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Best Dog Crates For Car Travel In 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Ashley Bates

By Ashley Bates

A dog crate for car travel

When you’re traveling by car, you want your dog to be safe and comfortable, so you’ll need a good crate that’s sturdy and portable. There are many crates on the market, but not all of them will work well in your car.

How do you sort through the options and pick a great model?

Don’t worry, we’re here to help you shop. We tested all the top models and put together this list of this year’s 9 best dog crates for car travel.

Each model has a detailed review, comparing price, weight, type, portability, accessories, and warranty so that you can find your best option.

And if you want to know more about the features, take a look at our comprehensive buyer’s guide.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Winner
Frisco Travel Cat Carrier Frisco Travel Cat Carrier
  • Multiple sizes
  • Works for larger dogs
  • Secure and easy to clean
  • Second place
    Petami Cat Travel Bag Petami Cat Travel Bag
  • Affordable
  • Travel bundle has food and water storage
  • Made of strong PVC for optimal water resistance
  • Third place
    Sport Pet Cat Seat Crate Sport Pet Cat Seat Crate
  • Strong design
  • Best for trained dogs
  • Good for dogs and cats
  • Pet Gear Signature Pet Carrier Pet Gear Signature Pet Carrier
  • Compact
  • Great for puppies
  • Duffle style with two travel handles
  • EliteField Soft-sided Carrier Bag EliteField Soft-sided Carrier Bag
  • Multiple colors
  • No assembly required
  • Comes with a seatbelt attachment
  • The 9 Best Dog Crates for Car Travel

    1. Frisco Travel Cat Carrier

    Frisco Travel Cat Carrier

    Introducing our favorite—Frisco Travel Safety Cat Carrier. This well-made design was explicitly created to fit onto the seat of a car. It has attachment pieces that sit around the seating to ensure a proper fit. It is a very stable carrier with mesh all the way around so that your pet can breeze and see the scenery. It is extremely well made, crafted with strong materials and efficient safety.

    This particular dog carrier comes in two different sizes, medium and large. You can pick the one that suits your dog, making them comfortable on the road. This is an extra safe, secure, and durable design. It collapses easily for easy storage when it is not in use. The material also wipes down very easily in the event of any spills or accidents. Inside the carrier, you will find a completely machine-washable mat.

    Ultimately, we absolutely loved the design and hope you will as much as we do! We feel it fits the needs of most travelers and your dog will appreciate it, too.

    Pros
    • Multiple sizes
    • Works for larger dogs
    • Secure and easy to clean

    Cons
    • None

    2. Petami Cat Travel Bag

    Petami Cat Travel Bag

    The PetAmi Cat Travel Bag is ideal for all your adventures of wanderlust. If you were looking specifically for a carrier that was affordable and well worth the price but, look no further. We looked all around, and this carrier is the best travel size we could find for the money.

    This travel carrier comes in multiple colors, including black, charcoal, gray, maybe, pink, purple, sea blue, and striped black. You can get those in medium or large, depending on the size of your dog. This carrier comes with dinner, compartments to store treats, and any supplies you might have. It also comes with two food containers, bags and collapsible bowls, making it ideal for travel.

    The outer material is made of a very strong PVC water-repellent, leak-proof inner lining. The outer design is made of high-grade polyester, both very tough and sturdy. We love that you get so much with just this one purchase. If you plan to travel, travel bowls and water containers are likely hot on your list of needed supplies. With this bundle, you can cross off all the extras and just make one solid purchase.

    Pros
    • Made of strong PVC for optimal water resistance
    • Travel bundle has food and water storage
    • Affordable

    Cons
    • None

    3. Sport Pet Cat Seat Crate

    Sport Pet Cat Seat Crate

    Sport Pet Cat Seat Crate might be a little more expensive than some of the other options on our list, but hear us out. This luxury, cozy dog carrier can make your dog comfy from A to B. This design is made to fit securely in the backseat of your car or truck. The doors are very strong while the rest of the carrier is mesh, creating a cozy atmosphere during road trips.

    A durable gate on both sides gives you easy access to your pad. The mesh panel allows for airflow and keeps your pet inside while they can see out and you can see them easily, too. This particular design is recommended for dogs under 25 pounds, but it’s extremely spacious for smaller pets if you so choose to get it. If you have cats as well, it’s good to alternate between the two for outings.

    Because of the mesh design and polyester fabric, this particular carrier is best for crate-trained dogs. An accident in this carrier could lead to big messes in the vehicle.

