How to Compare Vet Prices in the UK — Your New Rights From September 2026

Austa Albright, Founder of auddl

Until September 2026, comparing vet prices in the UK was almost impossible. Fewer than 40% of practices published any pricing information at all, and those that did often provided only vague or incomplete figures. Pet owners were left to discover costs only after registering with a practice and often only when facing a stressful situation with an unwell animal.

That has now changed. The CMA's 2026 reforms include mandatory price publication — and for the first time, you have both the right to compare vet prices before committing to a practice, and the tools to do so.

What Vets Must Now Publish

Every veterinary practice in the UK is legally required to publish comprehensive price lists covering at minimum 36 standard services across 6 weight categories. These must include:

These prices must be published on the practice's website and displayed in reception. If a practice fails to comply, they are in breach of a CMA Order and can face financial penalties.

How to Use Price Comparison Effectively

Price comparison works best before you register with a practice, not after. Once you and your pet are established with a vet, switching carries emotional and practical costs — your pet's history is at that practice, your vet knows your animal, and the disruption of changing is real. Use the new transparency tools now, before you need them urgently.

When comparing practices, look beyond the consultation fee — which is often used as a loss leader — and compare the costs of services you're likely to need based on your pet's breed and age. For a French Bulldog, respiratory-related diagnostics matter. For a Labrador, orthopaedic consultations may be relevant. For a senior cat, blood panels and kidney function tests are often ongoing costs.

The New Price Comparison Tools Available

The RCVS price comparison system, introduced as part of the CMA reforms, allows pet owners to search and compare practices by location, services, and price for the first time. This is accessible through the RCVS website and represents the most significant structural change in how pet owners interact with the veterinary market.

auddl's vet finder integrates with this information, displaying prices, services, and ownership transparency information alongside practice reviews and opening hours — giving you everything you need to make an informed choice in one place.

Don't Forget Out-of-Hours Costs

Out-of-hours (OOH) vet care is typically provided by specialist emergency centres rather than your regular practice, and the cost difference is significant. An OOH consultation can cost three to five times the price of a standard appointment, and emergency procedures carry equivalent premiums.

Under the CMA reforms, all practices must clearly publish their out-of-hours arrangements and the associated costs. Before you need this information in an emergency, check what your practice provides and what an OOH visit would cost. This is particularly important for owners of breeds prone to health crises — brachycephalic breeds like French Bulldogs and Pugs, giant breeds prone to bloat, and older animals with ongoing health conditions.

The best time to understand your vet costs is before you need to use them urgently. Use the new CMA transparency tools now, while you have time to consider your options calmly.

How auddl Reduces the Need for Emergency Visits

The most effective way to avoid the highest vet bills is to catch health problems early — at the stage when a routine appointment is appropriate rather than an out-of-hours emergency. auddl is designed to give you the early warning system that makes this possible.

The auddl app's AI health companion helps you assess symptoms in real time, with guidance calibrated to your pet's breed, age, and health history. The auddl Pulse collar monitors continuously, detecting changes in heart rate, temperature, and behaviour before visible symptoms appear. Together, they give you the confidence to know when to wait and when to go — and the data to make that decision intelligently rather than in panic.

Join the auddl waitlist and get the Pulse collar free with an annual subscription at auddl.ai.