With the summer heat and humidity already here, placing the best car cooling fan for dogs in the backseat can make a huge difference for your pet when traveling. 

It will mostly help to circulate the air provided by the car’s air conditioning system.

Why a Hot Car is Dangerous for Dogs

Dogs don’t do well in poor ventilation, and this is especially true in the summer heat.

If your car or van's cooling system isn’t good enough to keep a furry animal cool or isn't designed to ventilate the back of the car as much, you’ll notice the first signs of your dog’s discomfort by his increased panting.

A little longer and your dog's panting will become noticeably heavier, with your pet getting more passive, looking tired and even exhausted.

If the situation goes on much longer, this will likely cause your dog to get sick.

A dog car cooling fan can be an invaluable asset when you're going on many trips with your pet in the vehicle, especially for long car travel.

Below we've picked and ranked some of the best car cooling fans for dogs that we've liked in the past.

Picking the Best Car Cooling Fan for Dogs in Your Car

Picking the best car cooling fan for your dog

Protecting your dogs from the summer heat is important because their bodies are far more prone to heatstroke and other consequences of overheating than ours. 

As all veterinarians warn pet owners, this isn't only about leaving your dog in a car, but any time your pet is staying in an enclosed space with the outside temperatures rising.

A car cooling fan installed in your vehicle's interior must, first of all, be quite small to not obstruct views or limit headroom. 

Second, it must bring in a significant cooling effect to serve its purpose, specifically for the passenger dog (not you). 

Finally, the fan needs to be safe for your pet to make sure that fur or paws cannot get caught in the fan blades.

It's a straightforward process of picking the safe, best dog cooling fan for cars to prevent your pet from overheating, and it can make a huge difference in enhancing your vehicle’s ventilation. 

This becomes doubly important if you regularly take a dog or other pet in the backseat, where the existing cooling system may not adequately provide fresh air.

The Best Car Cooling Fans for Dogs

1Treva 10-inch Rechargeable Portable Fan

This compact fan from 02 Cool is lightweight, portable, and operates 3-ways: by plugging in via AC or DC adapters, using 8 D-Cell batteries, or thru its built-in rechargeable batteries.

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Treva 10 inch Rechargeable Portable Fan Smart...
1,046 Reviews
Treva 10 inch Rechargeable Portable Fan Smart...
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The patented 5 10-inch blades deliver high air volume with 2 powerful speed control for superior air circulation that will make both driver and passenger extremely cool, comfortable, and happy throughout the entire drive.

It’s the perfect cooling solution according to satisfied owners who’ve used it in various ways and in different settings.

It’s also a good air-cooling device to bring and use inside trailers when camping out or hunting. You can also use its bonus feature of a USB power port to charge your devices in case of emergency.

They noted the fact that this huge standalone fan is very well made and both the fan’s motor and blades function smoothly and noiselessly.

This allows dogs to rest and sleep undisturbed even during hot summers.

PROS:

  • Also helpful for emergency situations
  • With 3 operating options: plug-in, D-cell batteries, or built-in rechargeable battery
  • 2-speed control
CONS:

  • Weaker when running on batteries

 

2 AboveTEK DC Electric Car Fan

This is one of the best car cooling fans from AboveTEK that will make a big difference in your travels with your pet. 

It is powered by the car’s battery through a 12-volt cigarette lighter socket and is designed to supplement the existing cooling system of your car.

FiveJoy 360 Degree Rotatable Car Fan - 12V DC...
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The pack comes with 3M brand high-quality adhesive stickers to secure the fan’s base to the dashboard or armrest.

Its powerful 2-speed dual head fans are capable of rotating 360 degrees up or down and right or left for much wider coverage.

The fans allow separate air flow between driver and passenger and help remove annoying cigarette smoke or odor.

These best car cooling fans for dogs also quickly defrost windshields in winter, thereby making driving safer.

You’d definitely be thankful that your car has this cool contraption, especially when you find yourself stuck in heavy traffic or if the car's air conditioning system suddenly breaks down.

Be assured that this pretty little thing brings an amazing amount of wind as many buyers attest. Some buyers were not satisfied with how long the fan lasted, but it does come with a lifetime warranty if you're not satisfied.

PROS:

  • 12-volt power
  • Plugs into the auxiliary port of any vehicle
  • 2 speeds
  • Fans rotate 360° up and down or left and right
CONS:

  • It does come with a lifetime warranty, but some pet owners who contacted the company weren't pleased with the customer service they received

 

3 ATTLOOQ Small Portable Personal Fan

ATTLOOQ has created one of the best car cooling fans for dogs that measures just 7 inches and is solidly constructed. 

This palm-sized fan can be held by hand where it’s easy to point to any direction that needs cooling, with its 3-speed increase and 360° rotatable wide oscillation angle.

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This fan may not have a battery, but it can easily be powered by a 3.9 feet USB cable compatible with any power supply that supports USB including car chargers.

It also has a built-in upgraded brushless motor, enough to support the blades while running at high speed. They even boast of feeling its power even from 10 feet away!

Dog owners found the ATTLOOQ Small Portable Personal Fan to be a really useful device to have when traveling in a car, camping, or hiking with their dogs. Its usefulness extends even to activities done at home or in the office.

