LeaseLoco

Can You Have Dogs in a Lease Car?

  • By Michael McKean
  • 2 min read

Furr sure.

A dog in the passenger seat of a car.

They may be a different species, but dogs enjoy being driven around in cars as much as any other person.

We'll be telling you whether it's possible to do that in a lease car, and also about the key things to consider if you're looking for a pet-capable vehicle.

Paww-fect.

Is It Allowed?

Yes, it's usually perfectly acceptable to transport a pet dog in your car, and even to leave a dog or dogs in the car unattended.

But as we'll soon see, some cars are better for this than others. You probably don't want to be doing it in a Fiat 500.

What's the Catch?

Obviously, dogs can cause a fair bit of mess, which could be a problem . . . because at the end of your contract the leasing company will check that you've returned the car in good condition.

Certain leasing companies may have different understandings of what they deem as acceptable fair wear and tear, but generally, claw marks and dog hairs (and there will be plenty of them) might not count and could see you have to pay some fees.

So before you hand the lease car back at the end of your contract, grab a brush, a hoover, and get cleaning!

Or better yet, prevent the problem before it starts by installing a dog crate for the boot or buying special seat covers. A person signing a contract.

Check Your Contract

But the good (or bad) news is that your contract may give you more or less leeway when it comes to cleaning the car and what kind of leftover mess is deemed 'fair'.

Some leasing companies are stricter than others and will charge you for the tiniest scratch or dog hair. Others may let you off with certain things.

In exceptional cases, your contract might even forbid you from having a dog (or any pet) in the car, but that's rather unusual.

Moral of the story . . . check your contract, no matter how boring it might be.

What Car Body Styles Fit the Pet Lifestyle?

SUVs are the obvious one. Plenty of room, plenty of space.

But you don't have to limit yourself just to those.

People carriers and estate cars can also do the trick. In addition, they might help you save on running costs to boot.

Summary

So you'll be glad to discover that it is perfectly permissible to have your furry friend(s) in the car.

Just remember to clean up afterwards, yes?

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