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Though summer in Australia is normally reserved for quality time with your friends and family under the hot sun, it’s also one of the most dangerous for your fur baby.
And while most pet owners try their best to accommodate their furry friends, it’s worth noting drivers travelling with a dog must abide by numerous laws or potentially face fines and imprisonment.
Some Aussies would no doubt find it normal to leave their dogs in cars while they duck into the shops – but is it actually legal? Here’s what you need to know.
Yes and no, it depends on the situation. While all states and territories have animal cruelty laws that make it illegal to unreasonably inflict pain on any animal, some rules don’t explicitly state if leaving your dog in a car qualifies as an offence.
In New South Wales, the state government has recently announced proposed changes to its animal cruelty laws, which includes new laws for leaving dogs in locked hot vehicles.
While state laws do specify motorists must not “unreasonably, unnecessarily or unjustifiably inflict pain” on any animal while driving, the law change definitively criminalises the act of leaving unattended dogs in vehicles.
The newly implemented laws could see offenders penalised in line with current existing offences, which in NSW could mean leaving your dog in the car could be subject to a potential maximum fine of 400 penalty units valued at $49,324 and/or one year in prison.
According to data from RSPCA NSW – cited by the NSW state government – in the six years leading to 2024/2025 the non-profit animal charity received over 500 public reports of dogs being “locked in cars”.
It's a similar story in Victoria, where the state’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (POCTA) Act makes it illegal for drivers to leave an unattended animal in the car for more than 10 minutes if the outside temperature exceeds 28 degrees Celsius.
But In Queensland, the RSPCA stated on its website, “leaving an animal without appropriate water and shelter may constitute as an offence under the Animal Care and Protection Act".
Under Queensland state law, offenders who cause an animal “pain, that in the circumstances, is unjustifiable, unnecessary or unreasonable” can be penalised with a maximum penalty of $333,800 or three years' imprisonment.
Additionally, ute drivers who want to take their furry friends on car trips must restrain the dog in a safe manner – either on a leash or cage – if they’re to sit on the tub of the vehicle.
As reported by Drive in May 2025, the RSPCA said if owners intend on travelling with their dog on the back of a ute, the restraint needs to be “a properly fitted harness that is suitable for car restraint”, as collars could potentially tighten while driving and cause harm.
The global animal welfare charity said dog owners who opt for a transport cage need it to be “fixed directly behind the cabin to minimise exposure to wind and dust”.
“The crate must provide adequate ventilation, protect the dog from elements, and be large enough to allow the dog to stand up with their head in a normal upright position and maintain balance when standing, turn around, and lie down comfortably,” an RSPCA Australia spokesperson previously told Drive.
Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.
