Pet travel, explained: what do pets need to travel, and do you need insurance?

Having a pet can add an extra layer of complexity to planning a holiday. Do you leave them with family or friends, take them to a kennel or cattery, or bring them with you?

Taking pets on a long-haul flight (though possible) can be tricky, but trips in Europe, and certainly within the UK, are more than doable.

If you’re planning to bring them along for the trip, it’s a good idea to check whether your pet insurance includes cover for travel abroad.

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Do pet insurance policies cover my pet abroad?

A lot of the big pet insurance companies do offer cover for your pet while abroad, although it's often an optional extra that costs more.

For example, all our insurance plans cover your pet for travel to the EU, and Complete Care includes cover for them worldwide. Limits apply.

The level of cover offered by different companies varies massively so you need to check the wording of your chosen providers individually.

Third-party liability is often available for dog travel policies, but this won't cover vet treatment if your pet is sick or injured. Some providers limit their cover to travel within Europe, so make sure you read the terms and conditions of your plan.

If you need pet travel insurance for longer trips abroad, remember that most providers will only cover for a limited time, typically 30-60 days.

Is pet travel insurance a legal requirement?

It's not a legal requirement to have pet insurance if you're taking an animal abroad but it can make life easier and save you money if something does go wrong.

Do travel insurance policies include cover for pets?

We couldn’t find any standard travel insurance policies that offer cover for pets. If you're wondering, "does travel insurance cover pet illness?" it's unlikely. 

But policies do vary so check the small print, or call your provider to find out whether or not a pet can be covered under your policy.

What is the Pet Travel Scheme?

The Pet Travel Scheme is a set of rules that allows you to travel within the EU with your pet dog, cat or ferret without having to spend time in quarantine when you come back to the UK.

Since Brexit in January 2021, the rules for travelling with your pets have changed. The main difference is that you can no longer use a pet passport issued in Great Britain. Instead, you’ll need to get an animal health certificate.

You can get an animal health certificate through your vet, but your pet must also:

• Be microchipped

• Be vaccinated against rabies

• Have treatment for tapeworms and ticks (and have an official certificate to show for it)

You’ll also need an animal health certificate to travel to Northern Ireland, even though it’s part of the UK.

Rules about travel with pets between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the EU may continue to change so it's worth checking what they are when you plan to travel.

You can see the latest guidelines for cats and dogs on the Government's site.

How about travel within the UK?

If your dog becomes unwell and needs to see a vet near where you’re staying, your UK pet insurance should cover this just as they would if you went to your usual vet.

Read your handbook or contact your provider to make sure.

At ManyPets, we include 24/7 online vet access with all our plans so you can get help and advice, wherever you travel to.

There are lots of great dog-friendly destinations in the UK. PetsPyjamas even offers dog-friendly holidays. You can compare hundreds of places to stay around the UK, and even a few locations in Europe, that allow dogs.

There are hotels for everything from beachfront holidays to city mini-breaks and romantic getaways in the country.

Preparing your pet for travel

Dog-friendly holidays are always good fun, especially if you pick the right location.

To summarise, you’ll need: 

• A plan for different types of transportation you’ll use

• A pre-holiday health check

• Pet travel documents

• Pet travel insurance

• Up-to-date vaccinations

We'll cover more in detail below.

Know the rules for taking pets on planes, trains, automobiles (and ferries)

By train

Some companies, like Eurostar, do not allow pets on board, while others, like National Rail, allow up to two pets per passenger, free of charge.

By air

If you choose to fly with a pet, generally it will not be allowed in the cabin with you unless it's an assistance animal (although you are allowed to take your falcon on Qatar, Emirates, Etihad or Royal Jordanian Airlines - the more you know).

To meet the requirements for transporting a pet on a plane, you’ll need a container that is spacious, robust and secure. Check out the IATA (International Air Transport Association)'s Animal Regulations.

By ferry

Several ferry companies (Stena Line, P&O, Wightlink) allow dogs on board but few allow cats (P&O does allow them) or ferrets. On most ferries, you’ll be allowed to leave your dog locked in your car or in an onboard kennel if one is available. Usually, there’s an extra cost involved.

It’s important to familiarise yourself with each company’s rules before booking.

By car

Our article on driving with your dog can help here. But if you choose to travel by car, please make sure you comply with Rule 57 in the Highway Code which says:

"When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars."

This prevents distraction and injury, and you can face a fine of up to £5,000 and a potential careless driving charge if you don't do it.

Do you have everything on your travel checklist?

