Best Car Seat Covers For Dogs
Motor1 Reviews Team Take:
- The Meadowlark XL Premium Dog Hammock, Vailage Dog Seat Cover, ViewPets BenchCar Seat Cover, Lusso Gear Car Seat Cover, and Active Pets Car Seat Cover are the best car seat covers for dogs in 2024.
- Car Seat Covers for dogs typically cost between $30 and $70 making them a relatively inexpensive way to protect your upholstery.
- The best seat covers are double-stitched, feature a no-slip design, and are easy to clean. Machine-washable covers are especially convenient.
Dog seat covers are one the most useful pet products that you can purchase. The best car seat covers for dogs protect your car seats from muddy pawprints and excess dog hair. All of the covers in this article are designed to be used in the backseat, though there are a few front seat covers on the market too.
If you feel that a dog seat cover won’t provide the comfort or protection your dog needs, then check out our picks for the best dog car seats below. These products offer sturdier and more robust protection for your best friend.
Seat Covers For Dogs Reviews
To help you find the best car seat covers for your dogs and vehicles, our team spent time testing a variety of options. We’ve narrowed the list down to our favorites and provided recommendations for covers with different uses and price points.
Based on a high volume of positive consumer feedback and our own personal experience using these seat covers, we assessed each cover in rating categories including ease of installation, protection level, and fit.
What Is The Best Car Seat Cover For Dogs?
According to these criteria, the best car seat covers for dogs are the Meadowlark XL Premium Dog Hammock, Vailge Dog Seat Cover, ViewPets Bench Car Seat Cover, Lusso Gear Car Seat Cover, and Active Pets Car Seat Cover.
The table below highlights the car seat covers’ performance in each review category:
Brand/Model | Cost | Overall Rating | Award |
---|---|---|---|
Meadowlark XL Premium Dog Hammock |
$70 |
5.0 |
Best Car Seat Cover for Dogs |
Vailge Dog Seat Cover |
$30 |
4.8 |
Best Adjustable Seat Cover |
ViewPets Bench Car Seat Cover |
$35 |
4.3 |
Best Bench Seat Cover |
Lusso Gear Car Seat Cover |
$35 |
4.3 |
Best Value |
Active Pets Car Seat Cover |
$40 |
4.3 |
Best for Leather Seats |
*Because cost data fluctuates, the prices in the table above are approximate values that our team regularly updates.
Car Seat Covers For Dogs Ratings: Our Testing Process
After looking at factors such as fit, materials, customer ratings, and prices, our product testing team ordered the car seat covers for dogs that seemed the most promising. A team member tested each product with a dog, taking note of how well the car seat cover did when it came to ease of installation, protection, and fit. Each seat cover was given a rating out of 5.0 stars based on these criteria.
Learn more about how we tested car seat covers for dogs here.
1. Meadowlark XL Premium Dog Hammock: Best Car Seat Cover For Dogs
2. Vailge Dog Seat Cover: Best Adjustable Seat Cover
3. ViewPets Bench Car Seat Cover: Best Bench Seat Cover
4. Lusso Gear Car Seat Cover: Best Value
5. Active Pets Car Seat Cover: Best For Leather Seats
Car Seat Cover For Dogs Buying Guide
The best dog seat covers are ultimately what works best for your dog and your vehicle. The material of your pet seat cover undoubtedly plays a role in how long the cover lasts, but the cover that keeps your backseat best protected and your dog happiest is the way to go.
Compare Car Seat Covers For Dogs
Brand/Model | Machine Washable? | Waterproof? | Coverage |
---|---|---|---|
Meadowlark XL Premium Dog Hammock |
Yes |
No |
Hammock |
Vailge Dog Seat Cover |
Yes |
Yes |
Hammock or bench |
ViewPets Bench Car Seat Cover |
Yes |
Yes |
Bench |
Lusso Gear Car Seat Cover |
Yes |
Yes |
Bench |
Active Pets Car Seat Cover |
No |
Yes |
Hammock |
Hammock Vs. Bench Seat Covers
When choosing car accessories for your animal to ride as a passenger, the goal is to protect as much of your vehicle’s interior as possible. A hammock seat cover is the best version of this, as it drapes over the back of the front seats. Some bench seats come with this option, but many just cover the rear passenger area.
Best Car Seat Material For Dogs
Anything waterproof is the best seat cover material that you could ask for. Waterproof cover materials include canvas, some polyester blends, vinyl, and more. Covers for dogs should also be simple to clean and not tear easily.
