The Best Travel Gear for Road Tripping Dogs

Your dog loves the big lap as much as you do. But 500km of unsealed road with an unrestrained 30kg kelpie bouncing around the back seat? That’s a safety hazard for everyone in the vehicle, the dog included.

Australian road rules vary by state, but the principle is consistent: pets must be restrained or contained so they can’t distract the driver or become a projectile in a sudden stop. Beyond the legal side, the right car setup makes long driving days dramatically more comfortable for your dog and keeps your upholstery intact after months on the road.

Here’s our pick of the best car seats, hammocks, seatbelts, harnesses, and ramps for travelling with pets on the big lap.

Car Seats for Small & Medium Dogs

If your dog is small enough to ride in an elevated car seat, it’s one of the best investments you can make for long driving days. These seats lift your dog up so they can see out the window (which helps with car sickness), keep them contained in one spot, and protect your seats from mud, drool, and hair. Most clip into the seatbelt system and work in the front or back seat.

1

Best Car Seat

~$150

Doog Car Seat

Australian-designed, built for the long haul

Doog is an Australian pet brand and this car seat shows the attention to detail. It’s a sturdy, well-padded seat that clips into your seatbelt and gives smaller dogs a comfortable, elevated riding position. The sides are high enough to feel secure without boxing your dog in completely, and the base is firm enough that it doesn’t collapse under a wriggling terrier. Available in a large size that suits dogs up to about 12kg.

✔ Pros

• Australian designed with quality materials
• Firm base that holds its shape
• High sides for security
• Removable, washable cover

✗ Cons

• Only suits small to medium dogs
• Premium price point

Best for: Small to medium dogs who ride in the front or back seat on long drives. Worth the investment if your dog spends hours in the car.

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2

Runner Up

~$100

Navigator Dog Seat Buddy

A solid mid-range car seat from a trusted camping brand

Navigator is a brand most campers already know from Snowys, and their Seat Buddy is a no-fuss elevated car seat for small to medium dogs. It straps in using the headrest and seatbelt, sits your dog up at window height, and has a short internal tether to keep them from launching out. The fabric is durable enough to handle dirty paws, and the whole thing packs down reasonably flat when you’re not using it.

✔ Pros

• Good quality for the price
• Internal tether included
• Packs down flat for storage

✗ Cons

• Not as sturdy as the Doog
• Suits smaller dogs only

Best for: A reliable car seat at a fair price. Good option if you want something solid without spending $150.

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3

~$TBC

Paws for Life Dog Car Seat

Budget-friendly option for occasional use

A straightforward elevated car seat at a lower price point, available through Pet Circle. It does the job of lifting your small dog up to window height and keeping them contained, though the materials aren’t as robust as the Doog or Navigator options. If you’re looking for something affordable to try before committing to a premium seat, this is a reasonable starting point.

✔ Pros

• Budget-friendly entry point
• Lightweight and easy to install

✗ Cons

• Less durable for long-term use
• May not hold up to months on the road

Best for: Budget-conscious travellers or as a trial before investing in a premium seat.

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4

Clever Design

~$95

Kurgo Rover Backseat Bridge

Fills the footwell gap to extend your back seat

This is a different approach to car seats. Instead of elevating your dog, the Backseat Bridge fills the gap between the back seat and the front seats, creating a flat, extended platform across the entire back seat area. It’s brilliant for dogs who like to lie down on long drives but keep sliding into the footwell. The padded top is comfortable and the whole thing is adjustable to fit most vehicle cabins. If your dog treats the back seat like a bed (and most do after a few hundred kilometres), this turns it into a proper one.

✔ Pros

• Creates a flat, full back seat area
• Great for dogs who lie down on drives
• Adjustable to fit most vehicles
• Padded and comfortable

✗ Cons

• Takes up the entire back seat
• Not a restraint on its own (pair with a seatbelt tether)

Best for: Medium to large dogs who prefer to lie down. Ideal if your back seat passengers are all four-legged.

