Do you need a safe way to transport your dog in the backseat of your car? If so, you’ll need to find a crate that’s comfortable for your dog and also be compact enough to fit on your backseat. A dog crate for a car backseat should also be lightweight so you won’t have to struggle to put it into your car.
That’s why we put together this list of the best dog car carriers and crates, so you can quickly find the best dog car crate that will be the safest way to travel with a dog in a car.
Best Backseat Dog Crates
Crash Tested Dog Crates & Carriers
Orion Kennels AD2 Crash-Safe Crate
The Orion Kennels AD2 Crash-Safe Crate (Buy Online) is designed to protect your dog in an accident so they can travel in your car safely. This premium dog crate is made for dogs that weigh up to 50lbs, and it measures 34” L x 22.5” W x 23” H. It’s also very lightweight for a crash-safe crate since it only weighs 26 pounds, so it will be very easy to load onto a car’s backseat.
This heavy-duty crate is designed to protect a dog in a collision and it has a secure durable design that will easily withstand rough handling. This pet travel crate also has a door that opens out from the top instead of the side which makes it much easier to open when it’s on a car seat.
Orion Kennels also makes smaller and larger versions of this crate that will fit dogs that weigh from 25 to 100lbs, and they also come in bright orange or moss green. Click this link to see the full line of Orion Kennels.
Crash Tested Gen7 Commuter Dog, Cat, Pet Car Seat + Carrier
The Crash Tested Gen7 Commuter Dog Carrier (Buy Online) is specially designed to keep your dog safe in the event of a collision. This dog carrier is made for small pets that weigh under 15 pounds, and it measures 9” H x 9.5” W x 17.5” L, and it weighs 4.6 pounds.
This is one of the few 5-Star rated crash-tested dog carriers on the market. The Gen7 Carrier was given a 5-Star rating by the Center for Pet Safety. In order to get this rating, it was subjected to high-speed vehicle crash testing in order to assess its crashworthiness. The Gen7 remained anchored to the seat at all times during the crash test, and the simulated crash-pet dummy was fully protected from injury.
Overall, the Gen7 carrier is one of the safest soft-sided carriers for car travel since it utilizes a vehicles seat belts to ensure the utmost in crash protection and pet safety. It’s also much easier to handle than a rigid crate, so you won’t ever have to struggle to get it onto your car’s backseat.
Collapsible Dog Crate
Petego Pet Tube Kennel
The Petego Pet Tube Kennel (Buy Online) is the best way to transport a dog while providing them with ample space on a car’s backseat. The small Petego Pet Tube Kennel measures 18” H x 18” L x 18” D, and it will easily fit on the backseat of a small car. The large version of the Petego Pet Tube Kennel measures 24” H x 47” L x 24” D, and it’s better suited for large cars and SUV’s with a bench-style backseat.
The Petego Pet Tube Kennel is fully collapsible and the small version weighs 3.9 pounds, and the large model weighs 8.2 pounds. The cylindrical design also makes it much easier to load into a car than most rectangular crates.
The length of the tube can be adjusted depending on the size of your dog and your car seat. The Petego Pet Tube Kennel can also be used in conjunction with a car seat extender to enhance the rigidity of the base.
A4Pet 27″ Pet Car Travel Crates Carrier
The A4Pet 27″ Pet Car Travel Carrier (Buy Online) is a specially designed dog crate that’s made to fit the contours of a car’s backseat. This crate measures 27” L x 19” W x 19” H, and it only weighs 3.1 pounds. It also collapses down for easy storage, and it comes with a convenient carrying case.
The most unique thing about the A4Pet Travel Crate is the leaning walls. These slightly tilted walls allow for the crate to sit flush against a car’s backseat. That means there won’t be a big gap between the seat and the crate, so the carrier won’t leave any wasted room on the seat.
The A4Pet Pet Car Travel Crate also has durable mesh panels that provide excellent airflow, and they will let your dog see what’s going on outside the crate. That makes this carrier a great pet travel crate for nervous dogs that don’t like solid-walled rigid crates.
Dog Car Seat
AMOCHIEN Dog Backseat Extender – Backseat Bridge
The AMOCHIEN Dog Backseat Extender – Backseat Bridge (Buy Online) is a great alternative to a crate if you have a large car or an SUV. This large dog car seat is perfect for big dogs that don’t comfortably fit into a small crate. The AMOCHIEN Dog Backseat Extender is rated to hold dogs that weigh up to 100 pounds and it measures 26.5” D x 54” W.
