I wish I could say that we keep the dogs safety paramount, but we don't. We have a Honda Odyssey minivan. All the seats (except driver and passenger, of course) are removed to make room for all our camping gear. The dogs seats sit side by side on top of plastic bins and Higgins crate was next to his bed so he could go in and out. Mostly he and Pogo share the bigger of the two beds and sleep away the drive time. They can both see out as they're in the middle, right behind us. We stop often for pee breaks.....more for my old bladder than theirs!
Now, when we are home and the minivan is unpacked, they have a whole carpeted floor to run around on! Their beds are there, as well as a favorite knitted afghan and a pee pad, too. Pogo is fine with it and doesn't care if he can see out. Higgins is okay with it too, but would rather be UP so he CAN see out. LOVES to watch the world go by! We started out not letting him up front on our laps. But Donald (who else?) has been caving lately and letting him on his lap so he can stand up and see out the driver's window......
I want to get him one of those wonderful seats, but we really don't/won't have a place to put it....so we're still working on the problem. In the meantime, both dogs LOVE to go, go, go in the car! It is so funny to see them RACE out and jump in the side door!
One of the treats we give them on long trips is a BIG chewy hide to work on when they are awake. Keeps them from getting bored, and we don't feel so guiltly when we grab a snack.....
They are great little travelers!