Winter brings the beauty of snow, but also the hassle of clearing it off your car. Finding the Best Tool To Remove Snow From Car can save you time and effort in the cold mornings. We’ve tested a range of snow removal tools to help you choose the most effective option for your needs. For years, our top recommendation has consistently been the Hopkins SubZero 80037.
Having personally used the Hopkins SubZero 80037 through numerous winters, and with Wirecutter’s senior writer Doug Mahoney also vouching for its durability and effectiveness after years of use, we can confidently say this tool is indispensable when snow and ice hit. Doug recalls his experience with cheaper scrapers, noting, “Before getting the Hopkins, I used the smallest, lamest, cheapest ice scrapers I could find. I had no idea that a little added investment would make such a nice difference.” This sentiment perfectly encapsulates the value of investing in a quality snow removal tool.
Our Top Recommendations at a Glance
Top Pick
Hopkins SubZero 80037
The Best Ice Scraper and Snow Brush Combo
The Hopkins SubZero 80037 stands out as the best tool to remove snow from car due to its efficiency in clearing both ice and snow. Its robust construction ensures longevity, and its adaptable design makes it suitable for any vehicle size. Thoughtful details elevate it above the competition, making snow removal a much less daunting task.
Purchase Options
- $28 from Amazon
- $29 from Walmart
The Hopkins SubZero 80037 excels as the best tool to remove snow from car because of its combination of a highly effective ice scraper and a practical snow brush. The scraper blade features both a standard scraping edge and ice-crushing teeth, allowing for quick removal of both thin and thick ice layers. Complementing this, the plow-like bristle broom is exceptionally effective, adept at both pushing snow off large surfaces and precisely clearing snow from tighter areas around mirrors and windshield wipers.
Its design is packed with user-friendly features: padded grips for comfort, a self-locking extension mechanism for adjustable reach, and intuitive buttons that are easy to operate yet prevent accidental misuse. The tool measures 39 inches when collapsed and extends to 60 inches, a versatile size for most users. While its size is typical, the Hopkins SubZero 80037 distinguishes itself by offering a comprehensive snow and ice removal solution with very few drawbacks. Importantly, its durability is proven over time; our original test unit remains in excellent working condition after multiple winters of use.
Runner-Up
Hopkins SubZero 16619
A Slightly Smaller, Yet Still Excellent Snow Removal Tool
The Hopkins SubZero 16619 is a close second, offering many of the benefits of our top pick in a slightly more compact form. While a bit shorter, it remains a great tool to remove snow from car, especially for smaller vehicles or those with less storage space.
Purchase Options
- $29 from Amazon
The Hopkins SubZero 16619 shares many of the design strengths of the 80037, solidifying its position as a reliable tool to remove snow from car. It includes the same user-friendly buttons, robust broom-squeegee-plow head, and efficient scraper. However, there are slight differences: the brush head is narrower (8 inches compared to 10 inches), the extended handle reaches 51 inches (versus 60 inches), and the ice-crushing blade, being narrower, requires a bit more time to clear thick ice from car windows. Despite these minor compromises, the 16619 is still a very effective tool. However, cleaning larger vehicles like trucks and SUVs might require a bit more reach and effort compared to the 80037.
Also Great
BirdRock Home Snow Moover and Ice Scraper
For Foam Brush Preference in a Snow Removal Tool
The BirdRock Home Snow Moover is an excellent alternative for those who prefer a foam brush over a traditional broom. This tool to remove snow from car effectively moves large amounts of snow quickly and offers compact storage.
Purchase Options
- Buy from Amazon
The Birdrock Home Snow Moover 55” Extendable Foam Snow Brush and Ice Scraper takes a different approach by using a foam snow pusher instead of a bristly broom. This design is exceptionally good at rapidly moving large quantities of snow off a vehicle. For storage convenience, the tool disassembles into pieces, making it particularly suitable for owners of smaller cars where storage space is limited. One of the disassembled components is a dedicated hand scraper, designed for standalone use. A key advantage of the Snow Moover’s foam blade is that it minimizes the amount of snow brought into the car, reducing the chance of melting snow causing interior dampness. However, foam brushes are less effective in tight spots and crevices, such as around windshield wipers and license plates, where bristle brushes like those on the Hopkins SubZero models perform better. Durability was initially a concern, but after two winters of testing, the foam blade shows no signs of wear, proving its resilience.
Budget Pick
Hopkins SubZero 16621
A Basic and Effective Ice Scraper for Quick Jobs
If you’re looking for a simple and affordable tool to remove snow from car, and primarily need an ice scraper, the Hopkins SubZero 16621 is an excellent budget-friendly choice.
Purchase Options
- $8 from Amazon
- $9 from Walmart
While long-handled tools offer greater reach and ease for clearing an entire car, sometimes a basic, compact scraper is all you need. For those situations, the Hopkins SubZero 16621 is an ideal, no-fuss tool to remove snow from car. This 11-inch tool incorporates an ice scraper, ice crusher, and a comfortable cushioned grip. It essentially offers the same high-quality scraper head found on Hopkins’ larger tools, but in a convenient handheld format.
