Danny as been writing about air purifiers for 10+ years. He is a major fan of home technology, which makes him the perfect person to test and evaluate products for HouseFresh
Just like in your home, a humid environment can cause a variety of problems for your car as well. One of the most common issues is when a buildup of condensation causes the windows to become fogged. You’ll probably notice that this becomes worse during the winter months when there’s more of a disparity between inside and outside temperatures.
Alongside being a nuisance, fogged-up windows also affect visibility. It’s therefore paramount that you control the humidity inside your car. This is where a dehumidifier for cars comes in. Unlike a dehumidifier for your home, these devices work by using various chemicals to soak up excess water from the air. Crystalized silica gel, for example, is commonly used and effectively absorbs substantial amounts of moisture.
There are various ways a car dehumidifier can be powered. Many simply require the use of a microwave in which they can be recharged in less than ten seconds. Some dehumidifiers, however, don’t require power at all and all you need to do is empty out the absorbed water.
When picking out our top choices, we looked at special features like:
- Activated charcoal to trap moisture and eliminate odors
- Non-toxic materials to ensure the safety of children and pets
- Compactness and portability so that you can use it in other spaces
One thing you might also want to try out are those small charcoal bags to purify the air, we found that they could be useful for using in the car, be sure to read our article do charcoal bag air purifiers work? There might also be a number of options worth checking out our list of the best dehumidifiers for boats. If you also want to remove particles and odor from the air in your car, be sure to look at what we think are the best car air purifiers.
To make sure we found the best car dehumidifiers to meet your specific needs for this list, we used Consumer Reports and Which data from the UK and utilized analysis to remove any false reviews. This meant that all our recommendations came from genuine people like you who have previously used and can endorse these models.
Last update on 2023-06-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. BARSKA Moisture Absorber Dehumidifier
This dehumidifier by Barska is an excellent tool for removing moisture from your car. It’s perfect for helping protect valuables that are susceptible to moisture damage, including photos, passports, electronics, ammunition, and much more.
As for the display, it has a changing humidity indicator that goes from blue to pink when it is at full absorption. When this is the case, the water needs to be evaporated by placing it in a microwave for four minutes.
Another reason this is a handy dehumidifier for a car is that it does not require any power to work, but simply needs to have the water removed when it reaches its limit. This means that you can place it in your car, and only check on it periodically to see if it is full. This makes it an amazingly simple system that you can reuse repeatedly. There is also no electronics that could potentially break down, providing you a little extra peace of mind. Measuring in at 5 x 3.5 x 1¼ inches means that it can fit in any side storage area in your car.
What we love
- Drying out in the microwave is a very quick process
- The shape of the unit lends itself to being hidden away easily
- Has a humidity indicator that turns from blue to pink when the absorption capacity is reached
- Helps reduce odors lingering in your car
We don't like this as much
- It’s important to make sure your microwave is clean to prevent grease and spills affecting the dehumidifier
- We wish the indicator color was a little clearer when it’s time to microwave the unit
2. Eva-Dry Wireless Mini Dehumidifier
This small but powerful dehumidifier is the perfect solution if your car interior is suffering from high moisture. It uses a non-toxic crystallized silica gel to absorb moisture and releases it again when the unit is plugged in to recharge. It will efficiently and rapidly absorb four to six ounces of moisture out of the air, and it does so without any risk of leaks or spills,
This dehumidifier is completely renewable, and it has no batteries or cords when being used. It is designed to have a working life of about ten years. As it absorbs humidity from the air, the moisture indicator beads will change from orange to green, clearly indicating that it needs recharging. This mini dehumidifier is also perfect for removing light odors from your car, such as pervasive damp smells that result from high humidity.
You can even hang this dehumidifier in your rearview mirror. This puts it in a safe but visible location so you can track its moisture indicator. If this is too distracting, you can also place it in your car’s door storage pocket or the central storage area. Weighing in at 1.2 pounds and a size of 9 x 8¼ x 2.88 inches, it’s easy to be tucked away out of sight and mind.
What we love
- Extremely simple to set up and recharge
- Non-toxic, making it safe for use around kids and pets
- Dehumidifies areas of up to three hundred and thirty-three cubic feet
- Arrives with a built-in plug for recharging
We don't like this as much
- There’s a possibility of overcharging the unit, so take care to only charge it as much as it requires
- When plugged in, the unit releases its stored moisture into the air. Keep this in mind when choosing a location to recharge
3. Zarpax LV-A300-US Dehumidifier
This reusable dehumidifier is excellent for a car, truck, van, or SUV. A car interior can develop quite a lot of humidity, especially in the winter months. This can lead to the fogging up of windows that can even cause obstruction to vision when driving. This dehumidifier tackles the problem by absorbing this excess moisture, leaving you able to start your commute with a fresh-smelling car and a more comfortable interior.
Every bag has a humidity indicator that turns pink when it reaches its maximum absorption level. At this point, you will need to recharge it by putting it in a microwave or leaving it out in the sun to dry. This process only requires six minutes in a microwave. Once it has been fully recharged the indicator turns back to blue.
