Free health calculator
How fast does a parked car heat up?
Faster than most people think, and windows and shade do not fix it.
Why there is no calculator here
There is no calculator on this page on purpose. The only published figures we found are the test above, and a sum that guessed the temperature for any other day or any other car would be made up. The advice is the same at any temperature: never leave a dog in a parked car.
General information, not veterinary advice
This is arithmetic from published sources. Speak with your vet about your own pet.
The short answer
The RSPCA says a dog can die in a hot car in as little as six minutes, that the inside of a car can reach more than double the outside temperature, and that parking in the shade or leaving the windows open does not really help.
If you see a dog in distress in a car, act now.
Note the registration and where the car is, then call your state RSPCA or the police. Ask nearby centre management to page the owner. Do not break into the car yourself: the RSPCA notes that it is illegal to damage someone's vehicle.
| Time in the car | Temperature inside |
|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 44 degrees |
| 20 minutes | 60.2 degrees |
RSPCA Western Australia also reports that a body temperature of 43 degrees causes irreversible brain damage.
What it leaves out
- It is one test on one day, in one state. Cars, colours, glass and sun differ.
- It does not cover state laws. The penalties and powers differ by state, and our sources confirm only the Western Australian figures, which are not repeated here.
Sources
- RSPCA Australia. Keeping your pet safe during the heat, rspca.org.au, read 5 October 2026.
- RSPCA Western Australia. Dogs in hot cars, rspcawa.org.au, read 5 October 2026. The temperature test, brain damage figure and what to do.
Questions
For the days you cannot take your dog with you, there is a safer option.
Find a daycare or walker so your dog is not left in the car.