Dog friendly car searches soar in 2022

It’s no secret that in the UK, we love our four-legged friends. This is something that was only made more obvious by the Covid-19 pandemic - it was estimated that a whopping 3.2 million pets were purchased by Brits during the lockdown! 

The popularity of dogs in particular shows no sign of slowing down. In fact, online searches for dog-friendly cars in 2022 have rocketed, which is evidence of our commitment to our canine companions; as a nation, we’re looking to share our lives with them outside the home as well as inside.

In this article, here at Octane Finance, we explore what it is that makes a car dog friendly, and the cars that we dog lovers favour above all others… 

What makes a car dog-friendly? 

Every dog is as unique as your lifestyle, but whilst needs may differ from dog owner to dog owner, there are a few ways in which your vehicle can really help out if you’re going to be regularly carrying your pooch around. These features include… 

A roomy interior

You’ll want to keep your dog comfortable, so a generous boot space needs to be high on your shopping list. Rear seats that fold flat are a must too - dogs need room to stand, sit, and turn themselves around. 

Easy access

Got a leggy hound that can leap in the boot? A low loading height and a small a boot lip can make the dog-loading process so much easier. Look for wide-opening rear doors if you lift your dog into the back seats. If your car is going to be home to a dog crate, you’ll need easy access to install this too. 

A quiet ride

A stress-free journey relies on a calm dog, so be mindful of the road noise that is present within the cabin of your potential new car. Noisy engines aren’t too helpful either! 

Storage 

Leads, treats, bags and bowls are just the start when it comes to an outing with your dog, so it’s handy to have storage cubbies in which these items can be stowed. 

Tie-down points 

Your dog needs to be suitably restrained in transit, and tie-down points are ideal to secure these restraints in your car. Install crates and fix harnesses, so both you and your dog are kept safe and secure on your travels. 

What are the rules for driving with your dog in the car? 

To safely transport your dog in your car, and to be a responsible dog owner, there are firm rules in place to ensure both you, your dog and other road users are kept safe. Basically, you need to ensure that the presence of your dog in the car doesn’t make for unsafe driving conditions.  

By law, dogs have to be suitably restrained within your vehicle whilst in transit (and when you’re stationary). Leaving your pooch loose in your car puts both them and you in danger; even if it’s just the boot that they’re left to roam in. They could be a very unwelcome distraction, taking your attention from the road and creating a hazard that could affect both you and other road users. There’s also the risk that they could injure themselves in the event of sudden braking. 

A crate, harness, dog guard or dog seat belt are all considered suitable restraints, so long as they are fitted to both the dog and the car correctly. Carelessly driving with an unrestrained dog in your car could see you landed with a fine of up to £100 as well as points on your license - it’s not worth it in terms of safety, and legal consequences. 

Unless absolutely necessary, your dog should also always travel in the rear of the car. If they must travel in the passenger seat, proper restraint needs to be present here too. 

What are the top dog-friendly cars? 

According to carwow.co.uk, these are the models that tick all the boxes for dog owners: 

1. Skoda Superb Estate
2. Peugeot e-Rifter
3. Ford Focus Estate
4. Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate
5. Land Rover Discovery Sport
6. Toyota Corolla Touring Sports
7. BMW 5 Series Touring
8. Skoda Fabia Estate
9. Volvo V60
10. Audi RS4 Avant

Finance your next dog-friendly car

We’d love nothing more than to help you and your dog get the car you both deserve in 2023 by making it affordable. With access to a large panel of lenders, we’re committed to getting you the best deal to spread the cost of your next car, ensuring happy miles of motoring ahead for you and your pooch. Accelerate your car finance application in just three easy steps.