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Back Seat Covers & Hammocks

If you’ve got a medium to large dog, an elevated car seat isn’t going to cut it. Instead, you want a back seat hammock or cover that protects your upholstery while giving your dog a contained space. Hammock-style covers are the most popular option because they hang from the front and rear headrests, creating a cradle that stops your dog from sliding into the footwell and prevents muddy paws from reaching the back of your front seats.

After months on the road through red dirt, beaches, and bush tracks, your back seat will thank you.

1

Best Hammock

~$126

Kurgo Heather Hammock Seat Cover

Premium hammock cover that actually stays put

Kurgo makes some of the best pet travel gear going, and this hammock cover is a standout. It clips to all four headrests to create a secure hammock that protects your back seat from dirt, hair, and drool. The fabric is waterproof on the bottom layer and durable on top, so it handles wet dogs straight from the beach without soaking through to the seat. It also converts to a standard bench cover if you need the footwell space. The fit is universal and the attachment system is genuinely secure; it doesn’t sag or slip like cheaper alternatives.

✔ Pros

• Waterproof backing
• Converts between hammock and bench modes
• Secure headrest attachment that doesn’t slip
• Durable enough for extended travel

✗ Cons

• Pricier than basic hammocks
• Can feel warm in summer (no mesh panels)

Best for: Anyone who wants a hammock cover that’ll last the entire lap. Especially good for dogs who swim or get muddy regularly.

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Dog Seatbelts, Tethers & Travel Harnesses

This is the non-negotiable category. Every state in Australia requires pets to be restrained or contained while travelling in a vehicle. An unrestrained dog is a distraction at best and a 30kg projectile at worst. Even a 10kg dog generates enormous force in a 60km/h collision.

There are two approaches: a dedicated travel harness (which wraps around your dog’s body and clips directly into the seatbelt) or a tether/clip (which attaches your dog’s existing harness to the seatbelt system). Travel harnesses are safer because they distribute the force across the chest. Simple tethers are cheaper and more convenient, but they rely on your dog’s everyday harness being strong enough to take the load in a sudden stop.

Travel Harnesses (the safer option)

1

Best Restraint

~$65

Carsafe Dog Travel Harness

Crash-tested safety that doubles as a walking harness

The Carsafe is the closest thing to a proper seatbelt you’ll find for a dog. It’s a padded chest harness with reinforced stitching that’s been crash-tested to handle the forces of a collision. The seatbelt threads directly through the harness (no separate tether needed), which means your dog is secured in the same way a child seat is. Outside the car, it works as a regular walking harness, so you don’t need to swap gear at every stop. Available in multiple sizes from small to extra large.

✔ Pros

• Crash-tested for impact safety
• Seatbelt threads directly through (no tether)
• Doubles as a walking harness
• Padded and comfortable for long drives

✗ Cons

• Takes a minute to thread the seatbelt each time
• More expensive than basic tethers

Best for: Anyone who takes car safety seriously. The best combination of crash protection and everyday usability.

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2

Budget Pick

~$10

All For Paws Travel Car Dog Harness

Entry-level harness at a throwaway price

At under $10, this is the cheapest travel harness on the market. It includes a basic chest harness and a short seatbelt attachment. It won’t win any crash-test awards, but it’s a functional restraint that keeps your dog in place during normal driving. If you’re unsure whether your dog will tolerate a travel harness, this is a low-risk way to find out before investing in something like the Carsafe.

✔ Pros

• Incredibly cheap
• Includes harness and seatbelt clip
• Good for testing whether your dog tolerates a harness

✗ Cons

• Not crash-tested
• Thinner materials and stitching
• Not suitable as a walking harness

Best for: A cheap trial harness or a backup. Don’t rely on it as your primary safety gear for a long trip.

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Seatbelt Tethers & Clips (use with your own harness)

If your dog already has a good harness, a seatbelt tether is the simplest way to secure them. One end clips to the harness, the other slots into the seatbelt buckle. Quick, easy, and no need to swap harnesses every time you get in the car. The key difference between tethers is adjustability (how much freedom of movement your dog gets) and the strength of the hardware.