Small Dog Car Seat
Snoozer Lookout Car Seat
The Snoozer Lookout Car Seat (Buy Online) is a lightweight dog car seat that will fit easily on a car’s backseat. This seat is made from quilted nylon with a comfortable Sherpa lining, and it has a built-in safety restraint connection. It’s made for pets that weigh up to 25 pounds, and it measures 19” H x 22” W x 17”D.
This car seat is a good alternative to a crate for short trips, or if you have a car with a very small backseat that can’t fit a crate. The padded dog seat has high walls that will help keep your dog in place so they can lay down and get some sleep. It’s also very lightweight so it’s much easier to handle than a crate.
Dog Seat Belts
RUFFWEAR – Load Up Vehicle Restraint Harness for Dogs
The RUFFWEAR – Load Up Vehicle Restraint Harness for Dogs (Buy Online) is a great way to keep your dog safe if you don’t have a crate. This dog seat belt comes in 5 different sizes: XX-Small, X-Small, Small, Medium, Large.
The RUFFWEAR Vehicle Restraint Harness has been fully tested at MGA Research Corp (NTSB Certified Facility) to meet the conditions of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 214. That means it will keep your dog secure in an accident, and it will also prevent them from sliding around during sudden movements or during hard braking.
This safety harness is also very easy to attach to a seat belt. It also uses a quick-release system that makes loading and unloading your dog from your car a breeze. The harness can also be worn when your dog is outside the car since it’s very comfortable and it won’t limit their mobility.
How to Find the Best Dog Car Crate
The first thing you need to consider when selecting a dog crate for a car’s back seat is how much room you have in the back of your car. Of course, it would be nice to fit a very large crate into your back seat for the comfort of your pet, but you need to consider driver safety and your car’s space limitations.
The first and most important thing is driver safety. That’s why it’s important to get a crate that doesn’t block your line of sight or cause any other unnecessary distractions.
In addition, it’s very important to know the actual size of your car’s back seat. Make sure to measure the backseat area with the front seats in their normal driving position. Once you know how much back seat room you have to work with then you should make sure that you get a crate that fits into your car’s unique dimensions and space limitations.
Small Dogs
Pet Gear Deluxe Ocean Blue Generation II Soft Crate 21” L X 15” W X 15” H
The Pet Gear Deluxe Soft Crate (Buy Online) for small dogs will fit perfectly in almost any back seat. This dog crate has a steel frame and weighs 10 pounds. The crate is designed to comfortably hold a dog that weighs 15 pounds or less.
Some of the breeds that are recommended for this crate are the Chihuahua, Maltese, Pomeranian and other similar sized dogs. The fabric exterior is made of durable easy to clean nylon. And there is a soft carrying case included with the crate, so you can bring along some treats or any other necessities.
The crate has excellent ventilation, and is easy to access with three large mesh panels that act as doors. Another very convenient top door allows for quick access to your pet , without the hassle of opening the large side panels. The Pet Gear Deluxe Crate for small dogs is a very easy to use and maintain crate for any person who loves to travel with their small dog
- Very Portable
- Light
- Easy to Fit in Backseat
- Only for Small Dogs
Pet Gear Tan & Black Deluxe Steel Crate, 22″ L X 18″ W X 22″ H
The Pet Gear Deluxe Steel Crate (Buy Online) is designed to easily slide in and out of a cars back seat. With it’s durable molded plastic frame and rounded corners, your back seat is safe from rips and tears when loading and unloading this crate.
The Pet Gear Deluxe Steel Crate weighs in at 25 pounds but is easy to move with its embedded wheels and handle. The crate is rated to carry a dog with a maximum weight of 30 pounds, making it suitable for small terriers, toy poodles, pugs and any other dogs in that size range.
The Pet Gear Deluxe Steel crate is easily stored in an included storage bag. The crate stores flat when collapsed, so it can be placed in the trunk of a car, or put under a bed to free up space when not in use. The crate has four access doors including a large side door that opens up like a garage door.
No matter what way you orient this crate you will have quick and easy access to your dog. The floor of the crate is well insulated and won’t crack even in very cold weather, a warm fleece pad is also included with the crate, which should give your dog some added comfort.
- Strong
- Durable
- Easy Storage
- A Little Heavy
Medium Dogs
Pet Gear The Other Door Steel Dog Crate with Pad, Chocolate, 37″ L X 25″ W X 28″ H
The Pet Gear The Other Door Crate (Buy Online) can comfortably carry a medium-sized dog in the back seat of most cars. The crate is made of molded plastic with rounded corners, so it will easily slide in and out of your car with less risk of damaging your interior. And the crate weighs 37 pounds, yet is easy to transport thanks to the built-in wheels, just grab the handle and the crate will glide smoothly across most surfaces.
