HOW TO HIRE · PETS · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a pet taxi in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A pet taxi in Ireland costs €20–€80 per journey, typically around €40. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a pet taxi in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers pet taxi work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — pet-Friendly Vehicles — pet taxis are equipped with pet-friendly vehicles that include safety harnesses, crates, and non-slip surfaces.
- How does distance traveled change the price?The distance is worked out before the quote is given. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does type of pet change the price?Each addition is small, but they add up across the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does any additional services provided change the price?It moves the price in both directions depending on the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Flexible Scheduling — pet taxi services typically offer flexible scheduling options, accommodating both pre-arranged and last-minute bookings — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a pet taxi job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO LICENCE OR REGISTER APPLIES TO DOG WALKERS, PET SITTERS OR GROOMERS IN IRELAND. Anyone may trade as one. The protection is insurance and what is written down — and the insurance that matters is not the obvious one.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
CARE, CUSTODY AND CONTROL cover, not just public liability — public liability pays if your dog bites a stranger; care, custody and control is what pays if your dog is injured, lost or killed while in their charge, and plenty of walkers carry only the first; How many dogs are walked at once, and whether yours is walked with strangers' dogs; Whether they are insured to drive your dog in their vehicle, and how it is secured; What happens if your dog is hurt or runs — the plan, and which vet; Keys: who holds one, how it is returned, what happens if it is lost, in writing; Two references from current clients, called not read.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers pet taxi work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — pet-Friendly Vehicles — pet taxis are equipped with pet-friendly vehicles that include safety harnesses, crates, and non-slip surfaces.
A good answer: The distance is worked out before the quote is given. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Each addition is small, but they add up across the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It moves the price in both directions depending on the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Flexible Scheduling — pet taxi services typically offer flexible scheduling options, accommodating both pre-arranged and last-minute bookings — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a pet taxi job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability — specialised Care During Transit — many pet taxi services offer specialised care during transit, including providing water, comfort items, or even medication if needed.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the pet taxi starts, and an itemised invoice after — transporting Pets — pet taxi services primarily focus on safely transporting pets to various locations such as veterinary clinics, grooming salons, or pet daycare facilities.
Getting the quote right
- Distance traveled — the distance is worked out before the quote is given.
- Type of pet — each addition is small, but they add up across the job.
- Any additional services provided — it moves the price in both directions depending on the job.
- Special care or waiting time — it changes both what is used and how long it takes.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: distance traveled — the distance is worked out before the quote is given
- They will not talk about it: type of pet — each addition is small, but they add up across the job
- They will not talk about it: any additional services provided — it moves the price in both directions depending on the job
- A price for the pet taxi before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the pet taxi has begun
What a pet taxi costs: €20–€80 per journey
The figures are for the job, per journey, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Veterinary appointment transport and Grooming service transport each carry their own band. Pet Taxi price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Pet taxis near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstDistance traveled — the distance is worked out before the quote is given — that is what the pet taxi is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneType of pet — each addition is small, but they add up across the job — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfAny additional services provided — it moves the price in both directions depending on the job — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherSpecial care or waiting time — it changes both what is used and how long it takes — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the pet taxi is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, vehicle type — some equipment needs a trained operator as well.
- Transporting Pets
- Pet taxi services primarily focus on safely transporting pets to various locations such as veterinary clinics, grooming salons, or pet daycare facilities.
- specialised Care During Transit
- Many pet taxi services offer specialised care during transit, including providing water, comfort items, or even medication if needed.
- Flexible Scheduling
- Pet taxi services typically offer flexible scheduling options, accommodating both pre-arranged and last-minute bookings.
- Pet-Friendly Vehicles
- Pet taxis are equipped with pet-friendly vehicles that include safety harnesses, crates, and non-slip surfaces.
- Veterinary Appointment Transport
- This service involves transporting pets to and from veterinary clinics for check-ups or treatments.
- Grooming Service Transport
- This variant includes taking pets to grooming salons for bathing, styling, and other grooming needs.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a pet taxi: questions people ask
The cost of a pet taxi service can be influenced by several factors, including the distance traveled, the size and type of pet, and any additional services provided, such as special care or waiting time. Generally, longer distances and larger pets may incur higher fees.
The duration of a pet taxi journey can vary depending on the distance and traffic conditions. On average, short trips may take around 15-30 minutes, while longer journeys could take one hour or more, especially if multiple stops are involved.
Many pet taxi services offer emergency or same-day transport, but availability can vary. It's advisable to contact your chosen service directly to confirm if they can accommodate urgent requests, especially during peak times.
Yes, many pet taxi services offer the option to book multiple jobs, such as transporting your pet to the vet and then to a grooming appointment. This can often result in a more convenient and cost-effective solution.
Pet taxi services usually do not include services such as pet sitting, boarding, or grooming. Their primary focus is on transportation, so if you need additional care or services, it's best to arrange those separately.
NO LICENCE OR REGISTER APPLIES TO DOG WALKERS, PET SITTERS OR GROOMERS IN IRELAND. Anyone may trade as one. The protection is insurance and what is written down — and the insurance that matters is not the obvious one.
MORE GUIDES