The 10 Best Dog Car Seat Covers Australia: Tested & Evaluated 2024

Dogs love car trips! Not only is it a fun adventure for them, sometimes having them in the car is also a necessity.

However, when your pooch is a heavy shedder or likes to get into the car dirty, the thought of cleaning up the car afterwards can be really daunting. Luckily, a good seat cover can solve this problem.

But with so many options out there, how do you find the perfect one for you and your pupper? We teamed up with a panel of independent experts to discover the best dog car seat Australia has on the market. Today, we’ll guide you through all the best dog car seat covers that you can easily purchase online. We tested more than 40 options with a range of styles and functions, so you are bound to find something that fits your needs!

Australia's Best Dog Seat Covers Reviewed

Which back seat cover for your dog is worth your money? We teamed up with a panel of experts and tested the most popular dog car seat covers in Australia. Ahead, you'll discover the cream of the crop - our favourite options:

This back seat cover for dogs from Fur King is a great option for those who love car trips. This cover will keep your back seat as well as your dog, safe and comfortable.

This cover is quite thick, which is something many pet parents have loved. Besides being thick, it is made of 600D Oxford fabric which is a durable polyester that is resistant to everyday wear and tear. Our team of expert testers noted that this type of fabric holds up to even the most rambunctious dogs.

It is, however, water-resistant, not waterproof, which is probably the only downside of this dog cover for your car. That is to say, small amounts of liquid will not go through over a short period of time. If a wet dog were to ride in the back for more than half an hour, you would probably get some moisture on your seats. If you need a dog car seat that is completely waterproof, then we suggest you check out our number two pick ahead.

This Fur King cover is designed with three large panels - one goes on the seats, one covers the backrest, and the third panel is in the front. This way, it becomes impossible for your dog to jump over to the front seat. This cover also features a mesh window, providing a safety barrier between the both of you, but so that you can still see and check on each other during the trip. 

Finally, I loved that his cover is quite flexible and can be used in different ways. When I buckled up all the sides, I discovered that it looks like a standard hammock-style cover that kept my dog enclosed from all sides. However, it was possible to detach side panels and fold the front panel to have only a seat cover. Gotta love that versatility!

If your pooch prefers to stretch out and ride in the back of your car, this boot cover from Fur King will be a lifesaver. Let your pooch enjoy a luxurious ride with lots of space in the boot of your car, while also keeping everything clean. Could it be any easier?

I was happy to discover that this boot cover is super easy to install. I simply looped two straps over the headrests of my back seats, spread out the cover, and was ready to go. The underside of the cover features a non-slip layer, so it will stay safely in place along the ride. 

The cover is also very flexible, so it should fit the boot of most cars. The main part that goes on the floor is 119 cm long, plus an additional 50 cm long bumper cover. The bumper cover part can be spread out to protect the back of your car as your pooch climbs in and then folded up for the ride. 

Like our number one option, the cover is made of strong and durable Oxford fabric. What sets it apart, however, is its waterproof finish. Our research team also loved how cleaning it is a breeze. You simply wipe it with a damp cloth to remove most of the dirt. 

The Snooza Road Tripper is another great solution for protecting your back seat. Large, customisable, and effective, this cover is guaranteed to keep your seat protected and your dog happy.

When used on the ‘default’ setting, this is a classic hammock-style cover. There are 4 loops I was able to put around the headrests in the front and back to create a ‘hammock’ for my dog in the backseat. However, thanks to the zipper down the middle and the quick-release buckles on the headrest straps, I could change the position and create a normal seat cover that falls down to the floor or experiment with different arrangements. Accordingly, it's as versatile an option as our number one choice.

The fleece surface is attached to a water-resistant backing which will keep your seat protected in case of any accidents. 

One of the things our whole team loved when testing this doggy car seat cover is the soft polar fleece fabric! Fleece is not just warm and soft to the touch, but it’s also very good at catching dog hair. This fabric can be quite annoying when your fleece jacket gets full of dog hairs, but in a car seat hammock, it’s exactly what we want: the hair will stick to the fleece instead of your car seats.

Worried about fleece being too warm for your pup? No worries; unlike other options on this list, this cover is reversible. Simply set it up so your dog can lay on the fabric you think he or she will prefer.

If you want to keep dirt and pet hair away from your car seats, the Drive cover from EzyDog is a great option for the job. Your back seat will not only be protected, but also looking nice and tidy.

The reason why I love this seat cover is, first and foremost, the shape. It is designed to fit almost any car seat snugly. Not only will the bench seat and the backrest be completely covered, but you’ll also find this cover has flaps attached that protect the seats from the sides, unlike our number three choice.

