Crash tested pet restraints and carriers: why loose pets are risky and how to set one up
Choose a pet harness, carrier or crate, size it right and install it securely
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation built this guide from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data and guidance, federal vehicle safety standards, the UK Highway Code, National Weather Service heat guidance and published veterinary and traffic safety research. Every source is listed at the end.
Why a loose pet is a road safety problem
Every object in a moving car follows the same rule. If it is not tied to the vehicle, it is a hazard. A pet is a special case because it can also move on its own long before any collision.
Start with distraction. NHTSA defines distracted driving as any activity that pulls your attention away from driving [3]. A dog that climbs into the front or noses at the pedals does exactly that. In 2024, collisions involving distracted drivers killed 3,208 people in the United States [3].
Research on pets and collision risk is still limited. One Alabama study looked at drivers age 70 and older [4]. Pet owners who always drove with a pet had a collision rate 1.89 times that of owners who never did [4]. A later three year study of the same age group also found a higher rate, but the gap was too small to rule out chance [5]. Those researchers called for more data on whether pets were restrained [5].
Then there is the collision itself. In a sudden stop, anything loose keeps moving at the speed the car was going. A loose dog can strike seat backs, the dashboard or the people in front of it. If a door opens afterward, a frightened animal may bolt into traffic.
A good restraint handles both problems. It keeps your pet in place on every drive, and it holds your pet in a collision. No restraint can prevent every injury. But researchers note that riding unrestrained likely raises the risk of serious injury or death in a crash [2].
How many pets ride loose, and who uses restraints
A 2026 study gives a recent snapshot. From late May to early August 2024, researchers surveyed owners who brought dogs to a U.S. veterinary teaching hospital [1]. Of 533 dogs, 338 (63.4%) rode with no restraint at all [1]. The most common restraint was a device that works with the car’s seat belt [1].
Bigger dogs were less likely to be restrained. Each extra kilogram (about 2.2 pounds) of body weight lowered the odds of restraint use by about 3% [1]. That pattern is a concern, because a heavier animal carries more energy into a collision.
An earlier online survey from 2017 and 2018 compared three countries. It was not a random sample. In the United States, about 55% of respondents restrained their dogs, compared with 67% in Australia and 72% in the United Kingdom [2]. Younger U.S. owners who drove pickups or vans and had large dogs were the least likely to use a restraint [2].
The UK’s Highway Code tells drivers to restrain dogs and other animals so they cannot distract the driver or cause injury in a quick stop [7]. It names harnesses, carriers, dog cages and dog guards as options [7]. Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation gives every driver who travels with a pet the same advice.
Who needs a restraint? Anyone who drives with an animal. That includes parents with a family dog next to the kids, caregivers taking an older pet to the vet and drivers who carry other people’s pets.
What a collision does to a pet
A restraint has three jobs. First, catch the body early, before it builds up speed inside the car. Second, spread the stopping force over the strongest parts of the body. Third, keep the body from moving too far or hitting something hard.
For a dog, the chest and shoulders can take load far better than the neck. That is why crash focused harnesses wrap the chest. A tether clipped to a collar puts crash forces on the throat and spine. A long tether lets the dog fly forward and hit the end of the strap hard.
Injury data for animals are just starting to build up. A 2026 study used a U.S. veterinary trauma registry to find dogs hurt while inside a vehicle from 2013 to 2024 [6]. Of 268 dogs, 91% survived to leave the hospital [6]. In a closer review of 19 cases, injury patterns changed with size:
- Large dogs, over 30 kg (about 66 pounds), mostly had leg injuries, at 75.8% of their injuries [6].
- Medium dogs, 10.1 to 30 kg, mostly had injuries to the central body, at 61.5% [6].
- Small dogs, 10 kg or less, had a more even mix of injury areas [6].
The most serious injuries were all in the abdomen, and every dog that died had internal organ injuries [6]. The authors say better injury data are needed to design restraints proven by science [6]. Internal injuries can be hard to see, so have your pet checked by a veterinarian after any accident.
