So here we are again, the Appliance Hunter is back from a tireless journey. This time he’s been looking for the Best Car Vacuum Cleaners.
And oh boy did I!
I’ve gathered together my 10 top picks and reviewed them further down the article. First I’ve given you a summary of each so if you just click the name below you’ll get taken to Amazon where you can buy yours. I’ve defined a car vacuum as any vacuum you would use to clean and detail a car. So mainly handheld vacuums. You can also purchase these from Argos, Curry’s, AO
2023 has arrived so I’ve gone through and updated this guide to include the latest and greatest products you could want to have for cleaning your car. I stand by all the choices here and they will all do a great job, but I’ve broken it down a little more if you need something specific.
Once more I am back to review the best car vacuum cleaners in 2024 – and honestly, Black+Decker is still ruling this niche and I really happy with the recommendations for you.
Top 5 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners UK
- Top Choice – BLACK+DECKER BHHV320B-GB Hand Vacuum with Smart Tech sensors
- Best 12v Car Vac – Black + Decker 12v Flexi Auto Dustbuster
- Best Cordless Choice – Vax Gator Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
- Best Car Vacuum For Detailing – BLACK+DECKER Powerful Handheld Vacuum
- Best Car Vacuum for Pet Hair – BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser With Motorised Brush Roll
1. Top Choice – BLACK+DECKER BHHV320B-GB Hand Vacuum with Smart Tech sensors

Brand: Black + Decker
Type: Handheld
Powered by: Rechargeable
Pros
- 20 Minute battery life
- Turbo Mode For Extra Suction
- Battery Level Indicator
- Bagless & Easy Empty
Cons
- Quite Loud
For those who have been paying attention, you’ll notice I’ve included the Back + Decker Dustbuster 3 times, once for each voltage. Why? Because they’re that good!
For cleaning the car the 12v model is the best but I like the 10.8v for its use around the house as well. They’ve upgraded this from the older model adding in an extra 5 minutes of run time and reducing charge time from flat by 1 hour down to 6 hours. But the price is the same! A great choice for cars because it’s got strong suction, and can reach crevices but you can also use it about the house.
One strange thing is that it seems to be awfully loud for its size, even compared to other similar models it sounds a bit almost whiny. But you’re not going to need to clean your car quietly are you? So it’s fine for that.
The filter is really easy to get to so when you’re emptying any dust you can give the filter a rinse as well.
The run time is about 20 minutes which I found was plenty for you to give the car a quick go around, get any loose stones out of the mat in the footwell, crumbs off the seat stuff like that.
Overall, it’s a great handheld vacuum you can clean the car and around the house. I like the versatility of using it without a 12v cable out of the cigarette lighter like the model below. But if you want a more classic car vacuum then read on.
There’s also an older and cheaper model available from Currys.
2. Best 12v Car Vac – Black + Decker 12v Flexi Auto Dustbuster

Brand: Black + Decker
Type: Corded
Powered by: 12v Cigarette Lighter
Pros
- 5m Long Cord
- Strong Suction
- Easy Empty
- Nozzles Wrap Around Body For Easy Storage
Cons
- Comes With A String Net Bag Which Isn’t Very Strong
They’ve tried to make the Black And Decker Auto Dustbuster nice and storable by providing you with a flimsy string bag to keep it in. I didn’t think it worked very well. Besides you can store yours back in the box when so it’s not much of a problem.
However, it’s one of the most powerful 12v car vacuums I’ve ever tested making it superb for cleaning the car.
One of the best things about it is that it has a 5m long power cord so you can easily get from the front of the car to the boot and be able to clean it all no problem at all. I’ve got a small Hyundai hatchback but I’m told this can be a deal breaker for longer cars.
It might look a little big but it’s portable, in the box, it measures 27x30x16cm so you can keep it in the boot without it being right in the way every time you go to the shops.
There are three different attachments you can use, a long thin one to get in around the seats and the in the door pockets and then a brush so you can get in about the vents and joints of the seats.
Overall, Easily One of the best car vacuums available, great 12v power and is easy to store too.
3. Best Cordless Choice – Vax Gator Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

