Pet travel by road 14 min read
Taking a dog or cat on a road trip in India
Updated By PetymFacts checked against official sources on
Quick answer
No Indian rule we could find says how a pet must ride in a private car or on a two-wheeler. Three rules still apply: the driver must not let animals block their view or hearing (MoRTH's Driving Regulations, 2017), nothing may be placed so that it hampers the driver's control (Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, section 125), and carrying any animal in a vehicle in a way that causes it unnecessary pain or suffering is cruelty under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
Vets advise a carrier for small pets and the back seat with a harness for bigger dogs, a stop every 2 hours, and never leaving a pet in a parked car (Merck Veterinary Manual). Uber's India site offers a ride for one pet, Karnataka's KSRTC takes pets on its City, Suburban, Ordinary and Mofussil buses, and Corbett, Gujarat's forests and Kerala's parks do not let pets in (checked 21 October 2026).
A pet in the car: the rules and the advice
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| An Indian rule on how a pet rides in a car | None found, nothing on restraint, crates, the boot or the front seat. | Ministry of Road Transport and Highways |
| The driver's duty | Keep your view and hearing clear of "passengers, animals, the load" (regulation 5(6)). | Ministry of Road Transport and Highways |
| On a two-wheeler | No pet rule found. The rider must hold the handlebar with both hands except when signalling (regulation 5(17)). | Ministry of Road Transport and Highways |
| Anything that hampers control | No driver may let anything be placed so that it hampers their control of the vehicle (Motor Vehicles Act, section 125). | Odisha Motor Vehicles Department (Government of Odisha) |
| Cruelty in a vehicle | An offence under section 11(1)(d); a first offence carries a fine of Rs 10 to Rs 50. | Animal Welfare Board of India |
| Small dogs and cats | In a carrier for the whole drive. | Merck Veterinary Manual |
| Bigger dogs | On the back seat, in a harness. | Merck Veterinary Manual |
| Breaks | Every 2 hours, for water and a toilet stop, on a leash. | Merck Veterinary Manual |
| A parked car | Never leave a pet in one: at 22 °C outside, a car can reach 47 °C within an hour. | RSPCA (England and Wales) |
| Pet facilities at highway stops | None listed in NHAI's Humsafar policy, which covers food courts, fuel, EV charging, parking, toilets, baby care rooms, ATMs, vehicle repair and pharmacies. | PIB (MoRTH) |
Is there a law on how a pet travels in a car in India?
No rule says how a pet must ride, but the driving rules and the cruelty law still apply to every trip.
In the transport rules we read, MoRTH's Driving Regulations, 2017 and the Transport of Animals Rules, 1978, nothing says how a pet must ride in a private car: nothing on restraint, crates, the boot or the front seat. We found no rule written for a pet on a two-wheeler either.
The Driving Regulations mention animals once: the driver "shall ensure that his view is not obstructed and his hearing is not impaired by passengers, animals, the load, equipment in the vehicle or by the condition of the vehicle" (regulation 5(6)). The same regulation tells drivers to avoid anything that distracts them, and says the driver of a motorcycle or three-wheeler "shall at all times hold the handle bar with both hands" except when signalling (regulation 5(17)). The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 adds that no driver shall allow anyone "to place anything in such a manner or position as to hamper the driver in his control of the vehicle" (section 125).
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 makes everyone in charge of an animal responsible for its well-being (section 3). Carrying an animal "whether in or upon any vehicle or not" in a way that causes it unnecessary pain or suffering is cruelty (section 11(1)(d)), as is confining it in a cage too small to move in reasonably (11(1)(e)) or not giving it enough food, drink or shelter (11(1)(h)). A first offence carries a fine of Rs 10 to Rs 50; another within three years, up to Rs 100 or three months in prison, or both.
Do you need a permit or papers to drive your pet into another state?
We found no routine permit for a family's pet at a state border. The exception is a disease outbreak, so carry your pet's rabies vaccination certificate on every interstate drive.
You may have read
You need a permit to drive your dog or cat across a state border.
