Buying a crash-tested dog crate for cars means navigating a lot of marketing claims. The Center for Pet Safety (CPS), an independent nonprofit, has run the only U.S. crash-test program for pet crates, and its results give dog owners a concrete standard to shop against. Here is what the verified evidence shows, which models actually earned certification, and how to install any crate so it performs the way it did in testing.
What “Crash Tested” Actually Proves
Most “crash tested” claims on dog crates carry no published proof behind them. The phrase alone is a marketing statement, not a safety certification.
The Center for Pet Safety runs the only independent crate testing program with public results. Certified crates must pass all four criteria.
CPS does not endorse any product. Manufacturers can reference CPS in marketing, but that reference is not an endorsement. The verification lives in the test results, not in a badge on a box.
The testing program dates to a 2015 study, and the organization’s current guidance still points shoppers to that certified list. Before crash-tested dog crates for cars became a common search, CPS was already publishing which crates actually held up.
Verified Crash-Tested Crates and Models
The evidence points to two clear standouts: Gunner crates certified by CPS, and the MIMsafe Variocage line with published test documentation.
Gunner small, medium, and intermediate crates have been crash-tested and certified by CPS when paired with the brand’s strength-rated tie-down straps. That last part matters: the certification applies to the crate and its specific straps together, not the crate alone.
MIMsafe’s Variocage line is marketed as crash-tested for frontal collision, rear-end collision, and rollover. A 2024 PDF from the manufacturer confirms the crates were tested according to the SPCT method at Rise Research Institutes of Sweden AB, using a crash pulse matching ECE Regulation No. 17. The test protocol is available from the manufacturer on request.
The Variocage Compact exists specifically for vehicles with a rear cargo threshold or sill. Its raised front door clears that threshold without needing a special mounting platform.
| Crate Option | Crash-Test Evidence | Key Installation Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gunner (small, medium, intermediate) | CPS-certified at the 2015 program level | Requires Gunner’s strength-rated tie-down straps |
| MIMsafe Variocage (standard line) | Manufacturer-published SPCT testing via Rise Sweden, pulse per ECE R17 | Verified for frontal, rear, and rollover scenarios |
| MIMsafe Variocage Compact | Same SPCT testing standard as the standard line | Raised front door clears rear cargo thresholds |
For those ready to compare the leading certified options side by side, our tested roundup of the best dog crates for cars covers real-world fit, durability, and value across the models worth considering.
How To Install a Crash-Tested Crate Correctly
A certified crate fails its job if installed wrong. CPS’s crate test results show that secure attachment to the vehicle is one of the four evaluated criteria, and manufacturers specify exactly how that attachment works.
- Use the certified straps. A Gunner crate is certified with Gunner’s strength-rated tie-down straps. A different strap or a bungee cord was not part of the test.
- Follow the manufacturer’s tie-down points. Straps go through the designated anchor points on the crate, not around it loosely.
- Call for guidance when a fit question arises. MIMsafe’s own product page says to call its technical support line before installation for professional guidance, tips, and tricks related to assembly and installation. When the manufacturer asks you to call, call.
- Confirm the crate fits the space. A crate that sits proud of the cargo threshold may shift during a collision. That is exactly the problem the Variocage Compact was designed to solve.
What To Check Before Buying Any Crate
Three mistakes explain most unsafe crate purchases. Avoid them and the decision simplifies considerably.
Treating “crash tested” as proof. If the manufacturer cannot name the testing organization or provide the test protocol, the claim is unverified marketing. Mixing crate and strap brands. A crate certified with one strap system has no verified performance with another. Assuming “airline approved” means car-safe. Air-travel crate standards address containment during loading, not collision forces. The retrieved sources explicitly distinguish car-crate testing from these other contexts.
If a model is not CPS-certified, look for verifiable third-party crash-test results before buying. The CPS crate study page, dated July 2015, remains the reference point for what independent testing in this category looks like. When you can’t find documentation, treat the crate as untested and choose accordingly.
References & Sources
- Center for Pet Safety. “Crate Test Results.” Official CPS-certified crate listing and test criteria.