Jason began his automotive journalism career working with Modified Magazine, a former VerticalScope property. The former news editor of AutoGuide.com, he now oversees all commerce content on the site, helping readers pick the right products for their vehicle and lifestyle.
After completing a degree project in automotive design, Dave wrote and photographed for almost a decade in print car magazines (remember those?), before transitioning to digital. He now subjects a series of old high-performance cars to the roads and weather in Vermont and wonders why they're always expensively broken. Please stop when you see him crawling under one on the side of the road.
So, you have decided it’s time to invest in a car vacuum to keep your vehicle’s cabin clean and proper. If you’ve already done a search on car vacuums, you’re likely overwhelmed by the number of options that are available and finding it difficult to compare one product to another.
Even though there are a few things to consider when shopping for a car vacuum, your main priority is to decide if you want a corded or a cordless option. You will likely want your car vacuum to be handheld, but there are situations where a wet/dry shop vac is more ideal. We’ve included a variety of options on this list, from corded to cordless, small to 10-gallon capacity, and even 12-volt options that use your car’s cigarette lighter for power.
For more information on the best car vacuums, refer to our table of contents.
The Dustbuster doesn't cost much more, and is far better than other choices. Photo credit: David Traver Adolphus / AutoGuide.com.
We think the best handheld vacuum currently available is the Black+Decker Dustbuster. This hand vacuum isn’t just an ideal choice for cleaning cars, but is also great for household use. Weighing just 2.6 pounds, the cordless vacuum can only be used on dry materials, which isn’t true for all handheld cordless vacuums, so keep that in mind if you’re shopping for a wet/dry vacuum. It is rated at 15.2 watts with max voltage of 16 volts and has a suction power of 15.2 air watts (AW). The washable dustbowl has a capacity of 20.6 ounces and it’s one of the easiest hand vacuums to empty out and clean. Powering the Dustbuster is a lithium-ion battery that takes about four hours to fully charge. Best of all, charging is easy since it uses a charging base. The company says the battery is capable of holding a charge for up to 18 months, allowing you to conveniently keep it in your car.
We’ve tested six vacuums so far in 2022, and this model of Dustbuster is by far our favorite for cleaning a car. The only drawbacks are that it’s larger, and a little louder, than most 12V and some other battery vacuums, so it can be hard to fit into tight places. Otherwise, it outpowers anything this side of a 110V household vacuum, easily picking up small gravel and other debris. A built-in crevice tool works great for getting into seats, cupholders, and other small places, and it has enough power to pull dirt out of floor mats, although it won’t do as good a job as a shop vac (or pressure washer). Build quality is also a big step above every 12V vacuum we tested, giving us confidence that it will last for years.
With multiple vacuums currently scattered around the AutoGuide Garage, the Black+Decker Dustbuster is the only one we reach for (aside from occasionally a Bissel AeroSlim for tight spots) that isn’t a shop vacuum. Black+Decker backs the Dustbuster with a two-year warranty and has customer service and warranty options through web forms and email on the blackanddecker.com site, but we could not find a toll-free number.
Here’s a wet and dry vac that packs some serious suction power. ANKO’s 12-volt portable car vacuum boasts 4,300-4,500PA (pascal pressure units) suction, making it strong enough to pick up two iPhone 6s with ease. In other words, with that kind of suction power, dust and dirt doesn’t stand a chance. ANKO’s portable car vac is also exceptionally quiet, generating only 75db of noise.
While the vacuum is corded, that cord is over 15 feet long, or more than enough to get into pretty much any nook or cranny in your vehicle. It also comes with plenty of attachments—a long mouth, brush, and soft long tube—so you’ll have the right tool for any job, be it pet hair, food crumbs, even liquids. It is a wet and dry vac, after all, so it’s got an answer to pretty much any mess.
Best of all, ANKO offers a 100% satisfaction warranty, meaning if you don’t love it, you’ll get your money back. If you’re looking for a versatile handheld car vacuum, you’ve found it.
*This is a sponsored placement.
Don’t care for a cordless, handheld vacuum? If you have easy access to a power outlet and need a wet/dry vacuum, the Armor All 2.5 gallon shop vac is a great choice. It’s not overly powerful with a two-horsepower motor, and its 2.5-gallon storage tank isn’t the largest available, but this vacuum is small enough to get inside your car for cleaning, where a full-size portable vacuum would be too big to maneuver.
