Traveling by car with a dog: restraints, car sickness and stops

Road trips, weekend getaways, the drive to the vet or the dog park: sooner or later your dog is going to ride in the car. Traveling by car with a dog can be completely stress-free, as long as they’re properly restrained, don’t get carsick and the trip is planned with their needs in mind.

A dog roaming the back seat looks harmless right up until you slam on the brakes. In this guide you’ll learn which restraints actually protect your dog (and which ones don’t), how to build a calm car rider, how to prevent car sickness, how often to stop, what to pack and why you should never leave your dog in a parked car, not even for a quick errand.

Why your dog should always be restrained in the car

An unrestrained dog puts themselves and everyone else in the car at risk. There are four solid reasons to buckle up your dog:

• Basic physics. In a crash or a hard stop, a loose body keeps moving at the car’s speed. Even at city speeds, crash forces multiply a dog’s weight many times over, launching them into the seats, the windshield or the people up front.
• Distraction. A dog climbing into the front seat, pushing their head between you and the passenger or barking at passing trucks pulls your attention away at the worst possible moment.
• After the crash. A frightened, loose dog may bolt onto the highway or keep first responders from reaching injured people.
• The law. Rules vary by state. A few states have laws addressing how dogs ride in vehicles or in open pickup beds, and distracted-driving laws can apply if a dog on your lap interferes with your driving. Many states also have laws about leaving animals in hot cars. Check the rules where you live and where you’re headed.

Dog car restraints: which one to choose

There’s no single best option for every dog. The right choice depends on your dog’s size, your vehicle and how your dog behaves on the road.

A secured crate

For many dogs, a crate is the safest option, as long as it’s sturdy, sized correctly (your dog can stand up, turn around and lie down) and can’t move. An unsecured crate on the seat becomes a projectile with your dog inside it.

• Small dogs: on the floor behind the driver’s or passenger’s seat, wedged in sideways.
• Medium and large dogs: in the cargo area of an SUV, wagon or minivan, pushed against the back of the rear seats and strapped to the anchor points.

If your dog has never spent time in a crate, don’t wait until the morning you leave. Start crate training your dog with treats and short sessions a few weeks ahead.

A crash-tested harness

Use a harness designed for cars, with a wide, padded chest plate, connected to the seat belt or the LATCH anchors with a short tether. The ideal length lets your dog sit and lie down but not reach the front seats or fall into the footwell. Look for products that have been independently crash-tested; the Center for Pet Safety, a nonprofit, certifies harnesses and crates that pass its tests.

Cargo barriers

A rigid barrier mounted to the vehicle keeps your dog from climbing into the passenger area, but your dog is still loose in the back. It works best combined with a crate or a cargo-area tie-down.

What to avoid

• Letting your dog ride in the front passenger seat: an airbag can seriously injure them.
• Driving with your dog on your lap.
• Clipping a seat belt tether to a collar: in a sudden stop, all the force goes straight to the neck.
• Letting your dog hang their head out the window: bugs, gravel and debris can injure their eyes, and some dogs jump.
• Putting your dog in the trunk of a sedan, which has no ventilation or climate control.
• Letting your dog ride loose in an open pickup bed. Use a secured crate inside the cab instead.

How to help your dog get comfortable in the car

Plenty of dogs only ride in the car to go to the vet, so it’s no wonder they’re not fans. Change that association with short sessions of 3–5 minutes, moving to the next step only when your dog is relaxed at the current one:

1. Parked car, doors open. Let your dog sniff around and reward any interest. You can feed part of a meal next to the door.
2. Hop in, hop out. Encourage your dog to get in, reward them inside and let them get out whenever they want. For large or older dogs, a ramp protects their joints.
3. Buckled in, engine off. Put on the restraint and offer a chew or a stuffed food toy.
4. Engine on, car in park. A couple of minutes, then turn it off.
5. 2- to 5-minute drives to fun places: a park, a sniffing trail, a friend your dog adores.
6. Gradually increase the time until you’re comfortably doing 30- to 60-minute drives.

If your dog licks their lips, yawns, pants without being hot or tries to get out, you’ve moved too fast. Brush up on the signs of stress in dogs so you can spot them early, and go back a step.

Car sickness in dogs: symptoms and prevention

Motion sickness is common in puppies because the inner ear, which controls balance, isn’t fully developed yet. Many grow out of it, but some adult dogs keep getting carsick, especially if the car is tied to bad experiences.

