In the car, a pet must always be secured — in a carrier, in a harness attached to the seatbelt, or behind a proper guard or net. Never place a carrier in front of an airbag. Don’t feed your pet in the hours before setting off, stop often for water and a leg stretch, and if you are travelling within the EU you will need the pet passport with the rabies vaccine up to date.
Key facts:
- In the car: carrier, harness clipped to the seatbelt, or a guard/net. Never loose.
- Never place the carrier in front of an airbag.
- Don’t feed in the hours before departure — it prevents travel sickness.
- Stop often for water, a stretch and a toilet break.
- Travelling in the EU: pet passport + rabies vaccine up to date.
- Never leave a pet alone in a parked car. It can be fatal in minutes.
Most pets travel badly not because they hate the car, but because nobody prepared them for it. A little planning turns a stressful journey into an uneventful one.
How should my pet travel in the car?
Secured — always. A loose animal in a car is a danger to itself and to everyone else: in a sudden stop it becomes a projectile. The options are a carrier (well fixed, so it cannot slide), a harness clipped to the seatbelt, or a guard or net separating the boot. Whichever you choose, one rule is absolute: never put the carrier in front of an airbag. An airbag deploying into a carrier is lethal.
How do I stop my pet being sick?
Don’t feed it in the hours before you leave. Travelling on a full stomach is the commonest cause of vomiting. Keep water available, ventilate the car, and if your pet is a bad traveller, build it up gradually: short trips ending somewhere pleasant, so the car stops meaning “the vet”. If sickness persists, your vet can prescribe something for it — never medicate on your own initiative.
How often should we stop?
Frequently. On a long journey, stop every couple of hours so your pet can drink, stretch its legs and relieve itself. Keep it on the lead at every stop, however well-behaved it normally is: a service station is an unfamiliar, frightening place, and a startled dog bolts.
What do I need to travel within the EU?
The European pet passport, issued by an authorised vet, with the microchip recorded and the rabies vaccine up to date. Some countries add further requirements (tapeworm treatment, for instance), and airlines and ferry operators have their own rules on carriers, weights and cabin access. Check all of it well in advance, not the week before.
What about trains, planes and boats?
Each operator sets its own conditions: size and type of carrier, whether the animal may travel in the cabin or must go in the hold, weight limits, and how many animals are allowed per passenger. Book early and confirm the rules directly, because they change and they are not negotiable at the gate. Whatever the transport, an animal that is used to its carrier travels far better — so let it sleep in the carrier at home for weeks beforehand, with the door open, so it becomes a den and not a trap.
Frequently asked questions
Can my dog travel loose in the car?
No. It must be secured in a carrier, in a harness attached to the seatbelt, or behind a guard or net.
Can I leave my dog in the car for a few minutes?
Never. The interior heats up extremely fast and heatstroke can be fatal within minutes.
What do I need to travel in the EU with my pet?
The European pet passport, with the microchip recorded and the rabies vaccine up to date.
Should I feed my pet before a journey?
No. Avoid food in the hours before departure to prevent travel sickness.
Accidents happen away from home too. Petplan España (Petplan Ibérica, S.L.) reimburses 100% of the vet bill up to €3,100 a year, with a €45 excess, at any vet you choose. See the policy terms.