    Pros
    • Good for dogs and cats
    • Strong design
    • Best for trained dogs

    Cons
    • May leak

    4. Pet Gear Signature Pet Carrier

    Pet Gear Signature Pet Carrier

    Do you have a well-behaved little puppy on your hands? Maybe they’d love the Pet Gear Signature Pet Carrier. This particular design allows your dog to sit up inside, tearing out through the top portion. It is considered a two-in-one, as it is a car seat and pet carrier. You can also put them inside, fully zipping the top for restricted access.

    We love the overall concept of this design as it allows your pet to see what’s going on in a spacious setting. Plus, it has handles so you can tote your pup around. If your little one has an accident, it comes equipped with a washable fleece pad cover on the inside. While it is a completely foolproof method, it can work for dogs that aren’t quite fully trained yet; be sure to watch the cues.

    We love the all over efficiency of this design. After all, toting the carrier around outside of the car should be easy, too!

    Pros
    • Great for puppies
    • Duffle style with two travel handles
    • Compact

    Cons

    5. EliteField Soft-sided Carrier Bag

    EliteField Soft-sided Carrier Bag

    The EliteField Soft-sided Carrier Bag will work for such a large variety of pets. It comes in multiple color choices and sizes so you can pick the one that suits your papa best. This particular bag comes in a duffel style with both a shoulder strap and handle.

    You can get this tote in many stylish colors, including black, pink, gray, purple, sky, blue, and sapphire blue. This tote was definitely designed with smaller pets in mind. Even the largest duffel only holds up to 18 pounds.

    Awesomely enough, this also comes with a seatbelt attachment to secure your pet while the vehicle is moving. But the upside is there is no assembly required, and the fleece pad inside is completely washable. So, you can keep it tidy and expect it to last many years.

    Pros
    • Multiple colors
    • Comes with a seatbelt attachment
    • No assembly required

    Cons
    • Not as well made as some others

    6. Petnation Port-A-Crate Dog Crate

    Petnation Port-A-Crate

    The Petnation 614 Port-A-Crate is reasonably priced and portable with a fun design but has many less durable plastic components and not very sturdy mesh.

    This 10.9-pound crate is surprisingly easy to transport, as it easily folds and buckles together. The fun bone-shaped windows are made of tightly-woven, honeycomb-patterned mesh, and there’s a solid steel frame. The crate can fit dogs up to 70 pounds, and it has front and top doors and rounded corners.

    This crate doesn’t include a pad and can’t be attached to your car seats. The plastic pieces that hold up the frame break easily and the mesh isn’t very durable. Petnation doesn’t offer a warranty.

    Pros
    • Fairly-priced and very portable
    • Fun bone-shaped mesh windows
    • Fits dogs up to 70 pounds
    • Steel frame with a fabric cover and rounded corners
    • Top and front doors
    • Folds and buckles for transportation
    Cons
    • No warranty
    • Doesn’t attach to car seat
    • No included pad
    • Less durable plastic components
    • Not very sturdy mesh

    7. 2PET Foldable Travel Dog Crates

    2PET Foldable Dog Crate

    The 2PET Foldable Dog Crate is a lightweight and reasonably-priced soft crate with less durable mesh and plastic zippers.

    This 6.8-pound crate, which is sold in a range of sizes and colors, has a steel tube frame and a water-resistant 600D fabric cover that’s removable and machine-washable. It has a top handle that doubles as a seat belt attachment, and there are built-in water bottle and food container holders. The package includes a waterproof mat and a reversible, washable fleece pad.

    We found that the mesh on this crate ripped easily, and the zippers broke quickly. This model feels less durable and somewhat cheaper overall. 2PET offers a 1-year warranty.

    Pros
    • Lightweight and reasonably-priced
    • Range of sizes and colors
    • Steel tube frame with top handle for seat belt connection
    • Removable, machine-washable, and water-resistant 600D fabric cover
    • Built-in water bottle and food container holders
    • Includes waterproof mat and reversible fleece pad
    • 1-year warranty
    Cons
    • Thin mesh rips easily
    • Less durable plastic zippers
    • Not very sturdy overall

    8. Noz2Noz Indoor & Outdoor Dog Crates

    Noz2Noz

    Another option is the Noz2Noz 667 Soft Krater Indoor and Outdoor Crate, which is heavy and somewhat harder to set up, with less durable zippers.

