Pet transport services we cover.
Six service tiers, from a $40 local pet taxi run to international relocation. Real 2026 pricing, paperwork handled, vetted operators — pick the tier that fits your trip.
Pet transport pricing is opaque on purpose. Marketplaces and operators advertise teaser rates, then layer on door-to-door fees, expedited timing, weight tiers, and brachycephalic surcharges. We pull real quotes from 17+ operators every month and publish the actual ranges below.
Pick the tier that fits your trip, then submit a quote request to get matched with vetted operators within 24 hours.
Service tiers at a glance
Vetted operators across 6 service tiers
Every operator we send leads to is USDA Class T registered, holds pet bailee insurance, and has verifiable cross-platform reviews. Sponsored placements are clearly labeled.
Local Pet Taxi
Same-day local trips within 25 miles. Insured for in-vehicle incidents. Often used for vet runs and emergency transport.
Cross-Country Ground
Private vehicle transport — best for snub-nosed breeds, anxious flyers, and pet parents who prefer no-fly options.
Flight Nanny
Paid escort flies with your pet in cabin (small dogs only, under 20 lbs total). Lowest-stress air option.
Air Cargo
For larger dogs that can’t fly in cabin. Climate-controlled cargo holds, IATA-compliant crates required. Breed restrictions apply.
International Relocation
Cross-border moves with full customs handling, quarantine documentation, and vet certificate endorsements.
Private Jet Charter
Brachycephalic breeds, multi-pet households, and luxury-priority owners. The only commercial-cargo-banned-breeds option.
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Pricing by service tier
| Service | Distance | Typical 2026 cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local pet taxi | 0–25 mi | $40 – $120 | Vet runs, grooming, daycare drop-offs |
| Regional ground | 25–500 mi | $200 – $800 | Same-state moves, short relocations |
| Cross-country ground | 500–3,000 mi | $1,000 – $2,500 | Long moves, anxious flyers, brachycephalic breeds |
| Flight nanny | any | $500 – $1,500 | Small pets in-cabin, owner not flying |
| Air cargo | any | $379 – $3,500 | Cross-Pacific, time-critical, healthy adult pets |
| International | cross-border | $2,000 – $8,000 | Spain, UK, Germany, Australia, Japan |
| Private jet | any | $5,000 – $25,000+ | Luxury, multi-pet, snub-nosed breeds, concierge |
All prices are quotes pulled May 2026 from 17 vetted operators. Actual quotes vary by route, season, breed, and timing. Try our free calculator for a route-specific estimate.
Each service tier, in detail
1. Local pet taxi — $40–$120
Short-distance rides under 25 miles. The driver picks up your pet at your door, secures them in a crate or harness, and delivers to a vet, groomer, daycare, kennel, or another home. Typical trip is 30–60 minutes door-to-door. Most local pet taxi rides book within 24 hours; same-day available with a $20–$40 surcharge.
Best for: vet appointments, grooming runs, daycare/boarding drop-offs, airport drop-offs, post-surgery rides home. Includes: climate-controlled vehicle, crate or harness restraint, single point of contact, 24-hour booking. Doesn’t include: overnight kenneling, route across state lines (use Regional Ground for that). Read the full pet taxi guide.
2. Regional ground — $200–$800
Same-state or cross-state-border ground transport, 25–500 miles. Typical timeline is same-day to 48 hours depending on the route. Operators handle one-pet private vehicles or shared 3–5 pet routes. Brachycephalic-friendly (no airline ban concerns at this distance).
Best for: moves within or between adjacent states, post-rescue transports, breeders shipping puppies in-state, military PCS short hauls. Includes: climate control, crate, walk + water breaks every 3–4 hours, real-time text updates. Booking lead time: 3–7 days for shared, 1–3 days for private.
3. Cross-country ground — $1,000–$2,500
500–3,000 miles by ground. The most common service tier for full coast-to-coast moves and the only viable option for brachycephalic breeds (bulldogs, pugs, boxers) since most US airlines ban them from cargo. Shared transport runs 4–6 days; private dedicated runs 3–4 days.
