The bane of our existence as dog owners is dog hair, dog hair everywhere. When you own a dog that sheds, you are guaranteed to find dog hair all over your house, your clothes, and your car. Luckily, at least one of these things can be solved by using a dog car seat cover.
But buying the right one isn’t always easy. That’s why we’ve done the grunt work for you and found the top 5 dog car seat covers that customers agree are the best of the bunch. These are the best quality dog car seat covers on the market and are guaranteed to make traveling with your dog friends easy on you and them.
If you’re someone who allows their dog in the car often, you might want to consider the PetSafe Happy Ride Cargo Area Liner. It’s our top pick as it’s built to last, stylish, and can fit in the back seat of many cars. It’s also super easy to wash; simply throw it in your washing machine when it’s looking a bit grubby!
The 5 Best Dog Car Seat Covers
| Editor’s Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | PetSafe Happy Ride Cargo Area Liner | 4.6 |
| Runner Up | 4Knines Dog Seat Cover with Hammock | 4.7 |
| Best Budget Buy | BarksBar Original Car Seat Cover | 4.5 |
| Best Hammock Style | Plush Paws Products Hammock Car Seat Cover | 4.7 |
| Best for Trucks | BarksBar Pet Front Seat Cover | 4.7 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
1. Our Top Pick: PetSafe Happy Ride Cargo Area Liner
No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, the PetSafe Happy Ride Cargo Area Liner will do the trick for keeping your dog’s dirt and fur up off your back seat. This easy-to-use car seat cover fits most regular sized bench seats that you would find in cars, SUVs, and trucks. In addition to its ultra stylish, durable cotton twill quilting and genuine leather accents, this option boasts seat beat accessibility. It’s also machine washable and designed to last for years to come.
If you have a dog who is nervous about being in the car, or just one with a weaker bladder, don’t worry. PetSafe Happy Ride Cargo Area Liner features a waterproof membrane, meaning no accident will leak through onto the pristine fabric underneath, no matter how big. Another great feature is its nonslip backing, which will ensure that the cover won’t move all over the place while you drive.
PetSafe Happy Ride Cargo Area Liner Key Features:
- Waterproof
- Genuine leather accents
- Nonslip design
- Machine washable
2. Our Runner Up Pick: 4Knines Dog Seat Cover with Hammock
With 3600+ customers giving the 4Knines Dog Seat Cover with Hammock an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, you can trust that this dog seat cover has no shortage of fans. It’s made from heavy duty, colorfast materials, including 600D polyester, and has a waterproof and non-slip bottom layer.
This car seat cover is all about extra coverage. Not only does it have flaps on each side, it covers the backs of the seats in front of the bench seat, too. If you’ve got a super friendly pooch who loves being social during trips in the car, you won’t have to worry about a wandering puppy because the additional front cover stops the dog from being able to jump up into the front seats to be closer to you. That double coverage ensures you won’t have dog hair all over the backs of your seats too.
For ease of install and use, the cover comes with thick straps that can fit around the headrests on your seats, as well as seat belt openings for the times when someone wants to sit in the back with the dog. It also comes with a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee and lifetime warranty, giving you the extra peace of mind you may need before you click “Add to Cart”.
4Knines Dog Seat Cover with Hammock Key Features:
- Seat belt openings
- Extra coverage
- Heavy duty material
- Waterproof layer
3. Best Budget Pick: BarksBar Original Car Seat Cover
Looking for a simple car seat cover that won’t put a dent in your wallet? Look no further than the BarksBar Original Car Seat Cover. This ridiculously affordable option is designed to prevent your pooch from falling between seats while protecting your car from unsavory messes.
The seat cover is super easy to set up or remove for quick in-and-out trips with the dog. It has everything you could want in a dog car seat cover. It’s waterproof and keeps a layer between your dog and your car seats. It’s sure to keep your back seats clean and fresh trip after trip. It’s designed to fit most cars, vans, and SUVs, making it a practical and versatile pick.
BarksBar Original Car Seat Cover Key Features:
- Affordable
- Waterproof
- Easy to set up
- Made with color-fast material
4. Best Hammock Dog Car Seat Cover: Plush Paws Products Hammock Car Seat Cover
The top of the line hammock style dog car seat cover is the Plush Paws Products Hammock Car Seat Cover. It’s designed to fit in all standard size cars, SUVs, and trucks. The benefit of using a hammock dog seat cover that’s as well made as this one is that it will not only protect your back seats from dirt and slobber, but will also do the same for the backs of your front seats. What’s more, the design also acts as a barrier to keep your dog out of your lap while you’re driving.
One of the many reasons this option stood out from the competition is because of the superior quality of the materials used. Unlike many other dog seat covers, the Plush Paws Products Hammock Car Seat Cover boasts a multi-layered, waterproof, and tear-resistant design. For example, the very top layer is a 600D Oxford breathable diamond-stitched layer. You’ll also be pleased to learn that this hammock car seat cover additionally features a built-in non-slip silicone backing, as well as 2 seat belt clips and 2 harnesses.
