rules for dogs in cars

Taking the dog for a spin? Lovely—just don’t make them co‑pilot. It’s illegal across Australia to drive with an animal on your lap, and cops take a dim view of furry steering assistants. On utes and trays you must properly restrain the dog—use a secured crate or a short, purpose-made tether to a harness so they can’t jump or fall. Inside the cabin, a crash-tested harness clipped to the seatbelt or a travel crate is the grown-up choice; keep them away from airbags and the driver’s footwell. Windows down a crack is fine; heads and paws out the window is not—besides, gravel at 80 km/h is nature’s sandblaster. And never leave them in a parked car, even “just for five minutes”; animal welfare laws bite harder than they do. Penalties and exact rules vary by state, so check your local road authority—but the spirit is simple: secure the dog, protect your licence, keep your seats drool-side up.