And the best bit? This is a seat cover that won’t budge. Like with most covers, there are adjustable straps that go over the headrests. However, there are some tabs that keep the central part of the cover in place. Finally, this cover features a non-slip backing on the reverse side which does a great job at preventing it from moving around.

The EzyDog drive seat cover is made from a durable and water-resistant nylon. The only downside our team of expert testers found to this cover is that it is not suitable for washing in the machine. While hand washing is not too difficult, it could be annoying if you have to do it often.

This back seat cover from Dickies is a quick and easy solution for protecting your car seat. This seat cover is more affordable than any other option we have found. It does not come with any bells and whistles, but it does the job. 

This cover is easy to fix onto your seat and it has a universal shape. While testing it out, our team noted that it will fit nicely on most standard bench seats, including those in cars and SUVs. The cover is equipped with multiple elastic bands to hold it in place. Four of those go around the corner of the seat, which makes the cover appropriate also for seats without headrests. If you do have headrests, though, then there are more elastic bands that you can attach to those to make the cover more secure.

The fabric this cover is made from is water-resistant, but also rather thin. For this reason, the cover is not as durable as most pf the other options on this list. However, if you use it only occasionally and your dog is reasonably calm, the Dickies cover should do a good job, especially for budgeting households. 

Dogs riding in the front seat are at risk of being injured by an airbag (1). However, if your vehicle has no airbag on the passenger side and your dog is properly restrained, there should be no problem. If your canine companion does ride in the front seat, you’ll probably want a front seat cover like this one. Besides, even if your dog doesn’t usually ride in the front seat, this doesn’t mean they will never jump there and leave a bunch of hairs that will be impossible to clean!

I love how this cover does a great job at covering a single seat. It is designed to cover the whole seat, including flaps on the sides for complete protection. The cover itself is made with 4 layers of durable polyester, resulting in a surface that is comfy for your dog and also water-resistant (plus it looks nice). 

Like many of the other car seat covers on this list, this one also comes with a non-slip backing to help it stay in place. To set up the cover, all I had to do was put it on the seat and wrap the included strap around the headrest. The only downside is that there are no anchor points on the lower part of the cover. As a result, the cover might move around a bit, especially if your dog is large.

This cover from Jaybally is made from a thick, luxurious looking (as much as it’s possible with a car seat cover) microfiber suede fabric. The fabric is padded underneath, and that’s all finished off with a non-slip back side. The cover is also available in three colours - black, tan, and grey.

Considering all of this, our independent team of experts think it’s a great option for those who want to protect their seats without compromising on the interior aesthetics of their car. Not only this, but this cover also ensures that your original car seats remain clean and protected as the fabric is waterproof.

Additionally, when testing it out, I appreciated how the whole back seat was covered, thanks to the way this cover is shaped. It not only covered the bench seat and the backrest, but it also features additional flaps on three sides to keep the seat completely enclosed.

The Jaybally cover features multiple anchor points that ensure it stays in place as well as holes for your seat belt anchors. In this way, the back seat remains completely functional - no matter if it’s a dog, a child, or an adult who needs to sit there. As a nice bonus, you’ll find this cover features 4 cleverly placed pockets for storage as well as 2 thermo insulated cup holders.

Last but not least, the Jaybally cover is a breeze to clean. You can use a lint roller (included with the purchase as a bonus!) and/or a damp cloth for everyday maintenance. When the cover gets really dirty, you can also wash it in the machine (use a gentle cycle).

Universal back seat covers can be a bit annoying because they don’t allow for a lot of flexibility. For example, if you have an armrest in the middle seat you’d like to keep down, this is may not be an option with a standard cover.

However, with this cover from YesYees the issue completely disappears. They created a simple solution by incorporating a middle zip. This way, I was able to get everything covered on the left and right, whilst having the space I need in the middle. When I wanted to use the armrest up, I simply zip up the cover.

This feature is great if it is what you are looking for, but what about the cover itself? Well, we would say it’s a solid product. The cover is waterproof, unlike many of the products on this list that are just water resistant. It is also reasonably thick and durable and when zipped up, it looks much like a standard back seat cover. There are buckles that go around the armrests as well as elastic straps for corners to ensure the cover stays in place. The cover is complete with seat belt openings (secured with velcro).

Finally, the bottom part of the cover also includes side flaps and a front flap. That means not only the surface of the seat is covered, but it’s protected from all sides from any dog hair that might be flying around. Our team of expert researchers note that this makes this cover perfect for pet parents of heavy shedders.

This back seat cover from Winner Outfitters is a great option if you don’t want to invest too much money but want something that will have your seats covered no matter the situation.