Brand: Vax
Type: Handheld Cordless
Powered by: Docking Station
Pros
- Easy Empty
- Extendable Crevice Nozzle
- 15 Minute Run Time
Cons
- Not As Powerful
- Long Charge Time
The main problem with the Vax gator is that it has a long charge time, it’s around 12 hours from flat in the charger station.
The good thing is that you aren’t likely to need to use it twice in any 12 hours but if you’ve forgotten to charge it that’s a long time to wait before you can use it.
That’s also from completely flat if you use it for 30 seconds for a quick spill it’s not going to take very long to charge, and it holds the charge quite well when not in use.
It’s also super light and convenient for a quick clean up of the car.
Doesn’t matter how far your car is from a mains socket you can take the Vax gator and get it all cleaned up in no time. It didn’t have the suction of the Dustbusters, but in a pinch it makes for a great spot clean.
You can empty it easily and it’s small enough to get in everywhere you need it with reasonable ease.
Overall, a really practical car vacuum, great for the house too, the charge time isn’t ideal but it’s lightweight and easy to use.
4. Best Car vacuum For Detailing – BLACK+DECKER Powerful Handheld Vacuum

Brand: Black + Decker
Type: Handheld
Powered by: Recharging
Pros
- 20 Minute Run Time
- Powerful Suction
- Auto Shuts Off When Fully Charged
- Easy Empty
- Lithium-Ion battery
Cons
- A Little Noisey
- More Expensive
The Black + Decker 18v handheld vacuum is a little more expensive than most handheld vacuums but it’s got the most powerful suction.
It’s also a little noisier but that happens when there’s more suction, and if you’re out in the car it’s not too much of an issue.
It’s supposed to have a 4-hour charge time but the reality I found it’s more like 1 hour and less if you don’t run it flat. And then you can use it for about 15 minutes but you’re likely to get 20-25 minutes from it which is great!
The way it empties is pretty cool too, you just have to open up the side and outfall all the dust that’s collected. Just make sure you do it straight into a bin and you’ll be golden.
The extra suction is great for getting into all the parts of a car’s interior to give you a thorough detailing of the car.
And it may not relate to anything but I just think it looks cool. So sleek and stylish, I know that shouldn’t sway me at all but because it is really powerful I can’t help it. It just looks awesome!
Overall, a really good car vacuum for the car enthusiast looking to get a deep clean of their car.
5. Best Car Vacuum for Pet Hair – BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser With Motorised Brush Roll