Best for: coast-to-coast moves, anxious or elderly pets, post-surgical pets, brachycephalic breeds, multi-pet households. Includes: daily walks, supervised rest stops, in-transit photos, climate-controlled crate compartments. Add-ons: private dedicated vehicle (+$400–$800), express timing (+$200–$600). See full long-distance cost breakdown.
4. Flight nanny — $500–$1,500
A trained handler flies with your pet in-cabin (small dogs, cats, rabbits) or escorts them through cargo handoffs. The handler picks up your pet at your home, navigates airport check-in, monitors them throughout the flight, and delivers door-to-door at the destination. Best for owners who can’t fly themselves but want a human watching the pet through the trip.
Best for: small pets (under 20 lb), owners not traveling, pets with separation anxiety. Includes: handler airfare, in-cabin pet fee, door-to-door delivery on both ends, real-time updates. Doesn’t include: overnight stays at destination (extra $200–$400 if needed). Booking lead time: 7–14 days.
5. Air cargo — $379–$3,500
Pet flies in the climate-controlled hold of a passenger or dedicated cargo flight, in an IATA-compliant crate. Fastest option for cross-Pacific (Hawaii, Asia) and time-critical relocations. Healthy adult pets only — brachycephalic breeds banned from cargo on most US carriers (United, American, Delta, Alaska). Detailed airline-by-airline rules in our airline pet policy guides.
Best for: Hawaii ⇄ mainland, Pacific or Atlantic crossings, military PCS with a deadline. Includes: IATA crate prep, USDA-compliant paperwork, airline cargo booking, transit-hub monitoring (Houston IAH, Cleveland CLE, Schiphol AMS). Restrictions: no brachycephalic, no pets under 8 weeks (16 weeks international), no embargo dates without ground-transport contingency.
6. International relocation — $2,000–$8,000
End-to-end international pet shipping including microchip, rabies vaccination timing, USDA APHIS endorsement, destination customs clearance, and door-to-door delivery on both sides. Required lead time is dictated by the destination country: Spain (60 days minimum), UK (90 days), Australia (180 days for non-Class-1 countries). We handle the full paperwork chain.
Best for: EU, UK, Hawaii, Australia, Japan, Canada relocation. Includes: all paperwork, USDA endorsement, IATA crate, customs handling, two-side door-to-door. Doesn’t include: mandatory quarantine fees (Australia $1,500+, Hawaii $1,000+ for non-Direct-Release pets). See country-specific guides.
7. Private jet — $5,000–$25,000+
Charter or shared private-jet pet transport — Bark Air, K9 Jets, Set Jet model. Pet rides in the cabin with you (or a courier), no cargo handoffs, no breed restrictions, no quarantine for the flight itself. Cross-country one-way for two passengers + pet runs $5,000–$8,500 on shared service; full charter is $20,000–$80,000+.
Best for: snub-nosed breeds (banned from commercial cargo), multi-pet households, time-sensitive C-suite/celebrity moves, pets with severe anxiety. Includes: in-cabin transit, door-to-tarmac transfer, on-board comfort items. Booking lead time: 3–7 days for shared, 1–2 weeks for charter.
Add-on services
| Add-on | Cost | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door delivery | $100 – $300 | Driver picks up + drops off at your address (vs meeting at a designated lot) |
| Expedited / rush timing | $200 – $600 | Priority routing, fewer stops, faster transit (1–2 day reduction) |
| Same-day rush | $300 – $800 | Pickup within 4 hours of booking; subject to driver availability |
| Multi-pet (per additional pet) | $50 – $200 | Same-vehicle, same-trip secondary pet (one slot already booked) |
| Vet-tech accompaniment | $400 – $1,200 | Licensed vet tech in the vehicle for senior, post-op, or critical-care pets |
| Overnight kenneling | $75 – $150 / night | Boarding stop on multi-day routes (instead of in-vehicle overnight) |
| USDA paperwork handling | included international, $150 add-on domestic | CVI prep, APHIS endorsement scheduling, destination customs forms |
| In-cabin escort (small pets) | $300 – $800 | Handler flies with your pet in-cabin instead of cargo (Flight Nanny tier) |
| Pet preparation crate training | $50 – $150 | Pre-trip familiarization session with the actual transit crate |
Pets we transport
- Dogs — all breeds and sizes up to ~150 lb. Brachycephalic breeds restricted to ground or private jet only. Pit bulls have airline + state restrictions on some routes (Miami, Denver, parts of UK).
