Let’s face it: cars can get messy…especially if you’re spending days on end driving long distances on a road trip. Fast food bags, napkins, gas station receipts, coffee cups, and more can start piling up. But you can help corral that clutter by picking out one of the best trash cans for cars that will keep your cabin organized and clean.
A car garbage can is a great investment and definitely should be on your list of road trip essentials. But before buying a mini trash can, ask yourself some questions to make sure you get the right one for your needs.
Before you buy a car trash can ask yourself:
- How many people are usually in your car? If you’re a solo road tripper you probably just need a small receptacle, but if you’re traveling with the whole family, you’ll want something a little bigger.
- How much trash do you usually make? Do you just need something to collect the occasional straw wrapper and gas station receipt or do you need to collect the remnants of multiple coffee/fast food/convenient store stop waste?
- How much does your garbage smell? Paper waste from 7-eleven straws and discarded bags of peanut M&M’s have a minimal odor. But a half-eaten Filet-O-Fish is a whole different story.
- Who is using the vehicle trash can? If it is just for the driver make sure you pick something that’s accessible even while their eyes are on the road. For back-seat passengers, something that attaches to the back of the front seat might be a better choice.
Now that you know what to look for when choosing a trash can for your car, here are some of our favorite options.
Best trash cans for cars:
Best car trash can for small messes:
Mini Car Trash Can with Lid
If you’re a solo traveler or someone who just has a small mess to contain, a cup holder trash can is the perfect solution. This mini trash can fits right into your car’s cup holder and contains waste, both solid and liquid, keeping that clutter at bay.
A slightly bigger garbage bag for car:
Foldable Car Wastebasket
If you need a little more room to stash fast food bags and Starbucks cups, but aren’t accommodating an entire car-full of people, size up a little with a foldable trash can that hangs from your console. This foldable car wastebasket comes in both medium and large sizes, multiple colors to fit your aesthetic, and is flexible enough to keep in multiple places around your vehicle.
Car trash cans for backseat drivers:
Car Trash Bag with Leakproof Lining
Not all backseat passengers are causing big messes, so a small auto trash bag that fastens behind the front seat might be just what you need.
Best car garbage can for larger messes:
Hanging Spill-Proof Car Trash Can
For families or lots of vehicular garbage, look for a large (2.5-3 gallon) bag that can be fastened to your glovebox or seat. Look for something spill proof and that closes up to keep mess contained and smells at bay.
A double-duty car trash bin:
Waterproof Car Trash Can with Lid and Storage Pockets
Another option for collecting garbage in your vehicle is a double-duty backseat model. A car garbage can like this has extra pockets to also keep your car organized. Keep some baby wipes, napkins, or wet wipes in the pockets to easily have on hand to help clean up any messes before or after throwing them away.
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