How Much Does Professional Pet Transport Cost in 2026?
The honest answer: it depends. But after running pet transports since 2020, the patterns are clear. Here's what actually drives the cost, typical ranges for common routes, and the hidden fees to watch for.
The four things that actually drive cost
After running hundreds of pet transports, I can tell you the price is almost always a function of these four variables:
- Distance. Fuel, tolls, and driver time scale with kilometers driven. A 4-hour same-day round trip is fundamentally different from a 17-hour two-day haul.
- Number of pets.Two puppies from the same litter is similar to one because they're going to the same place. Two pets to two different drop-offs changes the route and the price.
- Border crossings. Cross-border trips need more coordination (customs brokers, paperwork verification, timing at the border) so they carry more operational overhead than domestic trips.
- Timing.A trip booked three weeks out is smoother and cheaper than a trip booked for this weekend. Last-minute bookings sometimes carry premium pricing if we're rearranging existing trips.
Typical ranges by trip type
These are ballpark numbers for the kinds of trips we run most often. Every quote is custom, but this gives you a sense of what's realistic.
- Short regional (under 4 hours one-way): typically $400 to $700 CAD. Examples: Fredericton to Bangor or Hamilton to Buffalo.
- Mid-distance cross-border (6 to 10 hours): typically $800 to $1,400 CAD. Examples: Moncton to Boston or Toronto to New York.
- Long-haul inter-Canada (15 to 18 hours, two-day trip): typically $1,500 to $2,500 CAD. Examples: Fredericton to Toronto or Halifax to Toronto.
- Airport pickup only: typically $200 to $500 CAD depending on the airport and final drop-off.
What's included in the transport fee
- Dedicated vehicle for the entire trip (only your pets in the van)
- Driver time, including overnight stays on multi-day trips
- Fuel, tolls, and vehicle wear
- In-transit updates, photos, and location check-ins
- Water, breaks, walks, and basic care during the trip
- Pickup at the breeder or shelter and drop-off at your front door
What's NOT included
- Customs broker fees for cross-border trips. Running Red charges $150 CAD + HST on the declared animal value for Canadian-side clearance. OmegaCHB charges $250 USD flat for US-side clearance. You're billed by the broker directly.
- Veterinary costs. Health certificates, last-minute re-shots, or emergency care during the trip are your responsibility.
- Government fees. CDC Dog Import Form is free to file, but other import/export permits may carry small fees.
- Air cargo fees. When we coordinate CargoJet flights from Hamilton or Moncton, the airline cargo fee is separate from our transport fee.
Why $200 non-refundable deposit?
The deposit secures your date and reserves the vehicle. Turning down other inquiries for your pickup window carries real operational cost, and that cost stays whether or not you ultimately travel. The deposit is applied to your final invoice, so it's not a fee on top of the trip cost. See the full deposit and cancellation policy.
How to get an accurate quote
The quote form asks for pickup address, drop-off address, date, and pet details. With those four pieces of info I can usually respond within 24 hours with an accurate price. If the route involves a border crossing, I'll include the broker fee estimate as a separate line so you can see the full picture. Request a quote here.
FAQs
Why can't you just post a price list?
Because fuel prices, vehicle availability, route timing, and pet count change every quote. A flat price list would either over-charge short trips or lose money on long ones. Custom quotes are fairer to both sides.
Is it cheaper to fly my pet cargo?
For cross-country trips (e.g. Halifax to Vancouver), cargo often comes out cheaper because of the sheer driving distance. For regional trips under 12 hours, ground transport is usually comparable or cheaper once you add up airline cargo fees, vet-issued carrier requirements, and airport drop-off and pickup.
What's NOT included in your transport fee?
Customs broker fees (Running Red or OmegaCHB, billed separately), veterinary costs for last-minute health certs or emergency care, your CDC Dog Import Form filing (free but you do it), airline cargo fees if flying, and overnight hotel stays you arrange for your own pet.
Is the $200 deposit counted toward the total?
Yes. It's applied against your final trip fee. If the quoted trip is $1,200, you pay $200 at booking and $1,000 on pickup.
Ready for a quote?
Tell us the route, the pet, and the date. We'll come back with a price within 24 hours.