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Seat belts are great at keeping you and your family safe and secure on a car ride. These are great and all but what about when you have a dog in the car?
Keeping your dog loose in the car is a potential cause of a crash. Plus, it’s not safe for your pup. He can get injured too if an accident occurs.
To keep your dog safe and secure inside the car, secure him with a dog car harness or a dog seat belt. Here, we’ve rounded up the best dog car harnesses to have when driving.
The Best Dog Car Harnesses
If you’re in a hurry, here’s a summary of the best dog car harnesses:
- Best overall – Sleepypod Clickit Terrain Car Dog Harness
- Best car harness on a budget – Lukovee Dog Safety Vest Car Harness
- Best car harness for small dogs – Sleepypod ClickIt Sport Crash-Tested Car Dog Harness
- Best multipurpose car harness – Kurgo Tru-Fit No Pull Dog Harness
- Best car harness for long road trips – Ruffwear Load Up Vehicle Restraint Harness
- Best value – Mighty Paw Vehicle Safety Harness
Mighty Paw Vehicle Safety Harness
When it comes to durability, the Mighty Paw Vehicle Safety Harness is one of the best car harnesses to buy. All of its materials are top quality, easy to clean, and weatherproof. Plus, its lightweight and breathable padding ensure that your dog is always comfortable.
Despite its design as a car harness, the Mighty Paw Vehicle Safety Harness can also double as a regular harness. For your convenience, you can find a back and front leash attachment.
Special Features
- Double as a regular harness
- Weatherproof
- Easy adjusting 4 tri-glide attachments
- Metal hardware
- Soft padding interior
- Reflective stitching
What to Love
- Can also be used as a walking harness
- Easy to clean
- Strong and durable
- Comes in 4 sizes
- Doesn’t choke when dog pulls
Cosy Meadow Escape Proof Dog Harness
Cosy Meadow Escape Proof Dog Harness isn’t your usual dog car harness. After all, it wasn’t designed to be one. However, it does come with a seat belt attachment so you can easily secure your pup during road trips.
Just like its name, this dog harness is escape proof. Its neck and chest straps are adjustable so you can get an easy fit for your pup thus preventing any escape. Its sleeves are soft padded to help avoid rubbing. Plus, it’s easy to put on and take off. Simply clip-on and go!
Special Features
- Adjustable neck & chest straps
- Soft padded sleeves
- Made from Neoprene fabric
- Sturdy safety handle
- Quick-release and heavy-duty buckles
- Welded stainless metal rings
- Comes with a seat belt attachment
What to Love
- Comfortable and durable
- Doesn’t choke
- Easy to put on and take off
PetSafe Happy Ride Dog Safety Harness
The PetSafe Happy Ride Dog Safety Harness is easy to use and comfortable on your pup with its front padding. For potty breaks and walks, you can easily use the leash attachment and the harness. It also comes with a strap that you can attach to the seat belt.
Special Features
- Fully padded vest area with a breathable inner layer
- Includes a strap and leash attachment
- Includes convenient connection point for walking leash
What to Love
- Crash-test certified
- Comfortable and cool
- Can be used as a walking harness
- Easy to use
Sleepypod ClickIt Sport Crash-Tested Car Dog Harness
Made from durable ballistic nylon, the Sleepypod ClickIt Sport Crash-Tested Car Dog Harness is one of the best dog car harnesses today. It reduces forward and sideways movement with its three-point design and attaches directly to a seat belt. It also features a wide and supportive chest piece.
With a D-ring leash attachment at the back, you can also use this for walking.
Special Features
- Three-point design for securing the dog’s entire torso
- Broad, cushioned, energy-absorbing vest
- Quick connection and release
- Reflective strips for visibility
What to Love
- Easy to use
- Crash tested and certified by CPS
- Doubles as a walking harness
- Easy to clean
Sleepypod Clickit Terrain Car Dog Harness
Designed for your car’s rear passenger seat, the Sleepypod Clickit Terrain Car Dog Harness is a great dog harness if you’re looking for a 2-in-1 harness. You can use this both as a walking harness and a car harness. Its reflective patches helps with the visibility of your dog.
Featuring a three point design, you can easily secure your dog’s entire torso and quickly connect and release when needed.
Special Features
- Well padded
- Can be used as a walking harness and a car harness
- Reflective patches
What to Love
- Easy to use
- Slip-on and easy buckles
- Crash tested for use as a car seat belt
Lukovee Dog Safety Vest Car Harness
If you’re on a budget, you might just want to consider buying the Lukovee Dog Safety Vest Car Harness. It’s one of the best and affordable dog car harnesses in the market. It comes with safety belt attachments that have been tested for tensile strength which you can also use to take your dog for walks.
