Pet Road Transport in Australia

Door-to-door road transport for dogs, cats and other pets across every Australian mainland capital. Climate-controlled vans, experienced pet-handlers, regular rest-stops — and updates from us every step of the journey.

⬤  50+ years of experience

⬤  Quality road pet transport from all major cities across Australia

⬤  A dedicated consultant every step of the way

Dogtainers Pet Transport is rated 4.7 stars - from 1079 on Product Review

50+

Years of experience

100,000+

Pets transported

8

States & territories

13

Offices nationwide

50+

Years of experience

100,000+

Pets transported

8

States & territories

13

Offices nationwide

Domestic Transport

Domestic Pet Road Transport

Dogtainers™ provides quality and flexible domestic road transport services for pets. Our road transportation is available from all major cities across Australia to help your furry friend make their journey. Whether you’re moving homes or you’ve adopted a new friend, Dogtainers can create a tailor-made Aussie road transport solution for you.

With 13 offices across Australia, a fleet of customised climate-controlled pet-friendly vans, and a team of dedicated drivers, road transport is an excellent alternative to flying.

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Servicing All Major Australian Cities

13 offices · National coverage

location-icon

Servicing All Major Australian Cities

13 offices · National coverage

How They Compare

Road Transport v Air Transport

At Dogtainers, we offer both air pet transport and road pet transport to suit different pet transport needs. To help you decide which is right for your pet, here’s a quick side-by-side of what each option does best.

Road Transport

Best for anxious pets, snub-nosed breeds, large dogs, and last-minute moves.

A pet-handler is with your pet the entire journey

Frequent rest-stops for water, toilet & a stretch

Climate-controlled, custom-built pet vans

No breed or weight restrictions

Live updates from the road at every stop

Door-to-door pick-up and drop-off available

Best for: Choose road if your pet is anxious, snub-nosed, oversized, a restricted breed, or you want updates throughout the journey.

Air Transport

Best for long distances and tight timelines on accepted breeds.

Fastest option for long interstate moves

Pets travel in a temperature-controlled hold

IATA-compliant crates supplied or hired

Coordinated with our airline partners

Quoted on time-critical schedules

Suited to most healthy, accepted breeds

Best for: Choose air if your pet is a healthy, accepted breed under the airline’s weight limit and time is your priority.
Below are four common scenarios where road transport is the right call.↓

Why Choose Road

Benefits Of Road Pet Transportation

Road transport isn’t just ‘Plan B’ for pets that can’t fly. For a lot of dogs and cats — and a lot of owners — it’s the better option from the start. Here are the four most common reasons our customers choose the van.

rottweiler-in-front-of-van-8

Reason 01

Transporting Anxious Pets

Pets fly in a temperature-controlled compartment at the rear of the plane. It’s pressurised in the same way the passenger cabin is and is dimly lit, so many pets are able to nap on their flight. However, during the flight, pets have no human supervision.

If your pet is an anxious flyer, road transport might be what you’re looking for. Pets travel in a temperature-controlled van, driven by one of our experienced pet-handlers. They receive frequent rest-stops to answer nature’s call, stretch their legs, and get some fresh air. You’ll also receive updates along the way, so you know exactly how your pet is doing.

rottweiler-in-front-of-van-8
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Reason 02

Transporting Brachycephalic Dog Breeds (‘Brachy’ or Snub-nosed)

Some brachy breeds experience issues with flying because they are more sensitive to changes in air quality and to the temperature in the hold of the plane. This is why many airlines choose not to fly them. The good news is that road transport is a safe alternative for snub-nosed breeds.

Common Brachy breeds we transport:

Boxer

French Bulldog

Cavalier King Charles

Pug

Boston Terrier

English Bulldog

Mastiff

American Bulldog

Neapolitan Mastiff

Shih Tzu

Brussels Griffon

Japanese Chin

Pekingese

Lhasa Apso

french-bulldog-puppy

Reason 02

Transporting Brachycephalic Dog Breeds (‘Brachy’ or Snub-nosed)

Some brachy breeds experience issues with flying because they are more sensitive to changes in air quality and to the temperature in the hold of the plane. This is why many airlines choose not to fly them. The good news is that road transport is a safe alternative for snub-nosed breeds.

Common Brachy breeds we transport:

French Bulldog

Pug

English Bulldog

American Bulldog

Shih Tzu

Japanese Chin

Lhasa Apso

Boxer

Cavalier King Charles

Boston Terrier

Mastiff

Neapolitan Mastiff

Brussels Griffon

Pekingese

perth-crate-2

Reason 03

Transporting Extra Large Dogs

Is your dog a boofer? They may not be able to fly. Although it depends on the airline, most have an upper limit of 42 kgs for dogs. At Dogtainers, our motto is Any Animal, Anywhere, Anytime. If we can transport a cassowary, we can transport your big boy or girl.

