Best car safety products for pets

We rounded up the top pet travel products to keep you and your furry friend safer on the road.
Best car harness
Company of Animals Dog Harness
  • pro
    Crash-tested
  • pro
    Multiple sizes available
  • pro
    Easy to use
View on Amazon
Read review
Best dog seat belt
BWOGUE Dog Seat Belt
  • pro
    Easy to use
  • pro
    Durable construction
  • pro
    Adjustable length
View on Amazon
Read review
Best dog car seat
Buddy & Belle Pet Car Seat
  • pro
    Two sizes available
  • pro
    Multiple anchor points
  • pro
    Reversible lining
View on Petstock
Read review
Best back seat cover
golden retriever sitting in car
Xkimos Car Seat Cover
  • pro
    Waterproof and machine washable
  • pro
    Fits most vehicles
  • pro
    Secure installation
View on Amazon
Read review
Best pet carrier
Amazon Basics Pet Carrier
  • pro
    Good ventilation
  • pro
    Suitable up to 9kg
  • pro
    Sturdy
View on Amazon
Read review
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Jessica Jones
By Jessica Jones
Nov 11, 2024
Icon Time To Read5 min read

When it comes to caring for the furriest member of your family, car safety is something that’s easy to overlook. Sure, it’s the place where your four-legged friend might spend the least amount of time, but that doesn’t make it any less important. From road trips to vet visits, ensuring your pet’s safety while on the move is just as crucial as it is for any human passenger. After all, even if you have a safe and secure car, taking a few extra steps to protect your furry friend can make a big difference.

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the best car safety products for pets, designed to make sure every ride is stress-free, secure, and comfortable for your doggo.

Top car safety products for pets

  1. Company of Animals Dog Car Harness
    : Best car harness
  2. BWOGUE Dog Seat Belt
    : Best dog seat belt
  3. Buddy & Belle Pet Car Seat
    : Best dog car seat
  4. Xkimos Car Seat Cover
    : Best car seat cover
  5. Amazon Basics Pet Carrier
    : Best pet carrier
cute bulldog puppy front seat car dog harness

Compare car safety products for pets

Product
Best for
Price
Suitability
Learn more
Company of Animals Dog Car Harness
Best car harness$60.83Dogs up to 32kgView on AmazonRead review
BWOGUE Dog Seat Belt
Best dog seat belt From $20.42

Dogs of any size

View on AmazonRead review
Buddy & Belle Pet Car Seat
Best dog car seat From $94Single: One small dog
Double: Two small dogs or one medium to large dog		View on PetstockRead review
golden retriever sitting in carXkimos Dog Car Seat Cover
Best car seat cover$70.99Pets of any sizeView on AmazonRead review
Amazon Basics 2-Door travel Carrier
Best pet carrier From $59.90Medium sized petsView on AmazonRead review

Prices are accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Reviews: Best car safety products for pets

1. Company of Animals Dog Car Harness: Best car harness

Best car harness
Company of Animals Dog Car Harness
Starting at$60.83
View on Amazon

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

An approved harness is one of the best ways to ensure your pet's car safety. You'll want to ensure that your chosen harness is crash tested and appropriately sized for your pet. Our top pick for this category is the Company Of Animals Dog Car Harness.

Though there isn't a process for testing pet car safety products in Australia, the fact that this harness has been crash-tested for dogs up to 32kg by the Michigan Transportation Research Institute some real peace of mind.

pro
Pros
pro Crash tested for safety
pro Available in multiple sizes
pro Padded for extra comfort
pro Connects to your car seat belt for easy installation
con
Cons
con Only tested for dogs up to 32kg
con Not suitable for dogs with a neck over 60cm

2. BWOGUE Dog Seat Belt: Best dog seat belt

Best dog seat belt
BWOGUE Dog Seat Belt
Starting at$20.42
View on Amazon

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

A dog seat belt is an important part of keeping your pet safe in the car. Unless their harness connects directly to your standard seat belts (like our top pick), you're going to need a separate dog seat belt in order to keep your pet in place. With over twenty thousand reviews and an average rating of 4.6 stars, our recommendation for this category is the budget-friendly BWOGUE Dog Seat Belt.

It comes in multiple fun colours and there's even a bungee material version that allows for a little more flexibility while still keeping your pup restrained.

pro
Pros
pro Low price
pro Easy headrest installation
pro Durable construction
pro Adjustable length to suit many pet sizes
con
Cons
con Different colours cost extra
con Hand wash only

3. Buddy & Belle Pet Car Seat: Best dog car seat

Best dog car seat
Buddy & Belle Pet Car Seat
Starting at$94
View on Petstock

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

If you want to give your dog an enclosed space all to themselves in the back seat, a car seat is the best way to go. We recommend the Buddy & Belle Pet Car Seat as it provides benefits for safety, comfort and organisation.