What “crash tested” means, and what it does not
For child car seats, “crash tested” has a precise meaning. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 213 sets crash rules for child restraint systems [9]. In its main test, the seat is mounted on a simulated bench seat on a moving test platform, often called a sled. The sled goes through a sudden speed change of 48 km/h, about 30 mph [9]. The seat must not break apart at any part that carries the load, and the dummy’s head must stay within set limits [9].
Pet products have no such rule. The federal standards cover brakes, lights, windshield wipers, child seats and much more, but none covers pet restraints or carriers [10]. A “crash tested” pet product might have passed a full sled test with a weighted dog dummy. Or it might have passed only a pull test on one strap.
The same ideas from child seat testing still apply. Did the product hold the dummy? Did every clip stay in one piece? How far did the dummy move? Use these questions on any test claim:
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Questions to ask about a crash test claim
| Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Who did the test? | An independent lab has less reason to shade results. |
| Was it a moving sled test? | A pull test alone does not show crash behavior. |
| What size and weight were tested? | A pass with a 25 pound dummy says little about a 75 pound dog. |
| How was it installed? | Results apply only to the tested setup. |
| Are results public? | Photos, video or reports let you check the claim. |
| What counted as a pass? | Look for limits on breakage, release and forward movement. |
If a seller cannot answer, treat “crash tested” as a slogan, not a result.
Choosing the right type of pet restraint
Most products fall into four groups. Each suits a different animal, vehicle and seating spot.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Types of pet restraints and how to set them up
| Type | Best fit | Setup key |
|---|---|---|
| Harness with tether | Dogs on the back seat | Short tether, connected only where the maker tested it |
| Carrier | Cats and small dogs | Floor behind a front seat, or belted to the seat as tested |
| Travel crate | Dogs in an SUV, wagon or van | Strapped to cargo anchors, pushed against the rear seat back |
| Cargo barrier | Keeping a dog out of the cabin | Not a restraint by itself, so pair it with a secured crate |
A carrier sitting loose on a seat is just a box that flies in a collision. Belt it in, or place it on the floor where the front seat back stops it. A crate needs straps tied to the cargo anchors listed in your owner’s manual. A light crate made for home use may not be built for crash loads.
Keep pets out of the front seat. Frontal air bags inflate in less than 1/20th of a second, and anyone too close can be badly hurt [8]. That is why NHTSA advises that children under 13 ride in back [8], and the same logic protects pets. Also skip zip lines, collar tethers and open truck beds.
Where to buy: try pet supply stores, the maker’s authorized sellers, vehicle dealer accessory departments and some makers of child passenger products. Buy new so you get the instructions, the size chart and any safety notices.
Getting size and fit right
Test results apply to the size that was tested, so match your pet to that size.
- Weigh your pet. Use a scale, not a guess.
- Measure the chest. Wrap a soft tape around the widest part, just behind the front legs. Use the maker’s chart.
- Check harness fit. It should sit snug and centered. It should not twist, slide or let the dog back out.
- Check carrier or crate size. Your pet should be able to stand, turn and lie down. Much more room lets the animal slide and hit the wall harder.
- Recheck often. Puppies grow, and adult pets gain or lose weight.
If your pet falls between sizes, ask the maker. Do not stretch a product to make it fit.
How to install a pet restraint, step by step
Good products often fail in real life because of how they were installed. Use this routine the first time and after any change:
- Read the product instructions and the restraint section of your owner’s manual. Note how your seat belts lock and where cargo anchors are.
- Choose the spot. Use the back seat for harnesses and carriers. Use the cargo area only for a crate you can tie down.
- Connect the product only at the points the maker tested and names in the instructions.
- Remove slack from belts and straps. Lock the seat belt if the instructions say to.
- Set the tether short. Your dog should be able to sit and lie down but not reach the front seats.
- Push and pull firmly on an installed carrier or crate. It should barely move.
- Load your pet and check the fit again. Clip a leash on before you open any door or latch.
- Take a short practice drive. On long trips, recheck straps at every stop.
Preparing your pet and planning the trip
A calm animal is easier to restrain and less likely to distract you. Many pets ride only to the vet and learn to fear the car. In a survey of 277 cat owners, the trip to the clinic was rated among the most stressful parts of a vet visit [14].
