Hiring someone to move your dog is a big leap of faith. You're handing a member of the family to someone you've probably never met and trusting them to get it right. The UK has some excellent dog transport companies, but they do very different jobs. Some drive dogs around the UK, some specialise in the Spain run, and some only fly pets overseas.
We've compared 10 well-known pet transport companies in the UK: what they do, where they go and how they carry your dog. We also cover the licences a proper company should hold and how to avoid the scammers who are all over this industry.
| Company | Base | Routes | Animals | Road or air |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pet Transport Services | Aylesford, Kent | UK; fortnightly to France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Portugal | Dogs, cats, small pets | Road |
| The Transpawter | UK & Jávea, Spain | UK ↔ Spain; Portugal, France, Netherlands, Ireland | Dogs, cats | Road |
| 101 Pet Express | Newark, Notts | UK, Ireland & Europe | Dogs (any size), cats, other pets | Road |
| Homeward Bound | Southport, Merseyside | UK, France, Spain, selected EU | Dogs, cats | Road |
| Exec Pets | Chesterfield, Derbyshire | UK, Ireland & 30+ European countries, plus airport pick-ups | Dogs, cats (and their owners) | Road |
| Woods Pet Transport | Reigate, Surrey | UK & Europe | Dogs, cats | Road |
| Animal Couriers | Surrey | UK, Europe & worldwide | Dogs, cats, birds, small pets | Road + air |
| Fetchapet | Essex | Worldwide exports | Dogs, cats | Air |
| PetAir | Wimborne, Dorset (boarding near Windsor) | 300+ destinations worldwide | Dogs, cats | Air |
| Airpets | Heathrow | Imports to UK, exports to 100+ countries | Dogs, cats | Air |
Details taken from each company's website, September 2026. Services change, so always confirm when you enquire.
Road couriers drive your dog door to door in adapted vans with individual crates, air conditioning and regular walks. For Europe they cross by Eurotunnel or ferry, and your dog stays with the driver the whole way. If a trip can be driven in one or two days, road is usually kinder and cheaper. That's especially true for big dogs and snub-nosed breeds, which many airlines restrict.
Pet air transport specialists handle long-haul moves. They book the flight, build or supply an IATA-approved crate, sort the vet paperwork and clear customs. If your dog is flying into the UK as cargo, you must use an agent. Airlines won't let owners clear pets through customs themselves.
Not sure which suits your dog? Our guide on how to travel with a pet walks you through the options.
A family-run courier based in Kent with staff in Spain. It covers the whole UK and runs fortnightly scheduled trips to France, Belgium, Switzerland, western Germany, Spain and Portugal via the Channel Tunnel. The company holds DEFRA Type 2 and DAERA authorisations. Vans are temperature-controlled and satellite-tracked, staff are pet first aid trained, and vet fee cover goes up to £50,000. A good fit if your dates are flexible. Find them here.
A UK–Spain specialist run from Jávea on the Costa Blanca. It does one or two runs a month between the UK and Spain in a custom-built van, and also covers Portugal, France, the Netherlands and Ireland. Drivers are DEFRA certified and you get photo and video updates on the way. Ideal for expats and families moving between the UK and Spain. Popular dates book up fast. Find them here
A family business in Newark with around 30 years of dog-handling experience. It holds DEFRA Type 2 for the UK and Europe and an International Operator Licence, and is TRACES licensed. The vans have their own air conditioning and ventilation that keeps working with the engine off, and it takes dogs of any size. You get live GPS tracking with photos. It works with breeders, rescues and private owners. Find them here
A husband-and-wife team running dedicated vans between the UK, France, Spain and other EU destinations. It is DEFRA registered, with UK and EU approvals. Owners get GPS tracking and WhatsApp photo updates, and many customers book return trips year after year. A friendly, personal service for families splitting time between the UK and the continent. Find them here
Something a bit different: pet and owner transport, one family at a time. Based in Chesterfield and founded by ex-forces driver Darren Brookes, Exec Pets drives dogs and cats door to door in climate-controlled Mercedes Vito vans. Your pet travels solo or with you, never alongside other people's animals. Vans have pet CCTV and temperature monitoring. It covers the UK, Ireland and 30+ European countries, meets pets at UK airports and makes welfare stops every 3–4 hours. It's DEFRA and DAERA approved and EU licensed, and drivers are pet first aid certified. A great option if you don't want to be separated from your dog. Find them here
A Surrey-based courier handily placed for Gatwick, Heathrow, the Channel ports and Eurotunnel. It offers door-to-door transport across the UK and Europe in vans with purpose-built cages, full air conditioning and powered ventilation. It's DEFRA approved, and approved in Ireland by DAFM. Good for flexible, bespoke journeys and airport transfers. Find them here
