April 15, 2024

Pet Friendly Car Rental: The Best When Travelling

The number of households that have a pet has been increasing year by year totalling to over a billion pets worldwide; it goes without saying, that a lot of people have pets. As such, if you’re planning to travel there’s always the worry of making sure they’re fed, watered and entertained. Whilst you can arrange for a sitter, why not keep an eye on them yourself along your trip with a pet friendly car rental?

Whether it’s a dog, cat, rabbit or horse (maybe not a horse); the peace of mind that comes with knowing you don’t have to worry about back home can make your trip all the more enjoyable. And that’s where we come in! All of us at Indigo want to do our best to make that happen. If there are any questions or concerns you have regarding if it’s even allowed everything you need to know is just a read away.

What Is The Law On Pets In Cars?

First and foremost – can you even have a pet in a car? Almost always you certainly can. In almost every country, you can allow pets in the car. Though it is worth noting there can be some variation in the securing of the pet in the vehicle. For example, a dog or cat may be required to be caged and appropriately cooled. Whilst depending on the country there can naturally be nuances, there are still some good rules to consider regardless:

1. Keep the pet secure – Whether that comes from a cage or harness, keeping them secure and safe is the priority.
2. Ensure the pet is on a seat – Pets (even in crates) can’t be secured in a trunk or truck bed, a passenger seat is the best place to keep them in a vehicle.
3. Food, water and air – The absolute necessities are to ensure your pet is comfortable and safe when a vehicle is parked.

Even beyond these rules, Animal Trust has a guide regarding this subject and should provide all the information you need for your travel!

Can You Bring A Pet In A Rental?

Although generally, the majority of suppliers we work with do not have an issue with pets in rentals, each supplier has their own guidelines. If you are planning on bringing a pet in your rental vehicle, the suppliers that do allow it almost always require notifying beforehand. Though they can’t provide equipment like a cage or harness, so long as the supplier is aware of the pet there is unlikely to be any issue.

While the supplier won’t charge a fee for any pets, you should actively ensure that you keep the vehicle clean. One of the most common charges that come from having pets in a vehicle is the cleaning fee. If a vehicle is returned in a messy state or damaged on the inside, it’s important to be mindful. Our advice is a simple carrier cage.

Which Cars Are Suitable For Pets?

Whilst there is significant variety in the range of vehicles, even for pets in my opinion, you can’t get more reliable than with an SUV car hire. Whether it’s a Volkswagen Tiguan or BMW X5, the space that they provide ensures your companion will be as comfortable as they can be. Even if you need something larger, one of our van hires would be more than suitable for keeping several pets safe and secure.

Which Suppliers Offer Pet Friendly Car Rental?

Of the suppliers we work with:

• Dollar
• Budget
• SIXT
• Avis
• Hertz
• Alamo
• National

All of these suppliers are happy to allow pets in their vehicles, however, the aforementioned guidelines are all in place, including notice beforehand. The only supplier we work with who doesn’t allow pets aside from service dogs is Europcar.

Where to start your car hire

Now that you know all the pros and cons of travelling with a pet in a rental car

for any rental need, we provide the following:

• Debit Card Car Hire
• Low Deposit Car Hire
• Young Driver Car Hire
• Senior Driver Car Hire

Of course, though there may be some questions and concerns regarding what is possible and when we have been able to support other customers in this regard, feel free to contact us or send us an email at [email protected] and call us at +44 (0)113 880 0748.