It comes with a 10-foot power cord and since it’s just a 2.5-gallon tank, this vacuum is easy to move around while you vacuum your car. Also included is a six-foot hose, which should help minimize the need for an extension cord. Like other shop vacuums, Armor All’s has a built-in blower function that can quickly convert the vacuum to a blower.
The vacuum organizes its included accessories in slots as part of a Complete Vac Organization system, including a 2-in-1 utility nozzle, crevice tool, deluxe car nozzle, blower nozzle, detail brush, reusable cloth filter, and reusable foam anti-splash sleeve. A two-year warranty is standard on this small vacuum.
The Armor All 2.5 Gallon Wet/Dry vacuum is ideal for car owners who often wash their cars at home and have access to a convenient power outlet. The tank, while smaller than other shop vacuums, should be adequate for your cleaning session. It’s one of the most portable shop vacs you can purchase, so taking it over to the trash to empty and clean isn’t as cumbersome as larger units.
It’s rather difficult to do a list of vacuums without including a product from Dyson. The company specializes in making high-quality vacuums, and you probably can’t find a product that will more efficiently clean your car. The Dyson V7 Trigger is the most expensive option on our list, but it’s recommended for those who want the absolute best.
The V7 features a powerful Dyson digital motor and is capable of up to 30 minutes of runtime thanks to its lithium-ion batteries. Given its compact size, it’s no surprise its capacity is at 0.15 gallons, but it’s also one of the easiest vacuums to empty. There’s no need to touch any of the dirt, simply pull the lever and release all its contents into a waste bin.
Completely cord free, Dyson includes a two-year warranty with its product, along with a mini motorized tool, combination tool, and crevice tool. Dyson even tests using the IEC 62885-2 international standard for vacuum cleaners, if vacuum cleaner testing is one of your hobbies.
BISSELL is a well-known brand when it comes to vacuum cleaners, and its stylish AeroSlim handheld vacuum is a great option for taking care of your car’s interior. Powered by a lithium-ion battery, this vacuum operates for up to 12 minutes on a single charge, which may or may not be enough depending on the size of your vehicle—and the mess. As with all rechargeable batteries, if you use it frequently and need to charge it often, battery life and performance will start to degrade, but for routine maintenance, its compact size and affordable price make it an attractive option.
Features on this handheld vacuum include a duel level filtration system that uses washable and reusable filters, an easy-to-empty dirt bin, and USB charging. That means you can charge this vacuum with your vehicle if it’s equipped with a USB port. It doesn’t come with very many accessories however, with the sole 2-in-1 crevice tool and dusting brush found inside the box.
With a sleek and compact design, this vacuum is best for small messes and quick cleanups.
Dirt Devil is likely a brand you have heard of when it comes to vacuums, and its Scorpion Quick Flip bagless handheld vacuum is a great choice for cleaning a car. Finished in Dirt Devil’s signature red, it features an integrated Quick Flip crevice tool that makes cleaning tight spaces a breeze. Attached to the vacuum is a 16-foot power cord, which is shorter than the Eureka vacuum. Included with the vacuum is a 2.5-foot hose, a dusting brush, sliding brush, and upholstery tool.
Weighing 3.75 pounds, the Dirt Devil Scorpion is slightly heavier than the Dyson V7 trigger, but it is significantly cheaper. In fact, it’s one of the most affordable car vacuums on our list. It’s powered by a seven-amp motor and comes with a three-year limited warranty, which is the best of the bunch and impressive considering the price of the vacuum.
The Dirt Devil Scorpion Quick Flip vacuum is recommended for car owners who are looking for a cordless handheld vacuum that just “does its job” without anything fancy. Its price makes it a compelling option for everybody looking for a simple, affordable solution.
Midway between a small light-duty shop vac like the Armor All and a full-sized powerful vacuum like the DeWalt, the Vacmaster is a six-gallon, three HP model with an appealing stainless steel finish. If you have pets or children in your car regularly, or you take your truck or SUV on adventures, you might find that the smaller portable vacuums don’t have the run time, power or capacity to do the job. The Vacmaster is small enough at 20.5 inches high and under 16 pounds to be easy to maneuver on its wheels, and a 12-foot cord and seven-foot hose extend the total reach to 19 feet.
