Microchipping your pet

Helping to find your furry friend

Getting your pet microchipped is a safe and simple procedure that can help get your four-legged friend back if they’re ever lost or stolen.

Pet insurance doesn’t cover the cost of microchipping – but it’s still a worthwhile precaution for any pet parent. And if your pet does go missing, we can always help out in other ways.

What is microchipping?

A microchip is a tiny implant, around the size of a grain of rice, which is injected under your pet’s skin to help identify them if they’re ever lost or stolen.

Each chip has a unique code, which links through to a file on a database – this file contains your contact details and important information about your pet.

If your lost pet is found and handed in to a vet or rescue centre, they can scan the microchip to find your details.

The rules around microchipping

All dogs over eight weeks old in the UK are required by law to be microchipped. If you don’t microchip your dog by the time it’s eight weeks old, you could face a fine of up to £500.

As well as getting your dog microchipped, it’s also a legal requirement to register the microchip number and your details on a government-approved database.

So what about other pets? Do cats or rabbits need to be microchipped? It’s not a legal requirement for cats, rabbits or any other pet to be microchipped – but it’s still a worthwhile precaution to take.

Where can you get your pet microchipped?

A number of pet health professionals and organisations can microchip your pet, including:

• Your local vet
• Animal wardens
• Local councils
• Pet shops
• Welfare centres and charities

How much does microchipping cost?

The cost of getting your pet microchipped can vary – but you’ll typically pay between £10 and £30.

Some animal charities and organisations will even microchip your pet for free, including:

• Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
• Blue Cross
• Dogs Trust

How is a microchip fitted?

Getting a microchip fitted should be quick and pain-free for your pet. The chip is placed underneath your pet’s skin, usually on the back of its neck just behind their shoulder blade.

Once the microchip is fitted, it shouldn’t ever move or bother your pet at all.

What details are included on a microchip?

Each microchip links through to a government-approved database, which contains important and useful information about you and your pet. This could include:

• Your name
• Home address
• Telephone number
• Emergency contact number
• Your vet's contact details
• Information about your pet’s health, for example, allergies, dietary requirements and behavioural traits

It’s you that’s responsible for keeping your pet’s microchip information up to date. So if you ever make any changes, for example moving home or changing your telephone number, it’s important to update your details.

Your pet insurance and microchipping

Although our pet insurance doesn’t cover the cost of microchipping, we can still help protect your pet.

It’s important for insurance purposes that your pet is microchipped, as there are certain circumstances where we won’t pay out if it’s not.

Helpful pet guides

Our handy guides can help keep your pet safe and help find them if they ever go missing.

Ready to protect your pet?

If you’d like to get a quote for your pet insurance, you can get started right away. If you’re ready, we’re ready.

Need to talk to us?

Call 0344 543 1032

Other contact details

We’re here Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm and Saturday, 9am-1pm. Calls are charged at local rates from landlines and mobiles and may be monitored and recorded.