Dog hair gets everywhere. Dog owners — and especially owners of long-haired dogs — will never escape the cascade of hair that seems to follow their dogs everywhere. It gets even worse when your dog gets wet or finds its way into some mud and brings all that home with them in their fur.
Dog hair — and the things you might find stuck in it — in your car can be frustrating, but luckily there are ways to keep your vehicle clean with minimal effort from you. Car seat covers protect your seats from the harsh outdoors that your dog brings with them after playtime.
Here are our 10 favorite dog car seat covers!
A Quick Look at Our Favorite Picks in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Plush Paw Products Quilted Hammock
Waterproof
Two size options and three color options
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Best Value
BarksBar Luxury Waterproof Car Seat Cover
Doesn’t use azo dyes or heavy metals
Waterproof and works with all standard car sizes
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Premium Choice
PetSafe Happy Ride Quilted Bench Car Seat Cover
Machine washable
Seat belt slots zip closed
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Frisco Quilted Water-Resistant Bench Car Seat Cover
Machine washable
Seat belt access slits
Great for pet parents with kids who will sit in the back seat
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K&H Pet Products Quilted Cargo Cover
Pocket for holding dog care items
Can be used for cargo hold or back seat
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The 10 Best Dog Seat Covers
This quilted hammock seat cover from Plush Paw Products is a perfect marriage of functionality and affordability, and that’s why it’s our choice for the best overall dog seat cover! This hammock is fully waterproof and can be cleaned using your garden hose and left out to dry. Additionally, this features seat belt loops and comes in two sizes to fit in even in the largest cars. Lastly, it is available in three colors, which means you can pick one that will perfectly match any car interior.
Sizes: Regular (58 inches × 55 inches), X-Large (65 inches × 63 inches)
Colors: Black, gray, beige
Waterproof?: Yes
Seat belt loops?: Yes
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Since this is a hammock, it protects the back seat from the elements and the front seat. The hammock covers the backrests of your front seat while offering a barrier between the front and back seats. This design helps deter any pups that like to climb into the front seat while you’re driving!
Pros
Waterproof
Two size options and three color options
Cons
May be too big for some small cars
If you’re tight on cash, check out BarksBar’s Luxury Waterproof Car Seat Cover, our best dog seat cover for the money. This is an excellent waterproof alternative if you can’t (or don’t want to) shell out for the Plus Paws Product’s Quilted Hammock since it provides a lot of the same features that the hammock does.
Waterproof
Two size options and three color options
- Waterproof
- Two size options and three color options
May be too big for some small cars
- May be too big for some small cars
Sizes: Standard (58 inches × 55 inches), Extra Large (64 inches × 60 inches)
Colors: Black
Waterproof?: Yes
Seat belt loops?: Yes
This is a hammock-style seat cover, but the front part of the hammock can be let down to act as a bench cover. This quilted seat cover is waterproof polyester and works with all standard car sizes. It has seat belt slots that can be used for human seat belts or dog car restraint systems. It also doesn’t use any azo dyes or heavy metals.
Pros
Waterproof and works with all standard car sizes
Doesn’t use azo dyes or heavy metals
Cons
It might be large in some small cars
Our choice for the best premium dog seat cover is PetSafe’s Happy Ride Quilted Bench Car Seat Cover! It comes in two sizes, standard and extra wide, and two colors—green or gray. You can indeed find one that fits well with your car’s interior! This is made with quilted cotton to create a comfy seat for your dog to utilize to help car rides be a breeze.
Waterproof and works with all standard car sizes
Doesn’t use azo dyes or heavy metals
- Waterproof and works with all standard car sizes
- Doesn’t use azo dyes or heavy metals
It might be large in some small cars
- It might be large in some small cars
Sizes: Standard (56 inches × 46 inches), Extra Wide (60 inches × 46 inches)
Colors: Green, gray
Waterproof?: No
Seat belt loops?: Yes
It’s fitted with elastic panels and leather straps that hold it in place to protect your car seats. It’s also equipped with seat belt slots that can zip closed if your dog gets extra dirty and you want to save even the seat belt areas from them!
This seat cover isn’t fully waterproof, but it is machine washable. So, once you’re done with it, just pop it in the washing machine.
Pros
Machine washable
Seat belt slots zip closed
Cons
Not waterproof
- Frisco Quilted Water-Resistant Bench Car Seat Cover
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Sizes: One-Size (59 inches × 48 inches)
Colors: Black, gray, cream
Waterproof?: No
Seat belt loops?: Yes
Frisco’s Quilted Water-Resistant Bench Car Seat Cover is an excellent option for pet parents with small cars. This bench seat cover features adjustable straps for a secure fit and seat belt access slots for human passengers or car restraints for your dog.
