Pet travel costs have a habit of surprising people. Not always in one direction — sometimes the total is lower than expected. More often, it's higher. And almost always, it's more varied than people expect.
The cost of travelling with a pet depends on so many variables — the type of transport, your pet's size, the destination, whether you're doing the paperwork yourself or using a specialist, which airline you're on, whether it's a domestic hop or an intercontinental relocation — that any single number is nearly meaningless.
What's more useful is a clear breakdown of each cost category, realistic price ranges for different journey types, and a sense of what drives costs up or down so you can plan and budget accurately.
That's what this guide provides.
Still deciding which type of travel is right for your pet? Cost is one part of the decision. For the full framework — including stress levels, suitability by pet type, and decision guide — see: How to Travel with a Pet: Choosing the Best Option for Dogs & Cats.
Pet travel costs fall into four broad categories:
1. Transport costs — the fee charged by the airline, courier, ferry, or transport company to carry your pet.
2. Documentation costs — health certificates, government endorsements, titre tests, import permits. These are non-optional for international travel and add up more than people expect.
3. Equipment costs — the carrier or crate your pet travels in. A one-time cost, but not a trivial one for larger animals.
4. Ancillary costs — accommodation for overnight stops, pet-friendly hotel supplements, quarantine fees, vet appointments.
Each of these is broken down below by journey type.
Cabin pet travel is available for small pets (typically under 8kg combined with carrier) on full-service European airlines. Budget carriers (Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air) do not accept pets.
Airline pet fee (intra-European routes):
Airline pet fee (long-haul):
Soft-sided carrier cost: £25–£120 / €30–€140 depending on quality and size
Documentation for international cabin travel:
Total realistic budget for a short intra-European cabin flight:
£250–£550 / €290–€640 (pet fee + carrier + documentation)
For domestic flights within the same country:
Pet fee only, typically £30–£80 / €35–€90. No health certificate required.
Hold cargo is required for pets over cabin size limits, and for all pets entering the UK by air.
Airline hold cargo fee (intra-European):
Varies significantly by airline, crate weight, and pet size.
IATA-approved crate cost:
Documentation:
Same as cabin travel: £180–£380 / €210–€440 combined
Total realistic budget for hold cargo on an intra-European route:
£380–£1,000+ / €440–€1,150+ depending on dog size and airline
For intercontinental hold cargo / managed air cargo:
This is where costs increase substantially. For a UK-to-Australia relocation using a specialist service:
Total realistic budget for a managed intercontinental relocation:
£3,000–£8,000+ / €3,500–€9,300+ for a single animal to a complex destination like Australia or Japan
For domestic journeys and shorter international routes, driving yourself is often the most cost-effective option.
Fuel costs:
Approximately €0.12–€0.20 per km in an average car. A London-to-south-of-France drive (roughly 1,400km) costs around £140–£200 / €165–€230 in fuel.
Tolls:
Significant on French and Spanish motorways. London to Barcelona via toll roads: approximately £60–£90 / €70–€105 in tolls.
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle (Folkestone to Calais):
Car + pet: from £50 single / €58 one-way in off-peak periods to £150+ / €175+ in peak summer. Pets travel free in the car.
Ferry crossings:
Pet-friendly accommodation (if overnight stop):
£60–£150 / €70–€175 per night for a pet-friendly hotel or B&B. Add a pet supplement of £10–£25 / €12–€30 per night at many properties.
Documentation for international road travel:
Same as above: £180–£380 / €210–€440
Total for a London-to-south-of-France drive over two days:
Roughly £350–£600 / €410–€700 all in (fuel, Eurotunnel, one overnight stop, documentation)
Short domestic transfer / pet taxi:
£25–£80 / €30–€90
Medium domestic courier (e.g. London to Edinburgh):
£100–£300 / €115–€350 per animal
European shared van service:
Dedicated (sole-use) European van:
2–3× the shared service rate. For a UK-to-Spain sole-use booking: £1,000–£2,500+ / €1,150–€2,900+
Full international relocation service (end-to-end):
£1,500–£5,000+ / €1,750–€5,800+ depending on destination and complexity. This typically includes documentation management, vet liaison, import permit coordination, transport, and destination-side liaison.
Documentation is an unavoidable fixed cost for international travel that many people underestimate.
| Document | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Microchipping (if needed) | £20–£60 / €25–€70 |
| Rabies vaccination | £30–£80 / €35–€90 |
| Rabies titre test (blood draw + lab) | £80–£200 / €90–€230 |
| Veterinary health certificate (Official Vet) | £150–£300 / €175–€350 |
| Government endorsement (UK: APHA) | £30–£80 / €35–€90 |
| EU Pet Passport (one-time, EU residents only) | £20–£60 / €25–€70 |
| Import permit (Australia, Japan, Singapore etc.) | £50–£200 / €60–€230 |
| Australian mandatory quarantine | AUD $2,000–$4,000 |
| Tapeworm treatment (for UK entry) | £15–£40 / €18–€47 (vet fee) |
For most intra-European journeys, documentation costs run £180–£380 / €210–€440 per trip. For complex international relocations, documentation alone can reach £500–£1,000+ / €580–€1,150+.
This is the section people don't think about until it's too late.
Wrong health certificate timing: Missed the 10-day validity window. New appointment: £150–£300 / €175–€350. New endorsement: £30–£80 / €35–€90. Possible flight change: £50–£300 / €60–€350.
Failed titre test: Re-vaccination and retest. Delays to the journey by months, with all accommodation and logistics costs that implies.
Pet refused entry at border: Emergency kennel or quarantine at destination port while documentation is resolved. Costs vary wildly — from £100 / €115 for a brief hold to thousands for extended stays.
Booking a budget airline that doesn't accept pets: Rebooking onto a pet-friendly carrier, often at late-booking prices: £100–£500+ / €115–€580+ over the original fare.
Using a non-IATA-compliant crate: Rejected at the cargo terminal. Emergency crate purchase at the airport: 2–3× normal retail price.
The upfront investment in getting it right the first time is almost always cheaper than the cost of fixing it after something goes wrong.
One of the challenges of budgeting for pet travel is that pricing from individual providers is scattered and hard to compare. Get Pet Go brings together verified pet transport services with transparent pricing, so you can compare actual quotes for your specific route, pet size, and travel type without contacting a dozen providers individually.
Search by pet size, transport type, and date to see what services are available — and what they cost — for your journey.
👉 Compare pet transport costs on Get Pet Go
Cabin pet fees on European airlines typically range from €35–€125 per one-way journey. Add the cost of a compliant soft-sided carrier (£25–£120) and documentation for international travel (£180–£380) and the total for a short intra-European cabin flight runs roughly £250–£550.
Budget £3,000–£8,000+ for a single animal, including a specialist relocation service, air freight costs, documentation (health certificate, titre test, government endorsements), and the mandatory 10-day quarantine at AUD $2,000–$4,000.
For medium European distances, a shared van service is often comparable to hold cargo on a commercial airline and sometimes cheaper when all costs are factored in (hold fees, IATA crate, documentation, terminal transfers). For short domestic journeys, driving yourself is almost always the most affordable option.
Yes. A health certificate is single-use and must be issued freshly for each international journey. At £150–£300 / €175–€350 per certificate plus endorsement costs, this is a recurring expense for frequent international pet travellers.
All prices are approximate and reflect general market rates as of 2026. Costs vary by provider, route, season, and individual circumstances. Always obtain quotes directly from providers and verify current fees with airlines and government authorities before travel.
Last updated: 2026