Do I need to restrain my dog when travelling in my car?

It’s important that owners make sure their pet will be comfortable and safe during car transport. The laws regarding restraint of dogs in or on vehicles can vary between the states/territories. We recommend that you check:

1. The Road Traffic Authority (or equivalent) Road rules.
2. Check with the relevant state government department responsible for animal welfare or the relevant state RSPCA to check the animal welfare laws that apply to transporting dogs in or on vehicles.

Restraining a dog in a car may provide several safety benefits both to the dog and the occupants of the car [1]:

• the dog cannot move around within the car and, therefore, has less potential to distract or disrupt the driver.
• in a collision (or if you need to brake heavily or swerve to avoid an incident), the dog may be less likely to become a projectile thereby potentially decreasing the risk of injury to the dog, driver or passengers.
• restraint may prevent the dog from jumping out of the window of a moving which may reduce the risk of injury to the dog and other road users.

Dogs can be safely restrained in the back seat of a vehicle using a vehicle restraint/harness that has passed safety/crash tests. Please note that there are many products on the market that have not passed any safety/crash testing, and these may not prevent injuries to dogs during accidents; so, it is important to choose carefully.

While there’s no formally recognised Australian standard for crash testing dog car restraints or carriers, some brands have had their products tested and certified by organisations like the Center for Pet Safety (which is a not-for-profit research and advocacy organisation that uses standards similar to those for child restraints to test dog restraints and carriers) and other manufacturers claim to have conducted their own tests (but it is important to do your due diligence when considering these claims).

Restraints must be attached to the vehicle as directed by the manufacturer (usually by attaching to existing seat belts or via buckles that clip directly into the seat belt). Note that a harness that is safe for restraint in vehicles should be used and should have passed safety/crash tests for this purpose, and this may be different from the harness used to walk a dog.

Dogs may also be transported in pet transport containers or crates (appropriately secured within the car) that have passed safety/crash tests (see above). These should be adequately ventilated and big enough to allow the animal to stand up with their head in a normal upright position and maintain balance when standing, turn around, and lie down comfortably.

Another option for dogs being transported in vehicles where the dog can comfortably travel in the back/cargo area (e.g., appropriately sized station wagons or hatch-backs), is to have the dog behind a cargo barrier (sometimes called a dog guard). It must be noted that, although this may protect the people in the car from the dog becoming a projectile in an accident, it may not protect the dog from serious injury ​​[1]. Therefore, the use of a restraint and harness (see above for more detail) may also be advisable to help reduce risks to the dog. Please see the RSPCA’s policy on transportation of companion animals and our transportation general principles policy.

Never leave your dog unattended in a car. Dogs die very quickly from heat stress, even in mild weather.

At this stage, RSPCA Australia considers that further research using non-animal models is needed to determine the safest and most effective way of restraining dogs and other pets in cars in order to reduce the risk of injury to the animal, driver; other occupants in the car and other road users. The information here is based on what evidence is available and precautionary principles.

The information presented here is not intended to be relied on for legal advice and you should seek advice from the relevant authority and/or a lawyer about your individual circumstances.