Machine washable
Seat belt slots zip closed
- Machine washable
- Seat belt slots zip closed
Not waterproof
- Not waterproof
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Sizes: One-Size (59 inches × 48 inches)
Colors: Black, gray, cream
Waterproof?: No
Seat belt loops?: Yes
This quilted car seat cover will be so comfortable, your dog won’t want to leave the car! It’s a great way to keep your dog feeling happy and satisfied whether they’re going to the park or the vet.
Additionally, this is a great seat cover for pet parents who use their back seat a lot since it’s a bench cover and won’t restrict the legroom of human passengers. However, if your dog likes to climb into the front seat, you might want to invest in a hammock-style cover for their safety!
Pros
Machine washable
Seat belt access slits
Great for pet parents with kids who will sit in the back seat
Cons
One-Size can be a bit restrictive
- K&H Pet Products Quilted Cargo Cover
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Sizes: One-size (52 inches × 40 inches)
Colors: Tan, gray, black
Waterproof?: No
Seat belt loops?: Yes
This cargo cover from K&H Pet Products is an excellent option for dog parents with giant dogs who don’t always fit in the back seat. This seat cover can be used for a hatchback cargo hold or flipped around into the back seat.
Machine washable
Seat belt access slits
Great for pet parents with kids who will sit in the back seat
- Machine washable
- Seat belt access slits
- Great for pet parents with kids who will sit in the back seat
One-Size can be a bit restrictive
- One-Size can be a bit restrictive
Sizes: One-size (52 inches × 40 inches)
Colors: Tan, gray, black
Waterproof?: No
Seat belt loops?: Yes
It’s made of tough nylon with a vinyl covering to make it water-resistant but has fuzzy seat belt fastener slots for hand comfort. This cargo cover also comes with a built-in pocket that pet parents can use to store a leash or toys for their dogs to enjoy in the hatchback.
This one won’t be as good for pet parents who have a particularly large hatchback, like an SUV, since it’s a little small for a cargo hold cover. But for smaller hatchbacks or back seats, this is a great option!
Pros
Can be used for cargo hold or back seat
Pocket for holding dog care items
Cons
Not waterproof
This extra big cargo liner is great whether you’re using it in an SUV cargo hold or the back seat of your car. It’s got a polyurethane sheet that makes it fully waterproof and ready to withstand everything your dog might throw at it.
Can be used for cargo hold or back seat
Pocket for holding dog care items
- Can be used for cargo hold or back seat
- Pocket for holding dog care items
Sizes: One-size (82 inches × 55 inches)
Colors: Black
Waterproof?: Yes
Seat belt loops?: Yes
This cargo liner features side flaps for extra coverage in your cargo hold or on your back seat. It also features seat belt slits, so you don’t have to worry about folding it up if you want to let some human passengers into your car.
To top it all off, this liner isn’t just waterproof; it’s also machine-washable! Just pop it in your washing machine, and it’ll be ready for your next excursion right away!
Pros
Waterproof
Extra coverage flaps
Machine-washable
Cons
It might be too big for some cars
Outward Hound’s PupShield Back Seat Hammock is an excellent option for pet parents with small cars. This hammock is square, so it doesn’t have the same lateral reach as some more extended options on this list. However, for small cars, it really can’t be beaten!
Waterproof
Extra coverage flaps
Machine-washable
- Waterproof
- Extra coverage flaps
- Machine-washable
It might be too big for some cars
- It might be too big for some cars
Sizes: One-size (55 inches × 55 inches)
Colors: Black
Waterproof?: No
Seat belt loops?: Yes
The hammock can be let down in the front so that human passengers can stretch their legs in the back seat. When it’s up, it provides a barrier between the back and front seats to help deter any pups who love to climb up into the front seat to try and be with their humans.
Pros
Great for small cars
Hammock design deters dogs from climbing into the front seat
Cons
Not waterproof
This hammock car seat cover from Pet Magasin is an excellent option if you don’t need all the fancy-pants stuff that some of the other options on this list provide. This hammock car seat cover is very one-size-fits-all, and we’re not referring strictly to its size. It doesn’t have any fancy attachments, but that’s its beauty!