This cover will work both as a standard backseat cover (allowing a human to sit in the back too) and a hammock-style cover. To use it as a hammock, I simply attached it to my headrests both on the back seats and on the front seats. To convert it into a standard back seat cover, I just folded the front flap under. Finally, since the cover can be laid down flat, it also converts easily into a cargo liner.

The cover itself is made of multiple layers of fabric which is something that our research team loved. Since it combines polyester and PTU layers, the end result is a cover that’s soft, but at the same time sturdy and completely waterproof. There is also a non-slip backing which helps keep the cover in place.

Some dogs, and especially those that are on the larger side, can have a hard time chilling in the backseat of your car. They try to stretch, they spin around, and almost inevitably they end up falling into the gap between the back seat and the front seat. This is precisely the dilemma my dog and I deal with during our car trips.

If that is the case for you, then let me asssure you, a backseat extender like this one can solve the issue easily. You simply set up the bridge by attaching it to the back of the front seats, and the gap disappears - your dog now has all the space in the back to get comfortable.

Hammock-style covers that attach to the headrests in the front, such as with our number nine choice, might appear to do the same thing, but they are just not made to hold the weight of a heavy dog. With this extended as support, though, they could work much better.

This extender is quite sturdy and waterproof too. I love how it also comes with a front panel that stands between the front seats, thus keeping my dog safely contained in the back.

What I Look for in a Dog Car Seat Cover

Not all covers are made the same, just like no two dogs are the same. If you have a tiny dog that never gets dirty and never moves around in the car, you’ll probably be fine with just about any cover (or a blanket in your back seat).

However, the reality is not always as pretty (as I know from firsthand experience!) and choosing a good seat cover can make all the difference. A good cover will be able to handle anything: from hair and mud, to your dog jumping into the car wet, as well as all kinds of accidents. Is it possible to find a cover that does all that? It certainly is. Just follow the simple tips provided by our team of experts.

Here what they suggest you consider before buying a back seat cover for your dog:

Material

When buying a car seat cover for your dog, the material it’s made of makes all the difference between a good cover and a waste of money. After all, if the material is not durable and rips apart in a matter of days, what is even the point of buying a cover?

If your dog sheds heavily, you really want a material that is easy to remove hair, such as a polyester or microfiber. If the fabric is quilted or padded, it will look and feel more comfortable and luxurious.

In addition, it’s probably always a good idea to get a cover that’s at least water-resistant, if not waterproof. Even if you don’t think you need this, there are always unpredictable situations (such as your dog getting wet on a walk), and in these cases, you’ll want your cover to keep your seats clean and dry. 

Size

Before buying a cover, it’s necessary to check if it fits the seat in your car. Every manufacturer will state the dimensions, so you can simply check by measuring your seat.

Most covers are ‘standard size’ - and this, of course, will match most standard seats. If you have a unique shaped seat compared to most standard vehicles, then you’re going to have to pay close attention to the sizing charts.

Shape - Dog Car Hammock

It’s just a backseat cover, right? Well, actually, our team of researchers quickly discovered that you still have a couple of options to choose from when it comes to the shape.

First of all, there are the standard back seat covers. They are not always made specifically for pets, but they tend to work just fine. This kind of cover will cover the full backseat. There still remains space between the back seat and the front seat, and a human can also use the seat with the cover on. I noticed that some of these covers have side flaps and a front flap, while others don’t. The flaps are not exactly necessary, but they did allow the cover to protect my seat from dog hair on all sides (i.e., the only effective way).

In addition to this, there are some “hammock-style” covers made specifically for dogs. These covers have loops that wrap around the headrests of both the backseat and the front seat. The cover rises up on all sides so that the dog is completely enclosed in the backseat and there is no gap between the seats. These covers can be great for anxious dogs, as well as those who try to join you in the front seat, since the cover creates an additional barrier between you and the dog.

While hammock-style covers do work great, keep in mind that they were not meant to carry heavy dogs. If your dog is heavier and keeps leaning on the cover, it can rip and create more damage. It is possible to solve the issue, all you’ll need is a backseat extender.

My Final Verdict

Which back seat cover should you choose? It will depend on the size of your dog, what you intend to use the cover for, and maybe the colour of the interior of your car.

For a high quality cover made specifically to provide a comfortable resting place for dogs and keep your seats clean, then our team of experts suggest you go with Fur King Seat Cover. This is a standard cover that simply covers your seat like a set of bedding.

If you think a hammock-style cover will work better, though, then our team recommends that you check out the EzyDog Seat Cover. Both are solid options that our doggos loved.

References

1. Schamble, M. June 15, 2020. “How to Keep Your Dog Safer in the Car”. American Kennel Club. Retrieved March 9, 2023.  https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/home-living/dog-seat-belts-what-you-need-to-know-to-keep-your-dog-safe/