Best Car Vacuum Reviews 2018

Cleaning the dirty surfaces inside your car can be a hassle when you don't have the right tools. That's why we've put together a short-list of five industry-leading brands for the best car vacuums that combine serious suction power with compact, maneuverable designs and innovations.

Overview

PROS

CONS

Our Top Choice

Black & Decker Max 16V Hand Vac – Car Vacuum w/Lithium Battery

This heavy-duty handheld vacuum targets dirt and debris with a highly adjustable nozzle.

Strong suction. Easy-reach nozzle. Built-in attachments. Lithium battery. Fast charging. Bagless.

Higher-end price but this is due to added features.

Best Value

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Vac – Corded Car Vacuum

High value debris and pet hair cleaner for car and home cleaning – especially on upholstery.

Versatile attachments. Low price. Lightweight. Powerful suction. HEPA filter. Great for car owners with pets.

Corded. Small waste container. Filters require replacement. Less effective on hard surfaces.

Dirt Devil Scorpion Quick Flip Handheld Vac - Car Vacuum

This compact and shockingly powerful handheld vacuum gets the job done quickly at home or in the car.

Crevice-Reaching Tool. Lightweight. Low Price. Powerful.

Corded. Loud.

Eureka Easy Clean Hand Vac – Handheld Car Vacuum

Built with a motorized brush and powerful suction for deep cleaning of upholstery, car seats, carpet and stairs.

Revolving brush. Stretchable hose. Powerful suction. Long 20' cord.

Bulky for car cleaning, but if you want one primarily for home it will also work for car.

Ridgid Portable Wet/Dry Car Vacuum – 4 Gallon

Car, home and shop vac ready for any mess with superior power and ultra-durable components in a car-friendly compact design.

5 horsepower motor. Clean wet and dry messes. 20' cord. 8' flexible hose. Reverse “leaf-blower” mode.

Less compact than a traditional handheld car vac. Higher price point.

(Updated September 22, 2017)

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Watch Our Car Vacuum Review

How Do I Choose the Best Car Vacuum?

These days, there's a tool fit for every job. Naturally, there's a vacuum built for any space you'd like to clean. Before we get into the special features of car vacuums, let's discuss the alternatives. The standard upright vacuum is an essential part of most homes because of its power and size – but if your goal is to get the dirt out of your car, that means lugging it out to your driveway or garage, and hoping the hose attachment is long enough to reach the far corners.

Canister style wet/dry vacuums are also big and powerful with the additional feature of cleaning up both wet and dry messes with ease but, like a full sized vacuum, they can be a bit of a hassle when it comes to maneuvering around your vehicle. There are smaller, portable wet/dry vacuums which are much more suited to this task – that’s why we've added one to the end of our shortlist. By the way, if you need either of those, we recommend checking out our other reviews.

Finally, there are handheld vacuums and car vacuums. These two types are similar and can be used interchangeably in many cases. That being said, many car vacuums are specifically built to operate comfortably and reliably in a cramped space. They often feature ultra-lightweight designs and specialized attachments to make your job easier.

Let's take a look at the features that make a handheld vacuum great for cleaning your car.

Price

The price for a good quality car vacuum generally ranges from about $30 to $80, and you can find a good deal at either end of the spectrum. Most of the time, higher cost vacuums are more consistent and have longer lives. That being said, a lot of the less expensive models can have powerful motors and often get the job done very well. We do want to say that we don’t think it’s a good investment to go for a real cheap car vacuum because they tend to have poorer construction, with a tendency to break down sooner.

Cordless handheld vacuums are far more convenient – especially when it comes to car vacuums – and it reflects in the price. A 16' cord is usually plenty to easily reach your car from an outlet in your garage, but the freedom to move without a cord is sometimes worth the higher price.

Finally, vacuums with innovative designs usually come with a higher price tag. Some vacuums use high-tech filters, for example, that are extremely effective and easy to clean. Some handheld vacuums use a specialized nozzle with adjustable parts to make it easier to clean inside deep crevices and under furniture and appliances. If you're not willing to get down and dirty while cleaning under your car seats, you may want to invest in some innovation.

Features

When it comes to important features on a high quality car vac, we have already covered some of the most important ones – long cord or cordless design, easy-to-clean filters, adjustable nozzle, lightweight frame and versatile attachments. Keep an eye out for these features in our top 5 car vac short list.

