Choosing an animal transporter/pet taxi to get your dog, cat, or other pet to its destination can be mind boggling.  That’s before all the legalities surrounding importing and exporting pets from various countries.

Here we focus primarily on how to check if a pet transporter is the right one for you for transporting pets (companion animals) within the UK.  

What to check before hiring a transporter

Check that the transporter is licensed. Official animal transporters will hold an animal transporter authorisation, issued by the APHA which is part of DEFRA. Any that do not are not operating within the animal welfare in transport guidelines.

There are 3 types of licenses:

Total duration of animal’s journey is less than 8 hours	Type 1
Total duration of animal’s journey is less than 12 hours and entirely within UK	Type 2 – conditional (limiting the journey to 12 hours within UK).  No VAC required
Total duration of animal’s journey is over 8 hours and not entirely within UK	Type 2 – unconditional (any journey length permitted including non-UK travel).  VAC required

If the transporter operates solely within the UK and only transports animals for up to 8 hours, then a Type 1 license should be adequate. The Isle of Man is also allowed, but only where the total journey is within the UK/Isle of Man and doesn’t exceed 8 hours. However, the animal being picked up must have resided at that location for a minimum of 48 hours, and should also spend a minimum of 48 hours at the final destination. No vehicle inspection or contingency plan is required.

Please note that transporters with this license are not permitted to pick up or drop off animals from/to airports, ferry ports or from the Channel Tunnel (ie where the UK part of the journey is onward to or from overseas). In this instance a Type 2 unconditional license would be required.

This also applies to transporters who transport only within the UK for up to 12 hours, in which case a Type 2 conditional license would be needed. No vehicle inspection is required, but they will need a contingency plan. Neither they, or Type 1 holders) are not permitted to pick up animals that are being exported/exported (unless they have resided at that location for a minimum of 48 hours, or in the case of exporting, will be at the drop off location in the UK for 48 hours or more)

If the transporter is going to be transporting pets within the UK that have entered from outside of the UK, or indeed who will be exiting the UK for part of the whole journey, then a Type 2 unconditional license would be required. This is the only license that allows transporters of animals that are being exported or imported to the UK as part of a journey as it’s possible the entire journey (from original pick up to final destination) would be more than 12 hours. They are also permitted to transport animals outside of the UK. The authorisation must have been issued by the relevant competent authority in either Great Britain, Northern Ireland, The Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. provided they have the necessary additional requirements for outside of the UK which we won’t go into here.

How to check if a pet transporter has a license

You can check all transporters who have a Type 2 license here. If they have a type 1 license you will need to contact the APHA for confirmation. It’s always a good idea to ask them for a copy of their license before going any further. Check that it allows them to transport the type of animal in question. If they refuse or cannot provide it then consider that to be a red flag.

Who needs a license? 

Anyone who transports a pet (or animal) by air, road, rail or sea over 65km, and within the UK MUST hold an animal transporter authorisation, or as part of an economic activity (this could be for less than 65km).

An ‘economic activity’ is when you provide a product or service for a commercial purpose (for example, in exchange for money). It also includes anyone transporting dogs or cats commercially under the pet travel rules. This includes: 

• transporters
• livestock and equine hauliers
• farmers
• traders
• assembly centres
• slaughterhouses
• commercial pet breeders and rescue organisations
• pet couriers and taxis (including where pets are accompanied by their owner)
• zoos and leisure parks
• professional horse riders

A ‘journey’ begins at the place of departure and ends at the place of destination. It includes all stops, and any instances where animals are loaded, unloaded, or rested.

Animal transporters’ obligations

All transporters must follow strict guidelines as laid out by the guidelines. It states that when transporting any animals, the transporter must:

• plan the journey properly and keep it as short as possible
• make sure the animals are fit to travel
• check the animals during the journey to make sure you meet their needs for water, feed and rest
• use a vehicle which is designed and constructed to avoid injury and suffering
• maintain and operate the vehicle to avoid injury and suffering
• use loading and unloading facilities which are designed and constructed to avoid injury and suffering
• maintain and operate loading and unloading facilities to avoid injury and suffering
• make sure anyone handling the animals is trained in the task
• give the animals enough floor space and height

The animal transporter must not transport animals in a way that is likely to cause injury or unnecessary suffering to them.

They must look after the animals’ welfare during extreme weather conditions. Read the guidance on how to care for animals in severe hot or cold weather, floods or drought.

A pet transporter must complete an animal transport certificate for the entire journey. The transporter should retain the certificate for 6 months. The certificate must be available on request. It should record:

• origin and ownership
• place of departure
• date and time of departure
• intended place of destination
• expected duration of the intended journey

For more extensive information about transporting dogs and cats and what the transporter must adhere to, please download the PDF from the APHA.

If you would like to use our pet transport service please see here for more information.