- Cats — all breeds. Must travel in hard-sided carrier under 15 lb pet weight; larger cats use airline-approved soft carriers. Brachycephalic cats (Persian, Burmese, Himalayan) restricted from cargo on most US carriers.
- Rabbits — transported routinely; require carrier with hay padding and water dispenser. State-specific entry rules for Hawaii (mandatory quarantine 30 days).
- Birds — parrots, parakeets, finches, canaries. Cargo only on most carriers; private jet preferred for exotic species. CITES paperwork for international transport of regulated species.
- Small reptiles — non-venomous snakes, geckos, bearded dragons, turtles under 4 inches (USDA size rule). Climate-controlled handling required; some states ban specific species (consult before booking).
- Ferrets, hamsters, guinea pigs — transported on case-by-case basis; some states (California, Hawaii) ban ferrets entirely.
What we don’t transport
- Livestock (horses, cattle, goats, pigs) — specialized livestock haulers handle these
- Venomous snakes or invertebrates — legal restrictions vary by state, beyond our scope
- Endangered species without proper CITES permits
- Pets under the legal minimum age (8 weeks domestic, 16 weeks international)
- Pets without current rabies vaccination (where required by destination)
- Pets currently sick or recovering from major surgery without veterinary clearance
Where we operate
Domestic ground: all 48 contiguous US states, Washington DC, Alaska (limited routes via Canada).
Domestic air: all 50 states including Hawaii via cargo; routes through Anchorage, Honolulu, San Juan handled by IATA-network operators.
Cross-border North America: Canada (BC, AB, ON, QC most common), Mexico (Tijuana, Guadalajara, Mexico City), Puerto Rico.
International (~30 destinations): Spain, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, UAE, Israel, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, plus EU/EEA states with standardized pet passport rules.
If your destination isn’t listed, ask us — we can usually arrange transport with 30 days lead time.
What every booking includes
- Door-to-door pickup and drop-off (most operators standard; some charge $100–$300 add-on)
- Climate-controlled vehicle or aircraft hold
- Federal-compliant crate or harness restraint
- Walks + water breaks every 3–4 hours on ground transport
- Real-time text updates throughout transit
- Standard pet bailee insurance ($2,500–$10,000 per pet)
- USDA-endorsed paperwork handling on international routes
Pre-transit checklist for owners
The smoother your prep, the calmer the transit. We’ll send you a tailored checklist after booking, but here’s the core:
- Vet visit (10–30 days before pickup): Health certificate (CVI) signed by USDA-accredited vet. Required for interstate ground transport, all air transport, and international.
- Microchip + rabies (international only): Microchip implanted before rabies vaccination, then 21–30 day wait period before entry into EU, UK, Australia, etc.
- Crate familiarization (1–2 weeks before pickup): Place the actual transit crate in your home with treats and bedding so it smells familiar by transit day.
- Reduce food on travel day: Light meal 4–6 hours before pickup; full water until 1 hour before. Reduces motion sickness.
- Pack a transit kit: 2–3 days of food in sealed bag, current vet records (paper copy), favorite blanket or toy, leash, ID tag with your phone number.
Cancellation & rescheduling
- 7+ days before pickup: full refund minus a $50 admin fee
- 3–7 days before: 50% refund (operators have already routed/staffed)
- Under 3 days: typically non-refundable, but reschedulable within 60 days at no extra fee
- Vet emergency cancellation: full refund with vet documentation, any service tier
- Weather / force majeure: automatic 14-day reschedule window, no fees
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