Letting your dog roam free in the car is one of those things you do without thinking, because “he’s calm” and “nothing has ever happened.” The problem is what happens the day it does.
Physics doesn’t forgive
In a sudden stop or collision, the animal’s body keeps moving at the speed the car was traveling. A 20 kg dog in a 50 km/h impact can exert a force equivalent to more than twenty times its weight. That means nearly half a ton launched forward.
That hurts the dog, and anyone in the front seat too.
What the law says in Spain
The General Traffic Regulations do not specify a particular system for animals, but they do require the driver to maintain their freedom of movement and field of vision, and to properly secure passengers and cargo. An unrestrained dog that gets between the seats or climbs into someone’s lap fails on both counts.
The most common fines for this offense range from €80 to €100, and can increase if the animal is considered to have distracted the driver. The amounts and criteria change over time: if you have any doubts, check the DGT website.
The four systems that work
- Harness with dual seatbelt attachment. The most practical option for everyday travel with medium and large dogs. Make sure it’s a proper harness—wide and padded—not a thin leash.
- Pet carrier. The safest system, especially for small dogs and cats. It goes on the floor behind the front seats, or in the trunk against the back seats.
- Pet barrier. For large cars and dogs traveling in the trunk. It separates the passenger compartment.
- Booster seat with attachment. For small dogs. It lets them see out the window, which usually calms them, without roaming free.
The most common mistakes
- Attaching the collar leash to the seatbelt. This is the most dangerous thing of all: in a sudden stop, all the force goes to the neck. Always use a harness, never a collar.
- Carrying them in your arms or letting them roam free in the passenger seat.
- Letting their head out the window. Air enters their eyes and ears at high pressure, and all it takes is one pothole.
- Leaving the trunk open without a barrier. In an impact, they will be thrown forward just as if they were in the passenger seat.
To make the trip more comfortable
- Don’t let them eat for two hours beforehand. This greatly reduces motion sickness.
- Stop every two hours so they can stretch their legs, drink, and relieve themselves.
- Always keep water handy. A travel bottle with a built-in bowl can be handled with one hand at a gas station.
- Never leave them alone in the car. Not for five minutes, and not with the window down. The interior of a car in the sun heats up in a matter of minutes.
- If it’s their first time, start with short trips that end with something good: the park, the countryside. Make sure the car doesn’t only mean a trip to the vet.
In our transport and safety section, you’ll find seatbelts with dual attachment, booster seats, and pet carriers, and in travel water bowls, bottles with bowls for stops. Free shipping throughout Spain.
You may also be interested in: everything for traveling by car with your dog (seats, car beds, covers, trunk protector, and stairs).
If you prefer to get everything at once, the Walking, Travel and Safety Pack lets you choose what you need from harnesses, leashes, trackers, and pet carriers.