Dog hanging its head out of the window

Safety Tips & Advice for Driving with Your Pet Inside Your Vehicle

How to Safely Drive with a Pet in Your Car

Vehicles are made to comfortable accommodate several passengers. In many cases, this includes your pet as well. Wondering how to safely drive with a pet in your car? Below, we’ve put together all the safety tips and suggestions drivers should know before they take any of their beloved animals for a ride.


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The most important piece of safety advice to remember when driving with pets is to keep them properly secured in your vehicle. In many states, drivers are required to keep animals tethered or kenneled while driving. Even in states without these guidelines, it’s a good idea to keep your pet properly secured so that they cannot be a distraction to you while you operate the vehicle.

Before taking longer trips with your pet, it’s recommended that drivers get them comfortable with riding in the car by regularly taking them on shorter trips. Like people, pets can get anxious and/or carsick too. Because of this, it’s a good idea to get animals used to driving while they’re still young and to not feed them right before driving. Never leave a pet unattended inside of your vehicle, as cars can heat up fast.

A dog in the driver's seat

Other Safety Tips to Keep in Mind When Driving with Pets

  • Always keep pets in the back seat
  • Never transport pets in a truck bed
  • Keep pets away from air bag positions
  • Never let your pet stick its head out the window

Need to take your vehicle in for service, repair or maintenance but not sure where to go? You can trust your vehicle with Matt Castrucci Kia in Dayton, OH. Schedule a service appointment today and meet with our team of automotive specialists. Our available services include tire rotation, filter replacement, automotive glass repair and much more.