Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our furry friends when travelling in the car is of the utmost importance, which is why having the best dog car harness to keep them secure is crucial. Whether you’re planning a road trip to reach a staycation destination or taking a short drive to the local park, one of these strong and reliable dog travel accessories is a must-have for any responsible paw-rent.
You may already use a regular harness for walks and outdoor adventures with your pooch, but a dog car harness is specifically designed for the purpose of travelling in a vehicle. They're made to be stronger and tougher than regular ones, with many made using the same material as actual car seat belts, with plenty of padding to ensure your hound is comfortable, but more importantly, protected in case of an accident or if you need to do any sudden, sharp braking.
Best dog car harness at a glance:
Best overall: EZYDOG Drive Car Harness – view on Amazon UK
Best budget dog car harness: SlowTon Dog Car Harness Seatbelt Set – view on Amazon UK
Best dog car harness and seat belt set: Nasjac Dog Car Harness with Seat Belt – view on Amazon UK
Dog car harnesses work by attaching them to your own car seat belt or their very own doggy seat belt. As they’ll be safely secured in place, it will stop them from jumping from seat to seat, trying to look out the window and prevent them from being able to get into the driver’s seat with you. Some dogs may try and sit with you out of excitement whereas others will be because they’re anxious, but either way, making sure your hound is suitably restrained will stop them being a distraction, ensuring the safety of everyone in the car.
When it comes to choosing the best dog car harness for your dog, there are a number of factors to consider. You'll want to make sure it's strong and comfortable, but you'll also want to look for one that is adjustable so you can make sure it has the perfect fit for your pooch. If you already have a dog car seat and belt, you'll want to make sure that your chosen harness will work with any attachments they have. You may want to consider other features like reflective patches for visibility in low light settings and D-rings so you can use one outside of the car for your walks. To help you make your decision, we've rounded up all the best dog harnesses that will keep your pooch protected but comfy throughout every journey.
Best dog car harness
Best overall
EZYDOG/AmazonMade to last and safety tested to ECE Regulation 21 standards, this EZYDOG Drive Car Harness really is the top dog when it comes to keeping your pooch safe in your vehicle. It's made using the highest quality materials, including actual seat belt webbing to ensure it's as strong as possible. The chest plate section is padded and contoured to mould to the shape of your dog for a custom fit, meaning you only need to fit it once and from then on, it can be taken on and off very quickly using the Instant Fit closure system.
Customer review: "This is the only dog harness I could find that actually been crash tested. The webbing is made of the same stuff your car seatbelts are made of and the chest plate give very good support. There is a sliding catch which is used to hold the two sides of the harness together and the car seat belt is fed through two handles. Adjusting the harness size is a little fiddly but you only have to do it once. I'm very pleased with how secure everything feels and hopefully I never need to test how effective it is."
Pros
- Padded for comfort
- Made from high-quality materials
- Vehicle safety tested
Cons
- Reviewers found fitting the harness on their dog to be fiddly but it also needs to be fitted once before you can use the instant closure system
Best budget dog car harness
SlowTon/AmazonFor those on a budget, we would recommend this SlowTon Dog Car Harness Seatbelt Set. Not only does it include a car harness, but it also has a doggy seat belt included so you've got everything you need to keep your dog suitably restrained and safe. The harness is made from a breathable mesh material that absorbs sweat to help your pooch stay cool and calm. Available in a wide range of colours and sizes to suit all types of dogs, it's highly rated on Amazon with over 14,000 reviews.
Customer review: "Fantastic harness. Comfortable for my dogs. The clips are strong so not coming off too. Strong, reliable, safe and comfortable. Everything you would want from a harness."
Pros
- Great value
- Breathable material
- Includes a seat belt
Cons
- Some reviewers felt the material could be stronger
Best dog car harness and seat belt set
Nasjac/AmazonMade from a breathable material with soft edges, this Nasjac Dog Car Harness will be comfortable for your hound to wear whether they're in the car or out on a walk. There are 11 different colours you can choose from, either to suit your car interior or to match your hound's collar and lead. All of the four straps are fully adjustable and there are five sizes to choose from so you can easily find the perfect fit for your pooch. It also comes with a durable seat belt that has clip and carabiner connectors to fit most cars.
Customer review: "This is easily adjustable. The medium fits my slim Labrador perfectly, she doesn’t complain about wearing it which is another bonus. It’s super easy to put on and use and is nice and safe to use for the car. I especially like it as it supports her whole body and not around her neck."
Pros
- Comes with a harness and a seat belt
- Choice of colours and sizes
- Adjustable for the perfect fit
Cons
- Some reviewers had difficulty ordering the right size for their dog to begin with
Best for use with car seat belts
CarSafe/Viovetwww.viovet.co.uk
There's no need to purchase an additional doggy seat belt when you get this CarSafe Crash-Tested Dog Harness as it directly links to the seat belts in your car so there's no extra connection clip needed. It's lightweight and breathable with cushioned layers for added comfort so your pooch will feel nice and snuggly while wearing it. It also has reflective bits on the harness for high visibility in low-light settings. Once you've reached your destination, you can easily use this as a walking harness as it's got front and back lead connection points.
