Travelling With a Dog or Other Pet by Chauffeur Car

Assistance dogs are a legal matter, not a preference

The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on licensed private hire drivers and operators to carry assistance dogs, without additional charge, unless the driver holds a medical exemption certificate issued by the licensing authority. That is a statutory duty rather than a courtesy, and a passenger with an assistance dog does not need to negotiate it.

Mention the dog when you enquire anyway. Not because permission is required, but because it lets the vehicle and the collection be arranged sensibly, and because it is useful to know where the dog will travel. A working dog that lies quietly in a footwell and one that needs a rear seat are different arrangements, even under the same statutory duty.

Pets more generally, which is a booking question

A family dog, a cat in a carrier or a rabbit going to the vet is a different situation to an assistance dog, and whether it can be accommodated on a particular journey is confirmed when your enquiry is reviewed. Vehicle type, the length of the journey and who else is travelling all feed into the answer.

Declare it clearly in the notes box with the species, the size and whether the animal travels in a carrier or loose. A cat in a secure box and a large retriever are not the same request, and describing them the same way helps nobody.

• Species, and approximate size for a dog
• Whether the animal travels in a carrier or crate
• Whether the animal is used to car travel
• Any medication, water or comfort break requirement

How an animal should travel

The Highway Code is direct on this: dogs and other animals must be suitably restrained so they cannot distract the driver or injure anyone if the vehicle stops suddenly. A seat belt harness, a carrier or a crate all satisfy that. A dog roaming loose across a rear seat does not.

Bring the restraint you normally use, and a blanket or a fitted cover for the seat if you have one. Both are ordinary things for a dog owner to have, and both make the journey easier to arrange. A cover also stops your own dog sliding about on upholstery it has no grip on, which is worth something on a long run.

Long journeys, and what dogs need on them

A run from London to the Cotswolds or up to Scotland is a long time for an animal that cannot explain its discomfort. Build in a stop, say so at the enquiry stage, and pick somewhere sensible rather than the first service area after the problem becomes urgent.

Water, a familiar blanket and something to lie on all help. So does travelling at a time when the dog would normally be settled rather than at the peak of its day, which is a small scheduling choice with a large effect. Most dogs that travel badly are travelling at the wrong end of their day rather than in the wrong car.

Being straightforward about the practicalities

Animals shed, and long-coated dogs shed considerably. This is not a reason to hide the dog from the enquiry; it is a reason to mention it, so the vehicle is prepared and so nothing needs explaining afterwards. Terms relating to cleaning are set out in your booking rather than assumed here.

If the animal is anxious in cars, say that too. A nervous dog on a two-hour journey shapes how the day is planned, and the person driving would very much rather know in advance. It changes where the stops go, how the cabin is set up, and how much time to allow at either end of the journey.

Plan your chauffeur journey

London Chauffeurs provides itinerary-led private travel for airport transfers, executive travel, private aviation, events and long-distance UK journeys. Availability and pricing are confirmed for the requested itinerary.

Frequently asked questions