Our custom-built vans are sized to carry large and giant breeds comfortably, with non-slip flooring, secure tie-downs, and room to lie down on long legs.

perth-crate-2
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Reason 04

Transporting Restricted Dog Breeds

Some breeds aren’t permitted on Australian airlines because they are considered ‘dangerous’. Commonly banned dog breeds include:

Japanese Tosa

American Pit Bull and other Pit Bull breeds

Dogo Argentino

Fila Brasileiro

Perro de Presa Canario (Presa Canario)

We know better than to judge a dog by its breed. If your four-legged friend is safe and friendly, we’re more than happy to transport them in one of our custom pet-transport vans.

white-dog-sitting-out-front-of-dogtainers

Reason 04

Transporting Restricted Dog Breeds

Some breeds aren’t permitted on Australian airlines because they are considered ‘dangerous’. Commonly banned dog breeds include:

Japanese Tosa

Dogo Argentino

Perro de Presa Canario (Presa Canario)

Fila Brasileiro

American Pit Bull and other Pit Bull breeds

We know better than to judge a dog by its breed. If your four-legged friend is safe and friendly, we’re more than happy to transport them in one of our custom pet-transport vans.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

What our customers say

“From the moment I called Dogtainers, I felt completely at ease. They picked up my Golden Retriever from our front door in Brisbane and he arrived in Sydney wagging his tail. Absolutely seamless.”

Sarah M.
Brisbane → Sydney

“We relocated from Melbourne to Perth and were terrified about flying our two cats such a long distance. Dogtainers handled everything — the crates, the airline, the pick-up. Both cats arrived calm and healthy.”

James & Lisa R.
Melbourne → Perth

“I’ve used Dogtainers twice — once from Adelaide to Darwin, once back. Both times the service was faultless. My Staffy travelled in comfort and I had updates the whole way. Will always use
them.”

Linda K.
Adelaide → Darwin

Where We Drive

Pet Road Transport Routes Available In Australia

We operate scheduled and on-demand road transport between every major Australian city. Pick-ups and drop-offs are door-to-door — or office-to-office if you prefer. Don’t see your route below? Give us a call: we run custom journeys every week.

Most Popular

Melbourne Sydney

13

HRS
ON THE
ROAD

Return Direction
Sydney → Melbourne
Same approx. journey time

Sydney Brisbane

12

HRS
ON THE
ROAD

Return Direction
Brisbane → Sydney
Same approx. journey time

Melbourne Canberra

7

HRS
ON THE
ROAD

Return Direction
Canberra → Melbourne
Same approx. journey time

SydneyCanberra

4

HRS
ON THE
ROAD

Return Direction
Canberra → Sydney
Same approx. journey time

BrisbaneMelbourne

22

HRS
ON THE
ROAD

Return Direction
Melbourne → Brisbane
Same approx. journey time

AdelaideMelbourne

9

HRS
ON THE
ROAD

Return Direction
Melbourne → Adelaide
Same approx. journey time

More routes we cover

Call us for journey times & quotes

N

Melbourne ↔ Adelaide

N

Sydney ↔ Albury

N

Brisbane ↔ Townsville

N

Brisbane ↔ Cairns

Call us for journey times & quotes

N

Sydney ↔ Gold Coast

N

Melbourne ↔ Albury

N

Adelaide ↔ Perth

N

Hobart ↔ Launceston

Frequently Asked Questions

Pet Road Transport FAQs

How Do I Prepare My Pets For A Long Car Trip?

For long car trips, best to ensure your pet has a positive association and experience with being inside vehicles. To minimise stress make it regular that you reward your pet for being in a car. Ensure the environment puts them in a comfortable state of mind and not stressed or anxious.

What Is The Best Method To Transport Pets By Road?

The best method would be utilising a company that invests in vans. Some pet transport companies utilise dog trailers to transport dogs, but these can be unsafe due to them being attached to the back of a vehicle. It is a much safer method to use a company that transports pets via vans as they are more structurally secure, allow for better air ventilation, and add to the safety of pets also being secured within transport carriers.

What Are The Safety Measures To Transport A Pet By Road?

The safest measures we implement during road transport are each animal is transported in their own transport carrier (except puppies and kittens), each crate is strapped securely within the back of our van and no crates are placed on top of each other. We gauge based on animal behaviours which pets are more comfortable travelling next to each other. During transport, no pets come into contact with one another. We also strongly advise that all pets are fully vaccinated for transport to ensure not only their safety but other animals.

