Drivers have been issued a warning about expensive repair costs they face for taking a nervous dog in the car.
Vehicle experts at Bristol Street Motors have shared advice to motorists on how to safely drive with their pet and avoid costly charges.
Speaking to Bristol Street Motors, animal behaviourist at Ruffle Snuffle Sarah-Jane White explained: “One of the most common signs of travel-related distress in pets is panting. Panting is a normal behaviour for dogs, but it can be a sign of stress or anxiety in some cases.
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"If your dog is panting excessively, it’s important to take a break and give them a chance to calm down.”
Five common symptoms of travel-related stress in dogs are excessive panting, whining, non-stop barking, pacing, and trying to escape the vehicle.
Here are five ways in which a nervous dog could cost you hundreds in car repair costs.
1. Exterior scratches can cost £80 each to repair
If you have an excitable dog who jumps up the side of your car, you may find some light scratching to your car’s paintwork.
Scratches could affect the car’s resale value, repairing light scratches will cost on average £80 per scratch.
If you have multiple to repair, you could pay out as much as £400 to have the full panel resprayed.
To avoid exterior scratches, it's recommended you keep your dog on a short lead until you’ve opened the car door.
2. Torn or scratched upholstery can cost up to £90 to repair
Your pet’s claws could cause damage to the upholstery on your car seats. This is especially common if you don’t restrain your dog whilst they’re in the car, as they’ll often dig their claws in to steady themselves as the car moves.
Repairing scratched or ripped upholstery costs between £80 and £90 on average, although this does vary depending on the material and the nature of the repair.
Using a pet seatbelt, carrier or cage, or putting your pet in the boot with a dog guard in place, will stop them from slipping and reduce the risk of torn or scratched upholstery.
3. Little accidents can cost £325 per seat to recover
If your pet is a nervous traveller or perhaps they’re not fully toilet trained, they may have an accident while you drive.
For stained upholstery that is beyond repair, recovering your seats may be the only option. On average, this costs around £325 per seat, based on reupholstering using fabric.
It costs even more for leather upholstery (although leather is less prone to staining).
A simple and cost-effective preventative measure is to invest in removable car seat covers, which will protect from this type of damage and make any accidents easier to clean.
4. Nibbles on your car's interior can total over £416
Pets and chewing go hand-in-hand. While most of the time it is confined to their own toys, they can wreak havoc if let loose on your car’s interior.
From chew marks on your steering wheel to nibbles on a seatbelt, much of the damage can be done while you’re driving and unaware.
Gear knobs cost £55 to replace, while a steering wheel repair will cost you £80. If the damage goes further than a slight tear, it costs around £130 to have your steering wheel fully recovered.
If your pup has nibbled through one of your car’s seat belts or chewed the buckle, expect to pay around £151 for a repair. Even a small build-up of sand and dirt within the seat belt buckle can make it stop working.
Ensuring your dog is safely restrained in the car should give them less opportunity to chew the things they shouldn’t while travelling!
5. A buildup of dirt and pet hair will cost you a minimum of £20 for replacement car mats
Ferrying your pets around could lead to a build-up of dog hair in your car, which can cling to soft furnishings and get in the difficult-to-clean nooks and crannies.
Likewise, a muddy walk or beach trip will likely bring unwanted mud and sand into your car.
If dirt is left to build up, it may be easier to replace your car mats rather than attempt to clean them. A basic set of car mats can be picked up for around £20, but it often costs more for a better quality set.
Should your car’s carpets become irreparable, it could set you back hundreds of pounds to replace them. Luckily, regular cleaning and valets should prevent dirt from building up and causing issues.
