Plenty of crates are sold as "travel" or even "crash tested", and very few have been checked by anyone but the company selling them. The best dog travel crate for the car is one that has passed an independent crash test, in your dog's size, strapped down with the kit it was tested with. This page sorts the options into three honest groups so you know exactly what you're buying.
Our verdict. We haven't crash tested or used these crates. For a dog up to about 75 lb, we'd buy the Gunner G1 in a certified size, because the Center for Pet Safety (CPS) rates it 5 stars in Small, Medium and Intermediate. For a bigger dog, we'd pick the Lucky Kennel Large, the only certified crate we found that was tested with a 110 lb dog.
The three kinds of travel crate
Read this before anything else, because the label on the box won't tell you.
- Independently certified (CPS). The Center for Pet Safety is a nonprofit that crash tests pet restraints and says it takes no funding from pet product makers. A crate on its CPS Certified list passed its test in a specific size, with a specific strap kit.
- Brand-tested. The maker paid for or ran its own crash test, sometimes to a real standard. That's worth something, but nobody independent has certified it.
- Not crash tested. Airline kennels, wire crates and soft carriers. Fine for flying, the vet or a hotel room. Don't assume any of them will protect your dog in a crash.
Certification is size by size. A Gunner Large isn't certified just because the Intermediate is. Check your exact size on the CPS list before you buy.
Quick picks
| Badge | Pick | Evidence level |
|---|---|---|
| Top pick | Gunner G1 Kennel | Independently certified (CPS): Small, Medium, Intermediate |
| Best for big dogs | Lucky Duck Lucky Kennel | Independently certified (CPS): Medium, Intermediate, Large |
| Best aluminum | Rock Creek Crates Aluminum Kennel | Independently certified (CPS): Medium 30" only |
| Best for SUV cargo areas | MIM Safe Variocage | Brand-tested |
| Best for flying | Petmate Sky Kennel | Specs only (not crash-tested) |
Gunner G1 Kennel
Best for: dogs up to about 75 lb who ride in the cargo area or back seat.
Evidence level: Independently certified (CPS), Small, Medium and Intermediate sizes. The Large is not certified.
The G1 is the crate most people mean when they say "crash tested". CPS lists the G1 Kennel with Strength Rated Anchor Straps as CPS Certified with a 5 Star rating in three sizes; the Intermediate was tested with a 75 lb dog. In CPS's 2015 crate study, which looked at crates sold with crash claims, the Gunner "did not strike the seatback". Gunner builds it as a double-wall rotomolded shell with stainless pins and backs it with a lifetime warranty.
What we like
- CPS Certified, 5 Star, in three sizes
- Did well in CPS's 2015 crate study
- Double-wall rotomolded shell
- Lifetime warranty (Gunner)
Keep in mind
- The Large size isn't certified; for a dog over 75 lb, look at the Lucky Kennel Large
- Certification covers the crate with Gunner's anchor straps. Use them
- Heavy to lift in and out (the Intermediate weighs 48 lb empty, per Gunner)
- Where to buy: Gunner says gunner.com is its only authorized retailer unless it says otherwise. If you buy on Amazon, check the seller is Gunner, so your warranty is covered
Key specs (interior, Gunner): Small 21.75×14.5×15.5" · Medium 25×18×19.75" · Intermediate 30×18×25"
Lucky Duck Lucky Kennel
Best for: large dogs (up to 110 lb), and owners who want a lighter certified crate.
Evidence level: Independently certified (CPS), Medium, Intermediate and Large sizes.
CPS lists the Lucky Kennel with Lucky Ratchet Strap Kit as CPS Certified with a 5 Star rating in three sizes. The Large was tested with a 110 lb dog, the heaviest test dog we found on any certified crate, and the Medium was certified most recently, in January 2024. It's rotomolded like the Gunner but a bit lighter: Lucky Duck lists the Large at 45 lb, slightly less than a Gunner Intermediate.
