop vac, the canister can capture four times the amount of dirt that a handheld vacuum can. With this extra space, you have an extended time between emptying the vacuum out, but the added bulk changes the design of the vacuum dramatically. Plus, a car vacuum may need to suck up both dry and damp messes, which can require you to swap out from foam to cloth filters to stop damage to the motor.

Power Source
Ranging from cordless battery-powered models to typical AC corded versions, the power source in an automobile vacuum has otherwise few variations. With corded power, you don’t have to worry about the battery dying, recharging the battery, or reduced suction, but you will have to deal with maneuverability and cord range issues.

A cordless vacuum utilizes a battery to power the suction of the vacuum and allows you to be free of short cords or having a hard time getting around to tight corners. You are still restricted by how much power the battery has, which is often gauged by minutes instead of hours.
Other power solutions that are able to balance out these other two power sources include a dual functionality that uses both corded and battery options. There are also options with a 12-volt cord that was designed to plug-in the car’s own charging ports.

Attachments and Functions
The attachments and tools that come with a portable vacuum cleaner for car help to keep your car+boat interior clean no matter what happens day today. Created to deal with specific circumstances to keep your vehicle’s interior in pristine condition. Other features like blower functions, battery indicator lights, and adjustable suction settings are also nice additions to a car vacuum.

Versatility
Having the versatility to take on several types of messes is another great feature of a car vacuum. Including flexibility power sources, blower functions, extension wands, and attachments can add to a unit’s overall versatility. Hose diameters and lengths are also a big consideration when choosing a car vacuum to handle different types of tasks, but it’s super important to make sure that the vacuum has the ability to take on its main task.

Battery Life & Cord Length
The power source is always one of the main considerations when choosing any vacuum. In a car vacuum, having to deal with a cord or a battery can be a huge impact on its productivity.

If you go the car vacuum cleaner cordless, you either want to make sure you have a battery with a long lifespan or multiple batteries that removable, so you can recharge the main battery. With a corded vacuum, you need to make sure it has the best reach for your car. Also, remember that a wet/dry shop vac will come with a pretty short cord since the intention of the vacuum is so that a user can use an extension cord to maximize the units reach while minimizing the bulk of the canister.

Features to Look for in the Best Vacuum Cleaner for Car


Multiple Power Sources
Having several options for power can make a handheld vacuum for car pretty versatile. With the capability of switching in between a 12-volt car cord or battery power, this unit gives you a constant feed of power without interruption. Plus, using dusting brushes and crevice tools combine with the suction power of the vacuum to get rid of all types of dust and debris from your vehicle’s interior.

Cleaning Tools
An extension wand can help reach deep into a trunk or back under a seat while an upholstery brush can help turn up hair from mats and other upholstered surfaces.

Replaceable or washable filters
Having the right suction function and airflow connection to the vacuum’s filtration system can add up. So, it’s important to be able to replace or wash filters frequently. On most vacuums, you will find a reusable filter that will last for at least a dozen washes. Make sure to air-dry the filter once you rinse it out to get rid of all the trapped moisture.

What Are Other Ways You Can a Car Vacuum?
You don’t’ only have to use a cordless hand vacuum in our vehicle, you can also use them for tons of chores around the house. They are an efficient way to clean patio and outdoor furniture, pet beds, boats, and furniture upholstery. Common everyday spills can be easily cleaned up with a compact and lightweight hand vacuum.

Typically, a car vacuum also makes a great vacuum for stairs since they are able to navigate hard to reach places and access tight spaces with very little bulk. The miniature, motorized tool along with upholstery attachments are easy to incorporate on a carpeted surface or anywhere you have a lot of pet hair.

A car vacuum can be a super handy tool to have in your car allowing you to tackle any mess as it happens. It's important to find a model that gives you the maneuverability and cleaning power your need for your vehicle and your everyday life. This means reaching those tight spots between the console and the car seats as well as in between the seat cushions.

Your top pick should be comfortable to use, convenient, and compact car cleaning model that has good battery lifespan or a long cord to give you the reach you need in the trunk and under the seats. You also want something easy to clean out and that will be ready and waiting for the next mess. Not only will a handy car vacuum keep your car clean, but it will save you time and money from all those trips to use the gas station vacuum.

Get The Best!

VACUUM cleaner recommedations


Straight to your inbox