Myth
What the sources say
We found no Indian rule that makes a family take a permit to cross a state border with its pet. The exception is an outbreak: the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009 names dogs and cats and lists rabies, and lets a state declare a "controlled area" where animals of that species may not be moved in or out, with check posts to enforce it. We have not checked state gazettes for areas closed today. PRS Legislative Research (copy of Act No. 27 of 2009); India Code copy would not open
You may have read
A rabies shot the week before the trip will get your pet through a closed area.
Myth
What the sources say
The 2009 Act lets an animal move out of or into a controlled area with a certificate of vaccination against that disease, but only once at least 21 days have passed since the vaccine. PRS Legislative Research (copy of Act No. 27 of 2009); India Code copy would not open
You may have read
No papers are ever needed for a pet in your own car.
Myth
What the sources say
No official source settles it. The Transport of Animals Rules, 1978 cover dogs and cats carried "by rail, road" and other routes and ask for a vet's fitness certificate from an examination no more than 12 hours before departure, but they are written for consignments handed to a carrier, and their only rule for short road trips names a "public vehicle". AWBI's 2025 handbooks for police and vets describe the certificate as required for dogs and cats moved by road, without an exception for owners. Whatever the answer, the rabies vaccination certificate is on Merck's list of travel papers. Animal Welfare Board of India
How should a dog or cat ride in the car?
Restrained: small pets in a carrier, bigger dogs on the back seat in a harness. RSPCA Australia says more research is needed on the safest way, but a restrained dog is less likely to distract the driver, be thrown about when you brake hard, or jump out of a window.
Do
- Keep small dogs and cats in a carrier for the whole drive. Merck Veterinary Manual
- For a cat, use a strong carrier that is easy to clean, not cardboard or light plastic except for very short trips, in the footwell behind a front seat or belted onto the back seat, one cat to a carrier. International Cat Care
- Put bigger dogs on the back seat, in a harness. Merck Veterinary Manual
- Choose a harness that has passed a car safety or crash test: one made for walking may not be safe in a car. RSPCA Australia
- If you use a crate, secure it, keep it ventilated, and make it big enough for the dog to stand with its head up, turn around and lie down. RSPCA Australia
Don’t
- Don't put a cat in the boot: ventilation may be poor and it may overheat. International Cat Care
- Don't rely on a cargo barrier alone. RSPCA Australia allows a dog behind one in a hatchback or estate, but it and PDSA say a barrier protects the people in the car, not the dog; RSPCA Australia suggests a harness as well. RSPCA Australia
- Don't let a dog put its head out of the window: dirt in the air can hurt its eyes, and it may try to jump out. Merck Veterinary Manual
How fast does a parked car get too hot?
Within an hour: the RSPCA says that on a 22 °C day a car can reach 47 °C, and that parking in the shade or leaving the windows open is not enough.
47 °C
Inside a parked car within an hour when it is 22 °C outside RSPCA (England and Wales)
+ 22 °C
The average rise above the outside temperature in a US study of a dark car on sunny days of about 22 to 36 °C (Petym's conversion from the study's Fahrenheit) Pediatrics (2005)study
30 minutes
Most of that rise came in the first 30 minutes Pediatrics (2005)study
4 cm
Opening the windows about this much did not slow the rise (Petym's conversion) Pediatrics (2005)study
What should you do if your pet is car sick or overheats?
Car sickness and heat are the two problems most likely on a drive: know the signs, and what to do, before you set off.