Travel can get stressful, but a good travel checklist helps. Make sure you pack practical things like:

• Familiar toys and blankets

• First-aid kit

• Food and water (enough for the journey and potential delays)

• Hygiene stuff, like waste bags and wipes

• ID tags

• Litter box and litter (if travelling with a cat)

• Medication

• Pet-friendly sunscreen

• Rabies certificate

• Seatbelt harness for car travel

• Tapeworm medication (if applicable)

• Travel-friendly bowls

• Vaccination records

Preparing helps reduce travel anxiety, and having what you need for each travel stage.

Help make travel tolerable

A new environment, even if it's temporary, can be stressful for pets. In fact, some breeds are better suited to travel than others, so you really need to consider what to do to make it comfortable for your pet specifically.

To make travel more tolerable, you can buy a pheromone spray that will soothe your pet, put familiar things in their container, such as favourite toys and maintain their routine as much as possible.

If travelling by car, feed your pet and have toilet breaks at the same time as you would at home. If you have a cat, carry a litter box with you.

You can buy safe booster seats for dogs, and it may be worth considering a backseat barrier to ensure your pooch won’t hop over to the front seat while you're driving.

And don’t forget to pack things like your pet’s bed, blanket, toys or a scratch post. Putting these things in your temporary accommodation will relieve the stress of being somewhere new.

Here are some other top tips:

Acclimatise them

Get your dog used to car journeys and being away from home before your trip. This helps them mentally prepare.

Comfort stops

Emphasise regular food, toilet and water breaks to keep pets feeling fresh and happy.

Manage motion sickness

Try not to feed your pet right before travel, ensure good ventilation and take vet-prescribed medication if needed.

Manage the temperature

Keep your car cool but safe. Never leave your cat or dog in a hot car on their own. Our article on helping dogs in hot weather can provide further tips.

Use safe restraints

Research and test numerous safe restraints for cars, like crates or harnesses. Never put your dog in the front seat as the airbags aren't designed for them.

Know what vaccines your pet needs to travel

Pet travel vaccination is essential. Make sure your cat's vaccines and dog's regular vaccines are up to date and, if you’re going abroad, it will need a rabies jab or booster, otherwise you risk having it detained in quarantine for up to four months.

You have to wait 21 days after you’ve had your pet vaccinated against rabies before you’re allowed to travel.

Your pet might need additional vaccines depending on where you're going. Talk to your vet and find out what animal illnesses are common in the countries you’re planning to visit and whether you’ll need to vaccinate your pet against them.

Know the documents needed for pets to travel

This is a really important point, and it's difficult for us to comment on everything here since things change quickly.

We recommend looking at the UK Government website for up-to-date information. This will answer key questions like "do pets need a passport to travel?"

Check if your pet be allowed to share your accommodation

Check that your hotel allows pets to stay with their pet parents. Luckily, an increasing number of hotels allow pets. They are likely to charge more but they should have more pet-friendly areas.

Be prepared for emergencies

Now, we know going on holiday is good fun, but you do need to prepare for emergencies, too.

This shouldn't take too long, but we recommend:

• Assembling a travel first-aid kit. Our article on how to make an emergency first-aid kit for your cat can help here, which applies to dogs.

• Getting a check-up beforehand with your vet and making sure your pet is all good to travel.

• Identifying local veterinary clinics at your holiday destination.

What if you're leaving your pet behind in safe care? What do you need to do?

Not all of us take our pets with us on holiday, and that's okay. But we do make sure they're well looked after while we're gone.

We recommend trying:

• Catteries or kennels

• Friends and family

• Professional pet sitters with good reviews (in-home or boarding at their house)

For catteries, kennels and pet sitters, make sure they're licensed and have the right insurance (public liability insurance and employers liability insurance), good reviews and strong references.

Professional pet sitters will need DBS checks, too. Organisations like the National Association of Registered Pet Sitters (NARPS) can find registered pet sitters for you. You might benefit from a good pet minder, like those on TrustedHousesitters.

Next, you should prepare your pet for the visit with trial stays. Don't just drop them off and hope for the best. Leave detailed instructions about their routine, eating schedules, medication and always share a vet and emergency contact. We recommend bringing some familiar items with them, too, preferably things that smell of home.

You'll likely need more specialised care if your dog struggles with severe separation anxiety, and we recommend chatting with your vet about this, particularly if your pet is facing behavioural issues.

And finally: pick somewhere you like!

The sooner you plan for all the above the more likely you are to have a memorable holiday with your pet.

Looking for ideas or fancy a staycation? Our article on the best dog-friendly hikes in the UK can get things started.

Should you get pet travel insurance? 

So, while it’s your decision, we do think pet travel insurance is necessary. But it’s up to you to evaluate your pet’s needs, the risk with your travel and whether dog holiday insurance works for you. 

As ever, our pet insurance helps with up to £20,000 vet fee cover, unlimited 24/7 vet calls with FirstVet and a host of other ManyPets Perks.

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