There’s nothing quite like enjoying a drive with your friends and family. But a trip to the local café or beach with your dog is one of life’s best simple pleasures.
While farmers have transported their dogs in the backs of utes for decades, the rise of the pick-up truck as Australia’s favourite car has led some drivers to carry their canines in the back of the ute as they travel to and from everyday destinations.
Is it legal to have a dog in the back of a ute?
Yes, across all Australian states and territories, it’s legal to carry a dog in the back of an open ute tray, provided the furry canine is in a cage or is restrained.
According to the global animal welfare charity RSPCA, the restraint must be a “properly fitted harness that is suitable for car restraint”, as a collar could potentially tighten around the neck and cause damage to the animal.
“The tether must be long enough to allow the dog to stand, sit and and lie down, but short enough to prevent the dog from reaching the sides of the vehicle with any part of their body or jumping or falling over the edge of the vehicle,” the RSPCA advises.
RSPCA Australia told Drive that if a dog owner opts for a transport crate, the cage must be “appropriately 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.”
Additionally, depending on where you live, drivers must adhere to a specific set of rules while travelling with their dog in a ute.
For example, in Victoria, the Department of Agriculture states it is illegal to carry a dog on a metal tray or trailer if the outside temperature is at or above 28 degrees Celsius “without the dog having access to an area of insulation material protecting the dog from contact with the metal surface”.
It’s worth noting that some states, such as Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia, exempt guide and livestock dogs from the law.
What are the fines for driving with an unrestrained dog?
In Victoria, failing to restrain a dog in the back of a ute carries a maximum fine of 10 penalty units, valued at $1975 in 2025.
For NSW residents, unrestrained dogs in the back of a moving vehicle on a public road can lead to a maximum of 50 penalty units ($5500) or six months' imprisonment for individual offenders. Corporations violating NSW animal transport laws can face a $27,500 penalty.
Queenslanders face the highest penalty if they're caught violating Section 33 of the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001, which carries a maximum $9660 fine.
In South Australia, drivers who leave their unrestrained dog in the back of an open ute while travelling can be hit with a $1460 fine.
According to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in Western Australia, non-compliance with animal transport regulations can lead to a fine “ranging from $500 to $750”.
If you're living in Tasmania, the legislation states that an owner “must restrict the dog sufficiently while it is in or on a vehicle”, and failing to abide by the rules can lead to a maximum penalty of $1810.
In the Northern Territory, driving with an unrestrained dog carries a potential fine of $9250.
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.
