Driving with your dog in the van? Expert shares the essential safety items you should have

Katie Court — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000

For many of us, our canine companions are a massive part of our lives and accompany us on all of our adventures. Whether you take your four-legged friend to work with you, or you're packing the van to head on a pup-friendly staycation - travelling with our dogs in tow is often a given.

Yet van drivers risk a fine of up to £5,000 for not safely securing dogs while driving, and you can also end up with nine points on your licence and invalidated insurance.

Recent research by Volkswagen found that around 41% of commercial vehicle drivers take their pet to work - yet almost a third (29%) admitted they don't always restrain their hound in a safe way.

With that in mind, the vehicle experts at Select Van Leasing have compiled a list of the safest ways to travel with your pooch or pooches in your van, whether they're sitting on the car seats or travelling in a dedicated cage in the back.

1. Dog Seatbelt

A dog seat belt is the most important item to purchase if you plan on travelling with your pup and they're going to be sitting on the seats, as it keeps them securely in place, and prevents them from distracting you whilst driving.

The seat belt works just like a normal seat belt would, with an end that plugs into the buckle and another end that can be clipped onto the D ring of your dog's harness - taking us on to the next item for your checklist.

2. Harness

A harness is the safest item a dog can be wearing when travelling in a van or car. The harness fits securely around the chest and neck, has padding built into the front, and has a D ring on the back for a seat belt to be clipped onto. This secures your pooch in place without causing any damage to your dog's neck, like it could if the seatbelt was attached to your dog's collar.

3. Dog seat/carrier

If you have a smaller dog or a dog that loves its confined, cosy spaces, then a dog seat/carrier is another great option. This will be used in conjunction with a dog seat belt and harness, however, this provides a safe space for your dog to relax with their favourite blanket or toy.

4. Dog crate/cage for vehicles

If you're driving a panel van with a load bed in the back, and don't have room for your dog to travel on one of the car seats next to you, then there is another safe option that allows your dog to travel in the back. Similar to a crate that you can get for the house, you can purchase a strong car crate or cage that is crash-tested and crush-proof, that can be securely fixed into the back of your van.

£5,000 fines for driving with dogs

Tom Stone — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 08:00:00 +0000

Motorists are being warned to take precautions when travelling with their dog in order to avoid accidents and large penalties.

Experts from Quotezone.co.uk have urged pet owners to make sure their pets are suitably restrained while driving. Motorists failing to do so can face fines of up to £5,000 and nine penalty points on their licence.

The Highway Code states dogs must be restrained with a seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard, so they cannot distract the driver or cause injuries to themselves or others in the car. In the worst case scenario, if there's a car crash and the airbags activate, then it may cause serious injuries to the dog if they've been left to roam free in the vehicle.

Drivers breaching the rule are deemed to be driving carelessly which means that they can be hit with three to nine penalty points and receive a fine of £1,000 that can go up to £5,000 if taken to court.

Quotezone.co.uk CEO and Founder Greg Wilson said: "In addition to avoiding financial penalties, it's critical to know the rules of the road in order to keep everyone safe. Although many motorists perceive nothing wrong with letting their four-legged companions roam freely inside the vehicle and stick their heads out the window, doing so can actually endanger the pup's life. Every pet owner must make sure their pup is well looked after and restrained appropriately when travelling in a car, obeying the rules of the Highway Code, or risk invalidating both their car and pet insurance – leaving them unprotected should they need to make a claim."

Here are Quotezone.co.uk's tips on how to safely travel in the car with a dog:

Be secure

The safest way to restrain dogs is to use a crate, travel harness, carrier or a boot gate/dog guard. Dog owners can choose a solution that's most suitable for their pet and install it to the vehicle.

Switch off the passenger airbag if the dog is in the front seat

Dogs are allowed to sit in the front, however it means that the passenger airbag must be turned off and the seat should be moved back as far as possible.

Don't feed the dog just before or during the drive

Pet owners should leave a gap of at least two hours between feeding their dog and going for a drive, otherwise there may be a lot of cleaning up to do if the dog gets motion sickness.

Pack plenty of water

It's important to keep your pooch hydrated along the journey. A good idea is to get a non-spill water bowl so the dog has access to water throughout the drive.

Take regular stops on long trips

Plan your journey so you have extra time to have stops along the way to go for walks and get some fresh air. These stops are especially important when the weather gets warmer, as dogs have a harder time adjusting to heat.

Don't leave the dog in a hot car

Never leave your dog unattended in a car on a warm day, as it can cause them suffering and harm. Even with the windows open, they can quickly become dehydrated or experience heatstroke.

Don't let your dog hang out the window

Although pups seem to love the fresh air, it's incredibly dangerous to let dogs put their head out the window of a moving car, as well as wind damage to eyes and ears and a risk of getting hit by flying debris, there's also a chance of hitting unexpected items outside the car.

Your Pets Daily - Keeping dogs safe while travelling