    This 12.4-pound light green crate, sold in a choice of five sizes, has a steel frame and a removable, machine-washable canvas cover. The frame locking mechanism, which has push-button tabs and couplers, may take you some extra time to master. The crate also has rounded corners and tight-weave mesh windows.

    When we tested this crate, we found no chemical odor, but the plastic zippers felt somewhat cheaper and less durable. The mesh isn’t strong enough to withstand paws, and Noz2Noz doesn’t offer a warranty.

    Pros
    • Choice of five sizes
    • Steel frame with removable, machine-washable fabric cover
    • Push-button tabs and couplers for frame locking
    • Rounded corners and mesh windows
    • No chemical smell
    Cons
    • More difficult to use locking mechanism
    • Less durable plastic zippers and weaker mesh
    • No warranty
    • Fairly heavy

    9. EliteField 3-Door Folding Soft Dog Crate

    EliteField

    EliteField’s 3-Door Folding Soft Dog Crate is very heavy and fairly pricey, with many included accessories and a good warranty.

    At 17.6 pounds, this crate is very heavy. It comes in multiple sizes and quite a few colors and is designed to be wider and taller, giving your dog more space. With a steel tube frame, 600D cover, and hex mesh windows, it folds easily. There are three doors, on the top, front, and side, for easier access, and two accessory pockets. The package includes a padded shoulder strap, a removable fleece pad, and a carrying bag. There’s also a frame locking mechanism and convenient reinforced corners.

    We found this crate to be not very well sewn, with seams that tear easily. The zippers and mesh aren’t durable enough to stand up to dogs. EliteField offers a good 2-year warranty.

    Pros
    • Multiple sizes and colors available
    • Wider and taller for a spacious fit
    • Steel tube frame, 600D cover, and hex mesh windows
    • Three doors for easy access
    • Reinforced corners and frame locking mechanism
    • Includes padded shoulder strap, carrying bag, and fleece pad
    • 2-year warranty
    Cons
    • Very heavy and somewhat expensive
    • Less sturdy seams, zippers, and mesh

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    Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Dog Crate for Car Travel

    Now that you’ve taken a look at our list of the nine best car crates, it’s time to choose. But which will work best for you and your dog? Keep reading for our quick guide to your options.

    Hard or Soft?

    The first big decision is whether to buy a hard crate or a fabric crate. Fabric crates, which typically have hard steel or plastic frames with fabric covers, are more portable, fold for simpler carrying, and often weighing less overall. These crates work best with well-trained dogs that don’t chew or scratch.

    If you have a puppy or a high-energy dog, you may prefer a hard crate. These crates generally have hard plastic sides and steel wire doors and are often more durable, better withstanding your dog’s scratching and chewing. In exchange for that durability, these bulkier crates may be harder to carry.

    Car Attachments

    If you’re taking your dog crate in the car, you may want to be able to attach it to the seat, as you would a child car seat. Secure attachments will keep your crate from moving when you brake or accelerate, keeping your dog steady. You may want to look for seat belt and headrest attachments, like sturdy handles and loops.

    Dog in car
    Image Credit by: Andrew Pons, Unsplash

    Size

    Before you purchase a dog crate, you’ll want to consider the size of your dog. You may want to measure your dog and compare the numbers to each model’s dimensions. Keep in mind that your dog will be more comfortable with extra space to move around.

    Accessories

    Are you interested in a range of included accessories, or do you just want the crate? Dog crates may come with washable fleece pads, waterproof liners, padded shoulder straps, or food and water bowls.

    Warranty

    Would you like your investment protected by a good warranty? Many of the models we reviewed come with warranties, ranging from 30 days to multiple years. You may also want to pay attention to the details of your model’s warranty, as it may cover only some components.

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    Conclusion

    We can’t recommend the Frisco Travel Safety Cat Carrier enough if you really want the best value possible. It is a wonderful design that is explicitly created to fit on the backseat of any car or truck. We think it’s a pretty good price for the quality too.

    If you want to save as much money as possible, but still want a quality product, we highly recommend PetAmi Cat Travel Bag. Not only will you get a very sturdy, durable carrier, you will also get a food bowl, storage containers and collapsible water dishes. This is an excellent bundle for The novice traveler.

    Don’t forget our premium choice–Sport Pet Cat Seat Crate. This carrier is spacious, safe, and comfortably sits on most back seats. It comes highly well-made with double-sided entry points. Keep in mind, there are weight requirements on this to make sure that your dog falls within these parameters.

    Hopefully, our reviews helped you find the carrier that best suits your travel needs.

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