The Best Dog Car Harnesses and Seat Belts

A car harness holds your dog in place and clips to the seat belt, so a sudden stop does not send them forward. Our top pick is the Sleepypod Clickit Range, which has a Center for Pet Safety 5-star rating. The other picks suit tight budgets, big dogs and small dogs.

Our picks at a glance

• Best overall: Sleepypod Clickit Range Crash-Tested Harness
• Best budget: Kurgo Enhanced Strength Tru-Fit Dog Car Harness
• Best for big dogs: Kurgo Impact Dog Car Harness
• Best for small dogs: Ruffwear Load Up Dog Car Harness

The best dog car harnesses

Best overallPhoto: Sleepypod

Dog car harnesses

Clickit Range Crash-Tested Harness

Best for: Owners who want independently rated crash protection

Sleepypod says this padded vest has a 5-star rating from the Center for Pet Safety for dogs from 18 to 110 lbs. It is made of ballistic nylon and connects to any seat belt, and it comes with an S-Clip and a Buckle Shield. The brand says not to use it with other brands’ accessories. Skip it if you want something you can toss in the washer, since the maker says to wipe it clean.

• Pro: Center for Pet Safety 5-star rating for dogs 18 to 110 lbs
• Pro: Comes with an S-Clip and a Buckle Shield
• Pro: Doubles as a walking harness
• Con: Wipe-clean only
• Con: Not for use with other brands' accessories

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Best budgetPhoto: Kurgo

Dog car harnesses

Enhanced Strength Tru-Fit Dog Car Harness

Best for: Dogs that wear one harness for walks and car rides

Kurgo says this harness was tested at a university facility under the child car seat standard. It has a padded chest plate, five adjustment points and leash rings, so it works for walks too. It is machine washable. Kurgo rates it for dogs up to 75 lbs, so skip the X-Large size for a dog over that weight.

• Pro: Five adjustment points and a padded chest plate
• Pro: Machine washable
• Pro: Five sizes from X-Small to X-Large
• Con: Crash tested only up to 75 lbs, though the X-Large is sized for 80 to 110 lbs
• Con: Tested by the brand, with no independent rating

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Best for big dogsPhoto: Kurgo

Dog car harnesses

Impact Dog Car Harness

Best for: Large and extra-large dogs

This harness is made from one piece of tubular webbing with steel nesting buckles. Kurgo says it passed a 2020 test for dogs up to 108 lbs, and the X-Large size is sized for 75 to 108 lbs. It is only for the car, so skip it if you want one harness for walks as well.

• Pro: Single piece of 4,000 lb tubular webbing
• Pro: All-steel nesting buckles and hardware
• Pro: Fits dogs up to 108 lbs
• Con: Made for car travel only
• Con: Spot clean or hand wash only

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Best for small dogsPhoto: Ruffwear

Dog car harnesses

Load Up Dog Car Harness

Best for: Small to medium dogs that need a close fit

Ruffwear sells it in five sizes, from XXS for a 13 to 17 inch girth up to L/XL for 32 to 42 inches. It has a seat belt loop, padding and metal buckles. Ruffwear calls it crash tested but does not name a test standard on the page, so look at the brand’s own testing notes if that matters to you. It is hand wash only.

• Pro: Five sizes, starting at a 13 to 17 inch girth
• Pro: Strength-rated metal hardware and slide buckle
• Pro: Padded construction for longer rides
• Con: Brand does not name its crash test standard on the page
• Con: Hand wash only

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How to choose a dog car harness

Look for crash-test details

Kurgo says no government agency sets safety standards for dog travel products. That means the brand’s word is only as good as its testing. Look for a named standard, like the child car seat standard Kurgo uses, or an independent rating. The Center for Pet Safety says its certification means the maker meets independently developed standards, and the group says it takes no money from pet product makers. Its certified products page lists carriers and kennels but no harnesses, so judge a harness rating by the brand’s own page.

Pick the right size

Measure your dog before you buy. Ruffwear sizes by girth around the widest part of the rib cage and says to pick the smaller size if your dog is between sizes. Kurgo sizes the Tru-Fit by chest and neck and says it should fit snug but not tight. Check the weight range too, since Kurgo’s Tru-Fit crash rating stops at 75 lbs.

Check how it connects

The AKC says dog seat belts work like the ones people use, and that a car harness attaches to the harness, not the collar. These picks all connect to the car’s seat belt. Sleepypod includes a clip and buckle cover, and Kurgo’s Tru-Fit includes a 10-inch tether with a steel carabiner.

Decide if you want a walking harness too

Sleepypod’s and Kurgo’s Tru-Fit harnesses can also be used on walks. Kurgo’s Impact is for car travel only.

Safety tips

• Put your dog in the back seat. The AKC says dogs are best in the back, where air bags cannot hurt them.
• Restrain your dog every ride. Kurgo says a harness on a seat belt tether keeps a dog from becoming a projectile in a crash.
• Keep dogs off laps and out of the front. Kurgo lists this as the first step to cut driver distraction.
• Keep windows up enough. The AKC says dogs should not put their heads out the window of a moving car, and that rear windows should stay closed because dogs can jump out.
• Follow the maker’s setup steps. Sleepypod warns against using non-Sleepypod accessories with its harnesses.
• Think about the rest of the back seat. A cover can keep hair off the upholstery but does not hold your dog in. See our guide to the best dog car seat covers.