<p>Hydrophobic surfaces have garnered significant attention for their unique properties and extensive applications, particularly in the automotive sector. Inspired by natural phenomena such as lotus leaves, which exhibit self-cleaning capabilities, researchers have sought to enhance surface hydrophobicity by modifying micro/nanostructures and surface roughness to control wetting properties. This study examined the fabrication of hydrophobic surfaces utilizing laser surface texturing, a cost-effective, precise, and reliable technique to modify the self-cleaning properties of materials. Aluminum 6061 was selected as the substrate, and optimal laser parameters 18 W power, 100 mm/s scanning speed, and 40 kHz repetition rate were determined using the response surface method. Three patterns (square, circle, and triangle) with varying line spacings (50, 150, 250, and 350 µm) were fabricated, and all samples achieved contact angles exceeding 90°, confirming hydrophobic behavior. Surface roughness analysis revealed that contact angles increased with roughness, while EDX analysis demonstrated a correlation between increased carbon composition and enhanced hydrophobicity over time by confirming the aging process. Self-cleaning performance was evaluated by applying dust and dirt, with the number of water droplets required for cleaning while increasing line spacing. The findings concluded that the square pattern with a 50 µm line spacing exhibited the optimal performance, offering insights for designing hydrophobic surfaces with enhanced self-cleaning properties for automotive applications.</p>