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The best car vacuum cleaners for keeping your interior spotless
Make your car feel like new again with these GHI Approved cordless and handheld vacuums
Tested by Blossom BoothroydHomes Testing Manager
Whether your car is your pristine pride and joy, or it tends to be a bit of a dumping ground with sweet wrappers and muddy footprints strewn across the backseat, you're going to need a good vacuum to keep things in check.
After testing the best vacuum cleaners in the Good Housekeeping Institute lab for years, we’ve found that the right model for your home doesn't always make the right option for your car. But the best car vacuum cleaners will get the job done quickly and effectively.
Ideally, you need something small and lightweight that can reach into those crevices where crumbs hide. And if you’re a dog or cat owner, a vacuum that removes pet hair is crucial.
If you’re ready to get cleaning, you can find our top picks below, but we recommend sticking around to find out everything you need to know before buying, and read our in-depth reviews.
Best car vacuum cleaner and best value
Black+Decker Wet and Dry Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Read review
What is the best car vacuum cleaner on the market?
For cleaning between the seats or sprucing up floor mats, you probably want to look for a compact, cordless vacuum, so you don't have to worry about having a plug socket nearby or a long extension lead.
While a corded model may provide you with better suction and much less risk of your battery dying mid-clean, a cordless vacuum is more flexible – essential when faced with lots of dust-filled nooks and crannies.
Many find the best handheld vacuums or the best stick vacuums (which often convert into smaller handheld versions) easier to manoeuvre than more cumbersome cylinder or upright models.
How we test car vacuum cleaners
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we test the latest vacuum cleaners as soon as (and sometimes before) they hit the shelves, which means we know what makes a good one – and that extends to models for cleaning cars too.
We test every vacuum across three different floor types: laminate, floorboards and carpet, assessing how well they pick up set amounts of dust, dirt and ground-in fur, measuring precisely how much the vacuum collects.
When we’re testing handheld models and cordless vacuums with handheld tool attachments, we also run an interior car cleaning test to see how well they tackle removing dust and hair from crevices and awkward spaces.
For this round-up, we picked out the models that scored at least an eight out of 10 in the car cleaning tests. We then looked at their overall score across all our vacuum tests, to find our top-performing handheld and cordless models. Finally, we've also included the best budget buy in each category so you can shop with confidence no matter your budget.
What is the best handheld car vacuum cleaner?
The best handheld vacuums are a popular pick for tackling car interiors thanks to their small, compact design. There’s no tangled cord to worry about and they typically come with plenty of tools to reach awkward areas and get rid of dirt.
Black+Decker Wet and Dry Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
- Easily picks up pet hair in a single sweep
- The dust canister was easy to remove and refit
Cons
- You have to hold down the button throughout use
- Only has one power mode
Car cleaning score: 9.4/10
Overall score: 94/100
You’re in luck with this handheld vacuum; not only was it a top performer in both our car and indoor tests, but it’s also the most affordable model we tried. Testers found it super easy to manoeuvre in between seats and around seat belts with the 2-in-1 crevice tool, so they were able to lift most of the crumbs, dust and dirt laid. It was even effective at removing notoriously tricky pet hair.
And if that’s not enough, this vacuum comes with a squeegee accessory that can be used to suck up small spillages, so you’re sorted for both wet and dry messes.
Key specifications
| Bagged or bagless | Bagless |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 0.38 litres |
| Weight | 0.61kg |
| Running time | 10 minutes |
| Recharging time | Unspecified |
| Variable power | No |
| Tools | Brush tool, crevice tool, charging base/wall mount, squeegee |
Shark WandVac 2.0 Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
- You can mount the charging base on the wall
- Ergonomic handle and sleek design
Cons
- Max power mode drained the battery fast
- Dust canister is quite stiff and tricky to empty
Car cleaning score: 9.4/10
Overall score: 92/100
Matching our winner's car cleaning performance, testers found this Shark vacuum comfortable to hold and easy to use throughout testing. It took just 13 minutes to pick up most of the dust and dirt we laid, and the upholstery tool removed pet hair swiftly too.
It struggled slightly on short and long pile carpet though, and its relatively small dust canister meant it needed emptying more often during longer tasks. But for quick car cleans, it’s a stellar buy.
Key specifications
| Bagged or bagless | Bagless |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 0.1L |
| Weight | 0.65kg |
| Running time | 15 minutes |
| Recharging time | Around 3 hours |
| Variable power | Yes |
| Tools | Crevice tool and upholstery tool |
Gtech Multi MK2 Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
- Moves over various surface types effortlessly
- Removable battery is easy to charge
Cons
- Fairly bulky
- Exhaust blows out a lot of air, which can move lighter debris
Car cleaning score: 9.4/10
Overall score: 84/100
Armed with a small, yet powerful brush head, this handheld vacuum wowed our testers with its ability to collect pet hair from the carpet and the car in just one sweep. The extension tube and crevice tool also make it easy to remove dust and crumbs from hard-to-reach areas like door pockets and seat crevices.
As a handheld vacuum, it is a little heavy (1.5kg) but it has a decent battery life and a large dust capacity, making it a good choice for deeper cleans.