Brand: Bissell
Type: Handheld
Powered by: Recharging
Pros
- 15 minutes run time
- 5-hour charge time
- Dual-action filtration system
- Upholstery tool
Cons
- Not the most powerful suction
This is an ideal choice for pet hair pickup with the motorised brush head that rolls to lift dirt and debris. It’s small enough to get in and about a car and take all the hair out of the seats and everywhere else it seems to get. My dog has been relegated from the back seat to the boot after a particularly muddy walk but the hair still seems to get everywhere.
The suction without the motorised tool isn’t the most powerful but it’s still plenty good enough to clean up your car interior.
It’s a 5-hour charge time from flat which is quite standard, but if you don’t use it till flat it’ll only take a couple of hours to reach full charge.
It’s also got an upholstery tool which can be good on car seats but is also good for getting pet hair off your sofa inside the house, and because it’s rechargeable you can use it for both.
Finally, you’ve got a dual-action filtration system which lifts allergens out of the air.
Overall: A fine choice if you’ve got pesky pet hair to tidy up, be it cats dogs or anything else you want to clean up from your car.
Are 12v Car Vacuums Worth it
The 12v Handheld Vacuums are the ones you can just plug into the cigarette lighter to use.
The Question is a mains vacuum worth it?
Well, unfortunately, it depends.
You can get some powerful 12v car vacuums like the 12v Black + Decker Dustbuster, but they don’t have the suction power of a mains-powered vacuum.
But you can keep them in your car and use them anywhere, and you don’t need to trail a cable out from your house which is ideal if you live in a flat or don’t have a driveway.
And they’re a lot cheaper (normally) than buying another vacuum cleaner so that’s a plus.
Pros
- Cheaper
- No Need To Charge
- Can Use In The Car Anywhere
- You Can Keep It In The Car
Cons
- Can Only Use In The Car
- Not as Powerful As Mains Powered
So it depends on what you need from it. If you live in a flat then getting a 12v could be a good idea or you might be better off getting a regular cordless handheld vacuum.
Either way, I’ve included some of each in my recommendations so you can have a look and see for yourself which one you like the look of.
Corded Car Vacuum vs Cordless Car Vacuum
Again this is entirely dependent on what you need.
If you want a deep clean then corded into mains is usually the way forward. But!
A good cordless vacuum has more power than a bad corded mains vacuum. Plus you can get into all the little gaps of the car a lot easier with a handheld vacuum than you can with a chunky mains vacuum.
So I prefer a good cordless vacuum for car cleaning , you can get right into the gaps between seats and right underneath for a more thorough clean.
Some Other Things To Think About
Here are just a couple of things you might want to think about when you’re buying a car vacuum.
Attachments
Some attachments are more useful than others, but you do get some that are useful for car cleaning.
Mainly they’re nice, small nozzles you can use to get right in and about the car seats. Sometimes you get thin extenders as well which are great.
I prefer rubber over plastic because it’s a bit more malleable so you can use it to get in deeper. But plastic is still good because it is so sturdy and won’t break. The problem I’ve found is storing attachments. You can imagine how many different vacuum attachments I have cluttering up the place, boxes of them at this point, but even from one vacuum they can be a pain to store. So for me, attachments can actually be a negative.
Runtime
If you get a cordless vacuum that you charge then you’re going to need at least 10 minutes of run time but preferably you’ll want 15 minutes or more.
How Much Should You Pay For A Car Vacuum
A car vacuum certainly doesn’t have to cost the earth, you in no way need a Dyson to clean your car!
But expect to pay around £30 for a good one and anywhere up to £100 for a really good one.
Less than £30 and you’ll need to question the quality and how long it’s going to last. Likewise, more than that is just over the top for a car vacuum. Different if it’s a vacuum for your house that you also want to use on your car of course.
F.A.Qs
What about the best car hoover?
I personally always say hoover when I’m talking about cleaning the house, doing the hoovering, but it is a brand rather than the device so that’s why I’ve tried to stick to calling them vacuum cleaners. But if you’re looking for the best hoover for car cleaning you’re still in the right place!
Can I still use corded vacuums in my car when it’s raining?
It depends.
If you’re running a cord from the mains out to the car then absolutely not!
But if you have a corded vacuum that runs off the 12v cigarette lighter in the car, as long as you keep it inside the car at all times you can use it while it’s raining outside.
Other Car Vacuum Cleaner Reviews
Henry Bagged Vacuum

Brand: Numatic
Type: Bagged Canister
Powered by: Mains Power
Pros
- Great For The Whole House
- Good Accessories For Car Cleaning
- Easy Empty
- Powerful Suction
Cons
- Not Easy To Get Around The Car
- Not Portable
Now you probably weren’t expecting to see a Henry Hoover in this list, were you?
But I thought it was worth including because they’re just so damn handy.
Nice long hose lets you get right into the car and there’s an attachment with a long thin nozzle so you can get right in about everything you need to.
And of course, you can vacuum your whole house with it!
So although it’s not conventional I think it’s ideal for vacuuming your car. You can wheel it around the car easily enough (though granted not as easily as a handheld) and you can reach everywhere you need to.
The normal head you use inside the house is ideal for cleaning the floor mats and the boot.
The only downside is that you have to be a Prime member to order it through Amazon. But you can sign up for free and delete your account right after if you don’t want it.
Overall, a great choice for cleaning the car if you want a vacuum that can clean your house and your car.
Wet & Dry 12v Car Vacuum

