Written by the Sydenham Mini Cabs team. Last updated .
Why you should tell us about your pet first
Private hire drivers are allowed to decide whether they carry pets. Some have allergies. Some have just had the car valeted for an airport job. That is why turning up with an unannounced dog can lead to a refused ride.
When you mention your pet at the time of booking, we match the job to a driver who welcomes animals. The car arrives expecting you, and the journey starts calmly.
Assistance dogs are a separate matter. Guide dogs and other trained assistance dogs are carried by law at no extra charge, and you do not need to arrange anything special. Telling us is still helpful, because we can send a car with more floor space.
What we need to know when you book
A few details make all the difference.
- What kind of animal it is and roughly how big
- Whether it travels in a carrier, a crate or on a lead
- How many people are coming along
- Whether the pet is unwell, anxious or recovering from surgery
- Where you are going, and whether you want us to wait
A cat in a carrier fits in any saloon. A Labrador is fine in a saloon footwell or on a covered back seat. A Great Dane or two large dogs need an estate. We will tell you honestly which car suits.
Taxi to the vet from Sydenham
Vet visits are the main reason people call. Vaccinations, check ups, dental work, operations and the harder visits that every owner dreads.
There are veterinary practices along Sydenham Road and Kirkdale, in Forest Hill, in Penge and around Crystal Palace. For referrals, owners are often sent further out, to specialist hospitals in Kent or Surrey. We drive to all of them.
Wait and return
For a routine appointment, ask about wait and return. The driver drops you, waits nearby and takes you home afterwards. It is often easier than booking two separate cars, especially with a groggy animal after sedation.
Out of hours and urgent trips
Our office is open 24 hours a day. If your pet needs an emergency vet at 2am, call 020 8778 8888, tell us it is urgent and say where the out of hours clinic is. We will send the nearest driver who carries animals. Phone the clinic first so they are ready for you.
Getting your pet ready for the car
A little preparation helps your pet, the driver and the next passenger.
Cats and small animals should be in a secure carrier. Line it with a towel that smells of home. Dogs should be on a lead and under control. Bring a blanket or a sheet for the seat if your dog sheds or has been in the park.
Try not to feed your pet a big meal just before the trip. A walk beforehand settles most dogs. Keep the window open a little, as fresh air helps with travel sickness.
If an accident happens, tell the driver. Ask us when you book whether any cleaning charge could apply, so that it is clear in advance.
Parks and walks worth the ride
Sydenham has good green space on the doorstep, and sometimes a short ride opens up a much better walk.
Crystal Palace Park has wide lawns, woodland and the famous dinosaurs by the lake. Dulwich Park has a broad, flat circuit that suits older dogs. Sydenham Hill Wood is shaded and quiet in summer. Beckenham Place Park is the largest of all, with miles of paths through woods and meadow.
Closer to home, Mayow Park and Sydenham Wells Park are both lovely. Check the signs at each park, as some areas ask for dogs to be kept on leads.
A taxi with your dog to Crystal Palace Park or Beckenham Place Park takes 10 to 15 minutes from most of SE26. Book the return for a set time, or call when you and the dog are worn out.
Groomers, kennels, catteries and day care
Regular appointments are easy to set up. If your dog goes to the groomer every six weeks, or to day care twice a week, we can make it a repeating booking at the same time each visit.
Before a holiday, many owners drop their pets at kennels or a cattery on the way. We can do it as one journey. The car collects you all, stops at the kennels and then carries on. See our minicab from Sydenham to Gatwick Airport page if you are flying from there, or the Sydenham to Heathrow Airport taxi page.
Moving home and adopting a pet
Two other journeys come up often.
Moving house is stressful for animals. A separate car for the cat or dog, away from the removal van and the noise, keeps them calm. One family member rides along and the pet arrives at the new home last, once the doors are shut.
Adopting is the happier trip. Rescue centres usually ask you to collect your new pet in person. Bring a carrier or a lead and a blanket, and tell us it is the animal's first ride with you. The driver will take the bends gently.
Travelling on with your pet
Dogs are welcome on most trains in Britain, and plenty of owners take theirs on holiday. A car to the terminal avoids the Underground escalators, which dogs must be carried on.
For the west of England, see our Sydenham to Paddington Station taxi page. For the south coast, the Sydenham to Waterloo Station taxi page has the details.
Which vehicle for which animal
A saloon is fine for one person with a cat carrier or a small to medium dog. An estate has a flat load area for a crate or a large dog. For a family with children, luggage and a dog, a 6 seater taxi leaves room for everyone.
Owners nearby can book through our Penge taxi and Crystal Palace taxi pages too.
Small animals, birds and exotics
Rabbits, guinea pigs, parrots and reptiles all need the vet sometimes, and specialist practices are fewer and further apart. Keep the animal in a secure, ventilated carrier and tell us what it is. Cover a bird cage with a light cloth to keep the bird calm on the road.
Prices and payment
We quote before you travel. The fare is based on the journey and the vehicle size. Ask us whether there is any extra charge for carrying a pet, and what the waiting time rate is if you want the driver to stay at the vet.
You can pay by card or cash.
Pet taxi questions
Do all your drivers take pets?
No. Drivers can choose whether to carry pets, which is why we ask you to tell us when you book. We then send a driver who is happy to have animals in the car.
Does my dog need to be in a crate?
Not always. A well behaved dog on a lead can travel in the footwell or on a covered seat. Large or excitable dogs travel better in the back of an estate. Cats and small animals must be in a secure carrier.
Is there an extra charge for pets?
Ask when you book and we will tell you clearly. Assistance dogs always travel free of any extra charge.
Can you take me to an emergency vet at night?
Yes. The office is open 24 hours. Call us, say it is an emergency and give the clinic's address. We will send the nearest suitable driver.
Will the driver wait while my pet is seen?
Yes, if you ask for wait and return. We will quote the waiting time when you book. For long procedures, it is usually better to book a second car for later.
Can my pet travel without me?
We ask that an owner or responsible adult travels with every animal. Pets are calmer with someone they know, and the driver needs to concentrate on the road.
Can I bring my dog on an airport transfer?
Yes, if you are dropping the dog at kennels on the way or travelling with it. Tell us the full plan when you book so we allow time for the stop.