Securing dog crates and animals in the car
Practical advice for securing dog crates and animals in the car.
An animal in the car is also cargo and a passenger that must be secured. If the dog crate is loose or the animal is not restrained, the consequences can be serious during braking or a collision.
What you need to know
- Dog crates must be placed and secured so they do not become projectiles in a crash.
- Animals can distract the driver if they move freely inside the cabin.
- Proper restraint is about both animal welfare and road safety.
Typical situations
| Situation | What you should do | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Short local trip | Secure the animal just as well as on a long trip. | Thinking low speed makes restraint unnecessary. |
| Dog crate in the luggage compartment | Check that the crate cannot slide or tip over. | Placing the crate loose against the tailgate without assessment. |
| Long summer journey | Plan ventilation, breaks and temperature. | Focusing only on making progress and forgetting the animal’s needs. |
Common mistakes
- Letting animals move freely between the front and rear seats.
- Choosing crate size or placement without thinking about a collision.
- Forgetting loose luggage around the crate.
How to practice
Combine this with Dog in the car , Loose cargo in the passenger compartment and Driving with children in the car in practice .