If your pet drools, yawns, whines or vomits on the drive
It is probably car sick. Merck lists the signs as nausea, heavy drooling, vomiting, yawning, whining, uneasiness and sometimes diarrhoea. Car sickness comes from the motion itself and from fear of the car, and each makes the other worse. Merck Veterinary Manual
If it is sick on every trip
Short practice rides in the carrier help many pets get used to travel. On food before the drive the sources differ: RSPCA Australia says not to feed a dog for a couple of hours beforehand; International Cat Care says to hold back a cat's food for 4 to 5 hours (other charities say at least 2) but offer water until you leave; and Merck says your vet might suggest a small meal for a car-sick pet. Ask your vet which suits your pet. Merck Veterinary Manual
If you are thinking of giving a travel-sickness tablet
Medicine is your vet's decision, and never give a pet human medicines. Talk to your vet well before the trip. RSPCA Australia
If your pet pants heavily, drools, turns lethargic or collapses in the heat
AWBI lists these, with a fast heartbeat, as the signs of heatstroke. Get your pet out of the heat and start cooling it at once, then go straight to a vet. Animal Welfare Board of India
If you stop on a hot day and your dog wants to run about
Keep play gentle. In UK vet records, more heatstroke came from exercise (74.2% of cases) than from being shut in a car (5.2%). Animals (2020)study
What should you pack for a road trip with a pet?
What your pet needs for the whole trip, its papers, and the numbers you may need on the way.
- A carrier or crate that is big enough, ventilated and secured in the car RSPCA Australia
- Enough bottled water for the whole journey, in case you cannot find safe water on the way RSPCA Australia
- Your pet's usual food for the whole trip, and its bowls
- A leash, and a collar or harness with an ID tag showing your mobile number Merck Veterinary Manual
- The rabies vaccination certificate, and any medicines with their prescriptions Merck Veterinary Manual
- Your vet's number saved in your phone, and the numbers of vets along the route and where you are going PDSA
- Bedding and a favourite toy
- Poo bags, and photos of your pet in case it gets lost
Can you take your pet in an Uber, Ola, Rapido or a bus?
Uber publishes a pet ride and Karnataka's KSRTC a pet rule for its buses; with Ola, Rapido and inDrive it comes down to the driver, or to nothing published that we could find.
Published policy
Uber Pet
Uber's India site offers a ride for one pet, such as a dog or a cat, with up to 3 passengers. It may cost more than other rides, and Uber may add a cleaning fee if the pet leaves waste or hair or causes damage. Availability may vary by location. With a service animal you can book any ride type. Uber (India site)
No policy found
Ola
We found no pet policy from Ola. Its official support account said in April 2024 that there is no restriction on pets, which may ride "at the driver's discretion". Ola Support (@ola_supports, Ola's official support account)
No rules published
Rapido
Rapido's app listing names an "Auto Pet" service, but we found no rules for it from Rapido. Roppen Transportation Services (Rapido), Google Play listing
The driver decides
inDrive
Add your pet's details in the comments of your order before you send it. Each driver then decides whether to accept. inDrive
State bus
KSRTC buses (Karnataka)
Pets may travel only on City, Suburban, Ordinary and Mofussil buses, not on premium services such as Karnataka Vaibhava or Rajahamsa, non-AC sleepers or any air-conditioned bus. Pups and cats pay the child fare, and a dog is charged too, though the page does not say how much. Pets travel in baskets, tied with chains and wearing face masks. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation
Not found
Other state buses
We found no official pet rule from Kerala RTC, BMTC, BEST, DTC, TGSRTC, MSRTC or APSRTC. Ask at the depot before you travel.
Can your dog come into a national park or tiger reserve?
Not at Corbett, in Gujarat's forests including Gir, or in Kerala's parks and reserves. For any other park, check its own rules before you go.
If you are driving to Corbett Tiger Reserve
Pets are strictly prohibited inside the reserve, on a day visit and on a night stay. Corbett Tiger Reserve official portal (framed by corbettonline.uk.gov.in)
If you are going to Gir or another Gujarat forest
Gujarat's Forest Department says firearms and pets are strictly forbidden. Gujarat Forest Department (PCCF & HoFF)
If you are visiting a park or reserve in Kerala
Kerala Tourism's code for visitors to sanctuaries says guests shall not bring pets, "i.e. dogs, cats etc.", inside any park or reserve. This is the tourism department's code, not the Forest Department's. Kerala Tourism (Government of Kerala)
If you are going to Ranthambore, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Bandipur or Nagarhole
We found no pet rule on their official sites, which is not permission. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 does not mention dogs or pets; the bans come from each park's own rules, so check them before you go. MP Forest Department (copy of the Act, pre-2022 text)
If your pet is coming on the trip anyway
Plan where it stays during the safari: a pet-friendly stay nearby (ask whether pets may be left in the room) or boarding before you set off, never a parked car. Home boarding RSPCA (England and Wales)
Going away soon? Tell us your dates.
A checked local sitter feeds, walks and keeps your pet company at home, follows your care sheet to the letter and sends a photo every day. Petym is opening city by city: send your dates and we will tell you when a sitter can take them.
- Meet your sitter first, free
- PAN-checked, first-aid trained
- A photo every day
- Pay through Petym, never cash
Questions owners ask
Can my dog sit in the front seat of the car in India?
- No Indian rule we found addresses it. Merck advises that bigger dogs ride on the back seat in a harness and small pets in a carrier, and the driver must keep their view and hearing clear of animals (MoRTH).
Can I carry my dog on a scooter or motorbike in India?
- We found no rule written for pets on two-wheelers. A rider must hold the handlebar with both hands except when signalling (MoRTH's Driving Regulations, regulation 5(17)), and nothing may be placed so that it hampers the driver's control (Motor Vehicles Act, section 125). The cruelty law applies to any vehicle: carrying an animal in a way that causes it unnecessary pain or suffering is an offence.
How long can a dog travel in a car without a break?
- Merck advises stopping every 2 hours so your pet can drink and relieve itself, with a leash on at every stop.
Is it safe to leave a dog in the car with the windows down?
- No. The RSPCA says a car can reach 47 °C within an hour on a 22 °C day, and a US study found that opening the windows a few centimetres did not slow the rise.
Can I book an Uber for my dog in India?
- Yes, where Uber Pet is available: Uber's India site allows one pet per trip, such as a dog or a cat, with up to 3 passengers. It may cost more than other rides, and Uber may add a cleaning fee if the pet leaves a mess or causes damage.
Can I take my dog on a KSRTC bus?
- In Karnataka, yes, on City, Suburban, Ordinary and Mofussil buses, but not on premium, sleeper or air-conditioned ones. Pups and cats pay the child fare, a dog is charged too, and pets travel in a basket, on a chain and with a face mask.
Is there a helpline if my car breaks down on a national highway with my pet?
- Yes: NHAI's toll-free 1033 works round the clock. It sends a crane for breakdowns and medical help if a passenger falls ill. It does not mention pets, so for your pet, call a vet.
Do I need a permit to drive my dog to another state in India?
- We found no Indian rule that makes a family take a permit. Under the 2009 animal-disease Act, though, a state can close a "controlled area" to animal movement during an outbreak; a vaccinated animal may still move with a certificate showing it was vaccinated against that disease at least 21 days earlier. Carry your pet's rabies vaccination certificate.
Can I take my dog to Corbett, Gir or a Kerala wildlife park?
- No. Corbett Tiger Reserve prohibits pets on day visits and night stays, Gujarat's Forest Department forbids pets in its forests, and Kerala Tourism's code says guests shall not bring dogs or cats into any park or reserve. For other parks, check the park's own rules.
Keep reading
- Moving to another city with a petYour licence, the move itself and housing society rules.
- Dog in train rulesIRCTC booking, coupes and the dog box.
- Heatstroke in dogsThe signs, and cooling a dog down.
