A pet taxi is a private transportation service for animals: dogs, cats, and even exotic pets that need to get somewhere they can’t drive themselves. If you have never used one, the process is simpler than most people expect, and knowing what to expect makes your first ride smooth for you and for your pet. I run Pets Go Taxi in Los Angeles, and this is how it works from the first message to the drop-off, with two real rides to show what it looks like in practice.
What a Pet Taxi Actually Is
Think of it as a ride for your pet when you can’t be the one driving. That might be a vet visit, a groomer, an airport pickup, a move across the state, or getting a rescued animal to a rehabilitator. Unlike a regular taxi or rideshare, the driver is there for the animal, in a vehicle with room for it, and expects to handle pets. It is a real business with real costs, not a favor and not a subsidized program.
How a Booking Works, Step by Step
It starts when you call, text, or email. I ask where the pet is going, what kind of animal it is, and when you need the ride, and then I give you a quote. If the quote works for you, I send a service agreement, which is a liability release that spells out the terms of the ride. You sign it, send payment by one of the accepted methods, and tell me about your pet. After that, I show up at the agreed time and place, and the ride happens.
What I Need to Know About Your Pet
This is the part that matters most. I cannot tell how a dog will react from a text message, so what you tell me is the only warning I get. If a dog is reactive or nervous around strangers, I won’t try to touch it or crowd it, and I give it as much space as I can. If I know ahead of time, I can plan around it. If I don’t, I find out when I arrive. Tell me about anxiety, carsickness, medications, bathroom needs, and anything else that affects how your pet handles a car.
A Baby Opossum Named Fern
My first booking was a baby opossum. A woman named Carol had rescued her and named her Fern, and she had arranged for a licensed rehabilitator at Pasadena Humane Society to take her. Carol didn’t have a car. She texted me, asked if I could do the job, and Fern was already waiting in her own box. Picking her up and dropping her off in Pasadena was easy, mostly because Carol had her ready to go. If you have a pet in its own box or carrier before the pickup, you’re already doing the most helpful thing you can.
A 90-Pound Hovawart Named Max
Another ride was an owner named Bea flying into Van Nuys Airport with her Hovawart, Max, a big black dog around 90 pounds. She landed at a private aviation terminal, which I had never been to, and a handful of other passengers got off with their own pets. I arrived early, but her flight came in about 15 minutes late, and I ended up waiting around 30 minutes in total. That is part of the job, and flights do run late. Max was calm the whole time, and his only moment of anxiety came when Bea stepped away to get cash and he had to wait in the truck without her. It was a reminder of how attached dogs are to their owners, and of why it is easier to sort out payment before the ride starts.
What a Pet Taxi Costs
Local rides start at $100. Prices go up with distance, so a trip across the state, like Los Angeles to San Francisco or Sacramento, costs far more because of the gas and the hours on the road. Long-distance rides run from a few hundred dollars to well over $1,000 depending on where you’re going. Large dogs, extra pets, rush hour, and waiting time can also add to the price. You get the number before you commit, so there are no surprises.
It Is Not a Free Service
Some people assume a pet taxi is free or subsidized. It is not. There is no government or nonprofit funding behind it. It is a small business paid for out of pocket, covering gas, the vehicle, and the driver’s time. The vehicle also has to be big enough for large animals, which makes it more expensive to run. Asking for a big discount usually doesn’t work, because the price reflects what the ride actually costs to provide.
What You See Is What You Get
Pets Go Taxi is one driver and one vehicle. I don’t hand your booking to a network of strangers you’ve never met, and the photos and videos on the site are the real thing. If you book a ride, that is who and what shows up for your pet.
Ready to Book?
If you want to get your pet somewhere safely, contact Pets Go Taxi with the pickup location, destination, the type and size of your pet, and the date you need the ride. You’ll get a quote back before anything is booked.