Pet owners rarely ask about insurance until something goes wrong. It's worth asking up front. The answers tell you a lot about how seriously a company takes its work. This article is general information, not legal or insurance advice, so read your own policies and contracts carefully.
Types of insurance a transporter may carry
- Commercial auto insurance. Personal auto policies may not cover driving for business, especially transporting animals for pay. A professional transporter should have commercial coverage.
- General liability insurance. Covers third-party claims, like property damage or injuries to people.
- Animal care, custody and control coverage (sometimes called "animal bailee" coverage). This is the type that may cover injury, illness or death of animals in the transporter's care, subject to limits and exclusions.
What's usually excluded
Policies differ, but common exclusions can include:
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Illness not caused by the transporter's negligence
- Stress-related conditions
- Animals over certain ages or of certain species
- Animals not declared accurately at booking
Coverage limits may also be lower than you'd expect, especially for high-value animals.
Your own pet insurance
Check whether your own pet health insurance covers illness or injury while travelling, including in another country. Some policies only cover vet care in the country where the policy was issued.
What to ask a transporter
- Do you have commercial auto insurance?
- Do you carry animal care, custody and control coverage? What's the limit per animal?
- What are the main exclusions?
- Can you provide a certificate of insurance?
- What does your contract say about liability?
Read the contract
The transport contract or terms of service set out who is responsible for what. Look at:
- What the transporter is responsible for, and what they're not
- Your responsibility to disclose health issues and behaviour
- Cancellation and refund policies
- How emergency vet care is authorized and paid for
Our own Terms of Service are published on our website.
The most important protection
Insurance pays after something goes wrong. Good practices stop things going wrong in the first place: secure crates, climate control, rested drivers, honest intake and careful documents. Read our article on emergency planning to see what that looks like.
Have questions about coverage for your trip? Ask us when you request a quote.
Planning a move with your pet?
4Paws Movers offers dedicated, climate-controlled ground transport across Ontario and cross-border into the U.S., plus airport cargo drop-off. Every fee is published.