How to Choose a Pet Transport Agent: What to Ask, What to Check

There are hundreds of companies offering pet transport services internationally. Some are excellent. Some take your money and leave you to figure out the paperwork.

Choosing the wrong one is an expensive mistake. Choosing the right one makes a complex process manageable.

Start with IPATA accreditation

IPATA (International Pet and Animal Transportation Association) is the industry body for pet transport agents. Membership requires meeting standards and signing a code of ethics. It doesn’t guarantee perfection, but it means the company has been vetted.

Check that any agent you’re considering is a current IPATA member. The IPATA website has a search function for accredited agents by country. If a company is not on that list, ask why.

DEFRA-registered agents for UK import are a separate requirement. If your pet is entering the UK, the agent you use must be registered with DEFRA to handle live animal imports.

Route-specific experience matters

Ask directly: how many UAE to UK moves have you handled in the past 12 months? How many USA to Australia routes? Ask them to describe the standard process for your specific route.

A competent agent can answer these questions in detail and without hesitation. They know which airlines currently accept pets on your route. They know which labs are DAFF-approved or CDC-approved for your origin country. They know the typical processing time for import permits in the UAE right now, not what it was two years ago.

If an agent gives you a vague answer or redirects to their website, that’s not confidence-inspiring.

What services should be included?

A good pet transport agent handles:

Documentation guidance: which certificate format, which vet to use, endorsement process
Airline booking: cargo booking with appropriate airline on your route
Transit coordination: handling during connections
Import permit applications (where applicable, e.g. UAE, Australia, South Africa)
Collection at the destination or handoff to a local agent
Ongoing communication throughout the process

Some agents offer door-to-door service including pickup from your home and delivery to your door at the destination. This costs more but reduces the number of handoffs.

The quote: what to check

When you receive a quote, read the line items carefully. Common items that get excluded from headline quotes:

DAFF/BICON import permit fee for Australia
Government endorsement fees (USDA, APHA)
Quarantine costs (Australia, Singapore)
Collection at destination airport
Domestic transport at destination
Emergency veterinary cover during transit

Ask: “What is not included in this quote?” Not “What is included?” A transparent agent will tell you directly what their quote excludes.

Red flags

Agents who guarantee a delivery date on complex routes. No legitimate agent can guarantee a delivery date for Australia or Singapore due to quarantine. Any agent who does is setting false expectations.
Agents who quote without asking for your pet’s details (weight, breed, crate size). Accurate cargo quotes require these numbers.
Agents who claim you don’t need a titre test for Australia from the USA. You do, and the 180-day wait is mandatory.
Agents who don’t ask about breed-specific restrictions when you mention a Pit Bull type or French Bulldog. A competent agent knows these issues and raises them proactively.
Upfront deposit requests for vague services with no contract or itemised quote.

Getting multiple quotes

Get at least two quotes for any major route. The variation in pricing can be significant. But price is not the only variable. Ask each agent the same questions and compare the quality of the answers, not just the numbers.

For complex routes (Australia, Singapore Category C from high-risk countries, UAE summer travel), experience and track record matter more than price. Paying GBP 500 more for an agent who has done your specific route 50 times this year is usually worth it.