One of the longest-established names in UK pet transport, and one of the few that does both road and air. It runs scheduled road trips across Europe in its own vehicles and arranges air freight worldwide. It's authorised by both the UK and EU governments, and helps with pet passports, health certificates and boarding. A strong choice for complicated moves, or if you're not sure which you need. Find them here
An Essex-based pet exporter that has flown pets since 2012, with a team bringing 30 years' experience. It is an IPATA member, IATA agent and DEFRA Type 2 authorised, and a recommended shipper for British Airways and Emirates. It builds made-to-measure crates, has an in-house vet service and is run by a qualified animal behaviourist. Destinations include Australia, the USA, Canada, the Middle East and Asia. Find them here
A vet-led pet relocation company headquartered in Dorset, with an overnight boarding facility near Windsor for pets flying from Heathrow. It has more than two decades' experience and over 33,000 pets flown. It flies to 300+ destinations and offers four service levels, all the way up to in-cabin private jet travel. It's an IATA and IPATA member, DEFRA registered and a British Airways preferred partner, with 24/7 vet access. Find them here
Operating since 1966, Airpets is one of Britain's oldest pet shippers. It works out of Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester and runs its own Heathrow animal lounge. It handles imports into the UK and exports to 100+ countries, with vets and trained handlers on staff. It's an IATA and IPATA member. A safe pair of hands for first-time international movers. Find them here
Anyone with a van can call themselves a pet courier. A proper company has to meet strict legal requirements, and the paperwork gets heavier the further they travel.
Any business moving animals more than 65 km needs authorisation from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (part of DEFRA). There are two levels:
A Type 2 company has much more to do behind the scenes. Its vehicles must be inspected and approved. It needs written contingency plans for breakdowns and emergencies, a satellite navigation and tracking system with records kept for three years, and a journey log for trips leaving the UK. For EU journeys the company also registers the trip on the EU's TRACES system.
Since May 2022, vans over 2.5 tonnes carrying animals for hire into the EU also need a standard international operator licence. That means the company must have a qualified transport manager (someone holding a Certificate of Professional Competence) who is responsible for keeping vehicles legal, safe and properly maintained.
What to ask: "Can you send me your DEFRA authorisation number and tell me whether it's Type 1 or Type 2?" For Europe, also ask whether they hold an international operator licence. A genuine company will answer straight away. For air moves, check the company is listed in the IPATA member directory.
This is the part we most want you to read. Pet transport scams are everywhere, and they're getting more convincing.
The numbers are worrying. Santander alone reported almost £160,000 stolen from pet scam victims in the first three months of 2026, and pet scams were the second most common purchase scam after vehicle fraud. Fake transport fees are one of the main tricks. Scammers also copy real companies, using lookalike names and web addresses (a fake "Air-Pets" has impersonated Airpets, for example) and stolen IPATA logos.
If you think you've been scammed, contact your bank straight away and report it to Action Fraud (or Police Scotland).
Comparing pet travel companies in the UK usually means lots of open tabs and no easy way to tell who's legitimate. GetPetGo puts it in one place. You can filter transport providers by your dog's size, travel type (van, ferry or air) and date, then send one enquiry.
👉 Browse verified pet transport services on GetPetGo
Need to sort paperwork first? See our pet travel documentation guide and pet travel cost guide.
It depends on your journey. For UK and European road trips, companies such as Pet Transport Services, 101 Pet Express, The Transpawter, Homeward Bound, Exec Pets and Woods Pet Transport are well-known. For flying pets abroad, air specialists include Fetchapet, PetAir and Airpets. Animal Couriers offers both road and air.
Businesses transporting animals more than 65 km need DEFRA transporter authorisation. Type 1 covers journeys up to 8 hours and Type 2 covers longer ones. Type 2 companies also need approved vehicles, contingency plans, tracking and journey logs.
Companies using vans over 2.5 tonnes to carry animals for hire into the EU need a standard international operator licence. That requires a qualified transport manager with a Certificate of Professional Competence.
Never pay by bank transfer or money transfer services to an unverified company. Check the DEFRA authorisation number or IPATA membership, confirm a real address and Companies House listing, and be wary of surprise fees mid-journey.
For the UK and most of Western Europe, road is usually less stressful and cheaper. Air makes sense for long-haul destinations.
Disclaimer: Company details are based on publicly available information as of September 2026 and may change. GetPetGo is not responsible for third-party services. Always confirm licences, insurance, routes and prices directly with the provider before booking.