Brand: Reteck
Type: Handheld Corded
Powered by: Car Cigarette lighter
Pros
- Wet and Dry Use
- Long Power Cord
- Hepa Filter
Cons
- Not The Most Powerful
The Reteck Wet and Dry Vacuum is great if you tend to get a lot of water in your car from wet feet or wet dogs. You can use it regardless, you don’t have to wait for everything to dry before you vacuum, just make sure you empty it after!
The power cord is 14 feet (a little over 4m) long which is plenty big enough to reach around the whole car and the accessories are quite cool as well.
It’s got a hose attachment that clips right into the front which looks a little weird but works well. Alongside that, there’s an extender and a brush nozzle so you can get everywhere you need to.
It doesn’t have the most powerful suction in the world but it is plenty strong enough to give a half-decent clean and the price is great too so you get what you pay for.
Overall, a great car vacuum, with strong enough suction and all the tools needed to get a good clean everywhere around the car.
Wet And Dry Handheld Cordless Car Vacuum

Brand: Holife
Type: Handheld
Powered by: Rechargeable
Pros
- 25 Minute Run Time
- 4 Hour Charge Time
- Wet And Dry Cleaning
- Good For Pet Hair
Cons
- Not As Powerful As Corded Vacuums
The Holife is a great handheld vacuum for taking round the car, it’s got a nice long run time and all the attachments you need to get right in and about everything.
It’s of course not as powerful as a corded vacuum but it can still deal with most messes and can even manage dog hair. So perfect for everyone except for the car cleaning enthusiast.
It can handle wet and dry spills so it can manage pretty much anything that might end up in the car.
I particularly loved the long run time, 25 minutes is more than enough to get around the whole car. A four hour charge time might not sound that fast but for a vacuum, it is lightning fast.
Overall, a great handheld vacuum, and good suction for anyone looking for a good clean of the car.
Duo Clean Stick Vacuum

Brand: Shark
Type: Cordless Stick Vacuum
Powered by: Recharging
Pros
- Very Powerful Suction
- Crevice attachment for Deep Cleaning
- 22 Minute Run Time
- Converts to A Hand Vac
- Great For The Whole House
Cons
- Expensive
Not the usual vacuum you’d use for cleaning a car but similar to the Henry it’s just good at it so I thought It deserved to be included!
It’s a stick vacuum so you can vacuum your whole house with it but it also converts into a vacuum which you can use in the car. It’s a little heavy but its suction power is unrivalled.
This does, of course, come at a price. It’s not cheap, and neither it should be because it’s just fantastic! It’s got a crevice tool which is the long thin attachment that lets you get right in about the seats and any other little nooks and crannies.
The normal head has a two roller system which means it can get the floor mats spotless no matter what’s been mashed into them. The same in the boot, really deep cleaning no matter what’s been in there.
Overall, It might not be the normal choice but if you want a seriously clean car then this is the way to go.
RapidClean Stair And Car Vacuum

Brand: AEG
Type: Corded
Powered by: Mains
Pros
- Mains Powered Suction
- Brush Nozzle For Deep Clean
- Hose For Getting In And About The Seats And Door
- compact design
Cons
- Requires Mains Power
The AEG AG71a is a great handheld vacuum, really powerful because it’s powered by the mains but that is also the downfall for people without a driveway.
But the power cable is 6 m long so it’ll be fine for most!
And the cleaning power is insane from such a tiny device. Combined with a brush nozzle that gets a deep clean which is ideal for anyone with pets.
It’s also got a hose extension which is about an arm’s length long. Just enough so you can get right under the seats and in and about the door.
Because it’s powered by the mains you can use it in the house as well, it’s featured on our list of the best stair vacuums.
It can feel a little heavy compared to a normal handheld vacuum but that’s because there’s a more powerful motor in it. It’s probably comparable to the Black + Decker above so the weight isn’t going to be a problem for anyone.
Overall, a really powerful car vacuum, the mains power gives it a massive power boost but you’ll need a garage or a driveway close to the house to use it properly.
Conclusion
Getting a new car can be expensive but getting your old car to look new doesn’t have to be. Plus these great handheld vacuums are good for indoor use too, cleaning up small messes when you need it. Perfect for if you’re as messy in the kitchen as I am.
Related Reading
15 Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaners UK Reviewed (2024 Expert Update
12 Best Handheld Vacuum Cleaner UK 2024 – An Expert Review
17 Best Vacuum Cleaners UK Reviews 2024 – An Expert Buyer’s Guide