It’s the surest and most affordable way to beat the summer heat even when venturing away from the comforts and coolness of home.

PROS:

  • 3-speed options
  • Wide oscillation angle
  • A powerful fan at a compact size
CONS:

  • Doesn't have a battery
  • Limited up and down tilting angle

 

4Mikkin Portable Mini Clip-on Stroller Fan

The Mikkin Portable Car Fan packs a lot of awesome features. 

It has a 13” flexible and bendable hose bracket that supports 360° manual vertical or horizontal flip, and a 3-speed control for adjusting speed and turning off or on. 

You can also use it as a portable power bank to charge your phone, GPS, MP3, or iPod when camping or traveling.

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Mikikin Clip on Small Mini Fan, Portable Usb...
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The clip-on and swivel features of this fan make it a real joy to have in the car. Attaching and detaching it from one spot to another is a breeze.

The Mikkin Portable fan clips to almost any part of the interior, like the edge of the sunroof, the handle, or the sunshade. These features make it work for whichever space in the car needs additional ventilation.

Being one of the best car cooling fans for dogs, this device is very small. This smallness, however, does not speak for its air-moving power, according to buyers.

While relatively undersized compared to most fans, it packs more than enough power to increase ventilation in an area.

This is definitely a great fan to have for you and your dog to make car rides really enjoyable.

PROS:

  • 13” flexible and bendable hose bracket which supports 360° manual vertical or horizontal flip
  • 3 speeds
  • USB cord
  • Can serve as a power bank
CONS:

  • Smaller than most others
  • The flexible neck is too flimsy

 

5 Hopkins Go Gear Oscillating Fan

This one’s actually the most inexpensive item on our list, but that doesn’t make it less effective. In fact, this fan from Go Gear has all the workings of the best car cooling fans for dogs. 

It supports less air-con usage with its constant gust of fresh air that cools the whole vehicle fast.

Go Gear SP570804 12 Volt Oscillating Fan
2,841 Reviews
Go Gear SP570804 12 Volt Oscillating Fan
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It is powered from the car’s battery through any standard 12V auxiliary power outlet or cigarette lighter socket. 

This compact fan oscillates at a 90-degree angle to cover the entire interior of the vehicle.

It can be attached to the dashboard or console using a sturdy clamp. 

Screws are also included should the permanent installation of the fan be desired. 

Buyers find the Hopkins Go Gear Oscillating Fan very useful in augmenting the vehicle’s air-conditioning system because it helps to make the airflow better. 

The cord is a good length, so installing it at the far back spot of the car is not a problem.

Many users say that the fan works great for its size. It moves the breeze really well and has solved issues of kids drenching in sweat or fur kids fussy over the heat

They only wished the fan had more speed options rather than just the on-and-off switch. 

Overall, however, they reckon that for a fan that’s very reasonably priced, sturdy, and highly functional, there’s nothing they could really ask for.

PROS:

  • Most inexpensive car cooling fan on this list
  • Plugs into the auxiliary port of any vehicle
  • Oscillates at a 90-degree angle
CONS:

  • Only one-speed option
  • Quality doesn't seem to reflect the price

 

FAQs on Car Cooling Fans For Dogs

Are cooling fans good for dogs?

Fans are good for dogs because they ensure enough air ventilation, especially in enclosed spaces like a car.

Car fans will be enough to keep your dog cool especially when there's not enough air in the backseat.

However, fans may not be your best bet if the temperature reaches 90° and up. All the fan's going to do is blow hot air around, which may not be safe for your dog.

What temperature is safe for dogs in cars?

Generally, you should never leave an unattended dog inside a car, especially if the engine isn't running.

Depending on the outside temperature, a car's interior can heat up to as much as 20° for the first 10 minutes.

As long as a human (a.k.a. you) is comfortable with the temperature inside the car, that should be safe for your dog, too.

What is the best way to travel with a dog in a car?

The best way to travel with a dog in a car is to bring along several accessories that can help your road trip more enjoyable.

Dog car seats or carriers, harnesses, and seat covers. Also, cooling accessories should not be forgotten, such as portable water bowls and portable car fans.

Best Car Cooling Fans For Dogs – Summary

There are tons of options for car fans for dogs around. If you haven't bought one yet, we strongly recommend you do so!

To summarize, we've listed down 5 portable fans for dogs that you can easily attach inside the car:

  1. Treva 10-inch Rechargeable Portable Fan
  2. AboveTEK DC Electric Car Fan
  3. ATTLOOQ Small Portable Personal Fan
  4. Mikkin Portable Mini Clip-on Stroller Fan
  5. Hopkins Go Gear Oscillating Fan

Trust us, getting a portable rechargeable and portable car fan for dogs is a game changer, especially during those summer road trips!

Not only your Fido will surely thank you for it, but everyone with you in the car.


Disclosure: We may earn affiliate commissions at no cost to you from the links on this page. This did not affect our assessment of products. Read more here and find full disclosure here.

James has been a certified veterinary technician for the last 8 years in Birmingham, UK. After working with many dogs, he's changed his focus to writing, building businesses and researching subjects on canines and products created for dogs.