Why the questions matter
Once your dog or cat is in someone else's care, you cannot see what is happening. That makes the questions you ask before booking the most important part of the process. Good companies answer them plainly. Evasive answers are information too.
The twelve questions
- Is the trip private? Will only my animals be on the trip, or will other owners' pets ride along or be transferred between vehicles?
- Does a person stay with my pet the whole time? From pickup to delivery, or do handlers change at hubs?
- Is the vehicle climate-controlled? Ask what that means in practice, in summer heat and winter cold.
- How are animals carried? Ask whether cats and small pets stay crated the whole trip, and what the plan is for dogs.
- How often are there rest, feeding and exercise stops? Ask what a typical day on the road looks like.
- How will I get updates? Photos and messages during the trip beat silence.
- Is the company registered? In the United States, transporters of dogs and cats for compensation are generally expected to be registered with USDA APHIS. Ask for the registration number and verify it. Happy Arrival Pets is a USDA APHIS registered Class T carrier.
- How much experience do you have? Ask how long they have transported animals and how they handle problems on the road.
- What happens if something goes wrong? Ask about delays, weather, a sick animal or a vehicle problem, and who you can reach.
- Is the quote fixed? Ask what is included and what could change the price.
- What are the deposit and cancellation terms? Get them in writing before you pay.
- What paperwork do you need from me? A knowledgeable transporter will ask about vaccination records and route requirements before you do.
Red flags
- They cannot or will not tell you who will be with your pet.
- The price is far below everyone else's and the details are vague.
- They want full payment up front with no written terms.
- There is no way to reach anyone during the trip.
- They cannot show a registration or license number, or the number does not check out.
- They promise a pickup or delivery date they cannot control, such as a guaranteed time through mountain passes in winter.
How to verify registration
A registration number is only useful if it is real and current. Ask the company for its USDA APHIS registration number, then check it against the USDA's records or ask your state veterinarian's office how to verify it. A company that is proud of its registration will give you the number without hesitation. If a company says it does not need one, ask why.
Marketplaces versus a single company
Some platforms connect you with many independent drivers who bid on your trip. A single company handles the whole trip itself. Neither model is wrong, but the questions change. On a marketplace, you vet each driver individually: registration, reviews, vehicle and insurance. With a single company, you vet the company and its process. In both cases the twelve questions above apply.
Reading reviews properly
- Look for specifics: routes, pet types, what the company did when something went wrong.
- Pay attention to how a company responds to a bad review. Defensive replies are a warning sign.
- Check more than one platform, and be cautious about a perfect score with very few reviews.
- Treat reviews as one input. They are not a substitute for asking the questions.
Insurance and liability
Ask what is covered, in what circumstances, and for how much, and get the answer in writing. Do not assume that a carrier's registration covers an accident or illness. Ask what happens if an animal is injured, falls ill or escapes, and who you contact. Honest companies will answer clearly, and will tell you what they cannot promise.
A booking checklist
- Written quote with what is included.
- Written deposit, payment and cancellation terms.
- Pickup window and delivery window in writing, with the caveat that weather can change them.
- Name and phone number of your contact, and how to reach them during the trip.
- The paperwork you need to provide.
- Update plan: how often and by what method.
- Emergency plan: who you call, and who calls you.
- Your own notes about your pet, written down and sent.
What to expect after you book
A good company confirms your details in writing, tells you what to prepare, and gives you a pickup window as the date approaches. You should hear from your handler or coordinator before pickup. During the trip you should receive updates. After delivery, you should have a way to follow up if you have concerns. If any of that is missing, ask before the trip, not after.
Compare against what matters to you
Write down your priorities before collecting quotes: a private trip, a fixed delivery window, special-needs handling, updates, a specific date. Then score each company against them. The right transporter is the one whose answers you trust, not simply the cheapest.
Questions about how we work? Read how a transport is coordinated, see our safety protocols and credentials, or request a fixed quote.