Made from durable and breathable mesh fabric, you can be sure that your dog will stay comfortable with this harness. It’s easy to use with the two buckles found at the back of the harness.
Special Features
- Breathable mesh chest vest
- Elastic safety belt
- 2 buckle on the chest part
- 4 adjust buttons on the harness strap
What to Love
- Comes with safety belt attachments
- Easy to use
- Adjustable safety belt
- Comfortable
- Quick-release
Easy Rider Adjustable Car Harness
The Easy Rider Adjustable Car Harness has a patented design that allows it to be compatible with any car seat belt. You can use it as a walking harness or a car harness. You can also connect it to either the front or rear seatbelt.
This harness offers a padded chest strap so your pup can be comfortable.
Special Features
- Functions as a walking harness and car harness
- Padded chest strap
- Secure metal hardware
What to Love
- Comfortable and well-padded
- Fully adjustable
- Safety crash-tested
Ruffwear Load Up Vehicle Restraint Harness
Wearing a car harness for an extended period of time can be uncomfortable for your dog. Good thing there’s the Ruffwear Load Up Vehicle Restraint Harness. This harness has a low connection point so your dog can lie down comfortably during road trips. Plus, with a leash, you can use it for short walks on rest stops.
Special Features
- Quick attachment
- 5 sizes to choose from
- Metal strength-rated hardware
- Universal seat belt attachment
What to Love
- Easy to use
- High-quality and durable materials
- Successfully tested to withstand the rigors of a vehicle crash test
Kurgo Tru-Fit No Pull Dog Harness
If you love taking your dog for walks, hikes, road trips and other activities, you might want to check out the Kurgo Tru-Fit No Pull Dog Harness. This dog harness doubles as a car harness and a walking harness.
It’s easy to put on since it has a buckle on each side of the harness. With five adjustment points, it’s incredibly adjustable so you can get a good fit. Your dog is going to be comfortable at all times as this harness is well-padded and made from strong material.
Special Features
- 5 easy adjustable points
- Plastic quick-release buckles
- No-pull training clip
- Back leash ring
What to Love
- Seat belt tether included
- Well-padded
- Easy to take on and take off
- Great as a walking harness and a car harness
- Comes with hassle-free Kurgo lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects
Who Should Buy a Dog Car Harness
Car harnesses are made for securing your dog and keeping him safe when you’re traveling together. If your dog travels with you in the car, you’ll need to buy a dog car harness especially if you’re living in a state that requires them.
Things To Consider Before Buying A Dog Car Harness
Before you buy a dog car harness, here are several things you should consider.
Is the seat belt attachment included?
Some dog car harness are sold with the seat belt attachment included while others sell the attachment separately. Make sure to check whether or not the seat belt attachment is included before purchasing. You might need to buy a separate attachment if it’s not the case.
Is the harness crash-tested?
The Center for Pet Safety crash tests and certifies several car harnesses. Today, there are only a few harnesses that are crash-tested certified. To be on the safe side, it’s best to buy a crash-tested dog harness so you’ll know that it can hold up in case of an accident. However, do expect that these harnesses are more expensive than other harnesses that aren’t crash-tested.
Is there a size that fits my dog?
Measure your dog twice or thrice before buying. Dog car harnesses post their own sizing guide so you can order the right size for your pup.
Is it comfortable and well-padded?
You want to make sure that your dog car harness is comfortable for your pet. Read the details and see if its well-padded, and durable.
Is it adjustable?
To get a good fit, the dog car harness should be easily adjustable. Check if the harness has several points of adjustment. This way, you know that your dog won’t easily slip out of the harness.
Is it easy to use?
Read the reviews and the details on whether the dog car harness is easy to put on. Some harnesses are designed so your pup can just step in while others require you to put it over his head.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I buy a car harness for my dog?
Dog car harnesses may save your dog’s life and your life.
Without a dog car harness, your dog may come flying at you in case of an accident. Sure, you might have a small dog but when you’re in a car crash, that few pounds can feel like a 70-pound brick.
On the other hand, your dog has a high chance of surviving a serious collision if he’s secured with a dog car harness.
How does a dog car safety harness work?
A dog car harness works similarly as a walking harness but designed so it can withstand a collision. Most, if not all, car harnesses need a seat belt restraint so it can be plugged into the seat belt connection.
