Looking for pet transport in Nottingham? Here’s a rating-sorted look at who actually operates locally, what the motorway and airport position offers, and what the DEFRA licensing tells you.
A note on the ratings below: these are Google’s, from real reviewers, not our own inspection.
Pet transport covering Nottingham
Midlands Pet Ambulance CIC
34 Shields Cres, Castle Donington, Derby DE74 2JS
Phone: 07565 487647
Google Maps · Website
Worth being precise about scope: Midlands Pet Ambulance CIC is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run community interest company specifically focused on emergency veterinary transport, not routine everyday jobs like a scheduled groomer trip. They cover a genuinely wide area including Nottingham, Beeston, West Bridgford, Hucknall and much of Nottinghamshire, alongside parts of Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and were a finalist in the 2026 ASA Animal Star Awards. If you need urgent transport to a vet for an injured or seriously ill pet, this is a real, current, verifiable option; for routine scheduled trips, it may not be the right fit.
National operators who also cover Nottingham
The same recurring UK-wide names show up here too — The Pet Bus, PetsA2B, ExecPets and — worth noting specifically — 101 Pet Express, which is actually based in Nottingham itself (Mapperley), though it operates as a national UK and Europe specialist rather than a purely local everyday taxi.
Checking a DEFRA licence in Nottingham
Type 2 (long journey, over 8 hours) authorisations are published as open data by the Animal and Plant Health Agency and updated monthly. Type 1 (up to 8 hours) isn’t published anywhere public. Midlands Pet Ambulance CIC’s work is predominantly local emergency transport, the kind that would typically sit under Type 1 — ask them directly for their current authorisation reference before relying on their service, and note that not appearing on the published Type 2 list is never evidence of being unlicensed.
Getting around: the M1 and East Midlands Airport
Nottingham sits close to the M1, giving straightforward road connections north to Leeds and Sheffield and south to London, with the A50 and A52 handling more local East Midlands routes. East Midlands Airport, just south of the city near Castle Donington, is the UK’s largest airport for freight and cargo outside London — genuinely significant infrastructure, though worth being precise about: we checked and couldn’t confirm it has its own live animal Border Control Post for pets arriving under the Pet Travel Scheme, despite the airport’s own site offering general Pet Travel Scheme guidance. The main UK pet reception centres remain Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester — see our Manchester pet transport guide for the nearest confirmed arrangement to Nottingham.
What to have ready before you travel
A DEFRA authorisation reference on request, confirmation of whether your pet travels alone or with others, and a written quote before booking are the same basics that apply everywhere in this directory — our pet transport hub covers the full list of questions worth asking and red flags to watch for. If your dog is a puppy coming from a breeder, our guide to puppy couriers covers what’s genuinely different about that specific journey.
For dogs that find travel or a new environment stressful, some owners find a natural calming supplement helps take the edge off — worth having a look around Calmshops. It’s not a substitute for the checks above, just something that can help alongside them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions dog owners may have about this topic.
Is there a local pet transport operator in Nottingham?
Yes — Midlands Pet Ambulance CIC, based in Castle Donington, covers Nottingham and much of Nottinghamshire, but specifically for emergency veterinary transport rather than routine scheduled trips. 101 Pet Express is also based in Nottingham but operates as a national UK and Europe specialist.
Does East Midlands Airport have an Animal Reception Centre?
We couldn’t confirm one. Despite being the UK’s largest freight airport outside London, the main UK pet reception centres for the Pet Travel Scheme remain Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester.
Does the DEFRA Type 2 register cover all licensed Nottingham operators?
No — it only covers Type 2 (long journey, over 8 hours) authorisations. Local operators doing shorter, emergency or everyday jobs commonly hold Type 1 authorisation instead, which isn’t published anywhere public.
What motorways serve Nottingham for pet transport?
Nottingham sits close to the M1, connecting north to Leeds and Sheffield and south to London, with the A50 and A52 handling more local East Midlands routes.
Written by Georgiana & Figo. Have a question about pet transport? Have a look around Calmshops or drop us a line — we answer everything.