What Types Of Crates Or Carriers Are Suitable For Transporting Pets By Road?

The crate or carrier should be well-ventilated, comfortable, and secure, and regulations regarding pet transportation should be followed.

Are There Any Temperature Restrictions For Pet Transport In A Vehicle?

It is always strongly advised when transporting animals that they have either cool airflow or are available for air conditioning.

What Documentation Do I Need For Transporting Pets Across State Borders In Australia By Road?

Some pet types and breeds will require licences and permits to travel interstate. Generally, this only applies to birds, reptiles, exotic animals, and farm animals (not limited). But best to check with state quarantine facilities on the requirements for entry to arrange these documents.

What Are The Pet Road Transport Routes Available In Australia?

Our main stop-off points are located in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra. We also provide stop points along the set routes.

Our set routes available currently include:

  • Melbourne to Sydney; Sydney to Melbourne
  • Brisbane to Sydney; Sydney to Brisbane
  • Melbourne to Canberra; Canberra to Melbourne

Our set routes are subject to change according to travel demand and restrictions. So, please reach out to our friendly team if you would like to book road transport for your pet.

What Is Road Transport Like For Pets?

Our vehicles are temperature-controlled, and your pet will travel in a suitable travel crate with a water supply. In addition, our team stops every 2 hours to check on the pets to ensure their well being.

How Often Does The Road Transport Run?

We have regular weekly and fortnightly runs depending on the demand for the specific destinations. Due to the recent flight cancellations caused by domestic travel restrictions, we have arranged more frequent road transport to help bring your pets home.

Is My Pet Going To Be Delivered To My Home?

The easiest way would be to pick up your pet from our office locations.

We offer complimentary overnight boarding in the departure city of road transport. However, if you need overnight boarding at the destination port, there will be an extra boarding fee.

We can arrange delivery outside of the metro area for additional fees after your pet arrives at the destination city.

What Is The Cost Of Pet Road Transport?

The price of road transport depends on your pet’s travel crate size. If it’s a smaller crate(PP 20-50), the road transport cost will be from $330 one way. If it’s a larger crate (PP60 or above), the road transport cost will be from $440 one way.

If you’re travelling from Canberra to Sydney or Melbourne, there will be an additional offshoot fee of $175 on top of the set transport cost, and our drivers will pick up your pet at a designated pick up point.

What If I Am Nased In A Regional Area, Far Away From One Of Your Offices?

We have set routes to and from our office locations across Australia. If you are based far away from our current office locations and fixed routes, you can either drive your pet to a pickup point along the route. Alternatively, we can arrange an agent that can help collect your pet from your residence to the pickup point, please note that this service would incur additional costs.

What Is The Maximum Capacity Of The Vans?

There are a maximum of 30 pets in a van. If there are too many pets for a particular route, we may split the pets over two vans.

What Happens If The Airline Cancels My Pet’s Flight And My Pet’s Travel Has To Be Replaced By Road Transport?

If your pet’s flight was cancelled, our team could rearrange the journey and book road transport for your pet. We will try our best to work out the best solutions without compromising the comfort and safety of your beloved pet.

If we successfully booked a replacement road transport for your pet, our team will calculate the price difference to the price of the original flight booking. If the road transport fee exceeds the original flight ticket, we will request the owing balance. On the other hand, if the road transport fee is lower than the flight, we will arrange a refund of the difference.

How Far Ahead Should I Arrange My Pet’s Road Transport?

All road transport bookings have to be confirmed two business days before the travel date, and based on the availability. We are experiencing high demand, so we would advise you to book ahead to avoid disappointments.

How Can I Book The Road Transport For My Pet?

Please talk to our friendly pet travel experts at 1300 13 52 52.

How Long Will My Pet Be On The Road From Pick Up To Drop Off For Different Routes?

The estimated required time for each route would be as follows:

  • Melbourne to Sydney; Sydney to Melbourne (13 hours)
  • Brisbane to Sydney; Sydney to Brisbane (12 hours)
  • Melbourne to Canberra; Canberra to Melbourne (7 hours)
Is The Vehicle Temperature Controlled For The Pets?

Yes.

How Often Do You Stop For Food And Water?

We stop every 2 hours to check on the pets. Unfortunately, there’s no food allowed on route, but our team would ensure there’s enough water for them to stay hydrated. For overnight boarding, we provide dinner. However, we would recommend owners supply food for the night to avoid upset tummies.