Construction and Design

For some people, weight is one of the most important factors in a handheld or car vacuum. When you're reaching down to the floor or inside the deepest crevices of your home, you won't want to be holding onto a hefty machine – you'll want a slender hand vac that easily maneuvers with you.

Consider the outward design before purchasing a hand vac – how easy is it to disassemble? Is it easy to adjust any moving parts? Will it be a hassle to deal with? High-quality car vacs use simple parts to detach and reattach its components. Some break over time with too much reassembly. Check out reviews from real users when possible to learn more about a vacuum's durability.

Performance and Ease of Use

Consider the nozzle and any included attachments. Whether you're looking for a car-only vacuum or a multi-purpose handheld vacuum, it's important that the attachments are versatile and easy to use. Some attachments are especially useful when it comes to upholstery, pet hair, hard surfaces, etc – think about the surfaces you'll be cleaning before you make your purchase.

When it comes to battery powered hand vacs, there are few better options than a lithium ion battery. Look for a vacuum with a long-lasting charge and low charging time. That way, you can spend more time cleaning and less time waiting. Cheaper batteries may also lose their charge faster than a lithium ion.

What is the Best Car Vacuum?

We've compared 5 top picks when it comes to car vacuums. We looked at a wide range of compact vacuums and compared their maneuverability, power, features and price. Let's take a closer look at which vacuums made our list.

Our Top Choice

The Black and Decker Max Hand Vac is well-crafted, powerful and built for maximum reach. Its 'cousin' – the 20V Max Pivot Vac – features an innovative pivoting nozzle for superior versatility at a slightly higher price tag.

Black and Decker 16V Max Lithium Hand Vacuum – Cyclone Technology, Car Vac Attachments

Black + Decker Hand Vac – BDH2000PL

Features

The Black and Decker Max 16V Hand Vac backs up its higher price tag with high quality features. Some of the features include:

Lithium Ion Battery - The powerful lithium battery is extremely long-lasting and holds an excellent charge.
Smart Charge Technology - Smart charge technology uses up to 50% less energy than traditional charging so you can save power and money all at once.
Rotating Nozzle - The slim nozzle rotates so you can clean even in tight spaces.
Extended Reach - This is possibly the most underrated feature when it comes to handheld vacuums. Easily extend the nozzle to reach further into and under tight spaces.

With all the features you could want in a lightweight vacuum, the Black and Decker Max Hand Vac is ideal for the car and home.

Construction and Design

The Black & Decker 16V Max Hand Vac is built with an innovative design for targeted cleaning, featuring a mobile and versatile nozzle. Let's take a look at the design highlights:

Slender Frame & Nozzle - The first thing you'll notice about the Black and Decker Max Hand Vac is its sleek frame, perfect for maneuvering in and around car seats, cabinetry, appliances and more.
Lightweight - The design is surprisingly lightweight, especially considering its power.
Cyclonic Cleaning Action.This vacuum uses powerful cyclonic airflow technology to clean up stubborn messes.
Cordless Design - Cordless design along with long-lasting battery power makes this vacuum extremely versatile. Easily take it out to the car or anywhere else without restraint.

The superior design of this handheld vacuum made it our top choice for car cleaning. It's hard to go back to a bulky vacuum after trying out the Black and Decker Max Hand Vac.

Performance and Ease of Use

Cleaning with this vacuum is a breeze. On top of its mobility and versatility, check out the features that make it easy to use and maintain.

20 oz. Capacity - The compact waste container fits a surprising amount of debris, which lets you vacuum more in between cleanings.
18 Month Charge - This hand vacuum is always at the ready, holding its charge for up to 18 months.
Washable Bowl and Filters - Maintaining the Black and Decker Max Hand Vac is a breeze – easily remove the waste container and filters for a simple cleaning.

Be prepared for any mess with the Black & Decker 16V Max Hand Vac.

Best Value

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Vac features powerful suction and versatile attachments for an altogether superior value. For an even smoother cleaning experience, check out the Bissell Bolt Reach Cordless Hand Vac.

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Corded Hand Vacuum – Cyclone Technology, Multi-level Filtration

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser – 33A1B

Features

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser packs several high-value features that make it our pick for top-value. Here are some of its reliable features.