Symptoms tend to show up in roughly this order: restlessness or unusual stillness, yawning, lip licking, heavy drooling, whining and, finally, vomiting. Car sickness and car anxiety look a lot alike and often go hand in hand, so it isn’t always easy to tell which one you’re dealing with.

To help prevent it:

• Skip food for 2–3 hours before the drive. Water is fine.
• Keep the car cool and well ventilated, with a window cracked slightly.
• Drive smoothly: avoid hard acceleration, sudden braking and sharp turns.
• Cut down on visual motion: some dogs do better facing forward or in a crate that’s partly covered.
• Take short, frequent trips that end somewhere fun, to break the car-equals-nausea link.

If your dog still gets sick, your veterinarian can prescribe medications made for dogs. Don’t reach for over-the-counter motion sickness pills meant for people without your vet’s guidance.

Planning rest stops on a road trip

A healthy adult dog can handle long road trips if you plan them well. What matters isn’t the total number of hours but how often you stop.

• Stop every 2–3 hours for 15–20 minutes so your dog can potty, drink and stretch their legs. Puppies, senior dogs and dogs with health problems may need more frequent breaks.
• Clip on the leash before you open the door or the crate. At a highway rest area, a dog who bolts is only a few yards from traffic.
• Offer water at every stop and save meals for when you arrive. On an all-day drive, give a small meal during a longer break.
• In summer, drive during the cooler hours: early morning or evening.
• Keep ID up to date: a tag with your cell number and a microchip registered with your current contact information. A dog who gets loose far from home is much harder to find.
• Check your destination’s rules. Some states have entry requirements for dogs, such as proof of rabies vaccination or a health certificate.

Road trip packing list for your dog

• Fresh water and a collapsible bowl.
• A spare leash and harness.
• Poop bags.
• Your dog’s blanket or bed and a familiar toy or chew.
• Enough food for the whole trip, plus a few extra meals.
• Proof of rabies vaccination and recent vet records.
• Any medications your dog takes and a basic pet first aid kit.
• Paper towels and old towels in case of carsickness or muddy paws.
• A recent photo of your dog on your phone, in case they get lost.

If part of your trip involves a plane, read our guide to flying with a dog: carrier rules and paperwork are a different story.

Never leave your dog alone in a parked car

Not for five minutes, not in the shade, not with the windows cracked. A closed car parked in the sun heats up fast: the temperature inside climbs many degrees within minutes, and most of that increase happens in the first half hour. Cracking the windows makes little difference, and shade moves while you’re gone.

Dogs cool themselves mainly by panting, which doesn’t work well in a small, hot space. The risk is higher for flat-faced breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers), puppies, senior dogs, overweight dogs and dogs with thick coats. In winter, a parked car can get dangerously cold, and there’s always the risk of theft and the stress of being shut in somewhere unfamiliar.

Frequently asked questions

Is it illegal to drive with a dog unrestrained?

It depends on where you live. Only a handful of states have laws that specifically address how dogs must ride in a vehicle, but distracted-driving laws can apply if your dog interferes with your driving, and some states regulate dogs in open truck beds. Whatever the law says, a secured crate or a crash-tested harness is the safest way for your dog to ride.

Can my dog ride in the front seat?

It’s not a good idea. Front airbags deploy with enough force to seriously injure a dog, whether or not they’re in a carrier. A dog up front is also more likely to distract the driver. The back seat with a crash-tested harness, or the back floor with a snug-fitting crate, is a much safer setup.

What can I give my dog for car sickness?

Only what your veterinarian recommends. There are prescription medications made specifically for motion sickness in dogs, but the right choice depends on your dog’s weight, health and whether the issue is nausea, anxiety or both. Don’t give human motion sickness medicine on your own, since some can cause side effects or interact with other drugs.

How long can a dog ride in a car?

A healthy adult dog can handle a full day of driving if you stop every 2–3 hours for water, a potty break and a short walk. Puppies who haven’t finished their vaccines, senior dogs and dogs with health conditions need shorter legs and more frequent stops. For very long trips, consider splitting the drive over two days.

Is it safe for my dog to ride in the cargo area of an SUV?

Yes, if the cargo area is open to the cabin, your dog is in a secured crate or attached to the tie-down points, and ideally there’s a cargo barrier. Never put a dog in the enclosed trunk of a sedan: there’s no airflow or temperature control.

Sources

• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): guidance on the dangers of leaving pets in hot vehicles.
• Center for Pet Safety: crash testing and certification of pet travel harnesses and crates.
• American Kennel Club (AKC): tips on car travel and preventing car sickness in dogs.
• ASPCA: travel safety tips for pets.