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What Is the Best Dog Harness for a Car?
- Best Multifunctional Dog Car Harness: PetZana Comfortable Dog Seat Belt Harness for Car
This car harness does a great job of keeping pets safe and is affordable. - Best Dog Car Harness & Leash Combo: VavoPaw Adjustable and Soft Padded Car Dog Harness
This car leash is made of durable oxford polyester and connects to the car seat belt latch as well as includes an oversized carabiner for a universal fit in any car. - Best Dog Car Harness Combo for Multiple Dogs: COOYOO Retractable Dog Seat Belt
Featuring two seatbelts and a collapsible water bowl, this affordable option is great for owners of multiple dogs. - Best Adjustable Dog Car Harness: SlowTon Adjustable & Breathable Dog Car Harness
Designed specifically for small and medium dogs, this dog harness buckles into the existing car seatbelt. - Simplest Dog Car Harness with Leash: Petzana Dog Car Harness with Elastic Bungee Buffer
The only thing included in this car seat restraint is one high-quality safety seatbelt that features a bungee action and multiple color options. - Best Budget Friendly Dog Car Harness: BWOGUE Adjustable Headrest Restraint Dog Car Harness
Two nylon seat belt tethers are included in this very affordable seatbelt package for dogs. - Best Multipurpose Dog Car Harness: IOKHEIRA Reflective Dog Car Harness
This high-quality car seatbelt attachment for cars features reflective stitching, a locking carabiner, and a seatbelt connector.
What Is a Dog Car Harness?
A dog car harness is a special dog harness that allows your dog to be fastened into either the front or the back seat of a car. They often buckle into the existing car seatbelt buckle and are there to minimize the risk of injury during an accident.
Are Car Harnesses Safe for Dogs?
Yes, the dog car harness is safe for dogs. The purpose of a car harness is to keep the dog from flailing about the cabin of a car during sudden stops or turns.
What Are the Benefits of a Dog Car Harness?
The dog harness ensures pet safety and easy traveling. It can also be used for leisure walks. Here are the benefits of using a dog car harness.
- Safety: Just like a seatbelt keeps a human safe, they can keep dogs safe too. Crash-tested harnesses are a great choice for dogs who often travel in cars.
- Ease of Travel: Keeping your dog in a car harness will eliminate the ability to move around the interior of the car while driving. This reduces the chance the dog will interrupt you while you are driving.
- Dog Walks: Most car dog harnesses are multipurpose. They often come with a dog leash and are built with reflective strips so they can be used on walks as well as in the car.
The Best Dog Car Harnesses Reviewed
There are many dog car harness models on the market. There are also different size options, from small dog harnesses to large dog harnesses. Here, we have selected and reviewed the best options, accessible on Amazon and Chewy.
Life Stage: All Lifestage
Price: $9.99
Color: Black
Material: Nylon
Summary: Made of heavy-duty nylon and featuring a 360-degree swivel hook, this dog seatbelt is made to provide safety and comfort during car rides. This leash tethers to the headrest of the front seat or captain’s chairs and connects to the dog’s leash or walking harness, and keeps small dogs and large dogs in place.
The elastic bungee action of the leash helps to reduce the effects of whiplash and sudden stops. It can be used as a regular dog leash when not in the car, and it is stitched together with reflective stitches to provide a multi-function safety device for your furry friend.
Closure Type: Buckle
Padded: No
Non-Corrosive Hardware: Yes
Locking Mechanism: Yes
Reflective: Yes
- Multi-purpose
- Bungee action
- Metal alloy swivel hook
- Reflective stitching
- Affordable
- The leash attaches to the headrest, which is a cause for concern for some dog owners
Customer Review: Most of the 6,000+ customer reviews on Amazon were positive. Those who rated this product highly were impressed with the quality of the material and were happy with the price exclaiming, “now I can safely bring my dog in the car with me.”
Negative reviews only made up 2% of total reviews, and the most common concern was about how the seatbelt attaches to the seat. These people were concerned about their dog getting into the loop that wraps around the headrest and becoming injured.
Veterinarians.org Review: Our team at veterinarians.org is giving PetZana Comfortable Dog Seat Belt Harness for Car an overall 10/10 star rating. A breakdown of our rating is listed below:
- Pet Suitability (10/10): The product is PERFECTLY suitable, age-appropriate, and breed-fit for pets.