- Boarding or taking your dog along
- What to pack for your pet's stay
- Flying with a pet in India
Keep exploring
More ways to travel with a pet
Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources
- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017 (G.S.R. 634(E), as reproduced in Kerala Police circular 15/2018) (opens in a new tab)
- Odisha Motor Vehicles Department (Government of Odisha): Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Chapter VIII (incl. s.125, Obstruction of driver) (opens in a new tab)
- Animal Welfare Board of India: The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, as amended in 1982 (AWBI's copy) (opens in a new tab)
- Animal Welfare Board of India: The Transport of Animals Rules, 1978 (AWBI's copy) (opens in a new tab)
- Animal Welfare Board of India: Handbook for Veterinary Officers on Animal Welfare Laws (27 February 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- Animal Welfare Board of India: Law Enforcement Handbook on Animal Welfare Laws (27 February 2025) (opens in a new tab)
Show all 43 sourcesShow fewer
- PRS Legislative Research (copy of Act No. 27 of 2009); India Code copy would not open: The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009 (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Planning for travel with pets (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Traveling by car with pets (opens in a new tab)
- International Cat Care: Travelling with your cat (opens in a new tab)
- RSPCA Australia: Do I need to restrain my dog when travelling in my car? (opens in a new tab)
- RSPCA Australia: What do I need to know about taking my dog on a road trip with my family? (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Motion sickness in dogs (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Motion sickness in cats (opens in a new tab)
- RSPCA (England and Wales): Dogs die in hot cars (opens in a new tab)
- Animal Welfare Board of India: Request to ensure care and protection of animals from direct heat during extreme hot weather (4 May 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- PDSA: Safe car travel for pets (opens in a new tab)
- PDSA: Car sickness and motion sickness in dogs (opens in a new tab)
- Cats Protection: Travelling with your cat (opens in a new tab)
- SPCA New Zealand: How can I help my dog with car sickness? (opens in a new tab)
- Blue Cross: Car travel with your dog (read in a web-archive copy) (opens in a new tab)
- RSPCA (England and Wales): Taking your pet on holiday (opens in a new tab)
- AVMA: Pet safety in vehicles (read in a web-archive copy) (opens in a new tab)
- AVMA: Warm weather pet safety (read in a web-archive copy) (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: What to do in a dog or cat emergency (opens in a new tab)
- RSPCA (England and Wales): How to recognise and treat heatstroke in dogs (opens in a new tab)
- PDSA: First aid for pets (undated) (opens in a new tab)
- PIB (MoRTH): Humsafar Policy for wayside amenities along National Highways (8 Oct 2024) (opens in a new tab)
- PIB (MoRTH): NHAI Expands 'Dial 1033' Emergency Services for Safety of National Highway Commuters in Chhattisgarh (27 May 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Uber (India site): Uber Pet: Pet-Friendly Rides and How It Works (undated) (opens in a new tab)
- Ola Support (@ola_supports, Ola's official support account): Reply on pets in Ola cabs (21 Apr 2024), read through X's public embed endpoint (opens in a new tab)
- Roppen Transportation Services (Rapido), Google Play listing: Rapido: Bike-Taxi, Auto & Cabs (lists "Auto Pet") (opens in a new tab)
- inDrive: Pet Policy on inDrive (India help) (opens in a new tab)
- Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation: Luggage Transportation And Charges (section 4, Pet Animals) (opens in a new tab)
- Corbett Tiger Reserve official portal (framed by corbettonline.uk.gov.in): Terms of use: day visit and night stay entry rules (© 2024) (opens in a new tab)
- Gujarat Forest Department (PCCF & HoFF): Do's and Don'ts (last updated 9 Apr 2018) (opens in a new tab)
- Kerala Tourism (Government of Kerala): Code of Ethics for Travellers & Tour Operators: pre-departure guidelines for visitors to sanctuaries (opens in a new tab)
- MP Forest Department (copy of the Act, pre-2022 text): The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (opens in a new tab)
- Pediatrics (2005): Heat stress from enclosed vehicles: moderate ambient temperatures cause significant temperature rise (abstract read) (opens in a new tab)
- Animals (2020): Dogs don't die just in hot cars: exertional heat-related illness (opens in a new tab)
- Preventive Veterinary Medicine (2019): Restraint of dogs in vehicles in the US, UK and Australia (abstract read) (opens in a new tab)
- Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (2010): Quantifying the heat-related hazard for children in motor vehicles (abstract read) (opens in a new tab)
- RECOVER Initiative (Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, 2026): RECOVER guidelines: first aid for dogs and cats, clinical guidelines (opens in a new tab)