What we like
- CPS Certified, 5 Star, including the Large (tested with a 110 lb dog)
- Lighter than the Gunner for its size
- Lifetime warranty (Lucky Duck)
- Paddle latch and integrated tie-downs
Keep in mind
- Certification covers the crate with the Lucky ratchet strap kit
- K9 of Mine notes it can be tight for taller dogs; measure standing height
- A dark crate warms up in a parked car, as any crate does
Key specs (exterior, Lucky Duck): Medium 26×18.75×20", 27 lb · Intermediate 32.5×22.5×24.5", 38 lb · Large 38×24×29", 45 lb
Rock Creek Crates Aluminum Kennel (Medium 30")
Best for: dogs up to 50 lb whose owners want welded aluminum instead of plastic.
Evidence level: Independently certified (CPS), Medium 30" only.
CPS certified the Medium (30") stationary aluminum kennel with strength-rated anchor straps at 5 stars in December 2020, with a 50 lb test dog. Rock Creek is open about the rest of its range: it says the Collapsible crate has not been crash tested, and its larger stationary sizes aren't on the CPS list.
What we like
- Welded aluminum frame
- CPS Certified, 5 Star, in the Medium (30") size
- Rock Creek is upfront about which sizes aren't tested
Keep in mind
- Only the 30" Medium is certified. The 36", 42" and 48" sizes and the Collapsible are not
- On Amazon, the listing we saw linked from a review site was the Collapsible model. Check you're buying the stationary 30" before you order, or buy direct
MIM Safe Variocage
Best for: SUVs and wagons where you want a crate shaped to the cargo area, or two dogs (Double).
Evidence level: Brand-tested. Not CPS certified.
The Variocage is a steel crate with a built-in crumple zone and a rear escape hatch. Its US distributor says it was tested to Swedish and European standards, including a method developed by the Technical Research Institute of Sweden, with a 99 lb dummy in the single crate. That's a serious brand test. But in CPS's own 2015 crate study, the Variocage's front strap "tore through the metal connection point on the crate", even though the dog was kept inside. We'd treat it as a well-engineered brand-tested crate, not an independently certified one.
What we like
- Designed to crumple and absorb energy, by design
- Rear escape hatch
- Double version with a movable divider for two dogs
Keep in mind
- Not on the CPS Certified list, and its strap connection failed in CPS's 2015 study
- K9 of Mine notes paws can slip through the bars
- Steel and heavy; measure your cargo area first
Petmate Sky Kennel
Best for: flying with your dog in the hold, and vet trips. Not a crash-protection crate.
Evidence level: Specs only. Not crash-tested.
The Sky Kennel is the classic airline crate. Petmate says it meets the 2025 IATA Live Animals Regulations, and it comes in six sizes, the largest for very big dogs. It's in this list because "travel kennel" searches mix up flying and driving, and they're different jobs. Airline rules are about containment and ventilation in a plane's hold. They say nothing about a car crash, and the Sky Kennel makes no crash claim. Strapped down in the car it stops a dog from roaming, but don't count on it in a collision.
What we like
- IATA compliant (Petmate), the format most airlines ask for
- Six sizes
- Made in the USA from mostly recycled plastic (Petmate)
Keep in mind
- Not crash-tested. For driving, choose a CPS-certified crate
- Petmate itself says to check with your airline before you fly
- The largest sizes ship by freight
Also CPS certified: the Cabela's GunDog Kennel, in Intermediate (tested November 2022 with a 75 lb dog) and Large (May 2024, 90 lb dog). We couldn't confirm it's sold on Amazon, so it isn't linked here, but it's worth a look for a big dog at Cabela's.
Crash tested dog crates: what to check before you buy
The questions owners ask most come down to these:
- Is my exact size on the CPS list? Look it up on the CPS Certified page. "Crash tested" on a listing isn't the same thing; CPS's 2015 study tested crates that made crash claims, and several did badly.
