Stay Tidy on the Turnpike With These Car Trash Cans

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A Sunday morning spent in the driveway detailing your ride is moot if the interior looks like the floor of a movie theater on a Friday night. We’re probably all guilty of littering the passenger footwell and crumpling receipts and wrappers into the center console instead of—you know—finding an actual trash receptacle. While you can collect trash in a grocery bag on the floor, a more elegant and practical solution is a car trash can.

Car trash cans keep your collection of debris confined, out of sight, and off your floors. They’re available in sizes that would fit in a cupholder to those that live in your cargo space. Some best serve the daily commuter while others hold enough until you reach your road trip’s end. They’re relatively cheap, sturdy, and a small investment in keeping things tidy.

The Best Car Trash Cans

• Best Overall: Hotor Car Trash Can with Lid and Storage Pockets

• Most Discrete: Sglrt Car Trash Can Bin with Lid (2-Pack)
  

• Easiest to Clean: Lusso Gear Spill-Proof Car Trash Can
  

• Best Cupholder Trash Can: Oudew Cup Holder Car Trash Can (2-pack)
  

• Best Open Top: Carbage Can Premium Car Trash Can
  

What to Consider

Think about how much trash you accumulate on a weekly basis. Those who commute alone everyday probably won’t produce as much trash as those ferrying kids to and from after-school activities.

Generally speaking, we recommend at least two gallons for a family vehicle but an individual or couple would only need a gallon or less. This’ll cover you for about a week at a time, depending on how much you drive and how much trash you generate.

You should also consider the amount of times you’ll realistically empty your car trash can when choosing between sizes. You may prefer to do a weekly, or bi-weekly bag change instead of emptying it out every other day. But if you plan on putting organic garbage like banana peels or food scraps in there, you might want a smaller option that forces you to empty it every few days to avoid stink.

You’ll also have to occasionally clean the receptacle itself, especially if a bag breaks. All of our picks are leakproof to protect your upholstery and waterproof so you can hose any spills or messes out of your car trash can. Our Easiest to Clean option has a removable waterproof liner to make cleaning easier.

As far as ease of use, consider the lid and mounting mechanism. Almost all of our picks have a lid, whether it’s a zip-top that flips open, a push-through that springs closed, or a lid with magnets to keep it shut.

Most importantly, the opening should be accessible and easy to use whether your passenger is throwing the trash away for you or you’re trying to dispose of something while keeping your eyes on the road. This largely depends on where your car trash can is mounted.

Options with adjustable straps allow you to hang it on a headrest or console, or strap it to a door panel. Other options are small enough to fit in the cupholder of a center console or clip onto side panels. Just make sure it’s tied, clipped, or attached to something so it doesn’t tip over with every turn.

How We Selected

We evaluated car trash cans based on type of mount, capacity, ease of use, and how easy they are to clean. We consulted reviews from customers and our colleagues’ testing at Car and Driver to identify any hiccups when installing and using different options. The car trash cans we recommend keep your car clean, are easy to clean themselves, and won’t have you unnecessarily fumbling around when trying to throw away that empty coffee cup on the way to work.

Car Trash Can with Lid and Storage Pockets

This collapsible trash can be placed virtually anywhere in your car and fits in both small and large vehicles. Its adjustable straps secure with a plastic buckle that can be affixed around headrests, or in the center console.

The top of the lid has rubber flaps you can push trash through so you don’t have to fuss with opening and closing the zipper every time you chuck a receipt or coffee cup. The liner is held in place by four small magnets at the corners so it won’t slip as it reaches capacity. The interior is waterproof vinyl to prevent leaks onto your seats or floor mats, plus it’s easy to clean with a wipe.

Three external mesh pockets can hold extra liners, tissues, or hand sanitizer. Its frame conveniently collapses when not in use but this also means there isn’t much structure to it.

Car Trash Can Bin with Lid (2-Pack)

These car trash cans to attach to door panels and seat pockets with a clip, though it may be possible to set them inside the side door pocket or center console depending on the make and model of your car. The bins are also leakproof so you don’t have to worry about any messes.

The push-top spring lids keep trash out of sight and odors contained. This option comes in a set of two so you can place them in the front and back or on the driver- and passenger-side doors. The included 40 liners that fit the small trash can perfectly are a bonus.

You can’t overstuff the bins or else the lid won’t push in, so if you accumulate a lot of trash in a short amount of time, opt for something larger.

Spill-Proof Car Trash Can

This car trash can has a removable waterproof liner, so if a bag breaks you can take out the liner, dump its contents, and hose it off. Attach the included bag hooks to the sides to hold grocery bags in place and use them as replacement bags.

The adjustable strap lets you hang the bin behind a head rest or console and can serve as a shoulder strap if you’re using it for camping. There are also large mesh pockets on the side and a zip pocket in the front provide some extra storage.

The lid contains odors but needs to be unzipped and zipped every time you throw trash away, which can be a hassle.

Cup Holder Car Trash Can (2-Pack)

For the occasional receipt, straw wrapper, or gum, this set of cupholder trash cans are for those who don’t want unsightly trash accumulating, no matter how small. The small receptacle can also be stowed in a door panel or seat pocket if you don’t want to give up a cupholder.

The lid snaps into place and has a spring-loaded push top. It’s also leakproof. The beauty of the small stature is that they’re easy to hand-wash in the sink.

Premium Car Trash Can

The Carbage Can looks like a small trash can you’d find in an office or lobby, but it’s equipped with floor mat clips to prevent it from moving or toppling.

To install, simply align the metal base with slots on the bin’s bottom, then slide your car floor mat into the clips. If your mats have a lip or raised edge the clip may not fit or the trash can may sit at an awkward angle.

The car trash can is easy to remove and hose off when it needs a cleaning, plus it comes with a wide elastic band that fits around the top to hold trash bags securely in place.

It’s perfect behind the center console or between captain’s chairs. Some customers also opted to place it in the cargo area behind the rear seat, though that’s hard to reach if you’re driving alone.

Collapsible Car Trash Can

This trash can has an easy-open magnetic lid that keeps odors from getting out. You can hang it on headrests or consoles using the adjustable straps and hooks on the outside keep liners in place. Ten liners are included but you can use regular shopping bags afterwards.

This car trash can is big so we recommend it for larger vehicles. The waterproof and leakproof construction means it also can double as a cooler in a pinch.

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