Road trips are a lot more fun with Fido in tow, but traveling with a dog poses its own safety challenges. An unsecured dog is at risk of injury or death in the event of an accident and could become a danger to passengers if they leap into a driver’s lap or fall onto the floor beneath the brake pedal. Using a dog seat belt or harness system while traveling is the best solution to ensure peace of mind for both human and canine.
A well-fitted dog seat belt harness keeps a dog safe and comfortable in the back seat of a vehicle, especially during sharp turns and sudden stops. When properly installed, it can also prevent a dog leaping from an open door or climbing out a window.
There are a wide range of dog seat belt and car harness systems available, all designed to fit different breeds, sizes and temperaments. Here are five of the best dog seat belt harnesses. Want more recommendations? Find our other top-rated dog harnesses right here.
The SleepyPod Clickit Sport harness is one of few crash-tested (up to 90 pounds) and safety-rated harnesses available. It’s constructed from durable ballistic nylon and features a broad, cushioned vest. The unique, three-point Infinity Loop design evenly distributes pressure in the event of an accident. Designed to attach directly to a rear passenger seat belt, the harness allows for dogs to adjust their position as desired.
The VavoPaw features a carabiner attachment that resolves most vehicle compatibly issues. It’s designed to loop through a seat belt or clip to your car’s headrest rod or latch bar. The harness is made from Oxford fabric, padded with soft sponge, and includes breathable mesh lining to keep dogs comfortable and cool.
This dog seat belt harness is built to last, with all-metal nesting buckles designed similarly to mountain-climbing harnesses. When used for walking, front and back D-ring attachment points serve as effective training tools. The included dog tether makes it compatible with most car seat belt systems and doubles as a lead.
The Lukovee harness sports a breathable mesh chest designed to keep dogs cool while traveling. The smallest size fits dogs with 11-13 inch chest girths. Some users report the harness is also suitable for securing cats. An included elastic bungee tether prevents jerking during sudden stops and provides for greater freedom of movement than static alternatives.
The Kurgo Direct is a tether that attaches to a dog’s existing harness and clips directly into a seat belt buckle. It’s an ideal alternative to a seat belt harness when traveling with different size dogs or a growing puppy. The tether is easy to use but not suited for vehicles lacking access to rear seat belts.
Bestselling Dog Seat Belts on Amazon Sponsored Sale Bestseller No. 1 20,431 Reviews COOYOO Dog Seat Belt,3 Piece Set Retractable Dog Car Seatbelts Adjustable Pet Seat Belt for Vehicle Nylon Pet Safety Seat Belts Heavy Duty & Elastic & Durable Car Harness for Dogs DURABILITY - No matter how well-trained your pup may be, there is no guarantee that it won’t tug, pull, and chew on the seat belt during the ride. The material of our seat belt be extra durable, made of high density nylon fabric to ensure durability, and the metal elements of the construction to be sturdy enough not to unbuckle or snap at the worst possible moment.ELASTIC BUFFER DESIGN - Restraint with elastic buffer could keep your dog from sudden brake or sharp turn, keep your dogs away from possible choking risk, allows pets active freely in certain space without the feeling of rigid control.TANGLE-FREE & ADJUSTED - The dog seat belt can be easily adjusted from 20 to 26 inches. A sturdy, aluminium alloy clasp swivels 360 degrees to accommodate comfort in case he wants to sit, stand or lay down,so your dog can rotate and move around without ever getting tangled. $13.99 −$3.44 $10.55 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Sale Bestseller No. 2 3,414 Reviews VavoPaw Dog Vehicle Safety Vest Harness, Adjustable Soft Padded Mesh Car Seat Belt Leash Harness with Travel Strap and Carabiner for Most Cars, Size Large, Black STRONG SECURITY: This car vest harness is specially designed for preventing pet dog running around in the car to distract the driver’s attention and further protecting dog's safety during the during time.EASY TO USE: After the pet wears it, hook one end of the safety belt with it and insert the other end into the safety belt socket. Equipped with a carabiner to better resolve the problem pf buckle’s compatibility, universal fit for the most of car models.SOFT & COMFORTABLE: This vest harness is made of an extremely strong Oxford fabric (Polyester), filled with soft sponge, and lining with an elastic mesh cloth to make dogs feel soft and comfortable. $27.99 −$10.00 $17.99 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 3 19,638 Reviews BWOGUE 2 Packs Dog Cat Safety Seat Belt Strap Car Headrest Restraint Adjustable Nylon Fabric Dog Restraints Vehicle Seatbelts Harness HIGH QUALITY: Made of high quality nylon fabric to ensure safety, features the solid zinc alloy swivel snap and quality buckles, the pet car seat belt ensures the most safest traveling for your pet, and provides a most relaxing driving experience for you.ADJUSTABLE LENGTH: Dogs come in different sizes and weights. The Bwogue Headrest Restraint is adjustable between 18-30 inches,You can easy to adjust the dog leash to the suitable length to keep your pet in a safety state.CONVENIENT: The tangle-free nylon straps quickly and easily attaches to vehicle headrests. Safety strap is easily removed making it the perfect leash for your vehicle! $10.49 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Sale Bestseller No. 4 28,614 Reviews Vastar 2 Packs Adjustable Pet Dog Cat Car Seat Belt Safety Leash Vehicle Seatbelt Harness Our dog car seat belt attachment made of high quality nylon fabric to ensure safety, features the solid zinc alloy swivel snap and metal buckles guarantee extra durability.Note: the tab on the seatbelt clip is 2cm, please check your buckle's size and compatibility before purchase our dog doggy car restraint.Dog seatbelt tether keep your pet safely restrained and secure in vehicle while driving, and allows your dog to sit, stand or lie down comfortably in a car without distracting the driver. $15.99 −$6.77 $9.22 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Sale Bestseller No. 5 11,097 Reviews URPOWER Upgraded Dog Seat Belt 2 Pack Dog Car Seatbelts Adjustable Pet Seat Belt for Vehicle Nylon Pet Safety Seat Belts Heavy Duty & Elastic & Durable Car Seat Belt for Dogs, Cats and Pets HEAVY DUTY & DURABLE: Constructed out of sturdy nylon fabric, premium zinc alloy swivel snap, anti-rust hook and stainless clip, the pet car seat belt ensures the most safest traveling for your pet, and provides a most relaxing driving experience for you.ONE SIZE FOR SMALL TO LARGE: With adjustable straps and high quality metal buckle, the dog car seat belt can be adjusted from 22.9 inch to 28.4inch, allows pets active freely in certain space without the feeling of rigid control. Perfect for small dogs to large breed.ELASTIC BUFFER DESIGN: With elastic buffer design, URPOWER nylon dog seatbelt can protect dogs from sudden brake or sharp turn, preventing driver from distracted driving, totally an ideal seat belt for dogs during travel. $13.99 −$3.00 $10.99 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 6 92 Reviews Lina Pets Dog Seatbelt – Set of 2 Dog Seatbelts for Cars with Pet Hair Brush and Travel Bag – Adjustable Dog Car Harness with Elastic Buffer – Heavy-Duty Dog Car Seat Belt – Universal Fit The Ideal Choice: Traveling with your dog can be a challenge if you don’t have a safety harness to keep your pet in place in the backseat. The Lina Pets dog seatbelt harness ensures a comfortable and secure fit, allowing your dog to sit comfortably and ensure safe travel!What You Get: The Lina Pets complete set comes with all the necessary dog car accessories for a safe and fun car trip! The set includes 2 dog seatbelts, one pet hair remover brush and a travel bag to store dog toys, accessories, clothes, and other essentials.Keep Your Car Clean: Our dog seat belt harness set was designed with your comfort in mind as well, as it comes with a practical hair remover brush that captures and remove dog hair with ease and helps maintain a clean vehicle at all times. $13.95 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 7 Leash Boss Dog Car Seat Belt Restraint - No-Chew Heavy Duty Car Seatbelt for Pets - 5 Sizes - Coated Steel Rope to Prevent Chewing (26 in) Chew Proof Restraint: The Leashboss dog car seat tether cable is made from steel rope coated in heavy-duty nylon - the same material trusted in outdoor yard tie-outs. It's chew-proof, durable, and fully adjustable for maximum pet vehicle safety.Attaches to Seat Safety Latch Bar: Our seatbelt dog cable attaches to any of your car's in-seat latch bars thanks to a locking clip and will not trip your dog like standard seatbelt buckle restraints.Designed for Dog Harness: Our vehicle dog tie-out is designed to clip instantly onto your pet's harness or vest for added road safety. It is not recommended for use with a collar or neck attachment. $15.02 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Sale Bestseller No. 8 Lukovee Dog Safety Vest Harness with Seatbelt, Dog Car Harness Seat Belt Adjustable Pet Harnesses Double Breathable Mesh Fabric with Car Vehicle Connector Strap for Dog (Medium, Purple) ✦ New Match and Well Made --- Breathable Mesh Chest Vest Harness Strap: it’s made of the double mesh fabric with the flannelette edge, attached to four PP material strap, which will absorb sweat and feel breathable when your pet dog wear it. Elastic Safety Seat Belt: it’s made from durable nylon strap to protect the dog which is elastic and adjustable for the car vehicle.