"Can I take my dog in a taxi?" has two different answers in the UK, and the difference matters a great deal to the people it affects.
Assistance dogs are covered by law. Pets are not — they travel by arrangement. Getting that distinction right is the difference between a journey that's guaranteed and one that needs a phone call first.
All prices are estimates and may vary. We provide the journey directly with our own licensed drivers.
Assistance dogs: what the law requires
Under the Equality Act 2010, drivers of taxis and private hire vehicles must carry assistance dogs and must not charge extra for doing so. This applies to guide dogs, hearing dogs and other recognised assistance dogs, and it applies to both hackney carriages and licensed private hire vehicles.
The only exception is a driver holding a medical exemption certificate, issued by their licensing authority on medical grounds — typically a serious allergy. A driver with an exemption must display the certificate in the vehicle. It isn't something a driver can decide for themselves on the day.
Refusing an assistance dog without a valid exemption is a criminal offence, and complaints are handled by the licensing authority that issued the driver's licence — Transport for London in the capital, the relevant council elsewhere.
Two practical points that make the journey easier anyway:
- Mention the assistance dog when you book. Not because permission is required — it isn't — but because it lets us send a vehicle with appropriate footwell space rather than the smallest saloon on the fleet.
- Say if you need a specific type of vehicle. If you also have mobility needs, our wheelchair accessible taxi guide covers how to specify that at the booking stage.
Pets: how it actually works
A pet dog, cat or other animal is a different matter. There's no legal right to travel with one, and carrying pets is at the driver's discretion — which is precisely why it needs to be arranged at the booking stage, not raised at the kerb.
Turning up with an unexpected dog is the situation to avoid. The driver may have an allergy, may have just cleaned the vehicle, or may have another booking straight afterwards where dog hair is a genuine problem. Asking in advance takes a minute and removes all of that.
What helps when you do ask:
| Tell us | Why it matters | | :--- | :--- | | The species and size | A cat in a carrier and a large dog are different requests | | Whether it travels in a carrier | Carriers are almost always easier to accommodate | | How many people are travelling too | Passengers and an animal compete for the same space | | Journey length | A long motorway run needs more planning than a 10-minute hop |
Practical tips for travelling with a pet
- Use a carrier for small animals. Cats, rabbits and small dogs travel far better in a secure carrier, and it makes the booking much easier to accommodate.
- Bring a blanket or seat cover. Not required, but it's appreciated, and it's the single easiest way to make the journey a non-issue.
- Larger dogs need boot space. An estate is usually the sensible booking for a big dog, in the same way it is for large luggage — see how much luggage fits in a taxi for the vehicle capacities, and remember the dog takes space the bags would otherwise use.
- The Highway Code expects animals to be suitably restrained in a moving vehicle. A carrier, a harness or a boot works; a loose dog on a lap doesn't.
- Don't feed a nervous dog right before a car journey. Obvious, but it's the most common cause of a trip going badly.
Vet trips, airports and moves
Three journeys account for most pet bookings, and each has its own wrinkle:
Vet appointments are usually short, often urgent, and frequently one-way with an uncertain return time. Book the outbound, and arrange the return once you know how long you'll be — the same approach that works for hospital and medical appointments.
Airport journeys with an animal need more notice than a normal transfer, because the vehicle has to suit both the animal and a full set of luggage. Airlines have their own rules about which animals can fly and how, so confirm that side first — the transfer is the easy part once you know what's travelling. Our airport transfer guide covers the rest of the trip planning.
Moving house with a pet is the case where sizing up is almost always right. Boxes and an animal in the same vehicle is exactly the situation where an estate or a minibus stops being a luxury — see group and larger-vehicle bookings.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can a taxi refuse to take a guide dog in the UK? A: No. Under the Equality Act 2010, taxi and private hire drivers must carry assistance dogs at no extra charge. The only exception is a driver holding a medical exemption certificate issued by their licensing authority, which must be displayed in the vehicle.
Q: Can you be charged extra for taking an assistance dog in a taxi? A: No. Charging extra for an assistance dog is not permitted, and refusing to carry one without a valid exemption certificate is a criminal offence handled by the driver's licensing authority.
Q: Can I take my pet dog in a minicab? A: Usually yes, but it's at the driver's discretion rather than a right, so arrange it when you book rather than at the kerb. Say what size the animal is and whether it travels in a carrier, and the right vehicle can be sent.
Q: Do I need a carrier for a cat in a taxi? A: In practice, yes. A secure carrier is safer for the animal, far easier for the driver to accommodate, and makes the booking straightforward. The same applies to rabbits and other small pets.
Q: What size taxi do I need for a large dog? A: An estate is the sensible default, since a big dog realistically needs boot space rather than a footwell. Remember the dog competes with your luggage for that space, so size up if you're carrying bags too.
Q: Should I tell the operator about a dog before the journey? A: Always, for a pet — it's the single thing that prevents a booking going wrong on the day. For an assistance dog no permission is needed, but mentioning it still helps, because a suitable vehicle can be assigned from the start.
In short
Assistance dogs travel by right and at no extra cost, with the only exception being a driver holding a displayed medical exemption. Pets travel by arrangement — so ask at the booking stage, say what's travelling, and size the vehicle for the animal as well as the bags.
Get a fare estimate and mention your animal in the booking notes, or see the UK cities we cover.