The short answer
Put a rubber liner in the boot, where most dogs travel, because hair, mud and water wipe straight off. In the cabin, choose rubber if your dog rides on the back seat or you come back from muddy walks, and carpet if the dog stays in the boot and the cabin mostly sees clean shoes.
Key takeaways
- Rubber is the easiest surface to clean dog hair and mud from.
- If your dog travels in the boot, the boot liner does most of the work.
- Carpet traps hair in its pile and holds on to damp.
- Your boot liner does not have to match your car mats.
- The Highway Code asks for dogs to be suitably restrained in the car, whatever mats you choose.
Where your dog rides decides what you need
- In the boot, behind a guard or in a crate: the boot liner does most of the work.
- On the back seat, in a harness: the rear footwells catch hair and mud as the dog gets in and out.
- On the back seat floor: a rubber rear mat is the practical choice.
Rule 57 of the Highway Code says animals in a vehicle should be suitably restrained, so they cannot distract you while you drive or be hurt, or hurt you, if you stop quickly. It suggests a seat belt harness, a pet carrier, a dog cage or a dog guard.
The boot: rubber wins
Rubber is the easiest boot surface to live with when a dog travels there. Hair does not weave into it, muddy paw prints wipe off, and water from a wet coat stays on the surface instead of soaking into the car's own carpet.
A carpet boot liner still protects the boot underneath, but hair clings to the pile and a wet dog leaves it damp. Carpet or rubber boot liner compares the two in detail.
The cabin: it depends on the walks
If your dog stays in the boot and your shoes are usually clean, carpet mats in the cabin are fine. If you come back from muddy walks, or the dog climbs in through a rear door, rubber footwells save a lot of cleaning.
A common pairing is carpet mats in the cabin with a rubber liner in the boot. For the full comparison, see carpet or rubber car mats.
With a dog in the car, at a glance
| Carpet | Rubber | |
|---|---|---|
| Dog hair | Weaves into the pile | Wipes or rinses off |
| Muddy paws | Leaves marks | Wipes off |
| Wet coat | Soaks in, slow to dry | Stays on the surface |
| Accidents | Hard to clean fully | Rinses clean |
| Look | Tidy | Practical |
Cleaning up after a dog
Rubber
- Lift the liner out and tip out loose hair and dirt, away from the car.
- Rinse with water and a little mild soap, or wipe with a damp cloth.
- Let it dry before refitting.
Carpet
- Drag a rubber glove or a pet hair brush across the pile to gather hair, then vacuum.
- Let mud dry, then brush and vacuum it out rather than rubbing it in while wet.
- Blot accidents quickly, clean with a pet-safe carpet cleaner, then dry the mat fully.
Shop the mats this guide covers
Common questions
What is the best car mat material for dog hair?
Rubber. Hair sits on the surface and wipes or rinses off, while it weaves into carpet.
Do I need a boot liner if my dog travels in the boot?
It is worth having one. It protects the boot carpet from hair, mud and water, and a rubber liner is quick to clean.
Does my dog have to be restrained in the car?
Rule 57 of the Highway Code says animals should be suitably restrained so they cannot distract you or be injured if you stop quickly, for example with a harness, a carrier, a cage or a dog guard.
How do I get dog hair out of carpet car mats?
Drag a rubber glove or a pet hair brush across the pile to gather the hair, then vacuum.
Can I have carpet mats in the cabin and a rubber liner in the boot?
Yes. The boot liner does not have to match the car mats.
How we wrote this guide
This guide gives general advice for dog owners and does not compare brands. The Highway Code reference is to Rule 57.
Questions this guide does not answer? Write to us from the contact page.