Rubber Nozzle - The rubber nozzle is built for flexibility – it allows your vacuum to contour to seats, couches, beds and more.
Hard Nozzle - The second attachment – an elongated hard nozzle – makes it easy to clean hard surfaces and reach into smaller crevices.
HEPA Filter - The replaceable HEPA filter filters and captures dust particles so you can keep your home fresh and free of dust.
16' Cord.This handy little vacuum is equipped with 16' of power cord, which is plenty for most applications.

Construction and Design

If you’re someone who travels with their pet in their car, you are going to love this car vac. The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is built for quick and reliable cleaning of small messes and upholstery. Its simple design features several high-value advantages when it comes to reliable construction:

Powerful 4 Amp Suction - This little vacuum packs a serious punch for its price range, making it ideal for cleaning upholstery, pet dander and debris.
Multi-level Filtration - Extreme filtering lets you clear your home or car of dust and dirt with ease.
Cyclonic Cleaning System - Most importantly, you can rely on the power of cyclonic cleaning power to suck up stubborn messes.

These valuable design features make the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Hand Vac a serious contender – and our pick for top value car vac. You can rely on this inexpensive model when the mess piles up.

Performance and Ease of Use

This powerful little vacuum is ideal for car seats and in-home upholstery – especially when pet hair is involved! Its basic on-switch and overarching handle make it easy to reach around car seats and other obstructions in your car or home. The frame is easily disassembled from the top to clean out the waste container and replace the filter when the time comes.

This pet owner-favorite is versatile enough for most messes you'll encounter, with two attachments included. The attachments let you easily switch from carpeted and upholstered surfaces to hard surfaces so you're ready for anything.

Get the most bang for your buck with the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Hand Vac.

The Scorpion Quick Flip by Dirt Devil packs simple innovation and impressive suction into a compact design for easy cleaning in tight spaces. If you're looking for an ultra-modern cordless alternative, check out the Flipout Lithium Powered Cordless Hand Vac for superior convenience at a slightly higher price.

Dirt Devil Scorpion Quick Flip Corded Bagless Handheld

Scorpion Quick Flip Car Vac SD20005RED

Features

For its low price, this Scorpion Hand Vac packs in some extremely useful features:

Built-in "Crevice Tool” - The built-in crevice tool simply flips out to extend the nozzle and give you a serious boost in reach to get at messes in tight spaces.
Dusting Brush - This included dusting brush is a nice addition and tends to come in handy for collecting dust.
2.5' Hose - An included 2.5' hose makes it even easier to tackle stubborn messes.
Shoulder Strap - The included shoulder strap makes it even easier to carry this vacuum to and from your car or through your home.

Construction and Design

The Scorpion Quick Flip Hand Vac packs a serious motor in a sleek design for superior convenience. The small frame easily fits in and around car seats and other pieces of furniture. The main design drawback is the cord, which sometimes limits reach for outdoor applications. Still, with 16' of cord, it's perfect for quick household jobs.

Reviewers on Amazon are overwhelmingly impressed with its powerful suction and say that it works just as well around the house as it does in the car – if you have a power source nearby to plug it in. The built-in "crevice tool" – which flips out to extend the nozzle – is especially useful for cleaning in and around car seats.

Performance and Ease of Use

The Scorpion Quick Flip Vacuum is incredibly easy to use. You can pull it out and suck up stubborn messes the minute they happen. The extending nozzle eliminates the need to fumble with loose attachments, making it even easier to tackle messes.

This compact vacuum is surprisingly powerful for its size, sucking up just about any mess. Once you're done cleaning, you can easily empty the waste compartment into the trash with this vacuum's innovative bagless design.

Get your own Scorpion Quick Flip Hand Vac and make short work of the toughest messes.

The Eureka Easy Clean Hand Vac is packed with innovative technology to tackle different surfaces in your car and around your home. For a premium model with a similar design, check out the Eureka RapidClean Hand Vac.

