Walking & Travel
Best Dog Car Seats
(opens Amazon in a new tab)A dog car seat keeps a small or medium dog in one place, off your lap and out of the footwell. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) says it is unsafe for pets to be loose in a moving vehicle [1].
Be clear about what these seats are, though. None of our three picks claims crash testing, and there's no U.S. standard behind "crash tested" pet products anyway [3]. We picked a seat for small dogs, an elevated booster and a larger seat for bigger dogs, and we explain where to put them.
Our 3 picks at a glance
- Best for Small DogsBurgeonNest Dog Car Seat for Small DogsFor dogs and cats under 25 lbs; the most-rated seat hereCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Best ElevatedLealchum Elevated Dog Booster Car Seat (Medium)Raised cushion so your dog can see out; rated highest hereCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Best for Bigger DogsJOEJOY Dog Car Seat for Medium/Large Dogs30 × 19 inches, for one dog up to 55 lbs or two small dogsCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
How we picked
We searched Amazon for dog car seats and read the top organic results. We left out seat covers and hammocks, which protect the car rather than hold the dog, and we skipped listings with a high score from only a few ratings.
We kept three seats for three dog sizes and read each listing for weight limits, tethers and where it can go in the car. Car-safety guidance comes from the AVMA and the Center for Pet Safety [1][2][3][4][5]. For walks once you arrive, see our harness guide.
What vets say about dogs in cars
The AVMA's policy is that it's unsafe for pets to ride loose, and that the preferred options are a correctly sized crate or carrier, or a properly designed safety harness. It adds that there is little science on the safety of individual products [1].
Seat position matters. The AVMA's travel brochure says that if your car has airbags, keep dogs out of the front passenger seat, and never let a dog ride on the driver's lap [2]. Its owner guidance warns that deployed airbags can crush unrestrained pets [5]. Two of our picks say they fit the front or back seat; we'd use the back.
On "crash tested": AVMA News reported in 2023 that there are no standards or industry tests for pet restraints [3]. The Center for Pet Safety, a nonprofit, runs a voluntary certification with independent standards [4]. None of our picks is marketed as crash tested or certified. Think of them as a way to keep your dog settled and in place, not as crash protection.
BurgeonNest Dog Car Seat for Small Dogs
Sold by WEISHANGSHIDA, ships from Amazon.
This is a soft, box-shaped seat for small dogs and cats up to 25 pounds. It buckles to the top and back of the car seat and has an adjustable strap with a buckle that the listing says keeps a puppy in place without jumping out.
The cushion is two-sided (fluffy on one side, fabric on the other), and the cover and filling come apart for washing. The listing says it fits front or back seats. Follow the AVMA and use the back if your car has passenger airbags [2].
Good to know
- The most ratings of our three picks
- Washable cover, with the filling in separate bags
- Two storage pockets
Keep in mind
- Small dogs only: 25 pounds maximum
- The listing makes no crash-test claim; think of it as a way to keep your dog in place
- The listing suggests sizing up for long-bodied dogs
Lealchum Elevated Dog Booster Car Seat (Medium)
Sold by YIYUSU, ships from Amazon.
Some dogs settle better when they can see out of the window. This booster sits your dog on a foam pad about 6 inches (15 cm) high, with a raised backrest and adjustable leashes, shoulder straps and a harness channel underneath, per the listing.
It's the highest-rated of our picks. The listing says the seat "ensures" your pet's protection; we'd treat that as marketing.
Good to know
- Highest rating of our picks
- Raised 6-inch pad for a view out
- Fully detachable, machine-washable cover
Keep in mind
- Weight limit conflict: the title says 35 lbs, the spec says 30 lbs; go by 30
- The spec lists "No warranty"
- Its safety wording is marketing; no crash testing is claimed
JOEJOY Dog Car Seat for Medium/Large Dogs
Sold by "consent" (third-party seller), ships from Amazon.
Many car seats are sized for small dogs. This one is 30 by 19 inches and, per the listing, fits a dog up to 55 pounds or two small dogs under 20 pounds each. It threads onto the seat belt, straps to the headrest, and has two clip-on leashes.
The cover is reversible, plush on one side and faux leather on the other, and unzips for machine washing. The listing says it fits most back seats or "trunks"; at most we'd read that as the cargo area of an SUV or hatchback. A closed car trunk is never a place for a dog, and the AVMA says open cargo areas such as truck beds aren't safe [1].
Good to know
- The only pick for dogs up to 55 lbs
- Fits most back seats, per the listing
- Reversible, washable cover; 1-year warranty
Keep in mind
- JOEJOY shows about the same rating count on several of its seats, so the rating may be shared
- The listing gives the height as 14 and 15 inches, and calls the foam both memory foam and egg-crate
- For a dog this size the AVMA's preferred options are a correctly sized crate or carrier, or a properly designed safety harness [1]
- The included-components line lists only straps, though the bullets describe two clip-on leashes
Side by side
| Product | Max dog weight | Size | Seat position (listing) | Tether |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BurgeonNest | 25 lbs | 21.7 × 19.7 × 13.8 in | Front or back | Adjustable strap |
| Lealchum (M) | 30 lbs (title: 35) | 19 × 19 × 19 in | Front or back | Leashes + harness channel |
| JOEJOY | 55 lbs, or 2 dogs under 20 | 30 × 19 × 15 in | Back seat or "trunk" (listing) | 2 clip-on leashes (per bullets) |
Specs as stated on each Amazon listing, checked September 2026.
What to look for
Back seat
The AVMA says keep dogs out of the front passenger seat if your car has airbags [2]. Use the back even when a listing says front is fine.
Tether to a harness
In our view, clip the tether to a harness rather than a collar. The AVMA names a properly designed safety harness as a preferred way to restrain a dog [1].
Weight limit
Go by the lower number when a listing gives two.
The bottom line
- Best for Small Dogs: The BurgeonNest is the most-rated pick, for small dogs up to 25 pounds.
- Best Elevated: The Lealchum lifts your dog to see out, but go by its 30-pound spec.
- Best for Bigger Dogs: The JOEJOY fits a dog up to 55 pounds in the back seat.
Questions pet parents ask
Are dog car seats safe?
They keep a dog in one place, and the AVMA says loose pets are unsafe. But its preferred options are a correctly sized crate or carrier, or a properly designed safety harness [1]. None of our picks claims crash testing, so don't treat them as crash protection.
Can my dog ride in the front seat?
The AVMA says to keep dogs out of the front passenger seat if the car has airbags [2]. Use the back seat.
What does "crash tested" mean on a dog product?
What size dog car seat do I need?
Go by the listing's weight limit and your dog's length. Our picks run from 25 pounds (BurgeonNest) to 55 pounds (JOEJOY).
Should I attach the tether to a collar or a harness?
We'd use a harness. The AVMA names a properly designed safety harness among its preferred ways to restrain a dog in a car [1], and the Lealchum has a channel for one.
Sources
- AVMA. Safe non-commercial transport of pets in motor vehicles (policy). avma.org
- AVMA. Traveling with your pet (client brochure), 2023. ebusiness.avma.org
- Lederhouse C. Data, safety regulations lacking when it comes to pets and vehicles. AVMA News, September 11, 2023. avma.org
- Center for Pet Safety. Center for Pet Safety Certified. centerforpetsafety.org
- AVMA. Pet safety in vehicles. avma.org