Quick answer: the rules for dogs on utes are similar across Australia. A dog on an open ute tray must be restrained or enclosed so it can't fall, jump off or get hurt. A dog box fixed to the tray, or a proper tether and harness, meets the basic rule in most states. The Northern Territory is stricter, and Victoria adds a hot-weather rule for metal trays.
This guide sums up the rules state by state, as the RSPCA Knowledgebase describes them. It is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so always check your state's current rules before you drive.
Dogs on utes: the rules in each state and territory
New South Wales
On a public street, a dog on a vehicle must be restrained or enclosed so it can't fall off or be injured. Exemption: dogs working livestock.
Law: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979
Victoria
A dog on a tray or trailer must be secured so it can't fall or move off, or be injured. There is also a hot-weather rule for metal trays (see below). Exemption: dogs helping move livestock.
Law: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2019
Queensland
A dog on a vehicle tray must be secured so it can't be injured, or fall or move off. Exemption: dogs working livestock.
Law: Animal Care and Protection Act 2001, section 33
South Australia
A dog in an open tray must be enclosed or restrained so it can't fall or escape. Exemptions: accredited assistance dogs, and dogs working stock, including travel to and from the work.
Law: Dog and Cat Management Act 1995, section 45
Western Australia
On a road, the dog must be in a transport crate fixed to the vehicle, or on a tether that lets it stand and lie down but not jump or fall off. The tether must not be attached to a choke chain. Exemption: none listed.
Rule: DPIRD Standards and Guidelines for the Health and Welfare of Dogs in Western Australia, section 6
Tasmania
The person in charge of the dog must restrict it enough to stop it leaving the vehicle, or attacking people or animals outside it. Exemption: none listed.
Law: Dog Control Act 2000, section 16(3)
Australian Capital Territory
The dog must be restrained or enclosed so it can't fall, jump off or be injured. Exemption: dogs working livestock.
Law: Animal Welfare Act 1992
Northern Territory
On a public street, the dog must be inside a passenger compartment and secured. Exemption: none listed.
Law: Animal Protection Act 2018, section 34
Source: RSPCA Knowledgebase, "Is it legal to have unrestrained dogs on ute trays or other open vehicles?", last updated 29 October 2025. Checked by Tools In A Box on 24 October 2026.
The Northern Territory is different
As the RSPCA describes it, the NT law asks for the dog to be in a passenger compartment as well as secured. That may rule out carrying a dog in a box on the tray on public streets. If you live in the NT, check with the NT authorities before you buy a ute dog box for road travel.
Victoria's hot-weather rule for metal trays
Victoria's Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2019 add a heat rule. When it is 28°C or hotter, a dog secured on a metal tray must be able to get onto insulating material, so it isn't standing on hot metal. The same regulations also restrict leaving an animal unattended in a vehicle when it is 28°C or more. Agriculture Victoria explains these rules on its Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations page.
Even outside Victoria, the RSPCA warns that ute trays and other metal surfaces get very hot in the sun and can burn a dog's footpads. Our guide on how to keep your dog cool in a ute dog box covers mats, shade and air flow.
What "restrained or enclosed" means in practice
The RSPCA describes two safe ways to carry a dog on a tray.
A crate or dog box
It should be fixed behind the cab, ventilated, protected from the weather, and big enough for the dog to stand, turn around and lie down. Our ute dog boxes are aluminium boxes with a mesh dog cage, built to bolt onto the tray. See our ute dog box size guide to check the fit for your dog.
A tether
Clip the tether to a harness, not a collar. It should be long enough for the dog to sit and lie down, but too short for it to reach the sides or go over the edge. The RSPCA suggests a swivel at each end, a non-slip surface, and no thin rope or twine.
The RSPCA also says that a car restraint inside the cabin is generally the safest option of all.
Working dogs
Most states have an exemption for dogs that are actively working livestock. It does not cover driving to the shops or down the highway with the dog loose on the back. In South Australia, the exemption also covers travel to and from stock work. Outside that, treat a working dog like any other dog on the tray.
Choosing a dog box that suits the rules
- Fixed to the vehicle: bolt the box to the tray. Our ute canopy sizes guide shows how to measure your tray first.
- Air flow: our dog boxes have a mesh cage and no rubber seal, so air can move through.
- Lockable: each has two whale tail locks, four gas struts and a full-length piano hinge.
- Styles: choose a full dog box with a swinging internal lid, or a part canopy, part dog box that also gives you toolbox space.
Questions people ask
Is it illegal to have a dog in the back of a ute in Australia?
Not in most places, as long as the dog is properly restrained or enclosed. Every state and territory has a rule against carrying a dog loose on an open tray. The NT goes further and, as the RSPCA reads it, asks for the dog to be in a passenger compartment.
Does a dog box count as "enclosed"?
A ventilated box or crate fixed to the vehicle is the kind of enclosure the RSPCA describes, and it is what WA's standards name. Check your own state's wording to be sure.
Can I tie my dog to the tray with its collar?
No. Use a harness. WA's standards specifically say the tether must not be attached to a choke chain, and the RSPCA advises against collars for tethering.
Are farm dogs exempt?
Mostly only while they are actually working livestock. On public roads, between jobs, the normal rules apply in most states.
Have a question about fitting a dog box? Call us on 1300 026 937 or visit our showroom at Unit 13, 340 Hoxton Park Road, Prestons NSW.