Eureka Easy Clean Handheld Vacuum – Stretch Hose, Double Motor Action, Lightweight

Eureka Easy Clean Hand Vac 71B

Features

This handheld vacuum is built with some extremely unique and useful features that set it apart from its competitors in terms of using it as a car vac:

Riser Visor -The Riser Visor flips up and down to change how you vacuum. Simply flip down the visor and easily clean the vertical portion of your stairs and furniture without bending your wrist.
Revolving Brush - The motorized revolving brush ensures that you get a deep clean on carpets and upholstery with each pass.
On-board Crevice Tool - Easily attach the on-board crevice cleaner to the stretchable hose to clean out deep crevices in your car or home.
20' Cord - An extra-long 20' cord is ideal for cleaning your car and larger spaces.

Construction and Design

The Eureka EasyClean Hand Vac is a bit bulkier than most other hand and car vacuums, but it is still lightweight at 4.8 pounds. The innovative Riser Visor lifts and lowers at the front to let you clean upright surfaces like stairs and chairs.

The design uses two motors – one for suction and one for a revolving brush that helps to deep clean your carpets and upholstery. That's what makes this model great for stubborn carpet messes like pet hair and other small debris.

Performance and Ease of Use

The Eureka EasyClean does in fact make it easy to clean – but not on all surfaces. This model is very well suited for carpets and upholstery. It is especially convenient for upright surfaces like stairs and seatbacks because of its rotating Riser Visor. That being said, users say that this model sometimes struggles on harder surfaces where it tends to push around debris a little too much. Luckily, this model also features a stretchable hose and crevice cleaning tool to target messes on any surface.

See the Eureka EasyClean Corded Hand Vac for yourself on Amazon!

The Ridgid 4 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac is ultra-compact considering its serious power, making it the perfect car cleaning machine – and it’s great for the garage and home too. For a larger model with even more power behind it, check out the Ridgid 14 Gallon Vacuum with HEPA Filtration.

Ridgid Portable 4 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac – 5 Peak Horsepower, Durable Motor, Compact Form

Ridgid Portable Wet/Dry Vacuum 4000RV

Features

The Ridgid Portable Wet/Dry Vac may be more expensive than most hand and car vacs, but it makes up for it in power and durability – as well as the fact that you can clean up wet spills too. Some users wish there were more accessories included with this Ridgid Vac, but many others are exceedingly satisfied with its superior horsepower and features:

Car Nozzle - The included car nozzle lets you target messes in tight space like the underside of seats for convenient cleaning.
8' Hose.As we've discussed, the 8' hose is extremely durable and makes it easy to maneuver around your car and home.
20' Power Cord - The 20' power cord is among the largest cords you'll find on a portable vac. Depending on where your outlets are, 20' is usually plenty to comfortably reach any part of your car.
Leaf-Blower Mode - Easily reverse the air flow to blow away leaves and cut grass from walkways, sawdust from your shop table and debris from other surfaces.

Construction and Design

The Ridgid Portable Wet/Dry Vac features a polypropylene drum is similar to what you'd find on industrial worksites – it's extremely dependable, especially as a simple household vacuum. The included 8' hose locks easily into the front and is flexible and strong – 4 times more durable than standard hoses.

On top of its reliable design, this Ridgid Vac features a powerful, long-lasting motor backed by Ridgid's generous warranty. For a compact machine, the 5 horsepower motor is extremely powerful and will put most handheld vacuums to shame.

Performance and Ease of Use

For car cleaning, this Ridgid Wet/Dry Vac is not as maneuverable as the other options on our shortlist. Still, its flexible hose and car cleaning attachment will get the job done. This vacuum will also easily get rid of messes that many handheld vacuums do not have the power to deal with.

In terms of performance, users are consistently impressed with the Ridgid 4 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac. It tackles both wet and dry messes and is effective on any surface inside your car. In the end, it comes down to your preference between reliability and convenience.

Be ready for any mess – check out the Ridgid Portable Wet/Dry Vac now.

Get the Best Car Vacuum of 2018!

Consider your preferences and budget when purchasing a new car vacuum. Whether you're looking for a versatile vacuum that doubles as a car and home cleaner or a sleek, powerful way to clean your car in minutes, we can recommend any of these models with confidence.

Our Top Choice

Black & Decker Max 16V Hand Vac – Car Vacuum w/Lithium Battery

Best Value

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Vac – Corded Car Vacuum

Dirt Devil Scorpion Quick Flip Handheld Vac - Car Vacuum

Eureka Easy Clean Hand Vac – Handheld Car Vacuum

Ridgid Portable Wet/Dry Car Vacuum – 4 Gallon