Dog owners should also look for these attributes when shopping for a car seat cover:
- Washing machine safe
- Non-slip surface
- Non-absorbent materials
- Compatible with large and small dogs
- Extra features like storage pockets
How To Get Dog Hair Off Car Seats?
Getting dog hair off of your car seats can be a bit of a pain. Although we recommend investing in a car seat cover for your dog to protect your car seats in the first place, that isn’t always possible.
In that case, grab a car vacuum or shop vac and begin removing as much dog hair as you can with any included nozzle attachments at your disposal. If you’re still not happy with the state of your car seats, then you may need to purchase a steam cleaner for cars to truly remove all of the hair (and any odors that may come with that dog hair).
Best Car Seat Covers For Dogs: Bottom Line
Car seat covers for dogs prevent any dirt, debris, or hair from dirtying the back of your vehicle that your dog tracks in from the outdoors. The best seat covers for dogs should keep your pet secure and relaxed in your vehicle, while also preventing any cosmetic damage or staining to your car. Our team researched, selected, and tested the best car seat covers for dogs that are waterproof, non-slip, and easy to install.
Below are our picks for the best car seat covers for dogs in 2024:
- Best Car Seat Cover for Dogs: Meadowlark XL Premium Dog Hammock
- Best Adjustable Seat Cover: Vailge Dog Seat Cover
- Best Bench Seat Cover: ViewPets Bench Car Seat Cover
- Best Value: Lusso Gear Car Seat Cover
- Best for Leather Seats: Active Pets Car Seat Cover
Car Seat Covers For Dogs: FAQ
Below are some common frequently asked questions about car seat covers for dogs:
Do dog car seat covers work?
Yes, a good dog car seat cover works. In our experience, dog seat covers protect the upholstery in your vehicle, cloth seats from being torn up, leather seats from being damaged, and they keep all of your pet hair in one convenient place, making cleaning up easier.
What is the best dog seat cover?
After researching and testing a number of different dog seat covers, our expert review team came to the conclusion that the best dog seat cover is the Meadowlark XL Premium Dog Hammock.
Do dogs mess up leather seats?
Canine nails can scratch and tear leather upholstery in cars. A pet cargo cover is one way to protect your vehicle from damage.
Do dog hammocks work?
Dog hammocks that cover that attach to the rear of the front seats are usually better at protecting a car’s interior than bench covers. One of our top picks for pet supplies is the Meadowlark Dog Hammock.
Full Car Seat Cover For Dogs Testing Methodology
The dog seat covers in this article went through two rounds of reviews. We started by searching retailers like Amazon, RealTruck, and Advance Auto Parts for top products, looking at factors such as shipping costs, product features, customer ratings, and prices.
Our product testing team then ordered the car seat covers for dogs that best met these standards. A team member tested each product, noting how well the dog seat covers fit, protected the vehicle, and their ease of installation. Each dog seat cover was given a rating out of 5.0 stars based on these criteria.
Ease of Installation
Our team members tested for ease of installation by taking note of how long it took our team to fully install and set up each dog seat cover in the back of our testing vehicle.
Protection
Arguably the most important characteristic of a dog seat cover, we tested for protection by noting how much of the backseat of our testing vehicle was exposed after installing the cover.
Fit
A relatively simple category to test, our team members tested for a dog seat cover’s fit by noting if there was any extra material that was unneeded and how tightly fitting the cover was to the backseat once it was installed.
How We Score Products
Every car seat cover for dogs we test is given a score between 1.0 and 5.0 stars in each category. Here’s what those star ratings mean in concrete terms:
- 5.0 Stars: A 5.0-star rating means a car seat cover for dogs is among the best in a category. It can be installed in a few minutes, offers full protection from scratches and urine, or fits perfectly with no bunching.
- 4.0 Stars: A 4.0-star rating means a seat cover performs better than average in a category. It can be installed in around 10 minutes, is durable against scratches and urine, though may not provide full backseat coverage, or fits well with very little bunching.
- 3.0 Stars: A 3.0-star rating indicates what is average or typical for car seat covers, based on our testing experience. It takes around 20 minutes to install, is durable for smaller dogs but may not withstand large animals, or it fits but is prone to bunching.
- 2.0 Stars: A 2.0-star rating indicates the seat cover performs poorer than the average car seat cover for dogs. It takes over 30 minutes to install, only lasts about a year, or does not fit well.
- 1.0 Star: A 1.0-star rating indicates that the dog car seat cover performs well below expectations in a category. It is impossible to install, disintegrates upon touch, or is likely to damage your vehicle if installed.
Why Trust Motor1.com
Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. Our team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers.
We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here.
*Data accurate at time of publication. Products subject to availability.