Key specifications
| Bagged or bagless | Bagless |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 0.4L |
| Weight | 1.5kg |
| Running time | 20 minutes |
| Recharging time | 4 hours |
| Variable power | No |
| Tools | Dusting brush, crevice tool, power brush, extension tube |
What is the best stick car vacuum cleaner?
The best stick vacuums are a popular pick for many homes because of their lightweight, cordless design and rechargeable batteries. Some convert into handheld vacuums too, making these multitaskers the perfect choice for cleaning the car.
Pros
- Excellent pick-up across all vacuum tests
- Has an accessory cradle to neatly hold attachments
Cons
- Expensive
- Battery doesn’t last long on high-power mode
Car cleaning score: 10/10
Overall score: 97/100
With a huge overall score, this stick vacuum offers excellent cleaning, both in your car and your home. On the lowest setting, the battery will run for around an hour, giving you plenty of time to gather every last crumb.
All the accessories fit together seamlessly, including when you're using it as a handheld vacuum, and testers loved the thin extension nozzle for reaching awkward spots. In fact, this vacuum removed everything used to dirty our test car, including large chunks of biscuit and cereals.
This is a premium vacuum with a price tag to match, but if you have the budget, it's a worthy investment if you want fuss-free cleaning and a spotless car.
Key specifications
| Bagged or bagless | Bagless |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 0.5L |
| Weight | 2.7kg |
| Running time | Up to 60 minutes |
| Charging time | 3.5 hours |
| Variable power | Yes |
| Tools | Combination tool, crevice tool, flexible tool, jet dual brush, pet hair tool, sweeper, upholstery tool |
Dyson Gen5detect™ Absolute Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
- Dust canister is easy to empty
- Plenty of attachments to help with cleaning
Cons
- Heavy when in handheld mode
- Expensive
Car cleaning score: 8.8/10
Overall score: 97/100
Another high scorer, Dyson’s newest cordless model boasts a running time of over an hour as well as an LCD screen that details which particles you’re picking up as you go.
It didn’t drop a mark on carpet with testers reporting impressive suction that even lifted pet hair in one go. However, we needed to switch to boost mode to achieve that same top quality clean in the car. Switching to boost affected the battery life massively too, taking it down to around 15 minutes – but this should still give you enough time to get rid of most crumbs.
Key specifications
| Bagged or bagless | Bagless |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 0.77L |
| Weight | 3.5kg |
| Running time | Up to 70 minutes |
| Charging time | 4.5 hours |
| Variable power | Yes |
| Tools | 'Fluffy Optic' cleaner head, 'Digital Motorbar' cleaner head, built in crevice tool, hair screw tool, low reach adaptor, combination tool, wall dock |
Vax Blade 4 Pet Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
- Easy to set up and use
- Good battery life, even in boost mode
Cons
- The handle wasn’t the most comfortable to hold for prolonged periods
- You need to angle the floorhead slightly to collect larger crumbs
Car cleaning score: 9.4/10
Overall score: 94/100
This vacuum’s cleaning attachment made all the difference in our lab tests. The mini motorised pet tool easily removed hair and ground-in dirt while the crevice tool was excellent at picking up dust and larger particles inside the car. In fact, our tester’s only note was that the large dust canister stopped the nozzle from reaching right into the furthest crevices – but even so, it removed most debris.
Overall, testers found the boost mode particularly powerful, and they liked that it came with two batteries, so you can charge one while the other is in use. A good value buy.
Key specifications
| Bagged or bagless | Bagless |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 0.6L |
| Weight | 3.1kg |
| Running time | Up to 45 minutes |
| Recharging time | 3 hours |
| Variable power | Yes |
| Tools | Crevice tool, dusting tool, main motorised floorhead |
The verdict: What is the best car vacuum cleaner to buy?
If you’re looking for a car-specific vacuum cleaner, then Black+Decker’s Wet and Dry Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner is a no-brainer. It impressed on all floor types and its great range of tools helped reach everywhere in the car. Plus, it’s only £45.
However, if you want a vacuum that can tackle your home as well as your car, Samsung’s Bespoke Jet Pro Extra barely dropped a mark across both. It’s an investment though, so if you want a more affordable buy, we recommend the Vax ONEPWR Blade 4 Pet Vacuum Cleaner.
Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute
Blossom Boothroyd, our homes testing manager, has been reviewing vacuums since she joined the GHI in 2021. Now she helps oversee all our vacuum testing, developing rigorous protocols to measure each model against.
Our homes writer, Megan Geall, has reviewed hundreds of home products, including cleaning essentials, so knows what makes a great value buy. She analyses the results of our testing and translates them into easy-to-read reviews so you can make informed choices when you shop.
25 April 2025: This article was updated to reflect the latest prices and stock levels. We also linked to other relevant Good Housekeeping content.
Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s senior homes and lifestyle writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market and has written hundreds of product reviews on everything from the best vacuum cleaners and coffee machines to the best ice cream makers and robot window cleaners.
When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her running every distance from 5km to 100km or relaxing at home with her cat – there really is no in between.
Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, Women's Health, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall.
Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
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