- Material Quality (10/10): This product is made from the highest-quality materials and is perfectly safe for pets. It is also eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, and animal-friendly.
- Cost Effectiveness (10/10): The price of this product is perfectly aligned with its quality.
- Customer Feedback (10/10): All customer reviews are positive. No allergic reactions/inconveniences were reported against the product.
- Product Variety (10/10): This product has an extremely wide variety of colors and sizes.
Life Stage: All Lifestage
Price: $20.69
Size: Extra Large
Color: Black
Material: Oxford Polyester
Summary: This heavily padded car safety harness is made of oxford polyester and mesh fabric to be both strong and breathable. The lead attaches to the car seat belt latch and includes an oversized carabiner to be suitable for any car.
The stable x-shape of the harness provides great support and stability while on car rides. This car harness is made with dog safety in mind and made with premium materials that are available in several sizes and colors to fit any dog.
Closure Type: Buckle
Padded: Yes
Non-Corrosive Hardware: Yes
Locking Mechanism: No
Front Clip or Back Clip: Back Clip
Reflective: Yes
- Available in various sizes and colors
- Includes a car safety harness
- Connects securely to the car seat belt latch
- Carabiner provides a universal fit for any car
- Heavily padded X-shaped straps
- Sizes run small
Customer Review: Most reviews were positive, with many saying they use this harness every day in the car, and it does a great job at keeping their dog in one spot. These consumers liked the harness it came with and said it had a secure connection to the seat belt latch.
There were two common complaints, however. These were regarding the quality and the size. Some people said their dog destroyed it quickly, while others say the sizes were smaller than advertised, and they had to order a size up.
Veterinarians.org Review: Our team at veterinarians.org is giving VavoPaw Adjustable and Soft Padded Car Dog Harness an overall 10/10 star rating. A breakdown of our rating is listed below:
- Pet Suitability (10/10): The product is PERFECTLY suitable, age-appropriate, and breed-fit for pets.
- Material Quality (10/10): This product is made from the highest-quality materials and is perfectly safe for pets. It is also eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, and animal-friendly.
- Cost Effectiveness (9/10): The price of this product is greatly aligned with its quality.
- Customer Feedback (10/10): All customer reviews are positive. No allergic reactions/inconveniences were reported against the product.
- Product Variety (10/10): This product has an extremely wide variety of colors and sizes.
Life Stage:
Price: $13.99
Color: Black
Material: Nylon
Summary: The adjustable length of this car seat belt for dogs can be stretched to 26 inches for extra large dogs and down to 20 inches for small dogs. The swivel hook provides a secure connection to your dog’s collar, and then high-quality nylon webbing wraps around an elastic bungee that prevents injury during sudden braking or turning.
This car restraint combo pack includes two leashes and a collapsible water bowl for road trips anywhere. It comes with a 100% money-back guarantee and provides a great piece of gear for pet travel to make for a happy ride.
Closure Type: Snap
Padded: No
Non-Corrosive Hardware: Yes
Locking Mechanism: No
Reflective: No
- Connects to the car seat belt latch
- Includes two leashes and a water bowl
- Elastic bungee action prevents injury from sudden stops
- Tangle-free design
- Adjustable length
- The latch is not universal
Customer Review: Over 90% of ratings were 4 and 5 stars, with most people praising the quality of the leash. These dog owners were happy to be able to bring their best friend anywhere safely and securely, and they mentioned the water bowl was a happy bonus.
Only 4% of reviews were negative, with most people complaining the seatbelt buckle did not latch correctly.
Veterinarians.org Review: Our team at veterinarians.org is giving COOYOO Retractable Dog Seat Belt an overall 10/10 star rating. A breakdown of our rating is listed below:
- Pet Suitability (10/10): The product is PERFECTLY suitable, age-appropriate, and breed-fit for pets.
- Material Quality (10/10): This product is made from the highest-quality materials and is perfectly safe for pets. It is also eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, and animal-friendly.
- Cost Effectiveness (10/10): Affordable price & excellent product quality.
- Customer Feedback (9/10): Most of the customers’ reviews are positive. Reports about allergic reactions/inconveniences are less to none.
- Product Variety (10/10): This product has an extremely wide variety of colors and sizes.