If you’ve never owned a shop vac, you might not know they suck up water just as easily as dirt, so they’re perfect for messy spills and wet carpets. When you need to clean out the tank, there’s a large drain port to make the task easier. Switching to blowing mode is handy for cleaning off floor mats, dusting your engine bay or drying off the exterior of your car after a wash, so there’s less water to dry off afterwards.
The Vacmaster comes with a seven-foot long hose, floor nozzle, 2-in-1 utility nozzle, crevice tool and round dust brush, which all store on board. You also get two extension wands, a cartridge filter, and washable foam wet filter to extend useful life.
Not surprisingly it’s a bit costly, but you’ll likely be able to use it for much more than just vacuuming your car, and the Vacmaster 6-gallon wet/dry shop vac comes with a two-year factory warranty.
Not every household needs a wet/dry vacuum such as this one, but when the AutoGuide Garage needed a shop vac, we went with DEWALT’s 10-gallon wet/dry vacuum. Powered by a 5.5-peak horsepower motor, it’s designed for large applications, so whether it’s your work truck that needs cleaning from bumper to bumper, or your minivan filled with spilled cereal, this vacuum will handle it all. We’ve been so impressed by how quiet and light it is for the power that we end up using it in place of a household vacuum, especially for big jobs, and a shop vac is part of every workshop.
It features five durable rubberized casters at the bottom for smooth swiveling and easy movement. An extra long 20-foot power cord and long seven-foot hose means you have plenty of reach without having to plug or unplug the vacuum as you clean. The exhaust port also functions as a built-in blower port, using the suction hose, if you want to reverse the function of the vacuum. Lastly, the large built-in tank drain makes it easy to clean up liquid messes. When vacuuming wet messes, a washable foam filter keeps water out of the motor.
For convenience, there’s large a built-in accessory bag that’s conveniently attached to the backside of the vacuum, allowing you to keep the included extension wands, floor nozzle, utility nozzle, and crevice nozzle organized; and an elastic hook secures the hose in place when not in use.
Milwaukee makes the most popular line of cordless power tools, so it makes sense they’d offer a cordless small vacuum (in fact they have three). In the middle of the lineup is the 0882-20, a large, powerful handheld that sucks up 40 cu.ft. per minute. An included HEPA filter removes allergens while you vacuum, which is particularly important inside a car.
Included accessories are a crevice tool, floor cleaner and two extensions. The extensions are the right length to use it as a stick vacuum around the house, or you can use the four-foot flexible hose and set it down flat while vacuuming your floors and seats. However, it does not include batteries. You must get or already have Milwaukee’s M18 18 volt lithium ion batteries. The good news is they are compatible in various capacities up to 6.0Ah, which will give you extended run time and potentially power. Plus, you can keep running your portable vacuum cleaner as long as you have fresh batteries to swap in.
Milwaukee offers an outstanding five-year warranty on their cordless handheld vacuum.
It may not seem like a car vacuum is a necessity unless you’re an absolute clean freak, but they’re an important investment in keeping your car in tiptop shape. You likely spend at least an hour in your car each day, so you might be surprised at how much dust and dirt can gather up inside your cabin. There’s also the chance something may spill in your car and having to find a car wash with an accessible vacuum isn’t always possible, and those quarters add up fast.
Car vacuums are even more important if you’re often traveling with kids. In 2013, Honda started what has become a trend, outfitting its Odyssey minivan with a built-in car vacuum. Since then, other makes and models including the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica have been equipped with integrated car vacuums. In a way, a car vacuum is like what you thought was a luxury item that you find you can’t live without once you own one.
Having your own car vacuum has plenty of benefits and many car vacuums are portable enough to fit in your car’s trunk so it’s easily accessible when you need it. But shopping for the right car vacuum can be overwhelming, with a plethora of options available across various price ranges. There are a few things to consider before you click the add to cart button, don’t simply just pick the highest rated or most affordable option available within your budget.
Your first instinct might be to just use your household vacuum to clean up your car, and it may do an adequate job depending on the vacuum. Some household vacuums are now cordless and come with a variety of attachments, but they will never be as convenient as a car vacuum. Upright or canister household vacuums will, at the very least, need a hose attachment to help clean your car, and you’re unlikely to be use a stick vacuum at all. All large household vacuums are cumbersome and can tip over, making the task of cleaning your car’s interior more difficult than it should be.
As you can imagine, household vacuums are designed to clean large surface areas efficiently and quickly. They may work well enough on your car’s floorboards and floor mats, but some home vacuums will have a difficult time getting into hard-to-reach places. Like most things automotive, you need the right tool for the job, which is why a car vacuum is recommended to keep your cabin nice and clean.
