Do you know the laws of driving with your pet in the UK?

Going on a road trip with your pet can be a lot of fun, while also bringing with it a lot of challenges. And some of those challenges might just come from the fact that we are talking about having our pet in the car with us.

If you happen to live in the UK, you might already know that there are quite a few laws that you need to be aware of when it comes to having your dog in the car with you. And even in the US, there are plenty of laws and rules of the road that we should be aware of.

So what are some of the laws of the road when it comes to bringing your pet in the car with you? And what could happen if you don't follow the laws?

Here are some laws to pay attention to if you are driving in the UK with a dog

Do not leave your dog in the car without you

If you leave a pet in the car by themselves, you are going against The Animal Welfare Act of 2006. This could see you receiving a fine of up to £20,000, and if a pet dies or even becomes ill due to heat from being in the car for an extended period of time, there is even a possibility of imprisonment.

Dogs should be restrained when the car is in motion

Car restraints for dogs is not only about their safety and well-being, it is also a law that is associated with "Rule 57 of the Highway Code." Dogs can be distracting to drivers and at the same time, it is unsafe for them to be loose in a car that is moving. What if you were in an accident and your dog is unrestrained? They could be seriously injured or even killed. A violation of this law comes with a potential fine of £5,000.

Make sure your dog is microchipped

According to a press email from Zippy Cars for Cash, it turns out that microchipping your pet is a law in the UK and it is important when traveling as well. On road trips, things can happen, including your dog getting lost. As they explain, "Since 2015, it has been a legal requirement that all dogs in the UK be microchipped. Beginning in June this year, microchipping will also be a legal requirement for cats." But that is not the only legal requirement to pay attention to when traveling with your pet as, "It’s also a legal requirement for your dog to have a collar and tag with your phone number on it." If your pet is not microchipped and they get lost, the potential fine associated with this law is £500.

Honestly, all of these laws make a lot of sense and the fact that these are things we should all be mindful of when it comes to having our pets in the car transcends where we are located. When it comes to our pets, we want the best for them and this includes when we are taking them for a ride in the car or even on a longer road trip.