What most people look for
When the CMA asked 2,376 pet owners why they picked their current vet, most gave three or four reasons. Being close to home came top, followed by a recommendation from someone they trust. Around 30% put weight on price.
| Reason for choosing | Owners who mentioned it |
|---|---|
| Location / close to home | 68% |
| Recommended by friends or family | 44% |
| Good impression of the practice, staff or website | 29% |
| Appointment availability | 28% |
| Services offered | 26% |
| Opening hours | 26% |
| Price | 25% |
| Parking and transport | 25% |
| Independent or group ownership | 21% |
| Online reviews | 19% |
Price isn’t everything, but it’s worth checking
Being nearby, easy to get an appointment with and trusted by people you know will matter on an ordinary Tuesday as much as on the day something goes wrong. But prices vary more than most people realise, and only 22% of owners compared prices before registering.
- Compare a year, not a visit. A cheap first consultation can come with higher booster, neutering or medicine prices.
- Watch for “from” prices. Neutering and dental costs often rise with your pet’s size or the work needed.
- Pet health plans spread the cost of routine care, but check what’s included and whether the savings are real for your pet (see below).
Compare prices near you · See typical prices in your area
For example: Belfast, Brighton, Bristol, Guildford, Peterborough, Tonbridge
Before you register: a quick checklist
- Is it easy to get to, with parking or transport that works for you and your pet?
- What are the opening hours, and who looks after your pet at night and at weekends?
- How soon could you get a routine appointment? And an urgent one?
- Does it treat your type of pet (rabbits, exotics, nervous animals)?
- Does it publish a price list? Check the services you’ll use most.
- Who owns it: an independent practice or a larger group?
- What do recent reviews say about care, communication and costs?
- Call or visit: the welcome you get is a good guide.
Independent or part of a group? Both can be a good choice
Most of the vets we cover (64%) belong to a larger group. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, which regulates vets, says all types of practice can provide excellent care, so the right one is the one that suits you and your pet.
What a group practice can offer
- More under one roof: larger practices may have bigger teams, more equipment and more treatment options (RCVS).
- Links to specialist care: many groups run their own referral hospitals offering more advanced treatment (CMA).
- Longer hours and out-of-hours cover: group branches often share an emergency or out-of-hours service. Check what yours offers.
- Lower prices at some groups: among the practices we cover, Vets for Pets practices average £54.87 for a dog consultation, compared with £60.26 at independents. Not every group is cheaper: other groups average up to £66.26.
- Cheaper medicines online: several groups run online pharmacies, which the CMA found are much cheaper than buying at the practice.
- Pet health plans: group practices are more likely to offer a monthly plan to spread the cost of routine care (42% of group customers have one, against 29% at independents).
What an independent practice can offer
- Seeing the same faces: smaller practices often give more continuity with the same vets and nurses (RCVS).
- Satisfaction: independents’ customers rated quality of service (83% against 76%) and value for money more highly in the CMA’s survey.
- Decisions made locally: the owners often work in the practice themselves.
Nationally, the CMA found that prices at five of the large groups averaged 18.3% higher than at independents between January 2023 and July 2024 (it couldn’t reach a conclusion for Pets at Home). Across all vets, average prices rose 63% from 2016 to 2023, about twice the rate of inflation (32%). Local prices vary, which is why we show each practice’s own.
Our view: ownership is worth knowing, not a reason on its own to pick or avoid a vet. Look at the things you’ll notice: how close it is, whether you can get an appointment, what people you trust say, and the prices for the care your pet needs.
Are pet health plans worth it?
Plans spread the cost of routine care into monthly payments, and many owners like that. But the CMA found that a typical owner would not save money on most of the big groups’ best-selling plans compared with buying flea and worm treatment online, because few people use everything a plan includes.
- Will you really use everything? Microchipping and neutering are one-offs, and extra consultations often go unused.
- Is the flea and worm treatment cheaper online with a written prescription? Check online prices
- What does it cost each month and each year, and what would each item cost on its own?
- How do you cancel, and is there a charge? Does it renew automatically?
From 23 December 2026 (large groups) and 23 March 2027 (smaller practices), practices must publish exactly what each plan includes, its monthly and yearly cost, the standalone price of each item and the cancellation terms.
Key moments to ask questions
Most money is spent after you’ve registered. These are the points where asking a simple question can make a big difference.
When your pet needs treatment
Only 43% of owners were given prices before treatment, and 43% weren’t offered any alternative options. Many told the CMA final bills were higher than expected.
- Ask for a written estimate and the options, including a less intensive one. If money is tight, say so: vets can suggest options that fit your circumstances.
- It’s fine to take time to decide, unless it’s an emergency.
- Use our estimate request template
- From 23 June 2027 (large groups) and 23 September 2027 (smaller practices), practices must give a written estimate when treatment is likely to cost £500 or more, and an itemised bill.
When your pet needs medicine
Common medicines can be 50–60% cheaper online, which can save £200–£300 a year. Over a third of owners didn’t know they could do this.
- Ask for a written prescription.
- Prescription fees will be capped at £21.40 for the first medicine and £12.70 for each extra one from 2027.