- Do I have the right straps? Every CPS-certified crate was tested with a named strap kit. Bungee cords or the crate's handle won't do the same job.
- Will it fit my car? Measure the cargo area: width between wheel wells, depth with the seat up, and the height of the hatch opening. Big rotomolded crates often don't fit compact SUVs.
- Can I lift it? A certified crate for a 75 lb dog weighs nearly 50 lb empty. If lifting it into a high cargo area is hard, a dog ramp for the car helps your dog get in.
- Is a harness enough instead? For some dogs, yes. A CPS-certified crash harness is the alternative for the back seat; see our dog car seat guide.
K9 of Mine makes a point worth repeating: most mainstream car carriers aren't designed to protect a dog in a crash. If a product doesn't say which test it passed, assume it hasn't passed one.
Dog crate for car vs. home
A rotomolded or aluminum travel crate makes a fine home crate too, and many dogs settle better in the same crate everywhere. If your dog is a chewer or an escape artist at home, see our heavy duty dog crate guide; the Gunner and Lucky Kennel appear there too. For dogs riding loose on the back seat instead, a back seat cover for large dogs keeps the upholstery clean, but it is not a restraint.
How to choose
Size your dog, then your car
Your dog should be able to stand without ducking, turn around and lie down. For a car crate, a snug fit is better than a roomy one: less space means less movement in a sudden stop. Then check the crate's exterior dimensions against your car.
Pick the evidence level you're comfortable with
- Want independent proof: Gunner, Lucky Kennel or Rock Creek 30", in a certified size.
- Need a shape for an SUV cargo area or two dogs: Variocage, knowing it's brand-tested only.
- Flying: an IATA crate like the Sky Kennel, plus a certified crate or harness for the drive.
Placement
CPS recommends restraints in the back, and the cargo area behind the rear seats is where most of these crates are tested and used. Never put a crate in the front passenger seat.
Heat
Any crate gets hot in a parked car. Never leave your dog in a parked car on a warm day, crate or not.
Comparison table
| Pick | Evidence level | Certified sizes | Material | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gunner G1 | Independently certified (CPS) | S, M, Intermediate (not L) | Double-wall rotomolded | Dogs to ~75 lb |
| Lucky Kennel | Independently certified (CPS) | M, Intermediate, L | Rotomolded | Dogs to 110 lb |
| Rock Creek Aluminum | Independently certified (CPS) | Medium 30" only | Welded aluminum | Dogs to 50 lb |
| MIM Variocage | Brand-tested | None (not CPS listed) | Steel | SUV cargo areas, two dogs |
| Petmate Sky Kennel | Specs only | None (not crash-tested) | Plastic | Flying |
FAQs
What is the safest dog crate for car travel?
A crate on the Center for Pet Safety Certified list, in your dog's exact size, strapped down with its tested strap kit. Today that means the Gunner G1 (S, M, Intermediate), Lucky Kennel (M, Intermediate, L), Rock Creek Aluminum (30" Medium) and Cabela's GunDog Kennel (Intermediate, Large).
Are "crash tested dog crates" on Amazon really crash tested?
Some are, many aren't, and some were tested only by the brand. Check the CPS Certified list. If a listing says "crash tested" but doesn't name a test or a lab, treat it as untested.
Is an airline travel kennel safe in the car?
It stops your dog roaming the car, which helps. But IATA airline rules aren't crash rules, and crates like the Petmate Sky Kennel make no crash claim. For driving, a CPS-certified crate or harness is the safer choice.
Where should a dog crate go in the car?
In the back: the cargo area of an SUV or wagon, or the back seat for small crates, strapped to the car's anchor points. Never in the front seat.
Crate or harness for car travel?
Both can work. A crate keeps your dog contained and away from the seats; a CPS-certified harness works on the back seat and costs less space. Big dogs in big SUVs often do best in a crate.
Check the CPS list for your dog's size, use the straps the crate was tested with, and measure your car before you order. It's a lot of crate to return.