The crate is designed to carry dogs with a maximum weight of 70 pounds, this includes breeds such as spaniels, whippets, bulldogs, basset hounds and other similarly sized dogs.
The Pet Gear Other Dog crate is easy to set up and takedown with no tools necessary. With the steel mesh side panels, your dog will be visible from all sides and have excellent ventilation. The crate has 4 access doors including one on the top, which is great for giving your dog a quick treat or a reassuring pat on the head.
The side door is extra large and locks in place when fully open, and all the doors close securely with double click locks. A thick fleece pad for your dog to sleep on is included with the crate. The pad along with the durable insulated floor will mean your dog should always be comfortable whether the crate is in the car or if the crate is on the ground.
- Strong
- Durable
- Easy Storage
- A little Heavy
Amazon Basics Soft Crate
The Amazon Basics Soft Crate (Buy Online) is a very convenient crate for transporting small to large-sized dogs in the backseat of a car. The soft fabric exterior and padded corners make it safe and easy to load into and out of most vehicles. The Amazon Basics Soft Crate weighs in at a very light 7.8 pounds and can be set up in a flash with its unique pop up and fold down design.
When folded down, it can be stowed out of the way in the trunk of a car. The Amazon Basics Soft Crate is designed to hold a dog up to 80 pounds, just keep in mind this crate comes in multiple sizes, so make sure you get the right-sized crate for your dog, so they can easily turn around once inside the crate.
The Amazon Basics Soft Crate has a strong PVC frame and side handles so it can be moved around quite easily. The exterior has two large doors on the top and side, so you can always get easy access to your dog on a trip.
The crate is rated for indoor use only, so when you reach your destination you can fold the crate up outside and keep it out of the way. If you need a light easy to transport crate for a day trip, or any other outing where you want to bring your dog along this crate is up to the task.
- Light Weight
- Portable
- No Storage Pouch
Large Dogs
Be sure to measure the backseat of your car when selecting a crate for transporting large dogs. In some cases, smaller to mid-size cars won’t be able to fit these types of crates. If you drive a car with a large backseat like an SUV or Crossover vehicle these crates may work out in your situation.
Pet Gear 42″ The Other Door Sage Steel Crate, 42″ L X 28″ W X 31″ H
The Pet Gear 42” The Other Door Crate (Buy Online) has all the design features that make it easy to slide in and out of the back seat of a large car or SUV. The plastic frame has smooth rounded corners to prevent any damage from happening when moving the crate in and out of your car or truck.
This crate weighs in at 49 pounds but is easily moved on the embedded wheels. The crate is designed to hold a dog with a maximum weight of 90 pounds. The breeds of dog that will fit nicely into this crate are Border Collies, Dalmatians, Boxers, Golden Retrievers and other dogs of similar stature.
This crate is very well engineered and can be used on a daily basis even when you’re not using it to transport your dog. The crate collapses down so it can be easily tucked away in the included storage bag. And the crate has a very durable easy to clean plastic frame with high visibility steel mesh panels.
The crate also comes with four doors to make loading and unloading your dog from any angle simple. The large side door opens and locks in place, so a large dog can easily enter and exit the crate with ease. The top access door is a nice feature if you need to open the cage without worrying about your dog running out.
With the included fleece pad and extremely durable insulated floor, this crate will be comfortable for your dog to sleep in either on the floor or in your car.
- Strong/Durable
- Multiple Doors
- Collapses for Easy Storage
- Best for SUVs
- Heavy
Pet Gear Deluxe Generation II Soft Crate in Moss Green 42” L X 29” W X 28” H
The 42” Pet Gear Deluxe Soft Crate (Buy Online) is an extremely portable crate for your large dog. The soft fabric lining and padded rounded corners will make sliding this crate in and out of your backseat a simple process.
The crate also weighs an impressively light 19 pounds, which is a hard to find feature in most large dog crates. If you have a hard time lifting and moving large crates, this crate will make that problem a thing of the past. The crate is designed to transport a dog weighing up to 90 pounds making it perfect for transporting Collies, Bulldogs, Labradors and other large dogs.
The 42” Pet Gear Deluxe Soft Crate has a steel tube frame construction built to stand up to the rigors of transporting a large dog. The side and front doors make loading your dog into the crate quick and easy. And the top door allows for quick access to your dog should you need it. A storage pouch is located on top of the crate so you can carry any toys or other supplies for the trip.
The interior base of this crate is made of an easily cleanable waterproof mat and fleece pad. In addtion, this crate is also very easy to store when not in use, it is probably one of the most compact large crates when it is completely folded down. Overall this crate feels like a small crate but has a large crates capacity and features.
- Light Weight
- Folds Easily
- Perfect for Large Dogs
- Best for SUVs
