Pricing
Most cross-country ground pet transport runs $3,800–$7,400 for a 2,000–4,000 mile route. Within 1,000 miles, expect $500–$2,000. PAX quotes are itemized, distance-based, and one flat fee covers up to 5 pets in the same household — no per-pet upcharges, no broker margins.
Updated 2026-05-08 · Reviewed by Ian Rutger Will, Founder
Pricing is based on miles driven, not on how many pets are in the vehicle. The table below shows typical ranges for a standard ground route — single pet or full household.
| Distance | Typical price |
|---|---|
| 0 – 1,000 miles | $500 – $2,000 |
| 1,000 – 2,000 miles | $2,000 – $3,800 |
| 2,000 – 3,000 miles | $3,800 – $5,600 |
| 3,000 – 4,000 miles | $5,600 – $7,400 |
One flat fee covers up to 5 pets in the same household. Groups of 6 or more may require a second vehicle and are quoted case-by-case. Brachycephalic breeds add $0.15 per mile (see surcharges below).
Every quote is built from the same set of inputs. The biggest variable is distance; the rest are case-by-case adjustments.
Surcharges fund real ops work, not margin. Every line appears on your quote with a reason.
Flat-faced breeds (Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs, Boxers, Pekingese, Shih Tzus, Persian cats, and similar) require extra planning: pre-trip altitude routing, more frequent cool-down stops, vehicle climate calibration, and avoidance of extreme-heat windows. The per-mile surcharge funds this additional ops time and the specialized rest cadence we build into the route.
For pets that need medication on the road, scheduled vet stops, or specialized monitoring. Standard ($150) covers medication schedule, extra vet stops, and a monitoring plan. Extended ($250) adds IV/oxygen-ready transport and on-call vet coordination during the trip.
When the national average gas price exceeds $3.00 per gallon, a small per-mile fuel surcharge applies — passed through transparently, with no markup. When prices are at or below $3.00, there is no surcharge at all.
Active-duty service members and veterans receive 10% off every PAX transport. We also waive rush fees and date-change fees for PCS clients — if your orders shift, your dates shift with them. Pet transport for PCS moves is tax-deductible as a moving expense under IRS Publication 521.
If you're a 501(c)(3) rescue, a municipal shelter, or a veterinary practice booking on behalf of a patient, email us before requesting a quote. Discounts come out of the PAX admin share — never out of driver pay. When a discount can't be absorbed that way, we compensate the driver another way so they're still made whole.
One fee covers up to 5 pets in the same household. No per-pet upcharges, no per-crate fees. Move three dogs and two cats together at the same price as moving one. For groups larger than 5, we quote a second vehicle case-by-case.
Commercial airline cargo for pets runs $250–$1,000 per pet, plus airline-approved carrier requirements, vet certificates within 10 days of travel, and the recurring risk of weather-grounded flights. For multi-pet households, ground often comes out lower overall because PAX charges one fee for the whole family while airlines charge per pet.
For single-pet, short-distance trips, air may look cheaper on the surface — but the safety calculus changes. Cargo holds expose pets to pressure swings, temperature extremes, loud engine noise, and zero human contact for hours. With PAX, your pet stays in a climate-controlled cabin with a single trusted driver from pickup to drop-off.
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