The latest trend in pet insurance is to insure your pet on your regular auto insurance policy.

Yes, dogs and cats are now covered by most car insurance companies -- at no extra cost to you, the pet owner -- should they be injured in an auto accident!

Well... almost.

While it is true that many car insurance companies will cover vet bills associated with car accidents, there are a few "catches". So, if you're not careful to read the fine print, you could easily get tripped up.

Here are some things to keep in mind when selecting car insurance that covers your pets...

If you drive with your dog unrestrained in your car (which means the dog has the freedom to roam from your lap... to the back seat... front seat... and from window to window) and you live in California, then you may be breaking the law.

That is, if a bill sponsored by Bill Maze in the California state legislature passes. On May 5th, it passed in the California Assembly with a 44-11 vote. The bill now heads to the Senate. The earliest this new law could go into effect is January 1, 2009.

You have a potential major risk of an auto accident when you have a live pet that can be around in your face, in the steering wheel, down on the floor under your feet," Maze said Friday. "Pets have a mind of their own and are unpredictable." Source

I have to say, as much as I have been guilty of doing this in the past, I think driving with lapdogs should be outlawed... and in all states.

If you'll be traveling with your dog -- either locally (out & about running errands), or far away (via an airplane ride or long car ride) -- then you need to take a few precautions. If you don't, then your dog could become separated from you and you'll be up a creek trying to scamper and locate him or her.

These things are simple, and they should be done now so you'll always be prepared in the event of an emergency.

There are a few things that we always have with us any time we are out & about with our dog.

Of course, we take different things, depending on whether we're going for a walk on the leash vs going for a ride in the car.

Here's what we take with us on every dog walk and every car ride...

It happened to me. With a 60 lb. Black Lab at 7 months of age. And the car was moving!

Lately, I've been seeing so many people riding around with their dogs in the car. Some have the windows completely down. Others have the windows partially rolled up, hoping to keep their dog from jumping out.

I'm here to tell you: A dog can fall out of a window that is half-way or even most of the way rolled up!

Here's my story...

Do you have a dog?

Are you in the market for a new vehicle?

Do you have an animal license plate?

To ensure that your next trip with your dog goes smoothly, here are 10 things you'll want to do FIRST.

These travel tips apply whether you're traveling with your dog via car or via airplane.

Happy travels!