Small dog drinking from a no-spill water bowl in a car boot

Road Tripping With Your Dog in Australia: Water, Stops and Car Rules

Quick answer: On a road trip with your dog, restrain them with a car harness, crate or barrier, stop every 2 to 3 hours for a toilet break and a drink, carry more water than you think you need (around 50 to 60 mL per kg a day, more in heat), and never leave your dog alone in the parked car. A no-spill bowl lets you offer water in the boot without soaking the carpet.

Before you go

  • Check the accommodation is dog-friendly and ask about any rules (crates, beds, beaches).
  • Update your dog's microchip details with your mobile number, and put a tag with your number on the collar.
  • Short practice drives help dogs who get nervous or carsick. Your vet can advise on travel sickness.
  • Pack a dog bag: water, bowl, food, lead, poo bags, towel, any medication, vaccination record, and a familiar blanket.

Restrain your dog in the car

An unrestrained dog can distract the driver and get badly hurt in a sudden stop. The NRMA has compared a 20 kg dog thrown forward at 60 km/h to the impact of falling from a third-floor balcony. Use one of these:

  • A car harness clipped to a seatbelt tether (attach to a harness, never a collar)
  • A secured crate in the boot or back seat
  • A cargo barrier in a wagon or SUV

What the rules say: they vary by state. In NSW, driving with a dog on your lap carries a $562 fine and 3 demerit points (Carroll & O'Dea, December 2025), and Transport for NSW recommends restraints inside the car. Tasmania requires dogs to be restrained so they can't move around. Dogs on utes and open trailers must be restrained in every state. Check your state's transport or animal welfare website before you go, as fines change.

Water: how much and how to give it

A common vet guide is 50 to 60 mL of water per kilogram of body weight a day, and dogs drink more on hot days and after a run on the beach. That's roughly:

  • 10 kg dog: about 500 to 600 mL a day
  • 20 kg dog: about 1 to 1.2 L a day
  • 30 kg dog: about 1.5 to 1.8 L a day

Pack at least a day's worth plus extra for heat, and refill at every stop. Offer water at each break rather than letting your dog gulp a lot at once before driving.

The wet-boot problem: an ordinary bowl tips or sloshes the moment the car moves. Our No-Spill Dog Water Bowl has a floating plate that sits on the water, so your dog drinks a little at a time and far less splashes out. It holds 750 mL, so top it up for bigger dogs. It cuts splashing; it isn't leak-proof if tipped upside down, so put it down when you stop rather than while driving.

Plan your stops

  • Stop every 2 to 3 hours for a toilet break, a drink and a short walk on the lead.
  • Choose rest areas with grass and shade. Test bitumen with the back of your hand before your dog walks on it (see our hot-weather guide).
  • Keep your dog on a lead at servos and rest stops, where traffic and wildlife are close.
  • Feed a small meal a few hours before the drive, not right before.

The one rule: never leave your dog in the parked car

RSPCA WA warns that a car can go from 22°C outside to more than 47°C inside within minutes, and a dog can die in as little as six minutes. Shade, tinted windows and open windows barely help. If someone has to go into a shop, one person stays outside with the dog, or you choose a drive-through.

Keep the car (mostly) clean

Put a washable cover or old towel on the seat, keep a towel handy for wet and sandy dogs, and give the seats a quick go with a reusable hair roller when you get home. Our post on getting dog hair off car seats has more tips.

Shop the fix

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Frequently asked questions

How often should I stop on a road trip with my dog?

Every 2 to 3 hours is a good rule, and more often in hot weather or with puppies and older dogs.

Is it illegal to have an unrestrained dog in the car in Australia?

It depends on the state. Dogs on your lap are illegal in most states, dogs on utes must be restrained everywhere, and some states (such as Tasmania) require dogs inside the car to be restrained. A harness, crate or barrier keeps you on the safe side.

How do I stop my dog's water spilling in the car?

Use a no-spill bowl with a floating plate, and offer water during stops rather than leaving a full bowl loose while driving.

Can I leave my dog in the car with the windows down?

No. Even with windows down or in the shade, a parked car heats up fast and can kill a dog in minutes.

Should my dog travel in the front seat?

The back seat or boot, properly restrained, is safer. Airbags can seriously injure a dog in the front.

Sources

Updated October 2026. General information only, not veterinary advice. If you are worried about your dog, call your vet.

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