Many pet owners drive with their dogs in the car, but did you know you could be breaking the law while transporting your dog in the car? If it isn’t secured with a restraint, you could be fined of up to £5,000.

A dog guard, cage, carrier or harness are all fine, but if you let your dog distract you by jumping around the car unrestrained, you could be fined £100 for driving without due care and attention – as well as penalty receiving the pleasure of 3 points on your licence. And if you cause an accident or endanger other drivers or pedestrians, you can actually be fined up to the sum of £5,000.

The other thing is, is if your pet isn’t restrained correctly and an accident is caused due to you being distracted by it, you may find out that your pet insurance is completely void and the provider refuses to pay out.

Here’s what the Highway Code says about driving with pets in the car:

When you're driving, make sure dogs or other animals are restrained correctly so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly.

A seat-belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars and can all be bought at a reputable store such as Pets At Home.