Pup my ride: This is how much drivers spend pet proofing their cars

A dog is a man’s best friend, and it seems there’s nothing that car owners won’t do to make sure their furry pals are travelling in style.

This includes spending a massive £6,500 over their dog’s lifetime to make sure their car is pet proof, new research shows.

The average dog owner will fork out up to £500 on pet-related accessories this year along with 69 per cent of drivers admitting to spending this amount on their pampered pooches in only 12 months.

Used car marketplace Motorway’s survey of 2,000 people found that drivers are willing to spend a small fortune on pup-friendly mods.

In fact, 57 per cent of dog owners regularly cough up extra cash for pet-related car expenses.

But perhaps most staggeringly, almost three quarters of dog-owning drivers admit they’ve sold or upgraded their car specifically to better suit their pooch.

Dog-owning motorists spend a massive £6,500 over their dog’s lifetime to make sure their car is pet proof, new research shows

More than four in five pet-owning Britons have gone out of their way to adapt their vehicles to suit their fury companions.

And these adaptations come at a hefty cost. 

So too does the toll that pets take on a vehicle’s condition and resale value.

Despite looking cute, canines are a constant headache for car owners: 35 per cent of drivers have battled fur-covered seats, 34 per cent have attempted to rid their cars of the smell of wet dog, and one in five have had to replace interior features, like seatbelts or upholstery entirely due to pet damage. 

Pets are the top reason people have their cars professionally cleaned (38 per cent) – more than food and drink spills (34 per cent) and messy children (25 per cent). 

The lasting damage from your doggie can impact resale potential too, with nearly one in 10 confessing that they’ve struggled to sell their vehicle due to pet-related damage or lingering odours.

Cute but stopping you cash in? Nearly one in 10 confess that they’ve struggled to sell their vehicle due to pet-related damage or lingering odours

But despite these waggy-tail issues, dog owners wouldn’t have it any other way, with their four-legged passengers ruling the road.

Fifty per cent of drivers confess to keeping the window open the whole journey to keep their dog comfortable, 31 per cent keep their dog’s favourite treats in the glove box, and 39 per cent won’t take their dog anywhere without its own seatbelt or car seat.

Becky Wells, automotive expert at Motorway said: ‘We all love taking our furry friends with us on a road trip, and pet-proofing your car means you won’t have to compromise on comfort or future resale value. 

‘With a few smart fixes, like waterproof covers, odour control, and cost effective scratch protection, you can keep your pup happy and your car fur free.’