We’ve certainly done that—hauled our household upright bagged vacuum outside, run an extension cord, hooked up accessory hoses and cleaned a car. But it’s cumbersome and inconvenient, and can potentially damage your vacuum as you stretch short and easy-to-tear hoses to reach inside. Stick vacuums are lighter than traditional uprights, but often don’t have the optional hoses to reach many spots, or the powerful suction to deal with dirt and gravel from your floors. Canister vacuums are a much better choice, have the best suction of all three types of household vacuums, and are always equipped with longer hoses. You’ll still have to deal with getting it, its cord and hoses and accessories out to your car, and potentially scraping it along the ground as you work.
No. Our short answer is no. Car upholstery is easy to stain, whether with coffee, kids or pets, but in our testing carpet cleaners do a poor job of removing those stains and often leave marks of their own. Even if you rent a Rug Doctor or the equivalent carpet cleaner with a special upholstery wand, in our experience it won’t clean evenly, leaving permanent dark and light spots or strips. If you have seats that need cleaning, it’s worth using a professional detailer, and to preserve your car’s appearance and resale value, we recommend a high-quality set of waterproof, washable seat covers.
If you’re able to, you can remove you car’s seat fabric and test an area you’ll never see, like the underside. If it doesn’t stain or discolor, then you can risk using a carpet cleaner on the seating surfaces.
One of the most important factors in picking the right vacuum for your car is determining how your car is used every day. Maybe your vehicle is often used for work and gets wet and muddy, or you have a pet that loves taking rides with you. If you have kids, there’s a good chance they’ll accidentally spill food inside the car. If your car sees heavy duty use, you’ll likely want to pay close attention to the car vacuum you’re planning to purchase. Some vacuums specialize in picking up pet hair, while others will operate wet or dry.
Now if none of the above applies to you, then a lightweight, handheld cordless vacuum might suffice. Determining how often you need to clean your car’s interior plays an important role in choosing the right car vacuum.
Aside from budget, you’ll want to decide whether you want a corded or cordless car vacuum. Cordless vacuums are generally more expensive and have the added convenience of not being tethered or having to look for a power outlet. The downside, of course, is that they are often less powerful need to be charged after use. If you are unable to vacuum your car within a garage, there are also corded car vacuums that use the 12-volt cigarette lighter in your car. While they may seem to be the best option, they’re not as convenient as cordless vacuums and are often not as powerful as vacuums that plug into a wall.
Recently, some automakers have been outfitting their vehicles with AC power outlets, which is something to consider when shopping for a car vacuum. If your vehicle has a power outlet built-in, you could use a corded option without having to fuss with the power outlet in your garage, although you should be careful of draining your battery.
As its name suggests, a wet-dry vacuum serves a dual purpose, allowing you to vacuum wet and dry parts of your interior. A wet-dry vacuum has a bucket or a collection chamber, so that wet materials never pass through any electrical or mechanical components. A wet-dry vac is ideal if you’re worried about having to deal with spills, wet, or muddy floor mats and carpeting.
In addition, almost all wet-dry vacuums have a blower function, allowing you to blow air out rapidly. This could be useful for blowing dust or other particles from your interior.
Basically, a wet-dry vacuum is designed to vacuum liquid, so it’s protected from possible short circuits. A typical dry vacuum is not made to hold liquid, so it’s possible whatever you vacuum can leak into the electrical components, potentially even causing a fire. Avoid using a car vacuum on wet surfaces if its description doesn’t specifically state that it’s safe to use on liquids.
You have likely heard of or seen shop vacs before, which are intended for heavy-duty use. They can also be used as a car vacuum, especially for vehicles that often get filled with mud or dirt. Most shop vacs feature a huge canister to hold debris and liquid, along with a long and tough hose. They’re also versatile since they typically have wheels, making them very mobile and easy to maneuver.
Shop vacs are typically equipped with a longer hose and more powerful motor than a household vacuum, and can handle much heavier objects. For cars, however, there are smaller shop vacs available that are lightweight and compact. They’re a great all-around option if you’re willing to spend a bit more and don’t need a handheld, ultracompact vacuum. Shop vacs are highly recommended if you’re often dealing with spills or food in the car, or you travel in harsh weather conditions. They’re also handy for cleaning up all kinds of hard-to-handle messes not just in a basement, garage or shop, but throughout the house as they can easily suck up things like broken glass, dirt from a spilled plant or water off the floor from a leak.