1

Best Tether

~$55

EzyDog Heavy Duty Adjustable Dog Seatbelt

Built tough with proper adjustability

EzyDog doesn’t mess around with materials. This tether uses a heavy-duty carabiner, reinforced webbing, and an adjustable length so you can dial in exactly how much room your dog has. Shorter for highway driving, longer when you’re parked up and they need to shift positions. The build quality is noticeably better than the $20 alternatives, and on a trip where this thing gets used twice a day for months, that matters.

✔ Pros

• Heavy-duty hardware and webbing
• Adjustable length
• Built to last months of daily use

✗ Cons

• More expensive than basic tethers
• Requires a separate harness

Best for: Medium to large dogs who already have a quality harness. The best tether for long-term travel.

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2

~$32

Kurgo Direct To Seatbelt Tether

Simple, reliable tether from a trusted brand

Kurgo’s tether is a straightforward design: one end clips to your dog’s harness, the other loops directly around the seatbelt. No seatbelt buckle adapter needed, which means it works in any vehicle without compatibility issues. The swivel clip prevents tangling, and the length gives dogs a reasonable range of movement without letting them reach the front seats.

✔ Pros

• Works with any seatbelt (no adapter)
• Swivel clip prevents tangling
• Mid-range price from a quality brand

✗ Cons

• Not adjustable in length
• Lighter duty than the EzyDog

Best for: A reliable mid-range option, especially if you switch between vehicles or want something that works universally.

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3

~$23

Rogz Car Safety Adjust Clip

Adjustable tether at a reasonable price

Rogz is a well-known pet brand and this adjustable tether offers a good balance between price and function. It clips into the seatbelt buckle and adjusts in length, so you can give your dog more or less slack depending on the situation. The hardware is decent, the clip is easy to use, and at around $23 it’s not going to break the budget.

✔ Pros

• Adjustable length
• Decent hardware for the price
• Known brand with good availability

✗ Cons

• Not as heavy-duty as the EzyDog

Best for: A solid everyday tether that won’t break the bank.

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4

Budget Pick

~$17

Hi Dream Pet Car Seat Belt

Cheapest tether that still does the job

A basic, no-frills seatbelt tether at a budget price. It clips into the seatbelt buckle and connects to your dog’s harness. The hardware is lighter than premium options, but at under $18 it’s a good backup tether to keep in the glovebox or as a second tether if you’re travelling with two dogs.

✔ Pros

• Very affordable
• Simple to use
• Good as a spare or backup

✗ Cons

• Lighter hardware
• May not suit large, strong dogs

Best for: A backup tether or a budget option for small to medium dogs.

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Car Ramps

If you drive a 4WD, dual cab, or anything with a high tailgate, a ramp isn’t a luxury; it’s a joint saver. Older dogs, large breeds, and dogs with hip or back issues shouldn’t be jumping in and out of high vehicles hundreds of times over the course of a big lap. Even young, fit dogs can develop problems from the repetitive impact over time. A telescopic ramp folds down when you need it and stores in the boot or under the van when you don’t.

1

Top Pick

~$175

Furtastic Heavy-Duty Telescopic Car Pet Ramp

Telescopic, non-slip, and rated for large dogs

This telescopic ramp extends from around 100cm to 160cm, which is enough to reach the boot of most 4WDs and utes at a comfortable angle. The surface is textured and non-slip, which is important for wet or muddy paws. It’s rated for heavier dogs and the telescopic design means it stores compactly when collapsed. The build is aluminium, so it’s lighter than it looks and won’t rust after being exposed to salt air and rain for months. A practical investment for any big lap dog over 20kg.

✔ Pros

• Telescopic design for compact storage
• Non-slip surface
• Aluminium build (lightweight, rust-resistant)
• Rated for large dogs

✗ Cons

• Still takes up space when stored
• Some dogs need training to use a ramp confidently

Best for: Large dogs, older dogs, or any dog riding in a high vehicle. Saves their joints and your back from lifting them.

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Quick Comparison

Car Seats & Hammocks

Seatbelts & Restraints