What are the government approved pet microchip databases in the UK?

Getting your pet microchipped is one thing, but which database should you register your pet to?

There are 17 government-approved national pet microchip databases in the UK and all of them offer a wide range of services from basic chip registration to comprehensive lost pet reunification services. Of course, you’ll also have to consider the cost of membership. Selecting a pet database seems like a very complicated task for pet owners, but not to worry, we’re here to help. We’ve listed all the pet authorised databases in the UK and the services each of them offer so you know what to expect when you register your pet with any of them.

Before we go over our list of databases, it is important that we understand the significance of microchipping and how keeping your pet details up to date helps with pet reunification.

Why should I get my pet microchipped and registered?

Dog microchipping has been a legal requirement since 2016, read more here.

Every year, thousands of pets go missing, and many are never found because they are not chipped or their microchip information is outdated and they do not have other means of identification, like ID tags. Getting your pet microchipped and registering it to an authorised database gives you a better chance of being reunited with your lost pet once they are found.

It is also your responsibility to keep your pet’s microchip information up to date, for example, if you move house or change your contact details. This makes it easier for database companies to facilitate the reunification of missing pets.

List of government-endorsed pet databases and the services they offer:

Pet Database

PetDatabase.com is the only free Defra compliant UK database. They offer a 100% safe and secure place to store your pet’s details, and allow you to make as many changes to these details as you like. Also, if your pet is already registered on another database, they provide a free switching service, so once you have signed up they don’t have to worry about the boring admin of getting their details switched from a previous database.

Their free membership also has other benefits such as a free lost pet service, exclusive perks and offers, plus they also sell pet tags as well, using QR codes rather than engraving, so you they automatically update when you update your pet’s details.

To read more about Pet Database, click here

Animal Microchips

AnimalMicrochips offers pet microchipping services with a list of trained implanters all around the UK.

They have a free lost or stolen pet service where you can easily mark your pet lost or stolen by logging into your account. The public will be able to see your lost pet’s details so they can contact you directly.

They also provide training for individuals who would like to perform pet microchipping.

Lifetime Registration: £15.00 + VAT

To read more about AnimalMicrochips lost pet service, click here.

Animal Tracker

Animal Tracker has a 24-hour telephone line for lost and found pets which is manned all year round. Microchip registered with Animal Tracker comes with an integration called Scanner Angel, so if your lost pet is found, this will send your pet’s chip number to a network of scanners that will alert the operator.

They also offer a premium upgrade that gives you additional services like unlimited phone and address changes, free lost pet posters, perks and offers from partners, etc.

Premium account: discounted one-off payment of £7.95, or at a later date at a one-off payment of £15.00.

Read more about Animal Tracker’s lost pet service here.

Chipworks

Chipworks offer free contact details update for phone and email but other changes to your pet’s registration details may have an admin fee.

You can make changes as often as you like when you upgrade to Chipworks Xtra. For a one-off fee, you also get a free collar tag and a membership of Chipworks Vetline, a veterinary advice line for members to talk about any health concerns they may have about their pets.

Upgrade to Chipworks Xtra: £ 19.95

If you would like to order a Chipworks collar tag, click here.

Identibase

Registering your pet’s microchip details with Identibase is free with a basic membership. Upgrade to a premium membership so you could make unlimited changes to your profile and have access to other services like a lost dog support line, personalised lost pet posters, pet care vouchers and exclusive perks and offers from their brand partners.

Premium membership: £4.00 monthly or £30.00 annual subscription

For more details on Identibase’s pet reunification service, click here.

MicroChip Central

MicroChip Central has a Premium account that lets you update your personal and pet details for life, add additional pets to your account, report your pet missing, access veterinary advice by telephone and receive a free DogTrac ID tag.

Their lost pet service alerts the Pet Watch community as well as sends out text and email notifications to you when a microchip search is done on your pet.

The first registration for microchips supplied by MicroChip Central is free. Other pet registrations and transfers cost £12.00 + VAT, read more here.

MicroDogID

Micro Dog ID provides microchipping and database services for greyhounds and some dogs, such as pets of greyhound owners. Microchipping greyhound pups will take place at the same time as they are earmarked.

MicroDogID does not accept registrations on their site. To visit the MicroDogID UK Enquiry System, click here.

MyPet

With a one-off fee for each pet, MyPet lets you update your details as many times as you would need to. As a member, you have access to the MyPet iOS and Android app with lost pet service, you also get offers and discounts from the MyPet shop and receive email notifications when your pet’s microchip has been searched on a DEFRA-compliant database.