We love that it comes with reversible lining to provide warmth in winter and keep them cool in summer. There are also two sizes available, single, which suits one small dog, and double, which suits two small dogs or one medium to large dog.

pro
Pros
pro Available in single or double size
pro Multiple anchor points for added security
pro In-built attachments for your pet's travel harness
pro Reversible lining
con
Cons
con Does not include a built-in harness
con Single version only suitable for small dogs
con Lower sides than some other options

4. Xkimos Car Seat Cover: Best car seat cover

Best car seat cover
golden retriever sitting in car
Xkimos Dog Car Seat Cover
$70.99
View on Amazon

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

A dog car seat cover is an ideal way to keep both your pet and your car safe.  The Xkimos dog car seat cover is easy to clean thanks to the facts it's made of 600D heavy duty anti-scratch material & high quality waterproof oxford fabric. It keeps your furry friends safe, too, as it features an extended backseat, designed specifically for dogs to prevent injuries from dogs or pets from falling into the seat crevices.

pro
Pros
pro No odour and easy to clean material
pro Universal sizing fits most vehicles
pro made of thicker hollow plate with superb load bearing performance up to 150kg
pro Machine washable
con
Cons
con May be too large for small vehicles
con Set up not intuitive

5.Amazon Basics 2-Door Travel Carrier: Best pet carrier

Best pet carrier
Amazon Basics 2-Door Dog Travel Carrier
Starting at$59.90
View on Amazon

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Basic, yet durable, the Amazon Basics 2-Door Dog Travel Carrier has 10,000+ 5 star reviews and is perfect for transporting your pup to the vet, for instance. It's made of plastic with steel wire doors and screws that keep the top and bottom securely attached and offers plenty of air ventilation on the sides, top, and back of the crate.

These types of carriers are also great for moving house with your pet and ensuring their safety during an emergency situation.

pro
Pros
pro Suitable for medium size dogs weighing up to 9kg
pro Well ventilated
pro Spring load latches ensure easy one-handed door opening and closing
con
Cons
con Not the most comfortable without accessories
con Not ideal for pets who don't do well in small spaces

A note on car barriers

If your furry friend rides in the back of your SUV or wagon and you want to be extra sure they stay safe back there, investing in a pet car barrier is a good decision.

There's no one-size-fits-all option here, so an entry on our list wouldn't be overly helpful, but these car safety tools certainly deserve an honourable mention. We suggest selecting one that's designed for your vehicle and allows your dog's harness to be connected to it for the best security.

Those who keep their furry friend in the back seat can also purchase a barrier that prevents them from being able to get into the front seat, however, these should not be relied upon as a standalone safety measure.

Final word

Keeping your four-legged family members safe while out and about should definitely top the list of pet parent priorities. After all, our dogs make every adventure brighter, whether it’s a short, tail-wagging ride to the local dog park or an epic road trip filled with new sniffs and adventures. With the products we’ve highlighted in this article, you’ll have everything you need to keep your pup secure, comfy, and ready for any journey.

From crash-tested harnesses to cosy car seat covers, we’ve got you and your furry co-pilot covered. So buckle up, roll down those windows and get ready for safe travels ahead. For even more 'pawsome' tips on keeping your pet protected on the road, don’t miss our guide to traveling safely with your four-legged friend!

Pet car safety FAQ

While the rules vary from state to state, the general consensus is that pets must be secured when travelling in your vehicle. Fines can reach over $10,000 if your pet is injured in a crash because you weren't following car safety laws, and you may even face jail time.

Having said that, your chosen pet safety restraint doesn't necessarily have to be a dog seat belt or harness, you are free to choose the safest option for your particular pet.

Dog booster seats will have specific installation instructions that explain the safest way to anchor the product to your vehicle.

When dealing with a pet carrier, you will want to secure it either with your car's seat belt, or proper anchor straps. In this instance, the best choice will depend on what gives the most secure fit and minimises movement of the pet carrier within the car.

Short answer, no. No pet should ever be left unattended in a vehicle for any amount of time. If you're on a road trip and need to make a run for the bathroom, your pet should be fine while you pee (as long as they're properly secured and you leave a window down) but any period of time longer than this can pose significant danger. When in doubt, take your pet out.

The safest place for your pet to sit in your car is always in the back seat. However, they should never be placed in the centre seat regardless of whether they're in a dog seat belt, pet carrier or a dog car seat as this enhances the risk of them flying forwards in the event of an accident.

The only exception to this is if your pet is too large to fit in one seat, in which case, they should be kept as close to the door as possible.

Disclaimer
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time of publish and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the retailer’s website at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. SafeWise Australia utilises paid affiliate links.
Jessica Jones
Written by
Jessica Jones
Jess has been writing educational content for almost ten years with a focus on lifestyle content. She loves coffee, dogs and all things fitness, and can often be found with her nose buried in a book and her music blaring through her earphones.

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