How to Safely Travel in your WAV with a Dog

Assistance dogs not only offer companionship, but they also help many disabled people maintain their independence, confidence and overall quality of life by supporting them with everyday tasks. Ensuring you can safely travel in your wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) with your furry friend is therefore vital.

As a community care nurse who travels in a WAV and credits being able to do her job largely because of the support of her assistance dog, Ocho, Chloe Hammond says,

“My WAV and my assistance dog don’t just help me travel—they give me freedom, independence and confidence. Together, they make the world more accessible and less intimidating.”

So, whether you’re heading down to the shops, work, or on an epic road trip adventure, to help you travel in your mobility car with your assistance dog safely and confidently, we’ve teamed up with Chloe to share some best practices to follow when travelling with your dog.

How to Safely Secure your Dog in a WAV

It’s essential that your dog is secured safely in your car. The Highway Code asks that dogs be restrained in the backseat or boot of your vehicle to ensure they don’t distract the driver.

There are a variety of different products to safely restrain your dog in your disability vehicle, which product you choose entirely depends on your disability, the size of your mobility car and the type of dog that you have. Chloe suggests a crash-tested dog harness, booster seat or crate may be the best option.

Dog in the backseat of a car wearing a crash-tested harness

Dog Harnesses

Generally, crash-tested dog harnesses are considered one of the safest and easiest restraint options as the harness is much like what many dogs already wear when out on walks. Worn around the neck and chest of your dog, the harness attaches to the seatbelt fittings, keeping your dog secure in a passenger seat. They are also a great option if you have a smaller WAV or simply don’t want clunky equipment in the car.

Dog Booster Seats

If you have a small dog, a dog booster seat which is secured to a passenger seat or ISOFIX seat may be a better option. Designed to look like a dog bed, the booster seat’s built-up sides will keep your dog secure while the elevated floor allows your furry friend to see out the window, helping to prevent motion sickness.

Dog in row two of a vehicle in a crash-tested booster seat.

Dog in the boot of a WAV in a crash-tested crate

Dog Crate

If you have a larger WAV, such as an Independence™ or Autograph™, you may be able to fit a crash-tested crate which is usually secured with a fixed strap. However, this entirely depends on the size of the crate and how much room you need in your motability car.

Travelling in the Front

If your dog has to travel in the front passenger seat in their harness or dog booster seat, be sure to move the seat as far back as possible and disengage the front passenger side airbag. Do not forget to reengage the airbags if your dog is no longer travelling in your vehicle with you.

Things to Consider When Travelling with an Assistance Dog

Now that you have your dog safely secured in your WAV, other things to consider are:

The Temperature

Be mindful of how hot the car is, consider a window shade, keeping your windows open, or ensuring the air conditioning is on to keep your WAV well ventilated. One of Chloe’s top tips is to bring along a cooling mat or blanket and a crate fan if applicable. It is also important to never leave your dog alone in the car. These steps will help prevent your dog from overheating.

Plan Ahead

If you’re heading out on a long journey, plan plenty of stops along the way to allow your dog to go to the toilet, eat, drink and exercise. It’s advised that you stop about once an hour to keep your dog safe, calm and comfortable.

Some of Chloe’s travel essentials to keep her assistance dog, Ocho, safe and happy are:

Assistance Dog lead sleeve
Non-slip mat or secured bed
Spill-proof water bowl
Favourite toy or scent item
Emergency contact info for vet and doggy first aid kit

Looking for a WAV?

Whether it’s to lease through the Motability Scheme, purchase new or used outright or hire for short or long-term, whatever your needs may be, our expert mobility advisors can help find the perfect WAV for you and your assistance dog.

Get started on your WAV journey