You flick on your holiday playlist and glance over at your dog, already excited. It’s your annual leave, and this time you’re seriously considering taking your dog along for the ride. But before you choose your destination and hit “start” on the GPS, there’s something worth checking first: how each Australian state and territory regulates dogs riding in cars.

Planning your dog-friendly leave: what each state expects

When you imagine heading north, you might land in the Northern Territory first. There, the Animal Welfare / Protection laws require that animals be transported so as not to “unreasonably or unnecessarily inflict suffering.” While there’s no rigid “dog seatbelt” rule, driving with a dog in your lap (if it interferes with vehicle control) can be penalised as careless driving, approximately $150 fine + $58 victims levy. Besides this, transporting an unsecured dog in the back of a ute or trailer is an offence: up to 50 penalty units (≈ $9,450) under the Animal Protection Act.

Head into Queensland and the rules sharpen. Under the Animal Care & Protection Act 2001, you mustn’t let any part of your dog other than its head protrude from a car. If you transport a dog on the tray of a ute or trailer, it has to be secured so it can’t fall, shift, or be injured. The maximum penalty for violations? $10,014. Driving with your dog in your lap in QLD is explicitly banned; the fine often cited at $389.

Heading toward the east, New South Wales brings its own rules under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979. Dogs in utes or open vehicles must be restrained or enclosed such that they cannot fall from or jump off, or be harmed. If your dog distracts you or impedes control (e.g. sitting on your lap), you could face a $562 fine + three demerit points. For severe cruelty or neglect (for example, leaving the dog in a hot car), fines can rise to $5,500, and in aggravated cases, penalties reach $22,500 and/or two years’ jail.

If your holiday takes you through Victoria, you’ll find clear state guidelines. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (and related statutes) require that if a dog is on a ute tray or trailer, it must be tethered or caged so it can’t fall off or be harmed. There’s a temperature safeguard: when ambient temps reach 28 °C or higher, dogs on metal trays must have insulating material under them. Aside from this, you can’t transport a dog in the enclosed boot of a sedan. Violations can lead to fines over $3,050. While there is no road-rule that says all pets must be restrained inside a car, having a dog on your lap is prohibited, and cruelty laws may catch unsafe practices.

Down to Tasmania, the Dog Control Act 2000 requires dogs in or on a vehicle be restrained such that they cannot leave the vehicle or attack someone outside. Otherwise, you’ll face fines up to 5 penalty units, about $1,025. The Road Rules 2019 also say driving with a dog in your lap is illegal, with fines up to 10 penalty units (~$2,050). In addition, under the Animal Welfare Act 1993, you must not transport dogs in ways that inflict unreasonable suffering.

Then there’s South Australia, where courts interpret the Dog and Cat Management Act to forbid unrestrained transport. If your dog rides on a ute tray, it must be tethered in a safe way. Driving with a dog in your lap or between handlebars (motorbike) draws a fine of $228. If you fail to restrain a dog properly on a tray, the maximum fine is $1,250.

In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), you must restrain your dog in a moving vehicle via harness, leash, or enclosure. Failure to comply can attract fines up to $3,200. Confining a dog in or on a vehicle in a way likely to cause pain or distress is an offence.

Finally, in Western Australia, the Animal Welfare Act 2002 demands animals be transported in a way that prevents unnecessary harm. There’s no dog-specific “seatbelt” clause, but courts may consider lack of restraint as cruelty or negligence. Fines can reach $5,000 and in serious cases, imprisonment. Driving with a dog on your lap or in a distracting position is prohibited. Dogs on ute trays must also be restrained under safe practices.

Whichever route you pick for your annual leave, treating your dog as a truly safe co-traveller protects both of you from fines, from risk, and from heartbreak.

We recommend checking out our mates at Stylish Hound. They offer high-quality car seats, seat belt clips, and travel harnesses designed to keep your dog secure and comfortable on every drive.

At Laila & Me, we believe a responsible pet parent doesn’t just buckle their own seatbelt; they make sure their furry co-pilot is secure, too. Because every good adventure starts with safety.