The only so-called downside to this product is its relatively high price tag. But considering how feature-packed it is and the fact that it should last you for many years to comes, you truly get what you pay for with this dog car seat cover.
Plush Paws Products Hammock Car Seat Cover Key Features:
- 2 harnesses and 2 seat belts included
- Diamond stitching
- Silicone nonslip backing
- Reinforced heavy duty threading
5. Best Dog Car Seat Cover for Trucks: BarksBar Pet Front Seat Cover
The BarksBar Pet Front Seat Cover is the perfect car seat cover option for any dog owner whose primary vehicle is a two or three-seater truck. The cover fits snugly onto a bucket seat, designed with a rubber non-slip backing and seat anchors to keep it weighted firmly in place. Customers rave about how reliable this seat cover is and how it never budges with even the most rambunctious pups.
High quality is what you get when you purchase this car seat cover. It’s made from durable polyester that will endure scratches from your dog without leaving behind a single mark. The cover will protect your car seats with ease. The fabric is triple layered for guaranteed waterproofing for rainy days or bladder leaks. The stylish design makes this cover a welcome addition to any vehicle, even when furry companions aren’t involved.
BarksBar Pet Front Seat Cover Key Features:
- Great for trucks with no backseat
- High-end quality material
- Waterproof
- Color-Fast material prevents color bleeding
Who Should Buy a Dog Car Seat Cover
Dog car seat covers are most useful for dog owners who transport their dogs in the car very often, especially if their dog is a heavy shedder. But every dog owner who also owns or uses a vehicle to transport their dog should buy a car seat cover. The seat cover can help to manage fur shedding in the car and help to make your dog more comfortable during the drive.
Even dogs that are non-shedding breeds can still leave dirt and debris on car seats and can benefit from a car seat cover. They provide extra insurance for the life of your vehicle against scratches or tears from dog claws, too. Not to mention the possibility of bathroom accidents with any dog. If you have a car seat cover, you can simply toss it in the washing machine and you’re good to go. Otherwise, you’ll never get the smell out of your car’s upholstery. If your pup travels with you in your car regularly, keep a dog travel water bottle on hand to keep him hydrated on your outings.
Important Features to Consider
- Vehicle make. You will want to choose the style of dog car seat cover depending on the style of vehicle you own. Some dog car seat covers are ideal for bench seats, some for bucket seats, and some are made specifically for trucks. So keep that in mind when picking out your dog’s car seat cover.
- Dog breed. If you have a larger breed of dog, you will want to consider a larger style of dog car seat cover, such as a cargo seat cover rather than a bucket seat cover.
- Use. If you only use your dog car seat cover on occasional trips to the vet or to the dog park, then you will want to select a style that can be easily removed and reinstalled in your car as needed. On the other hand, if you are constantly taking your dog in the car with you, you will want one that is extra secure, so you don’t have to readjust it every time you two get in the car together.
- Style. All of these other factors will impact the style of dog car seat cover you choose, as well as your dog’s demeanor in the car (e.g. if they are very anxious) and if you are traveling with more than one dog at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do dog car seat covers work?
At baseline, dog car seat covers act like a blanket or tarp to cover your car seats and protect them from dog hair, dirt, and other debris from your dog. Different styles will attach to the car seat differently, but they will all keep your car cleaner than not having one will.
How do you measure for optimal fitting dog seat covers?
Typically, car seats have two measurements, the hip space and the shoulder space. The hip space is where you sit and can be measured from door to door. The shoulder space is the upper seat and can be measured from one end of the bench seat to the other. You also need to measure the seats in terms of width, from the top of the upper seat to where it meets the bottom seat and the edge of the bottom seat to where it meets the upper seat.
If you don’t have a tape measure or are looking for a quick way to access the measurements online, there are websites where you can punch in the make, model, and year of your vehicle and it will generate the measurements for you from a database. It is always best to double check your own car seats to be absolutely sure you have the right measurements before you purchase a car seat cover.
What type of dog car seat cover should I get?
Hammock covers are used on bench style backseats in smaller vehicles or in larger vehicles with an additional bench seat in the third row. They are a more protective style of dog car seat cover and stop your dog from being able to jump into the front seat while you are driving.
Bench seat covers act as a second skin to your bench style backseat and are designed to stay in place even if your dog moves around a lot while traveling.
Bucket seat covers are best if you often travel with your dog in the front passenger seat or if you have a larger vehicle that has bucket seats in the back.
Cargo seat covers protect the cargo area of your vehicle and make it a comfortable place for your dog to travel. These are recommended for extra large dog breeds that do not fit comfortably in regular backseats.
How do you get a dog car seat cover to stay in place?
Dog car seat covers are designed to stay in place. Make sure you follow the installation instructions exactly to ensure the maximum safety of your dog while you are traveling. If your dog is extra active during car rides, you might want to consider a different style of dog car seat cover that will remain more securely in place while they move around.
