The price of implanting a microchip in your dog or cat can vary from one veterinary clinic to another. In this article we give you the standard price ranges as well as the factors influencing the final price of the operation.
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A Pet ID Tag or collar and tag with the owner’s name and address on it are a good way to ensure the safe return or urgent medical care your pet may need. But they can get lost or become illegible.
Conversely, a microchip is a permanent and secure way of identifying lost pets, and increases the chance of them being reunited with their owner, even if no collar is present.
Since April 2016, compulsory microchipping laws apply to all dogs in England, Scotland, and Wales. A microchip also serves as proof of ownership.
The data is stored in a database, and a microchip scanner is used by vets or shelters to find the registered keeper through the unique ID number.
A pet microchip is a tiny device made of non-reactive materials that holds a unique identification number linked to your contact info in a secure database.
The injection procedure is quick and rarely requires anaesthetic during neutering surgery. It’s often done by a trained implanter, such as a vet or vet nurse.
After the registration of the microchip, a microchip scanner is used to retrieve your details if your pet gets lost or brought to a shelter.
An annual microchip check is recommended to confirm correct function and detect rare issues like microchip migration or microchip malfunction.
Microchips can also power smart accessories like a microchip-activated cat flap or microchip food bowl, adding convenience to daily care routines.
In the UK you can expect to pay anywhere between £9 and £20, depending on where you live. On average, however, the costs are in the region of £14.50. This initial fee pays for the implantation of the microchip and initial registration.
Rescue centres, vets and charities occasionally have special offers or even provide the service for free on certain days. Otherwise, you can check with your local RSPCA to find out if you qualify to have your dog microchipped at a reduced fee.
To encourage pet owners to microchip their dogs, many animal shelters and UK charities like Battersea Dogs & Cats, Blue Cross and Dogs Trust offer free microchipping for dogs.
While anyone can get a free microchip for dogs from Battersea Dogs & Cats and Dogs Trust, only people who meet means-tested conditions and live in a catchment area can get free microchips from the Blue Cross.
There may be a charity or event running in your local area offering microchipping at a reduced cost or even free.
For cats, compulsory microchipping law came into force in England on 10 June 2024. All cats must be chipped and registered on a DEFRA-approved microchipping database before they reach the legal age requirement of 20 weeks, or owners could face a fine of up to £500. This includes indoor-only cats.
The average cost for cats is £15–20. In some cases, breeder microchipping responsibility applies, meaning breeders must chip kittens before adoption and provide registration documents to the new owners.
The economic argument is very often invoked when an owner hesitates or refuses to have his animal identified. Most owners pay for consultations to have their animals treated without complaint. But when they have to pay for a procedure that has no impact on their daily life, they don't see the point.
But this is taking the problem in the wrong direction because identification protects the animals and their owners from a brutal and often definitive separation when the animals get lost.
Moreover, microchips are designed to work for 25 years. It is therefore a sustainable investment.
Confusion between pedigree and identification is also the reason why some pets are not identified. Some owners mistakenly think that origin and breed go hand in hand with identification. This is not the case!
Identification gives an official existence to all domestic animals without exception. This includes pedigree dogs and cats, cats and dogs of a racial type but also all European cats and crossbred dogs.
It is no coincidence that cats have the largest population of unidentified individuals. The confusion between the identification chip and the GPS chip is persistent. When a feline goes out, it goes back and forth to cover its territory. Some cat owners think that implanting a cat means taking away some of its freedom.
However, the microchip is not a GPS chip, it does not have the same technology. This is because the microchip is actually an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) chip that is not intended to track but rather to contain information that is visible to a chip reader.
However, even if this microchip does not have the capacity to indicate the cat's whereabouts, it provides a precious help to the owner in his search when his four-legged friend does not come home as usual.
From the above, it appears that many pet owners are unaware of the legal requirement to have their dog identified. You must get your pet microchipped before, or at the same time as their rabies vaccination.
But what is the fine for not chipping your dog? Owners who fail to microchip their dogs and register them on an approved DEFRA-approved microchipping database are liable to a fine of up to £500. The owner must make sure that the microchip number, contact details, and ownership details are registered with the correct microchip provider or microchip database company. It is essential to keep your contact details up to date on the microchipping database, as outdated information can prevent you from being reunited with your pet if they are lost. Most databases charge an admin fee of £6 to £20 to update information. Some apply this fee with every change, while others offer a one-off fee covering all updates for your pet’s lifetime.
The only exception to this law for pet dogs is those whom a vet believes should not be microchipped for health reasons. Thousands of dog owners may never be reunited with their pets after failing to keep their details current.
If you rehome your dog, you must give the new owner the correct registration documents and transfer of ownership documents, so they can contact the database and register as the dog’s new keeper.
While a microchip implant may have a clear one-off fee, prices vary based on the clinic, region, and what's included, such as routine procedures or care plans.
Some pet insurance or health plans may cover microchipping quotes as part of annual health check, but always check the terms and conditions for eligible cover types.
And if any questions remain, the owner should not hesitate to talk about them, as the veterinarian's role is as much to care for the animal as to advise the owner.
This article is part of a complete guide on the subject. Do not miss the next chapters.
Answer our 7 questions on pet microchipping.