Motorists could leave their pet and car insurance in tatters and face a whopping £5,000 fine for making a simple error when travelling with their dogs. According to experts, road users must ensure that their pets are properly restrained at all times while inside the vehicle.

Failing to do so and allowing the dog free reign around a vehicle can be a major safety risk with road users at risk of serious consequences. Kara Gammell, Pet Insurance Expert at MoneySuperMarket has urged road users to take the risks seriously.

Kara said: “Under Rule 57 of the Highway Code, dogs must be suitably restrained when travelling in a vehicle. While there isn’t a specific fine for not doing so, drivers can still face penalties such as ‘driving without due care and attention’ or ‘careless driving’, which may result in fines or points on your licence.

“If a dog is injured in an accident and hasn’t been properly secured, insurers may see this as negligence. That means vet bills could be refused, leaving owners to cover the cost themselves.

“Beyond the financial impact, an unrestrained dog can distract the driver or be thrown forward in a collision, increasing the risk of serious injury to both pets and passengers. Taking a few extra moments to secure your dog properly can make a real difference to everyone’s safety.”

Go Compare has also confirmed that if a pet is considered to have caused or contributed to an accident, a motorist’s car insurance and pet insurance could be invalidated. They explained that larger dogs should have a harness or specially designed seatbelt around them at all times.

Go Compare explained: “If your dog is crate trained, using a crate for travel can be a good idea. It should be big enough that your dog can sit, stand up, turn around and lie down in it easily.

“However, if you have a larger breed, you might find it is too large to fit into your vehicle. If so, a well-fitting harness that clips onto a fixture in the boot or to your car’s seat belts in the back seat is another option.”