Frankfurt am Main. How do pets spend the holidays when their owners go on holiday? One in three pet owners does not want to go without animal company on holiday and simply packs their dog or cat with them. This is the result of a representative survey by infas quo* on behalf of the Zurich Group Germany, parent company of DA Direkt. The results show, however, that many pet owners are not so careful about securing their pets when travelling. More than a third (38%) of those surveyed carry their pets freely in the back seat or in the footwell – 8 percent travel in the trunk. In contrast, 38 percent use a transport box and 16 percent use other security measures such as special seat belts.
How can pets travel in the car?
Anyone planning a car trip with their pet on holiday should make sure that dogs, cats and other pets are properly secured, as are other passengers. The road traffic regulations do not specify a general obligation to secure animals. However, under traffic law, a dog in a car is considered “cargo” according to Section 23 of the road traffic regulations and must therefore be secured accordingly so that it does not hinder the driver. A violation of this obligation to secure the car will result in a fine or warning, and the driver could also receive points on their license. Car insurance expert Silvia Künnemann from DA Direkt also points out: “If an accident occurs because of an unsecured animal in the car, the driver can be accused of gross negligence. The comprehensive insurance can then refuse to settle the claim, meaning that the costs incurred must be borne by the driver themselves.”
Choose backup options carefully
Depending on the size and weight of the animal, different securing options in the car should be considered. For particularly large and heavy dogs, a solid partition between the transport and passenger compartments is recommended for station wagon drivers. This is the only way to prevent the four-legged friend from injuring other passengers in the event of an emergency stop – but the animal itself is not fully protected from injury. “Special transport boxes, on the other hand, are safe for passengers and pets. These are also secured with the usual seat belts or, depending on the size, can simply be placed on the vehicle floor behind the front seats,” says Silvia Künnemann. Seat belts specifically for dogs can also protect the furry passengers. At the same time, the animals have even more freedom of movement without increasing the risk of injury.
*Representative survey of German pet owners by infas quo on behalf of Zurich Group Germany; survey period July 2024; values rounded; basis: total (n=1,528), pet owners (n=716), pet owners who take their pet(s) on vacation (n=237)
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