How to Travel With a Dog in the Car
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Most dogs ride in the car more often than they go anywhere else with you: to the vet, the park, a friend’s house, a week away. A few habits make every one of those trips safer for your dog and for the people in the car. This page covers how to restrain your dog, how to get a nervous dog used to the car, what to pack, and the one rule nobody should break.
The short answer: never let your dog ride loose. Use a secured crate or a harness attached to the seat belt in the back seat, keep your dog’s head inside the window, stop every couple of hours on long trips, and never leave your dog alone in a parked car, hot day or cold.
How we wrote this: the advice below comes from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) travel brochure, the ASPCA, Consumer Reports and the Center for Pet Safety, linked where they are used. If your dog gets carsick, panics in the car or has a health condition, ask your vet before a long trip.
Why a loose dog is a danger in the car
Consumer Reports explains that in hard braking or a crash, an unrestrained pet of any size can fly through the cabin and injure the people in it, and a loose pet is also a driver distraction. It quotes the advocacy group BarkBuckleUp: a 60 pound dog in a car going 35 mph can become a 2,700 pound projectile. The AVMA says to safely restrain dogs, keep them out of the passenger seat if the car has airbags, and never let a dog sit on the driver’s lap.
How to restrain your dog: 2 options
1. A secured crate or carrier
The ASPCA recommends a well-ventilated crate or carrier large enough for your dog to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in, and says to secure the crate so it will not slide or shift if you stop suddenly. A plastic kennel such as the Petmate Pet Porter suits cats and small dogs; Petmate lists the smaller sizes for pets up to about 25 lbs and larger sizes for dogs up to about 90 lbs. Our dog crate size chart shows how to measure.
2. A harness attached to the seat belt, in the back seat
If you skip the crate, the ASPCA says to keep your dog in the back seat in a harness attached to the seat buckle. The AVMA notes that harnesses, tethers and other accessories to secure pets are sold at most pet supply stores.
Use a harness made for the car, attached the way its maker says. An everyday walking harness, like the no-pull harnesses in our harness for pulling guide, is built for walks, not crash forces. Our view, not a quote from the sources: never clip a seat belt tether to a collar.
What “crash tested” means (and does not)
Consumer Reports warns that, unlike child seats, pet restraints have no government or industry safety standard, and products labeled “crash-tested” usually rest only on the maker’s own claims. The nonprofit Center for Pet Safety ran independent crash tests of harnesses, crates and carriers with crash test dummy dogs, based on the procedure used for child safety seats, and only a handful of products earned its certification. The Center for Pet Safety certified list names the current certified harnesses, carriers and crates, and the group says it takes no funding from pet product makers.
To be clear about our own catalog: none of the products on this page is Center for Pet Safety certified, and we make no crash safety claim for any of them. If crash protection is your priority, start from the certified list.
Seat covers and hammocks
A back seat cover keeps hair, mud and water off the seat, and Consumer Reports lists hammocks that fit over the rear seat area as one way to keep your dog comfortable. The 4Knines Rear Seat Cover can be set up flat or as a hammock, and 4Knines says its zippered split gives access to all three seat belts. A seat cover or hammock is not a restraint; use it with a crate or a car harness, not instead of one.
Getting your dog used to the car
- Start with short drives. The ASPCA suggests a series of short drives first, then gradually longer ones. The AVMA also says to give your pet chances to get used to car travel before any long trip.
- Practice with the crate or harness at home. The AVMA says to help your pet get used to the crate, carrier, harness or other restraint, and that a familiar toy or blanket in the carrier can help. Our crate training guide covers the steps.
- Tell your vet about carsickness. The AVMA says your veterinarian may be able to prescribe medication that helps, depending on your dog’s health. Our view: do not give your dog any medicine for the trip, human or pet, unless your vet says so.
- Do not feed in the car. The ASPCA says feeding in a moving vehicle may make your pet sick, and suggests feeding three or four hours before you leave.
On the road
- Keep heads inside. The AVMA says airborne dirt and debris can injure a dog’s eyes, ears, nose and mouth, and Consumer Reports warns of eye, ear and head injuries.
- Stop every two hours. On long trips the AVMA says to stop about every two hours so your dog can exercise and relieve itself, and to offer small portions of food and water.
- Leash before the door opens. Consumer Reports says to always put the leash on before you open the door or tailgate. The AVMA adds that your dog should wear a collar, tags and a leash whenever it is outside the car.
- Bring water. The AVMA packing list includes water in case none is available at a stop, and the ASPCA suggests bottled water, because water your dog is not used to could upset its stomach. A no-spill bowl such as the Road Refresher (1.4 L, with a floating plate that limits sloshing) or a folding Ruffwear Quencher makes stops easier. More options are in our bowls buying guide.
Never leave your dog in a parked car
Every source here that covers parked cars agrees. The ASPCA says that on a hot day, even with the windows open, a parked car can heat up fast enough to cause heatstroke, which can kill, and that in cold weather a car can hold in the cold like a refrigerator. In Consumer Reports testing, a closed car reached more than 105 F within one hour on a 61 F day. The AVMA says plainly: never leave pets unattended in a car.
What to pack
From the AVMA and ASPCA lists:
- Leash, collar and ID tags, plus microchip details and a recent photo of your dog
- Food and water bowls, enough of your dog’s usual food for the whole trip, and water
- All medications your dog needs (the AVMA says not to count on refills on the road)
- Proof of rabies vaccination and copies of medical records
- Waste bags, grooming supplies, a first-aid kit and a favorite toy or bed
- A crate or portable kennel
Crossing a state or country border? The AVMA says you will need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection signed by a federally accredited veterinarian, generally issued within 30 days before travel by car. Check your destination’s rules early.
For crates, carriers and harness fitting, see our leash, harness and carrier buying guide.
FAQ
Where should a dog sit in the car?
In the back. The AVMA says to keep dogs out of the passenger seat if the car has airbags and never on the driver’s lap, and the ASPCA says a dog that is not in a crate should ride in the back seat in a harness attached to the seat buckle.
Is a crate or a car harness safer?
Both are recommended by the ASPCA, and the safest choice depends on the product, not the type. Consumer Reports notes there is no official standard for pet restraints, so look for products on the Center for Pet Safety certified list if crash protection is your priority.
How often should I stop on a road trip with a dog?
The AVMA says about every two hours, so your dog can stretch, relieve itself and drink. Consumer Reports gives the same advice: stop every couple of hours.
Can I leave my dog in the car with the windows cracked?
No. The ASPCA says a parked car can become dangerously hot even with the windows open, and the AVMA says never leave pets unattended in a car.
What can I do if my dog gets carsick?
Talk to your vet. The AVMA says your veterinarian may prescribe medication, depending on your dog’s health. The ASPCA suggests feeding three or four hours before leaving, not in the moving car.