Build comfort before you need it. Leave the carrier out at home with soft bedding inside. Practice short, pleasant trips. If your pet gets carsick or very anxious, ask your veterinarian for advice.
- Load and unload on the curb side, away from traffic.
- Turn on window locks so a dog cannot step on a window switch.
- If your pet gets loose while you drive, do not reach back. Pull over first.
- Tape a card to the crate or carrier with your pet’s name and an emergency contact, in case you are hurt in an accident.
Heat, parking and long drives
A parked car is not a safe place for a pet, even for a short errand. The National Weather Service warns that no season makes it safe to leave a pet shut inside a car, winter included [11]. Cracking the windows does not slow the heating much, and a dark dashboard or seat can reach 180°F or more [11].
A UK study of 905,543 dogs under veterinary care in 2016 found that hot vehicles triggered 5.2% of heat related illness cases [12]. Exercise caused far more. But dogs that overheated in vehicles were about as likely to die as dogs that overheated during exercise [12]. Flat faced breeds had higher odds of all three types of heat illness the study tracked [12].
Heat matters while you drive, too. Canicross is a running sport for people and dogs. A study of dogs after canicross races found that dogs cooled down more when they were not put straight into a vehicle [13]. The authors advise cooling the vehicle first and keeping air moving around the dog [13]. So do not fully cover a crate or carrier, and make sure vent air can reach it.
Inspection, care and replacement
A restraint is only as strong as its weakest strap, stitch or clip. Dogs chew, straps wear and buckles loosen with use.
Clean the product only the way the maker directs, and replace it if any part is damaged. After a collision, treat the restraint as used up, even if it looks fine. Strained webbing may not show damage. Keep your pet leashed or restrained at the scene until you can move it safely.
Frequently asked questions
Is a “dog seat belt” the same as a crash tested restraint?
Not always. Many products sold under that name are short straps that clip a harness to the car’s belt buckle. That keeps a dog from roaming, which helps with distraction. Whether it holds in a collision depends on the harness, strap, clip and connection. No federal standard covers these products [10]. Ask for independent sled test results for the exact size and setup, and never attach a tether to a collar.
Can my dog ride up front if it is restrained?
It is best not to. Frontal air bags inflate in less than 1/20th of a second, and anyone too close can be seriously hurt [8]. A dog on the front seat is likely to be close to the air bag. A pet up front is also easier to reach for and look at while you drive. Use the back seat or a secured cargo area instead.
Where is the safest place for a cat carrier?
Two common choices are the floor behind a front seat or the back seat with the belt routed as the maker directs. On the floor, the front seat back keeps the carrier from moving forward. On the seat, the belt must be tight so the carrier cannot slide or tip. Choose the setup that was tested, and close every latch and zipper.
Should I replace a pet restraint after a car accident?
Yes, in most cases. Crash forces can stretch webbing, weaken stitching and crack plastic parts without visible signs. Because no federal standard covers pet restraints [10], the safest approach is to assume the restraint did its job once and retire it. Also have your pet checked by a veterinarian, because internal injuries can be hard to spot [6].
Is it against the law to drive with a pet loose?
That depends on where you drive. In the United Kingdom, the Highway Code tells drivers to restrain dogs and other animals [7]. In the United States, ask your state’s motor vehicle agency or check your state legislature’s website for current rules. Even where no rule applies, a restraint protects your pet and your passengers.
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation urges everyone who drives with a pet to use a restraint or a secured carrier on every trip. A loose pet can cause a collision by distracting you and can make any crash worse for everyone in the car. A good restraint keeps your dog or cat in place, catches it early and stops it from flying forward. Since no federal standard covers pet products, the words “crash tested” alone tell you little.
Look for independent results for the size and setup you will use. Fit the product to your pet’s real size, install it where the maker tested it and check it often. And never leave a pet alone in a parked car.