Life Stage: All Lifestage
Price: $14.99
Size: Medium
Color: Red
Material: Nylon
Summary: This harness has two D-rings to provide a great connection to this seat belt strap. It buckles into the existing vehicle’s seatbelt buckle to keep your dog in its seat while on the road.
The quick and easy-to-use buckles connect to a breathable mesh harness that can be used outside the car while walking your dog. The elastic bungee helps to prevent injury to your dog in the event of a sudden stop or turn and makes this a great all-around seat belt attachment.
Closure Type: Double D-ring, Buckle
Padded: No
Non-Corrosive Hardware: Yes
Locking Mechanism: No
Front Clip or Back Clip: Back
Reflective: No
- Available in many patterns and sizes
- Elastic bungee
- Adjustable length leash
- The harness can be used outside of the car
- Double D-ring connectivity to the harness
- The smaller sizes may be less durable than the large
Customer Review: Positive reviews were plentiful with this dog travel harness. These consumers liked the ease of use this product provided and were pleased with the price.
Complaints came from people who had bad experiences with this leash, some of whom bought the leash multiple times and had the same issue. For these customers, the harness had broken, or the leash had failed. It seemed as though most of the negative reviews were left by people who had puppies and ordered the small size.
Veterinarians.org Review: Our team at veterinarians.org is giving SlowTon Adjustable & Breathable Dog Car Harness an overall 10/10 star rating. A breakdown of our rating is listed below:
- Pet Suitability (10/10): The product is PERFECTLY suitable, age-appropriate, and breed-fit for pets.
- Material Quality (10/10): This product is made from the highest-quality materials and is perfectly safe for pets. It is also eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, and animal-friendly.
- Cost Effectiveness (10/10): The price of this product is perfectly aligned with its quality.
- Customer Feedback (10/10): All customer reviews are positive. No allergic reactions/inconveniences were reported against the product.
- Product Variety (10/10): This product has an extremely wide variety of colors and sizes.
Life Stage: All Lifestage
Price: $10.99
Color: Black
Material: Nylon
Summary: By buckling directly into the car seatbelt buckle, this leash attachment is made to keep your pet safe. It is adjustable up to 29 inches to fit x-large dog breeds and down to 21 inches for smaller dogs.
The anti-shock elastic helps to prevent injury from sudden stops or turns during a car trip. The 360-degree swivel hook is made of solid zinc to resist rust and fatigue.
Closure Type: Quick Release, Snap
Padded: No
Non-Corrosive Hardware: Yes
Locking Mechanism: No
Reflective: No
- Anti-shock bungee
- Adjustable up to 29 inches
- Solid zinc swivel hook
- Available in a variety of colors
- Buckles securely into the car seatbelt buckle
- Does not include a vehicle harness
Customer Review: Well over 90% of buyers rated this product 4 or 5 stars. These people were happy they could bring their dogs safely with them in the car and said they were impressed with the quality of the metal and the fabric.
Critical reviews were sparse, but a common thread was about dogs unbuckling themselves from the restraint or chewing through the belt.
Veterinarians.org Review: Our team at veterinarians.org is giving Petzana Dog Car Harness with Elastic Bungee Buffer an overall 10/10 star rating. A breakdown of our rating is listed below:
- Pet Suitability (10/10): The product is PERFECTLY suitable, age-appropriate, and breed-fit for pets.
- Material Quality (10/10): This product is made from the highest-quality materials and is perfectly safe for pets. It is also eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, and animal-friendly.
- Cost Effectiveness (10/10): Affordable price & excellent product quality.
- Customer Feedback (9/10): Most of the customers’ reviews are positive. Reports about allergic reactions/inconveniences are less to none.
- Product Variety (10/10): This product has an extremely wide variety of colors and sizes.
Life Stage: All Lifestage
Price: $10.49
Color: Black
Material: Nylon
Summary: Available in a wide variety of colors, this leash attachment for cars is made for dogs of all sizes. This seatbelt system wraps around the headrest of the front seat and is made to remain above the dog to prevent tangling.
A solid zinc hook provides a secure and rust-resistant connection to your dog’s harness, while plastic buckles offer security around the headrest. It can be used in almost any vehicle and is adjustable to fit dogs of almost any size.
