HOTOR Car Trash Can with Lid, Leakproof, Black, 2 Pack

Why it's worth it

Two rigid ABS bins that drop into a cup holder or door pocket, each with a spring-loaded lid that snaps shut on its own. You get 30 matching bags in the box, and two units cover the front and back of the cabin at once.

The placement is what makes this one work. At 8.1 by 3.6 inches, it fits a standard cup holder — most are 3.25 to 3.75 inches across — and it also slides into a door pocket or a seatback sleeve. That's the difference between a trash can you use and one you ignore. Owners consistently describe putting one in each front door and forgetting it's there.

The lid is spring-loaded. Push it with a knuckle, drop the wrapper, and it shuts itself. You don't have to look away from the road or work a drawstring one-handed, and between deposits it keeps the smell of yesterday's drive-thru bag contained. That passive seal is the single feature that separates this from the open-top bags in this guide.

From our review of 8 car trash cans, by Ben Carter, Tech Editor

What we like

• +The placement is what makes this one work
• +The lid is spring-loaded
• +Two cans in a box matters more than it sounds
• +The 30 included bags fit the 3.6-inch diameter exactly, and the lid snaps over the bag's rim to hold it in place

What to know

• –Capacity is the real trade-off
• –The rigid ABS body doesn't fold, so there's no stashing it flat between trips