Honest Comparison
The Licensed Alternative to Transport Marketplaces
On a transport marketplace you post a job and independent carriers quote. We are a licensed pet transport operator instead: one fixed price, our own drivers, your pet tracked door to door. Here is the difference in plain terms, so you can choose the right option for your pet.
Marketplace vs licensed operator
How each model works, reviewed in November 2026. Transport marketplaces are long-established with plenty of strong reviews — not a bad option, simply a different model.
When a transport marketplace is the right choice
Being straight with you: for some jobs a marketplace is genuinely the sensible call.
- You are moving non-living cargo and want the widest spread of quotes.
- Your route is genuinely unusual — a city pair nobody runs regularly.
- Your dates are completely flexible and the lowest price is the only priority.
- You are happy to vet each carrier's licence, insurance and welfare standards yourself.
What you get booking direct with us
Licensed and insured
APHA licensed and DEFRA Type 2 certified, fully insured, with the licence details available before you book.
Paperwork checked, not assumed
We confirm your Animal Health Certificate is issued by an Official Veterinarian within 10 days of departure, your microchip predates the rabies vaccination, and the rabies waiting period has passed.
Brachycephalic protocol
Flat-faced breeds overheat faster and cannot be treated like any other dog. We plan temperature, ventilation and crossing times around them.
Live tracking
Follow the vehicle in your customer portal and receive photo updates at each stop — you are never guessing where your pet is.
Door to door
Collection from your address in the UK, delivery to your address in Spain or Portugal. No handovers at service stations or airport cargo desks.
One person answers
The same small team that quotes your journey is the team that carries it out.
Whatever you choose, check these six things
These questions apply to any pet transporter — ours included.
- Their APHA licence, and that the vehicle is authorised for your number of pets.
- The insurance certificate, and whether it covers live animals in transit.
- Who physically drives and handles your pet, and whether you can speak to them.
- Who is responsible for the Animal Health Certificate and its 10-day window.
- Welfare stops, ventilation and temperature control, in writing.
- The full price including tolls, congestion charges and any additional stops.
Marketplace vs licensed pet transporter: common questions
Is a transport marketplace a pet transport company?
No. A transport marketplace is an online platform: customers post a job, and independent transport companies registered on the platform send quotes. It does not carry pets itself. AMC Pet Logistics is a licensed pet transport operator — we quote and we carry the pet with our own drivers.
Is a transport marketplace cheaper than booking direct?
Sometimes, yes. Marketplace quotes can be lower because carriers fill spare space on a journey they were already making. The trade-off is that the price, the carrier and the welfare standards vary between quotes. Compare like for like: is the price door-to-door, are welfare stops included, who checks the Animal Health Certificate, and will you get live tracking?
How much does pet transport from the UK to Spain cost?
Our shared pet bus to Spain starts from £750 per pet with 25% off each additional pet. A private, exclusive door-to-door courier typically starts from £1,000. Exact pricing depends on your collection postcode, destination, number and size of pets — see our full UK to Spain cost guide.
How do I check whether a pet transporter is properly licensed?
Ask for their APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) licence and confirm the vehicle is authorised for the number and type of animals being carried, plus a copy of their insurance certificate covering live animals. For Spain you should also confirm who is responsible for the Animal Health Certificate — it must be issued by an Official Veterinarian within 10 days of arrival.
Do you only cover Spain?
No. We run scheduled shared trips and private door-to-door journeys between the UK and Spain, Portugal and France, plus pet transport across the UK.
Can you collect from my home?
Yes. Every journey is door-to-door: we collect from your address in the UK and deliver to the destination address, with contact names and numbers confirmed for both ends.
Ready for one fixed, tracked price?
Answer a few questions about your pet and route, and we will price the journey properly.