You can place it almost anywhere inside your car that is not in direct sunlight. Placing it under your seat is a good choice, as well as inside the storage pocket of your car door.
What we love
- Highly compact with dimensions of 1.42 inches by 7 inches by 4.33 inches
- Leak- and stain-proof, meaning no spills in your car
- The ability to let this dry out naturally is great if you don’t have a microwave
- It’s easy to stack multiple units for larger car interiors or when humidity is very high
We don't like this as much
- We wish the unit had a suction cup to secure it to a position in the car
- Ensure that you do not over-microwave it, as it can damage the dehumidifier
4. DampRid Disposable Moisture Absorber with Activated Charcoal
This dehumidifier weighs in at 1.37 pounds and is extremely compact at 4.13 x 6.69 x 5.63 inches. It uses activated charcoal to tackle any musty odors by completely removing them from the air.
It has an eighteen-ounce reservoir for removing moisture from areas as big as three hundred square feet. This makes it perfect for any vehicles that may be in storage or in use in areas of high humidity. Each of these disposable moisture absorbers can last as long as sixty days depending on temperature and humidity. Activating this dehumidifier simply involves removing the lid and peeling off the foil. The container is discarded when the crystals have fully dissolved into the water that they had collected.
There’s no scent produced by this dehumidifier either, so those with allergies or sensitivity to strong odors can rest assured. Whether your car is the workhorse of the family or is being stored away in a garage until the time comes for its use, this handy dehumidifier provides a fantastic solution to reducing humidity and the consequences high humidity can bring about.
What we love
- Uses activated charcoal to trap any odor as well
- Very simple to set up
- With optimal humidity levels, this product can last up to two months
- There’s a visible indicator while this product is absorbing moisture
We don't like this as much
- As it is disposable, there will be wastage after it has reached the end of its lifespan
- Make sure not to peel away the inner layer when initially removing the outer layer
5. Pro Breeze Wireless Mini Dehumidifier
The Pro Breeze rechargeable dehumidifier uses a renewable silica gel that absorbs moisture from the air while being completely silent. It runs without an external power source making it excellent for being used in small places, car interiors for instance. As it removes moisture from the air, its humidity indicator window changes from orange to green. When this dehumidifier reaches full capacity, all you need to do is plug it in for eight to ten hours.
If you’re wondering where the best place in your car is for this device, there’s no need to worry. This little dehumidifier can be placed anywhere where it’s exposed to the interior airspace of the car, as long as it is secure while you are driving. The glove compartment, for example, would not be a good place, as it is usually closed. Under a seat, or in any open storage area would be an ideal location where it can soak up the moisture from around your car.
What we love
- Removes moisture from an area as large as three hundred and thirty-three cubic feet, perfect for larger cars
- Works for twenty to thirty days without needing to be recharged
- At 7.3 x 6 x 2 inches this dehumidifier is easy to tuck away under the car seat
- A clear window indicates when it is time to recharge
We don't like this as much
- During the recharging process, this unit releases its moisture into the air
- We wish there was a companion app that alerted you when the dehumidifier has absorbed maximum moisture
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I put my dehumidifier in my car?
For the most part, you can place a dehumidifier almost anywhere. Ideal places include the dashboard, under the seats, or in the storage pocket of your car door. One mistake people often make is placing their dehumidifier in their glove compartment or in the trunk. Putting a dehumidifier in your glove compartment often seals it away from the airspace of the rest of the car, rendering it useless at removing the rest of your car’s moisture.
Basically, ask yourself, where in your car gets the most moisture? Are you looking to reduce humidity overall in your car’s interior? Place the dehumidifier in a centralized area open to your car’s environment. Are you looking to protect goods in the trunk? Then it is best to place a dehumidifier there.
How Does Condensation Build Up?
The buildup of condensation occurs when there is a temperature and moisture difference between the exterior and interior of a car. If your car is out in cold weather, warmer air gets trapped in the enclosed environment. When the moisture in this warmer air meets a windshield that is cold from outside temperatures, it forms beads of water on the windshield.
This moisture can be a result of many factors, including wet items such as an umbrella or jacket that you may have left inside your car. Take care to remove all such items when leaving your car to help cut down on condensation buildup.
Which Car Dehumidifier is best for you?
Using a dehumidifier in a car has many benefits, the most obvious one is preventing the windows from fogging up.
Car-specific dehumidifiers are not the same as a dehumidifier that you would buy for a room, as they use chemicals that soak up water from the air, making it much smaller and economical.
Ensuring that the humidity inside your car is low is important, as we all know how dangerous it can be to drive with fogged-up windows. Take the crucial step to preventing this issue from occurring by using a portable dehumidifier. Condensation cannot form on windows without sufficient moisture in the air and removing that moisture solves that problem.
With this in mind, take a look at our top picks for the best budget, mid-range, and high-end dehumidifiers for cars: