For dog owners, it’s not just about walkies – trips in the car are sometimes essential. These trips get you to the vets, the perfect secluded walking spot or your holiday destination.
However, as Rule 57 of the Highway Code states, “When in a vehicle, make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly.”
While breaking the highway code doesn’t carry a direct penalty, you can be fined £1,000 on the spot for ‘careless driving’ if you’re found to be distracted on the road. The same charge carries a maximum fine of £5,000 and nine penalty points on your licence, depending on the severity. In extreme cases, the incident could also result in a driving ban and a compulsory re-test.
Quite the hefty fine for Fido not being sufficiently restrained. But don’t worry, we’re not talking about lashing your dog down until they can no longer move. Happily, the Highway Code also states, “A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.”
So while we at Parkers have a whole article dedicated to harnesses for your pooch, in this article, we’re going to take a look at the best seat belts you can buy for Bingo.
What to look for in a doggie seat belts
These relatively inexpensive purchases are a small fee to pay instead of risking a potentially hefty fine. You should consider a few things before making a purchase, though, just to make it better for your dog.
It’s always best to connect these seat belts to a harness over your dog’s collar in case of any sudden or sharp braking, or an accident that may cause injury or harm to your dog’s neck.
- Look for a seatbelt which has a bit of flexibility or elasticated sections. Again, if there’s a need for an emergency brake or an accident, these sections add some flex to the seat belt.
- Pretty much dog seat belts will come with a 360-degree rotating clip, but double-check to make sure yours does. They lessen the likelihood of tangling and reduce the risk of injury.
- Is it adjustable in length? Your dog still needs to be able to move around in the car for it to be able to sit, lie down and get comfy.
- Can it be used as a lead? We don’t always remember everything – sometimes, when we take the dog in the car, we forget the lead. A seat belt that doubles up is just a little win in life if you ever forget.
Related: The best dog carriers and cages for your car
The best dog seat belts
3 Peaks Car Belt Dog Restraint
Price: RRP £7.00 | VIEW OFFER
This restraint from well-known brand 3 Peaks is designed to use the pinion points in your car is it would clip on to an exposed ISOFIX pinion point (usually used for car seats) or a pinion point in your boot with the use of the carabiner. The clip is robust and will rotate 360 degrees. The straps will adjust to allow your dog ample room to sit, stand or lie down in the back or boot of your car.
Pros
• Well-known brand
• relatively inexpensive
Cons
• It can only be used with pinion points.
• Not able to use as a lead
Petzana Dog Seat Belt
Price: RRP £4.99 | VIEW OFFER
Petzana offers this wonderful, cheap and inoffensive seatbelt – it buckles into your car’s seat belt holder, has an adjustable strap, which will go from 53cm to 73cm and has an antishock bungee buffer. The belt is made from a nylon fabric with a 360-degree swivel clip which attaches to your dog’s harness made from a zinc alloy.
Pros
• Low cost
• It has an adjustable strap
• Antishock bungee buffer
Cons
• It does not state how much weight the belt would support
• Not able to use as a lead
• It can only use where there is a seat belt point
Petzana Headrest dog car seat belt
Price: RRP £9.99 | VIEW OFFER
Got more than one dog? This is a pack of two at an attractive price. Instead of clipping into a vacant seat belt, this one uses the headrest as an anchor point in the car. With this loop around the headrest, you can comfortably use this dog car seat as a lead if you need to. The lockable buckle on the loop ensures that it doesn’t somehow become unclipped and is easy to unclip for a nice quick release from the car if needed.
Again, as above, this has a 360-degree rotation clip of an antishock bungee buffer and is made out of nylon, long enough for your dog to sit, stand and lie down.
Pros
• Low cost
• Antishock bungee buffer
• Able to use as a lead and a seatbelt
Cons
• It does not state how much weight the belt would support
EzyDog ZClick Adjustable Seat Belt
Price: RRP £12.00 | VIEW OFFER
The universal style belt buckle should fit into most, if not all, belt buckle holders; the heavy-duty clip is on a 360-degree swivel for all-around comfort for your perfect puppy. The clip is heavy-duty, so it should be able to support the weight of larger dogs.
Instead of the belt being made from fabricated nylon, it utilises the same webbing your car seat uses. This provides a little stretch and is slightly pliable but also has added durability for plenty of use.
Pros
• Heavy duty for all kinds of dog
• Adjustable
Cons
• Not able to use it as a dog lead
Vivaglory Chew-Proof Dog Seat Belt
Price: RRP £7.49 | VIEW OFFER
Whenever you buy something that is ‘chew-proof’, your dog knows and finds this a challenge, which they gleefully accept and, more often than not, complete. However, if your dog is a chewer, you might as well give it a go. This offering from Viva glory claims to be chew-proof and is made from stainless steel rope with a vinyl cover. It also comes with some other bits, which are also very handy. Not only can you clip this into your seat belt, but you can also clip it onto pinion points in your car.
Being chew-proof, the cable is non-adjustable, but there is a handy size guide which will help you pick the correct one for your dog.
Pros
• Able to clip it into different places in the car
• 360-degree swivel
Cons
• It seems pretty thin, so we would worry about tangling
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