Related articles
Sources and further reading
- 1Steinolfson C, Odunayo A, Ng Z, et al. Most dogs transported to a veterinary teaching hospital are unrestrained during vehicular travel. American Journal of Veterinary Research, pp. 1-6. Published online August 2026. Data year: 2024 (survey May 28 to August 2, 2024). [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42612685/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42612685/) (DOI: [https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.26.05.0206](https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.26.05.0206)) doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.26.05.0206
- 2Hazel SJ, Kogan LR, Montrose VT, Hebart ML, Oxley JA. Restraint of dogs in vehicles in the US, UK and Australia. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 170:104714. Published 2019. Data year: 2017 to 2018 (online convenience surveys). [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31421492/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31421492/) (DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.104714](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.104714)) doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.104714
- 3National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Distracted Driving Dangers and Statistics. Accessed October 2026 (no update date shown). Data year: 2024. nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving
- 4Blunck H, Owsley C, MacLennan PA, McGwin G. Driving with pets as a risk factor for motor vehicle collisions among older drivers. Accident Analysis and Prevention 58:70-74. Published 2013. [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23708755/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23708755/) (DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2013.04.019](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2013.04.019)) doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2013.04.019
- 5Huisingh C, Levitan EB, Irvin MR, Owsley C, McGwin G. Driving with pets and motor vehicle collision involvement among older drivers: A prospective population-based study. Accident Analysis and Prevention 88:169-174. Published 2016. [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26774042/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26774042/) (DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2015.12.015](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2015.12.015)) doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2015.12.015
- 6Loftis K, Tucker C, Harroun-White H, Price J, Cookman K, Mann K. Injury severity and anatomic patterns in canine occupants involved in vehicular crashes: application of the veterinary abbreviated injury scale. Traffic Injury Prevention, pp. 1-7. Published online August 2026. Data year: 2013 to 2024 (VetCOT registry cases). [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42663521/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42663521/) (DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2026.2709024](https://doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2026.2709024)) doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2026.2709024
- 7UK Government (GOV.UK). The Highway Code: Rules about animals (47 to 58), Rule 57. Updated October 22, 2025. gov.uk/…/rules-about-animals-47-to-58
- 8National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Vehicle Air Bags and Injury Prevention. Accessed October 2026 (no update date shown). nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/air-bags
- 9Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. 49 CFR 571.213, Standard No. 213; Child restraint systems. Last amended September 2026. ecfr.gov/…/section-571.213
- 10Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. 49 CFR Part 571, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (list of standards). Accessed October 2026. ecfr.gov/…/part-571
- 11NOAA National Weather Service. Children, Pets and Vehicles. Updated February 25, 2025. weather.gov/safety/heat-children-pets
- 12Hall EJ, Carter AJ, O’Neill DG. Dogs Don’t Die Just in Hot Cars: Exertional Heat-Related Illness (Heatstroke) Is a Greater Threat to UK Dogs. Animals 10(8):1324. Published 2020. Data year: 2016. [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32751913/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32751913/) (DOI: [https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10081324](https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10081324)) doi.org/10.3390/ani10081324
- 13Carter AJ, Hall EJ, Bradbury J, et al. Post-exercise management of exertional hyperthermia in dogs participating in dog sport (canicross) events in the UK. Journal of Thermal Biology 121:103827. Published 2024. [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38518416/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38518416/) (DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2024.103827](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2024.103827)) doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2024.103827
- 14Caney SMA, Robinson NJ, Gunn-Moore DA, Dean RS. Happy cats: stress in cats and their carers associated with outpatient visits to the clinic. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 24(12):e551-e557. Published 2022. [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36322402/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36322402/) (DOI: [https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X221121907](https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X221121907)) doi.org/10.1177/1098612X221121907
This article reflects the safety priorities of pet travel safety and securing everything that rides in a vehicle. It is general education, not veterinary, legal or insurance advice, and it does not endorse any product or seller. Rules and products change, so verify details with official sources. Talk with your veterinarian about your pet's health and travel needs, ask the product maker about fit and installation, and check with your state motor vehicle agency about local rules. Reviewed October 2026.
Cite this article: Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation. “Crash tested pet restraints and carriers: why loose pets are risky and how to set one up.” drivewithcare.org, https://drivewithcare.org/crash-tested-pet-restraints-carriers/. Reviewed October 2026.
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