Lifetime membership: £1.99 per pet

Register your pet with MyPet here.

National Veterinary Data Service

The National Veterinary Data Service offers microchipping and reunification services with 24/7 help and support. They are mainly a veterinary database.

To register your pet with National Veterinary Data Service, you will have to contact your local veterinary practice. For more information, click here.

Pet Chip Register

Pet Chip Register provides database services that let you update your information and mark your pet lost or stolen immediately, straight from your mobile, by logging into your account. Their lost pet service is available 24 hours a day.

According to the Pet Chip Register website, it cost nothing to sign up your puppy and you just get your breeder to sign up for you. Find out more information here.

Pet Identity UK

Pet Identity UK offers database, microchipping, and pet reunification services which come with a lifetime fee. Their pet recovery service, Home Pet 365, is available 24 hours each day. To find out how the Home Pet 365 service works, click here.

They also offer a Tag I.D. that is fixed to your pet’s collar. The Tag ID shows a unique code for the pet and a 24-hour free telephone line so when a lost pet gets found, they can notify Pet Identity UK immediately and reunite the pet and owner rapidly.

The lifetime fee for Pet Identity UK microchips is £15.00 and non-Pet Identity UK microchips at £20.00. Add the Tag I.D. system for £20 per year.

Petlog

Petlog offers microchip database services for the life of your pet. Upgrading to Petlog Premium allows you to update your details at any time with no extra cost and it also gives you additional lost pet features.

The cost of Petlog Premium is £17.00.

Find out more about the benefits of Petlog Premium here.

PetScanner

PetScanner sells a scanning device that you can pair with your phone through the PetScanner app. The scanner can be used to scan a pet with a microchip to display the pet’s microchip details as well as the owner’s details on your phone app so the owner can be contacted immediately if the pet is missing. You also get alerts for microchip scans and searches when a vet or anyone scans or searches for your pet’s microchip.

Register your pet at PetScanner for a one-off fee of £2.99 per pet.

More information on the PetScanner device can be found here.

ProtectedPet

Pet identification and recovery services are offered by ProtectedPet. Reducing the number of lost and stray dogs, cats and other animals is their goal. Their lost pet service is available 24/7.

Their service includes two plans, Basic and Gold. The Basic plan is simply your pet’s registration online and lets you flag your lost or stolen pet instantly. On the other hand, the Gold plan lets you change your details at any time and gives you additional lost pet features.

Basic plan is a one-off payment of £15.99 and Gold plan is for £29.99.

Read more about the ProtectedPet benefits you get here.

SmartTrace

SmartTrace offers a 24-hour pet recovery service. The SmartTrace online account allows you to report a missing pet straight away.

With basic membership, you can update your details at £9.95 each time or pay a lifetime fee of £19.95 so you can update your details instantly as many times as you wish.

They also offer a free puppy pack with microchip transfer, find out more here.

UK PETtrac MicroChip Database

The PETtrac Database offers a reunification service for vets, rescue centres, dog wardens and pet owners that helps reunite lost pets 24 hours a day all year round. Other services include freephone telephone numbers, instant microchip registration via their website and mobile app, as well as an SMS reunification service called TEXTtrac.

If you’re likely to update your details frequently, join the PETtrac Plus scheme for a one-off fee of £16.95

They also sell customised brass collar tags here.

We Trace Pets

WeTrace Pets promises a secure database and simple microchip information update. When you register with WeTrace Pets, you can take advantage of their 24/7 dedicated helpline based in the UK. Their experienced team is always available to help should your pet gets lost or stolen.

A standard account is £15.99 and a premium account is for £19.99.

Additional services are offered when you upgrade to a premium account, read more here.

Conclusion

Generally, most databases offer protection of your pet details and some form of 24/7 service for lost pets, however the only one that actually offers free updates for the duration of your pet’s life is PetDatabase.com. All the others will either charge you admin fees or will get you to upgrade to a premium account, just to be able to keep your pet safe and up to date. Some of these paid services from databases like Animal Tracker, Identibase, Petlog and ProtectedPet include additional lost pet features (though this service is also free on PetDatabase.com). These additional features include personalised posters, dedicated free telephone lines, notification alerts and more. To know more about what databases do to help you find your lost or stolen pet, click here.

Another service offered is collar tags that are available to purchase from Chipworks, Pet Identity UK and UK PETtrac MicroChip Database. Additionally, PetScanner sells a device that scans microchips to help identify pets. PetDatabase.com sells tags using QR code technology which means every time you update your pet’s details, they are also updated on the tag, via the QR code, so you don’t have to worry about engraving!