The day Pepper and I moved to Louisville was stupid hot. My parents helped me load the last few things into my 1986 Mazda in Columbus, Indiana and we were off.

Sweat trickled down my face and chest despite the air conditioning being on full tilt. I was excited about starting my degree program at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, but for the moment I just wanted to get myself and my dog there safely.

As we chugged down I-65 in the searing sun, I glanced over at Pepper. I’d never allowed her in the passenger seat, but with every inch of the back stuffed with stuff, there was nowhere else for her to be. The 13-year-old rescued schnauzer mix sat facing me, panting. No car seat, no harness, no nothing.

I’d communicated with Pepper for weeks and days as I packed for the move. But if there was ever a “Tell me again. Where the hell are we going, and WHY?” expression, she wore it that day.

Dogs riding loose in cars might have been standard practice in 1993, but it wasn’t and still isn’t safe. If special harnesses, car seats or other devices were available then, I didn’t know about them. Pepper and I traveled many miles over our 15 years together and I am grateful we both emerged unscathed.

Today we have travel crates, crash-tested harnesses and awareness, though you still see many pets bouncing around in back seats and truck beds. Wirecutter offers this guide not only to tested top picks but best practices (“Would you let a kid do it?”).