Great for small cars
Hammock design deters dogs from climbing into the front seat
- Great for small cars
- Hammock design deters dogs from climbing into the front seat
Sizes: One-Size (58 inches × 54 inches)
Colors: Beige
Waterproof?: No
Seat belt loops?: Yes
The only moving part for this seat cover is the adjustable seat anchors to hold it in place! For pet parents who don’t need much and don’t want to spend much! However, it only comes in beige, which might turn off pet parents who wish for to the cover to match their interior.
Pros
Great simple option
Cons
Not waterproof
Kurgo’s Bench Seat Cover is an excellent option for pet parents who have side airbags and frequent human passengers in their back seat. The cover is designed specifically to avoid interfering with side airbags.
Great simple option
- Great simple option
Sizes: One-Size (55 inches × 56 inches)
Colors: Black, khaki, charcoal gray
Waterproof?: No
Seat belt loops?: Yes
This machine-washable seat cover is an excellent option for pet parents who often use their back seat because they have kids or they’re Uber drivers! It also comes in three colors, so you’ll be able to find a color that matches your interior well.
Pros
Doesn’t interfere with side airbags
Three color options
Cons
No barrier to the front seat
The American Kennel Club has made its own Pet Car Seat Cover for any pet parents looking to represent them in their everyday life! This car seat cover is specially designed with the American Kennel Club’s dog know-how behind it. So, you can be sure it’s well-made and perfect for your pup.
Doesn’t interfere with side airbags
Three color options
- Doesn’t interfere with side airbags
- Three color options
No barrier to the front seat
- No barrier to the front seat
Sizes: One-Size (59 inches × 57 inches)
Colors: Black
Waterproof?: No
Seat belt loops?: Yes
It uses adjustable straps to stay secure in the back seat of your car. However, it’s bench-style, so any pet parents looking to get a hammock-style car seat cover will have to pass on this one. Still, for those looking for a bench seat cover, there’s no more trusted name than the American Kennel Club to put their money where their mouth is!
Pros
Designed and backed by the American Kennel Club
Cons
Bench-style only
Designed and backed by the American Kennel Club
- Designed and backed by the American Kennel Club
Bench-style only
- Bench-style only
Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Dog Seat Cover
Do I Really Need a Car Seat Cover?
You’ll probably get by just fine if you don’t buy a seat cover. But you’ll have to clean out your car more frequently, and if you like to take your dog to the dog park or out hiking, you’ll have to contend with the harsh elements that your dog may carry into the car on their fur. Seat covers also protect the seats from your dog’s nails. Some dogs dig when nervous, and you wouldn’t want your dog to tear a hole in the seats accidentally.
Let’s face it: cars are expensive and protecting your investment with a seat cover may be (probably is) in your best interest. Additionally, your dog may find the back seat more comfortable with a seat cover. It can even act like a security blanket that helps keep your dog calm.
Related Read: How to Get Dog Pee Smell Out of Car Seats
Types of Dog Car Seat Covers
There are three types of dog car seat covers you’ll see on the market: bench covers, hammock covers, and cargo liners. Each offers different features, but most can be used in multiple locations.
Bench Cover
Bench covers are secured to the headrests of the back seats using straps. The body then drapes down over the backrest and seat cushions, protecting them from everything from your dog’s claws to mud in their fur.
The main downside to the bench cover is that it doesn’t protect the backs of the front seats. However, bench covers are great for pet parents who use their back seat often since humans can sit on the surface as easily as dogs.
Bench covers usually have seat belt slots so that the seat belts can still be used with the cover on. These slots can be used for both humans and dog car restraints.
Hammock Cover
Hammock covers attach to the headrests of the front and back seats, forming a hammock over the back seat of the car. These protect both the back and the front seats of the vehicle. Additionally, the hammock creates a barrier between the back and front seats that deters your dog from climbing into the front seat.
If you need to use the back seat of your car, you can fold down the front part of the hammock liner so that your human passengers can stretch their legs out properly.
Cargo Liner
Cargo liners are meant to be used with a hatchback cargo hold. These are particularly good for dog parents of giant dogs who may not fit in the back seat of the car comfortably. Cargo liners can usually be used in the back seat as hammock liners if necessary.
Related Read: 12 Best Dog Car Harnesses
Conclusion
Protecting your investments is a smart move all around. Our choice for the best overall dog seat cover was Plush Paws Products’ Quilted Hammock. The best dog seat cover for the money was BarksBar’s Luxury Waterproof Car Seat Cover. Try out PetSafe’s Happy Ride Quilted Bench Car Seat Cover for the best premium dog seat cover.
See also:
- 10 Best Dog Barking Deterrents
- 6 Best Dog Colognes
- 10 Best Rawhides for Dogs