Regardless of whether you’re shopping for a corded or cordless car vacuum, you will want to pay attention to a vacuum’s power rating. But don’t be fooled into thinking the bigger the number, the better. Along with wattage, you will want to research its suction pressure, which is often measured in pascals, along with cubic feet per minute of airflow—basically, how hard it can suck and how much it is sucking.
You will also want to check whether the car vacuum you’re looking at comes with a variety of accessories. You may not need any of those accessories if you’re using the vacuum for general cleaning, but having additional nozzles and brushes could prove handy if your car sees heavy use.
If you’re shopping for a cordless vacuum, pay close attention to its advertised battery life and weight. You might find it uncomfortable to use a heavy handheld vacuum for an extended period of time in awkward positions. If you have a larger vehicle, smaller batteries may not allow you to completely clean your car on a single charge.
One aspect that’s often overlooked when shopping for a car vacuum is its tank capacity. For smaller, compact cars, you may not need a large canister. But if you own an SUV or a minivan, you’ll want to make sure you don’t have to constantly empty out the canister while vacuuming your car. Along the same lines, you may want to do some research to see how easy or difficult it is to clean a particular vacuum. You likely don’t want to purchase a vacuum that’s complicated to disassemble and maintain.
Prepare to be overwhelmed by the number of manufacturers who offer car vacuums. You’ll likely recognize familiar brands such as Black+Decker, Bissell, and Dyson, but they may not necessarily be the best for your needs. If you’re shopping for a shop vac, Armor All is a brand you likely recognize since the company specializes in car detailing products.
Once you’ve decided whether you want a corded, cordless, or shop vac, narrow down your product choices by budget and power. You will also want to pay close attention to the warranty that is offered when comparing vacuums. Sometimes it’s worth it to pay a bit more for a product from an established company, knowing you have warranty support you if something breaks.
The last thing you should consider is how easy it is to find replacement parts for the vacuum you’re interested in. Can you purchase replacement filters easily? If you’re looking at a cordless vacuum, are replacement batteries expensive? Lithium-ion batteries degrade over time, so eventually you’ll have to purchase a replacement. You may also want to check if accessories can be purchased separately, in case you only need one specific item.
Making an investment into a car vacuum may not be cheap, so you’ll want to take a few steps to maintain and keep your vacuum clean. If your car vacuum has a filter, change it on a regular basis and more often if you’re using the vacuum frequently. Some filters can also be washed, so you’ll want to check your specific product to see if that’s an option.
Make sure to empty out your vacuum canister every time you’re done cleaning, even if it’s just a little amount of debris or dirt. This is especially important if you’re using a wet-dry vacuum, since leaving anything wet for a long period of time can lead to mold and mildew.
If you’re using an attachment that has a brush or roll, make sure you clean it on a regular basis. Over time, certain objects can get caught in the brush or roll, preventing it from spinning and performing as effectively as it should and potentially burning out a motor. If you’re using a vacuum with a hose attachment, make sure nothing is stuck inside the hose after each cleaning, so you don’t cause a clog next time you use the vacuum.
We’re fans of the “work your way out” philosophy. Our theory is that when you’re working on the interior, you’re more likely to get the exterior dirty by accident. And when you’re done inside and move to the exterior, you don’t have any reason to open the doors until your cleaning is finished and the whole car is ready.
On the other hand, we also know very good detailers who start with the exterior, because they feel that way they won’t track anything into the exterior when they start. We think that increases the chance of bringing something wet into the interior, but the professionals know what they’re doing.
Either way, no one recommends doing part of one and then the other. Do the entire interior or exterior, then move on to the rest. Which you choose first depends on your preference, your style, and your situation.
Once you’ve chosen a car vacuum that suits your needs, it’s time to get cleaning. Vacuuming a car may sound like a straightforward task, but here are some tips to make sure you properly do the job:
July 8, 2022: Added hands-on testing and photo to Black+Decker Dustbuster.
June 30, 2022: Added additional link for Milwaukee 0882-20. Removed ThisWorx vacuum hands-on review.
June 21, 2022: Removed THISWORX Car Vacuum Cleaner from recommendations due to poor performance and reviews.
June 9, 2022: Removed unavailable Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus.
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Photo credit: David Traver Adolphus / AutoGuide.com