Most taxi firms will say they are pet-friendly and leave it there. The useful version of the answer is more specific: which vehicle is sent, what you should bring, what the law says about assistance dogs, and what happens at an airport if the animal is flying rather than travelling with you. This page covers all of it, for Chobham and the surrounding villages and for the wider Surrey area we serve.
The Rule That Makes It Work: Tell Us at the Booking Stage
Everything about taking an animal in a car comes down to this. A pre-booked private hire journey is allocated to a specific driver in a specific vehicle, so if the office knows a dog is travelling, the right car is sent and nobody is negotiating on a doorstep with a lead in one hand. If the office does not know, the car that arrives may be the wrong one — and that is a wasted journey for everybody.
What to tell us: what the animal is, roughly how big, whether it travels in a crate or carrier or loose on a seat, and whether anyone is travelling with it. That is the whole conversation.
Assistance Dogs Are Different, in Law
Licensed taxi and private hire drivers are required to carry assistance dogs, and to do so without any additional charge. The only exception is a driver who holds an exemption certificate issued on medical grounds, which has to be displayed in the vehicle. So if you travel with an assistance dog you are not asking a favour and you do not need permission.
Telling us anyway is still worth doing, because it lets us send the vehicle with the most room and the easiest access. Our accessible taxi page covers the ramped and step-free vehicles, which are often the most comfortable option for a dog as well as its handler.
The Journeys People Actually Book
- The vet. The most common one by a distance, and usually better booked as a return at the same time — an animal that has had treatment should not be waiting at a kerb for a car that has not been ordered yet.
- Kennels and catteries at the start and end of a holiday, which is also when the luggage is at its worst, so the vehicle matters twice over.
- Moving house with an animal that cannot travel in a packed car.
- Airport runs, where the arrangements depend entirely on whether the pet is flying or staying — see below.
- A dog that cannot be left on an ordinary trip, which is a perfectly normal reason to need a car that will take it.
Chobham and the Local Geography
Chobham sits between Woking and the M3, which makes the airport picture lopsided. These are measured road distances and free-flowing drive times.
| From Chobham | Road distance | Free-flowing time | Usual route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow | 15.3 miles | about 23 minutes | M25 |
| Gatwick | 34.1 miles | about 47 minutes | M25 |
Heathrow is less than half the distance of Gatwick from Chobham and roughly half the time, which is worth knowing before you book flights rather than after. We also cover the surrounding villages — Chobham, West End, Bisley, Lightwater and the Woking fringe — and the wider Surrey area from offices across the county.
If Your Pet Is Flying
This catches people out. An animal travelling in an aircraft hold is not checked in at a passenger terminal. At Heathrow it goes through the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre, which is run by the City of London Corporation and sits on the airport rather than in a terminal building. Confirm the arrangements and the timings with your airline first, then tell us the address you actually need and when you need to be there, and we will build the journey around that rather than around a terminal.
What to Bring
- A crate or carrier for anything small. Safer for the animal and simpler for everybody.
- A blanket or old towel for a seat or a boot. A wet dog with a towel is a non-event; a wet dog without one is a problem for the next passenger.
- A lead, even for a short journey, because loading and unloading is where things go wrong.
- Water for anything longer than a local run.
- Your vet’s address if the journey is a medical one and you are not certain of the postcode.
What Decides the Price
Exactly what decides any other journey: the distance and route, the hour of the day, the vehicle required, and whether waiting is involved. A pet declared at the booking stage is accounted for in the figure you are given — nothing is added at the roadside for something you told us about. We quote each journey rather than publish a list, for the reasons set out in our guide to what actually decides a taxi price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take my dog in a taxi?
In a pre-booked private hire car, yes, as long as you say so when you book. It is not a yes-or-no question about the firm but about the specific car: the driver needs to know an animal is travelling so the right vehicle is sent and so nothing is a surprise at the door. Tell the office the size of the dog and whether it travels in a crate or on a seat.
Do I have to pay extra to take a pet?
Tell the office when you book and the pet is accounted for in the price you are given. What should never happen is a charge appearing at the roadside for something you declared in advance.
Can a driver refuse to carry an assistance dog?
No. Licensed taxi and private hire drivers are required to carry assistance dogs without any additional charge, unless the individual driver holds an exemption certificate issued on medical grounds, which must be displayed. If you are travelling with an assistance dog you do not need to ask permission, though telling us helps us send the most comfortable vehicle.
How far is Chobham from Heathrow?
Fifteen and three tenths of a miles by road, about twenty-three minutes via the M25. Gatwick is considerably further at 34.1 miles and about forty-seven minutes, also via the M25, so Heathrow is the natural airport from Chobham by a wide margin.
Can you take my dog to the vet?
Yes, and it is one of the commonest pet journeys we run — often as a return booked at the same time, because an animal that has had treatment should not be waiting at a kerbside for a car. Tell us the pet, the carrier and whether anyone is travelling with it.
Can you take a pet to the airport?
We can take you and your pet to the airport. Be aware that animals travelling in an aircraft hold are not presented at a passenger terminal: at Heathrow they go through the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre, which is run by the City of London Corporation. Confirm the arrangements with your airline first, then tell us where you actually need to be and when.
Will you carry a pet without its owner?
A pet normally travels with its owner. If you need an animal moved without you, ask the office rather than assuming — it is not something we take as a standard booking.
What should I bring for the journey?
A crate or carrier for anything small, a blanket or towel for a seat or a boot, a lead, and water for a longer run. A towel in the boot makes a wet dog a non-event rather than a problem for the next passenger.
How much does a pet-friendly taxi cost?
The same way as any other journey: it depends on the distance, the hour, the vehicle and whether waiting is involved, so we quote it rather than publish a figure. Call 01372 747 747 and you will have the price before you book.
Book a Car for You and Your Pet
Call 01372 747 747, or 01483 422 222 for our Godalming office, and say an animal is travelling. You will have the price before you book. Or use the online booking form and put the pet in the notes. For airport journeys see our airport transfers page, and for anything else our FAQs.