✦ Suitable and Humanized Design --- Breathable mesh chest vest harness would relieve the pressure. It is adjustable depending on how much lead way you need to plug into your cars seatbelt it fit perfect definitely.The included seat belt was long enough to let him move in the back seat and lay down.✦ Keeping Safe and Comfortable --- The harness wraps around dog’s body and neck which could be instead of a collar. The straps tighten up securely so dogs cannot roam the car to prevent dogs from hopping into the front seat, but they don't pull against them. $14.90 −$1.91 $12.99 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Bestseller No. 9 6,538 Reviews BWOGUE Pet Dog Cat Seat Belts, Car Headrest Restraint Adjustable Safety Leads Vehicle Seatbelt Harness HIGH QUALITY: Made of high quality nylon fabric to ensure safety, features the solid zinc alloy swivel snap and quality buckles, the pet car seat belt ensures the most safest traveling for your pet, and provides a most relaxing driving experience for you.ADJUSTABLE LENGTH: Dogs come in different sizes and weights. The Bwogue Headrest Restraint is adjustable between 18-30 inches,You can easy to adjust the dog leash to the suitable length to keep your pet in a safety state.EASY USE:The tangle-free nylon straps quickly and easily attaches to vehicle headrests. Safety strap is easily removed making it the perfect dog leash for your vehicle's back seat. $8.49 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer Sale Bestseller No. 10 Kurgo Direct To seat belt Tether for Dogs, Universal Car seat belt for Pets, Adjustable Length Dog Safety BeltQuick & Easy Installation, Carabiner AttachmentCompatible with Any Pet Harness |Blue Reduces Distracted Driving - Kurgo dog seat belt tether keeps your dog in the Backseat and out of your lap while driving. seat belt buckle for dogs includes all steel hardware for strength & durabilityCarabiner clip for Strength - Pet seat belt tether attaches to your dog's harness using durable, all steel, Carabiner clip. (For the tangle-free swivel option, please choose ‘Swivel Clip’ under Style)Quick & Easy Installation – Pet seat belt clicks directly into the female seat belt slot. Easily switch the seat belt tether from car to car as needed. (seat belt metal tongue measures approx. 7/8” wide) $13.99 −$0.82 $13.17 Buy on Amazon Partner Offer
Forbes Wheels researched over a dozen products in order to determine the best dog seat belt harnesses. We analyzed the safety features, material quality, adjustability and vehicle compatibility of each product. We considered user feedback and chose five categories to best fit a wide range of dog breeds and user budgets.
The safest place for a dog to ride in a car is secured with a properly installed seat belt or harness system in the back seat or rear cargo area. A harness prevents a dog from being propelled forward in the event of a sudden stop.
Seat belts offer the same benefits for dogs that they do for humans. A well-fitted seat belt harness prevents dogs from being tossed around while a vehicle is in motion or ejected in the event of a collision.
The Center for Pet Safety is the only independent organization that has conducted crash tests with dog seat belts in controlled lab environments. It's similar to how the National Highway Safety Administration mandates child car seat manufacturers to test their products. The organization has approved three safety harnesses: Sleepypod Clickit Sport, Sleepypod Clickit Terrain, and the Rocketeer Pack by ZuGoPet. The Kurgo Tru-Fit Enhanced Strength Dog Harness underwent crash testing for dogs up to 75 pounds.
Dogs should never be allowed to sit in the front seat of a car. It puts them at risk of being crushed or killed by the steering wheel or airbag and increases the chance of the dog interfering with the driver.
In some states, it’s illegal to drive with an unsecured animal in your vehicle. Regardless of the laws in your state, every dog owner should harness their dog while traveling.
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