Getting up the motivation to clean your car can be tricky on the best of days - but it’s even more of a chore if you’ve got a heavy, bulky vacuum. These days, lightweight handheld models are more affordable than ever, offering impressive suction power on cordless motors.
While some come with standard floor vacuum heads, which you can remove for more intricate tasks like car-cleaning, others come with a few interchangeable attachments like crevice tools and soft brushes.
We’ve rounded up the best car vacuum cleaners you can buy today, from budget-friendly options to big-brand favourites.
Ready to up your hoovering game? Check out our edit of the best robotic vacuum cleaners you can buy, or see more of our favourite handheld options.
The best vacuum cleaners for cars
Gtech Multi MK2 Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
A trusted brand with a popular range of products, Gtech is a good place to start your search for a new car vacuum cleaner. It comes as standard with a powered brush, crevice tool and extension tube, but you can buy the car accessory kit to get three extra attachments for cleaning upholstery.
One of the best features of this handheld car vacuum is its LED headlights, which illuminate the path in front of you to highlight any stray bits of dust or dirt.
Once you’re finished, just empty the vacuum into your bin by flipping the latch.
- Run time: 20 minutes
- Charge time: 4 hours
- Weight: 1.5kg
- Washable filter: Yes
Shark WandVac 2.0 Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
With its sleek design, Shark’s cordless handheld vacuum cleaner is practical and stylish. Its storage bin may not be as big as other models on our list, but this option is perfect for quick jobs like freshening up your car’s upholstery and dusting the dashboard.
The vacuum comes with two power modes, which adapt the suction power, and two head attachments: a crevice nozzle and a multi-surface pet tool.
Everything slots neatly onto the charging base for simple storage, so it’ll be charged up and ready to go the next time you need it.
- Run time: 15 minutes
- Weight: Just under 700g
- Washable filter: Yes
Check out our list of best Shark vacuums to buy.
Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Dyson is known for its attention to detail, so any of its products should be a safe choice for your next car vacuum. This V10 model has 14 cyclones and a sealed filtration system to trap 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns and produce clean air.
It’s also acoustically engineered to limit vibrations and lower the noise output, making it more convenient to use around your home and driveway.
Impressively, it can also generate 20% more suction power than Dyson’s V8 model, thanks to the straight design of the vacuum.
You’ll get three power modes, a wall-mounted charging dock and a variety of head attachments, including a soft roller cleaner, combination tool and a crevice nozzle.
- Run time: 60 minutes
- Charge time: 3.5 hours
- Weight: 2.6kg
- Washable filter: Yes
EUFY HomeVac H11
Another lightweight, slimline option, Eufy’s HomeVac H11 is perfect for cleaning hard-to-reach areas. It weighs just 600g, so you shouldn’t have any problem manoeuvring it around the inside of your car.
Happily, this is a two-in-one tool, as it also has an in-built air purifier to clean small spaces like your wardrobe. Just place it inside and turn it on.
We love this car vacuum for its modern, stylish design.
- Run time: 13 minutes of cleaning time / 15 minutes of air purification
- Charge time: 2.5 hours
- Weight: 600g
- Washable filter: Yes
Bush Cordless Handstick Vacuum Cleaner
For a handheld car vacuum cleaner on a budget, you can’t beat this popular model from Bush. It comes in at under £100 and, impressively, has four different nozzle attachments.
Either use it around your home with the floor tool or attach the crevice, upholstery or dusting nozzle for hard-to-access areas in your car.
You’ll also get a wall-mounted docking station, ‘power boost’ mode for extra suction and a handy low-battery indicator.
- Run time: Up to 45 minutes
- Charge time: 5 hours
- Weight: 2.3kg
- Washable filter: Yes
BLACK DECKER Dustbuster Vacuum Cleaner
Black + Decker’s handheld vacuum cleaner looks a little different from others on the market, and it’s earned an impressive number of positive reviews online.
One of its standout features is the wide nozzle mouth, which can scoop up large bits of dirt and debris. It also comes with a handy pet brush head with anti-tangle bristles to remove hairs from your seats and carpets without too much hassle.
Conveniently, you can mount the vacuum cleaner to your wall if you want to store it off the floor.
- Run time: Up to 21 minutes
- Charge time: 5 hours
- Weight: 2.1kg
- Washable filter: Yes
Still undecided? Browse our ultimate guide to the best vacuum cleaners to see our picks of everything from cordless to robot vacuums!