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.
Most of our door-to-door pet transports fall between $400 and $2,500 CAD. A short regional trip under 4 hours is typically $400 to $700, a mid-distance cross-border run is $800 to $1,400, and a long-haul two-day inter-Canada trip is $1,500 to $2,500. The price is driven mostly by distance, the number of pets, whether the trip crosses a border, and how far out you book. Every quote is custom, but those ranges cover the trips we run most often.
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.
Fixed-price services
A few of our services have a flat rate rather than a custom quote, so you know the number up front:
- Comfort Stop at YQM: $399 CAD flat. Layover care at Moncton for a pet connecting between flights, including the re-check-in.
- Flight nanny (in-cabin): $400 CAD per day plus travel expenses. We fly in the cabin with your small dog or cat.
- Private charter: typically $10,000 to $20,000 CAD depending on route. A private aircraft for dogs too big for the cabin and too precious for cargo.
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.
How much does it cost to ship a dog?
For our door-to-door ground service, most trips run $400 to $2,500 CAD depending on distance, the number of dogs, and whether the trip crosses a border. Short regional trips start around $400, and long two-day inter-Canada hauls reach $2,500. Airport pickups are $200 to $500. Cross-border trips also carry a separate customs broker fee ($150 CAD Canadian side, $250 USD US side).
Is it cheaper to drive or fly my pet?
For trips under about 12 hours of driving, ground transport is usually comparable or cheaper once you add airline cargo fees and airport handling. For cross-country distances like the Maritimes to British Columbia, CargoJet air cargo often wins because the drive would take multiple days. We'll tell you honestly which one fits your route.
Ready for a quote?
Tell us the route, the pet, and the date. We'll come back with a price within 24 hours.