Customer review: "I wasn't happy putting out dog into a crate in the back of the car - I wanted a proper harness so she could sit on a purpose made cover on the back seat. This is perfect - easy to put on, the seat belt belt just slips through the loop on the back, and doggy is really happy to be with us and look out of the window."
Pros
- No additional seat belt required
- Cushioned fabric
- Lightweight
Cons
- The largest size is only designed for dogs weighing up to 32kg so it won't be suitable if your pooch is heavier than this
Best dog car harness for large dogs
Kurgo/AmazonEngineered based on rock-climbing harnesses, comfort meets strength to make the Kurgo Tru-Fit Enhanced Strength In-Car Safety Dog Harness. It's been fully crash tested by Kurgo crash test doggy dummies to make sure it will be truly safe for your pooch. It features all-steel nested-style buckles and hardware with five points of adjustment for a custom fit as well as a broad, padded chest plate for extra protection and comfort. Compatible with any vehicle seat belt system, it includes a 10-inch seatbelt tether with an all-steel carabiner for extra strength.
Customer review: "Bought this for a long trip with our dog and was very happy with the quality. It’s very easy to use and fit to our dog and the measurements are spot on. It has a great seatbelt attachment for protection and seams very sturdy. Our dog was able to move a little in the back and get comfortable without compromising his safety. Very happy."
Pros
- Super strong
- Comfortable enough to wear as an everyday harness
- Can be machine washed on a gentle cycle
Cons
- Maximum weight is 36kg, which some large dogs may exceed
Best dog car harness for small to medium breeds
3 Peaks/Pets at Homewww.petsathome.com
Manufactured and tested to FMVSS 213 Child restraint systems standards, you'll know that your dog is safe and secure in the car on the way to any adventure using the 3 Peaks Crash Impact Tested Dog Harness. Available in three sizes and crash test certified up to 32kg, it's made using seat belt strength webbing to ensure it's extremely tough and durable. Both the chest panel and neck strap are padded for comfort and it has a reflective trim for added safety. With D-rings at the front and back, you can easily attach a lead for walkies outside of the car.
Customer review: "Our 8 month old Rottweiler puppy is really energetic and would be uncontrollable in the back seat but now car rides are safer for him, the driver, and other people sitting in the car! However, he's still growing and the Large is fully extended and fits him just right, so to our disappointment we'll need to buy another harness of a different brand in the very near future :( my review would be 5 stars if they sold an XL size."
Pros
- Tested to child restraint standards
- Extremely tough material
- Padded for your dog's comfort
Cons
- Not as wide size range compared to others on our list
Best branded dog car harness
RAC/AmazonDid you know the RAC also has a pet travel range? This RAC Car Harness has been made to be great quality, long-lasting and easy to use. It has a large surface area to offer extra protection in case of an emergency or a sudden stop as well as a soft nylon pad for optimal comfort. You can adjust it to suit your dog's favourite position in the car, whether they love to sit or lie down and when you're not travelling in the car, it can double up as a reliable walking harness.
Customer review: "I really love this harness. It is an excellent fit for my Frenchie who is notoriously hard to find a harness for. It looks really well made, soft, really adjustable and I feel so much better knowing it is made by RAC and it is crash-tested so I know he is safe in the car. Would highly recommend for any other franchise owners. My little guy has a 45cm neck and 56cm chest in case that helps!"
Pros
- Soft nylon pad
- Fully adjustable
- Large surface area
Cons
- Not as padded compared to other harnesses on our list
Best dog car harness FAQs
Do dogs need to be harnessed in a car?
Rule 57 of the Highway Code states that dogs and other animals need to be suitably restrained while they're in the car with you. This is to stop them from being a distraction while driving and reduce the risk of injury to you and them if you need to stop quickly.
Your dog doesn't need to be harnessed, but you will need to consider another method for keeping your dog secure. This can be something like a dog cage or guard or a car carrier for a puppy if you've got a little one to keep safe.
Can you use a regular dog harness in the car?
You can use a regular dog harness in the car, however, they're not specifically designed for that purpose. The best dog car harnesses are designed to offer extra strength compared to regular harnesses, with sturdy straps and strong buckles. This is so that if you need to break sharply or get into an accident, it's prepared to withstand the forces of sudden stops and collisions to minimise the risk of injury to your furry friend.
While you can use a regular dog harness in the car, we'd recommend leaving it for your walkies and other outdoor adventures and upgrading to something a bit more heavy-duty for when they're riding in the car with you to be extra safe.
Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things dogs. She grew up always having at least one dog as part of the family and has experience in owning a variety of breeds, including Labradors, Cockapoos and Yorkshire Terriers.