- Ask whether it’s an own-brand medicine: the same medicine may be sold elsewhere under another name.
- Buy from a UK-registered online vet pharmacy.
- Compare online medicine prices
When you’re referred to a specialist
Only 30% of owners were offered a choice of where to go.
- Ask which referral centres are suitable and what each would cost.
- Check what your insurance covers first.
At the end of your pet’s life
Two in three owners choose cremation. Individual cremation can cost around £100 more than it needs to.
- Ask for the prices of communal and individual cremation.
- You can arrange cremation yourself with an independent provider.
- See typical cremation prices
What’s changing, and when
After its investigation, the CMA made an Order on 22 September 2026 that gives pet owners new rights. “Large groups” means businesses with 15 or more practices.
| What you’ll get | Large groups | Other practices |
|---|---|---|
| Published price list for 36 common services, cremation prices and full pet plan details | 23 Dec 2026 | 23 Mar 2027 |
| Who owns the practice shown clearly, including group-owned pharmacies and crematoria | 23 Mar 2027 | 23 Mar 2027 |
| A written complaints process, with free mediation if it isn’t resolved | 23 Mar 2027 | 23 Mar 2027 |
| Prescription fee capped at £21.40 (£12.70 for each extra medicine) | 23 Mar 2027 | 23 Sep 2027 |
| Written estimates for treatment likely to cost £500 or more, and itemised bills | 23 Jun 2027 | 23 Sep 2027 |
| Told you can have a written prescription, and when an own-brand medicine is sold elsewhere under another name | 23 Jun 2027 | 23 Sep 2027 |
Each rule applies from the next working day after the 22nd of the month shown. The prescription fee caps last until 31 March 2028 and then rise with inflation each April.
Thinking of switching?
Most owners never switch, but 85% say they could and 64% think it would be easy. Those who do switch most often move home (36%) or are unhappy with care (25%) or advice (19%). The biggest worry is starting a new relationship, but your pet’s records can move with you.
- Choose and register with the new practice.
- Ask them to request your pet’s records from your old vet.
- Cancel any pet health plan with your old practice.
Moving between two practices owned by the same group isn’t always a real change. Check the owner before you switch.
Common questions
How do most people choose a vet?
Mostly by location and recommendation. In the CMA's survey of 2,376 pet owners, 68% said location was a factor and 44% said a recommendation from friends or family. Only about a quarter mentioned price.
Is the cheapest vet the best choice?
Not always. A low consultation fee can sit alongside higher prices for vaccinations, neutering or medicines, and being close by, easy to get an appointment with and well recommended often matters more day to day. Compare the services your pet will need over a year.
Can I get a written estimate before treatment?
Yes, you can ask for one for any treatment. The CMA found only 43% of owners were given prices before non-routine treatment, and many said final bills were higher than expected. Under the CMA's new rules, practices must give a written estimate when treatment is likely to cost £500 or more: from 23 June 2027 at large groups and 23 September 2027 at smaller practices.
Can I buy my pet's medicines online?
Yes. Ask your vet for a written prescription and buy the medicine from an online pharmacy. The CMA found common medicines can be 50–60% cheaper online, saving many owners £200–£300 a year. Prescription fees will be capped at £21.40 for the first medicine and £12.70 for each extra one: from 23 March 2027 at large groups and 23 September 2027 at smaller practices.
How do I know if my vet is independent?
Ask, or check our listing: we show the owner of every practice. The CMA found fewer than half of customers at group-owned practices knew their vet was part of a group.
Is a group-owned vet worse than an independent one?
Not necessarily. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons says all types of practice can provide excellent care. Group practices may offer more facilities, links to specialist referral hospitals and, at some groups, lower prices; independents often offer more continuity and scored higher on satisfaction in the CMA's survey. Choose on what matters to you: location, availability, recommendations and price.
Is it easy to switch vets?
Usually. Most owners never switch, but 85% told the CMA they could and 64% thought it would be easy. People switch most often after moving home, or because they were unhappy with care or advice. Register with the new practice and ask them to request your pet's records.
How much does a vet consultation cost?
Across the 2196 practices we cover that publish prices, a standard consultation costs £15 to £480, with a median of £62.50 (checked 28 October 2026).
How much does it cost to neuter a dog or cat?
For a small dog (traditional surgery), castration has a median of £275 and spaying £370; bigger dogs cost more. Cat castration has a median of £111 and cat spaying £157.
Are independent vets cheaper?
Among the practices we cover, slightly on average. Independent practices average £60.26 for a dog consultation against £63.85 at group-owned practices, and £62.53 against £77.41 for a dog booster.
Is Vet Rate free and independent?
Yes. It's free to use, independent, and no vet pays to be listed or ranked.
Where this information comes from
Survey figures come from the CMA’s pet owners survey (2,376 owners, late 2024) as published in its final report (March 2026); other findings come from the report’s summary and its pet care plan analysis. Dates and amounts for the new rules come from the CMA’s Order of 22 September 2026, as set out in its guidance for veterinary businesses. Advice on practice types comes from the RCVS guide to choosing a veterinary practice. Practice prices on Vet Rate come from each practice’s own published price list, checked weekly.