Closure Type: Buckle
Padded: No
Non-Corrosive Hardware: Yes
Locking Mechanism: No
Reflective: No
- Available in many colors
- Solid zinc swivel hook
- Adjustable length
- Tangle-free design
- Doubles as a traditional leash
- The buckles on the headrest attachment are plastic
- Does not come with a car harness
Customer Review: The majority of reviewers were satisfied with the quality of this leash. They said it kept their dogs in place during car travel and the adjustable length was handy for people who fostered dogs of all sizes.
Negative reviews mostly expressed dissatisfaction with the strap. These people said the strap was thin, brittle, and quick to fray.
Veterinarians.org Review: Our team at veterinarians.org is giving BWOGUE Adjustable Headrest Restraint Dog Car Harness an overall 9/10 star rating. A breakdown of our rating is listed below:
- Pet Suitability (9/10): The product is HIGHLY suitable, age-appropriate, and breed-fit for pets.
- Material Quality (10/10): This product is made from the highest-quality materials and is perfectly safe for pets. It is also eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, and animal-friendly.
- Cost Effectiveness (9/10): The price of this product is greatly aligned with its quality.
- Customer Feedback (9/10): Most of the customers’ reviews are positive. Reports about allergic reactions/inconveniences are less to none.
- Product Variety (10/10): This product has an extremely wide variety of colors and sizes.
Life Stage:
Price: $17.99
Color: Black
Material: Nylon
Summary: This leash can be used as a handheld leash and features reflective stitching to make you and your dog visible during low-light conditions. A locking carabiner attaches to your dog’s harness to give you a better connection to your dog than a standard swivel hook.
The length is adjustable to suit any size dog, and the nylon has been tested to withstand a maximum tension of 2156 Newtons to ensure absolute reliability. It is available in an array of colors and is lightweight enough for use on cats and small dogs.
Closure Type: Hook, Snap, Buckle
Padded: No
Non-Corrosive Hardware: Yes
Locking Mechanism: Yes
Reflective: Yes
- Compatible with any car
- Reflective stitching
- Locking carabiner
- Doubles as a regular handheld leash
- Crash-tested nylon strap
- Does not include a harness
Customer Review: Buyers were happy with the ease of use of this leash provided. They liked the shock-absorbing design, and the locking carabiner gave them peace of mind.
Critical reviews made up 3% of ratings and expressed concern over how tight the elastic bungee seemed to be and said it seemed more like a safety concern than a safety measure. Other negative reviews simply said it did not last long and snapped soon after purchasing.
Veterinarians.org Review: Our team at veterinarians.org is giving IOKHEIRA Reflective Dog Car Harness an overall 10/10 star rating. A breakdown of our rating is listed below:
- Pet Suitability (10/10): The product is PERFECTLY suitable, age-appropriate, and breed-fit for pets.
- Material Quality (10/10): This product is made from the highest-quality materials and is perfectly safe for pets. It is also eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, and animal-friendly.
- Cost Effectiveness (10/10): Affordable price & excellent product quality.
- Customer Feedback (9/10): Most of the customers’ reviews are positive. Reports about allergic reactions/inconveniences are less to none.
- Product Variety (10/10): This product has an extremely wide variety of colors and sizes.
What Should I Look for in a Dog Car Harness?
When shopping for a dog car harness, consider the following features:
- CPS Approved: The Center for Pet Safety seal of approval is a great sign the harness is made to be high quality.
- Buckle System: A car harness that buckles into the existing car seatbelt buckle is ideal because it puts the buckle lower than the dog’s neck, reducing the chance of choking. However, some buckles do not work with some car seatbelts, and in this case, a headrest-mounted harness may do the job.
- Multipurposeness: Most car harnesses serve the purpose of a regular harness just as well. They are often made with breathable mesh and reflective trim to allow for a safe and comfortable walk.
- Sewn Edges: The fabric the edges are made of can make a difference in the comfort level your dog experiences when wearing the harness. A terry cloth sewn edge is often the softest you might find, but some vests have nylon or elastic edges that can irritate a dog’s skin.
How do I Know if the Dog Car Harness is the Right Size?
To find the right size harness for your dog, you will need to measure its girth. The girth is the measurement of the chest from the right behind the front legs.
You may also need a neck measurement. These two measurements will provide you with the information you need to size the harness correctly.
