An emergency vet consultation typically costs £130 around £73 more than a routine appointment at the same practice. The OOH fee covers the consultation only; treatment, tests and medication are additional.
By Rightvet | Updated 6 June 2026
Out-of-hours fees range from £80 to £325 across 675 published prices. Figures are national medians of published fixed prices from UK first-opinion practices. Treatment, tests and medication are charged separately.
Median published out-of-hours consultation fee across UK practices: £130, from 675 published prices.
Routine first consultation median: £57. The OOH premium is £73 above the routine fee.
Most practices publishing an OOH consultation price fall between £80 and £325 (5th to 95th percentile).
26% of UK first-opinion practices (1,265 of 4,825) publish an out-of-hours or emergency consultation price. The remaining 74% do not publish one, which is expected: many practices direct owners to call ahead, so published prices undercount the true distribution.
Many practices outsource out-of-hours care to a specialist provider such as Vets Now or CVS MiNightVet. If your practice refers you, you will be treated at a regional emergency centre rather than your usual surgery.
The OOH consultation fee is the entry charge. It does not include any treatment.
When your vet is closed, the out-of-hours consultation is the door charge. Everything else, including any diagnostics, medication or procedures, is charged on top.
Median published out-of-hours consultation fee across 675 UK practices. Fixed prices only.
Range (p5 to p95): £80 to £325.
Evening, weekend or bank holiday, when your practice is closed.
Standard booked appointment during normal opening hours.
The median out-of-hours fee is £73 higher than the median routine consultation. The OOH fee usually covers only the consultation; any treatment, diagnostic tests or medication are charged separately.
Facilities, staffing and the infrastructure required to cover nights and weekends.
The OOH premium reflects what it costs to keep a fully equipped veterinary team available at any hour, not just during normal working days.
Emergency centres are purpose-built and staffed separately from daytime practices. Equipment, consumables and premises are maintained specifically for urgent cases.
Vets and nurses working overnight, at weekends and on bank holidays are paid at higher rates. That staffing cost is built into the consultation fee.
An emergency service has to be ready for unpredictable demand. Practices carry staffing and equipment capacity that a booked daytime clinic does not need to maintain.
Your usual practice may not be the one treating your pet at 2am.
Not all practices run their own overnight service. Many refer owners to a regional emergency centre when they are closed.
Some practices, particularly larger ones and those with a dedicated emergency wing, maintain their own overnight rota. If your practice offers this, you will be seen by a vet from the same group, sometimes at the same premises. Check your practice's website or call their after-hours number to confirm.
Many first-opinion practices refer out-of-hours cases to a regional specialist emergency centre, such as Vets Now or CVS MiNightVet. These centres operate independently and charge their own fees, which may differ from what your usual practice publishes. Your records may or may not transfer automatically; take any vaccination certificates or recent clinical notes if you can. At an emergency centre you are likely to encounter more advanced diagnostic equipment, but less continuity with the vet who knows your pet.
To find out who provides out-of-hours cover for your practice, check their website or call during the day. The answer is often published on a practice's emergency information page.
Across 4,825 UK first-opinion practices mapped by Rightvet, 1,265 publish an out-of-hours consultation price online. The remaining 3,560 do not.
A low publication rate is expected. Many practices direct owners to call ahead, so published prices undercount the true distribution.
1,265 practices publish an OOH consultation price online.
3,560 practices do not publish one; owners usually need to call ahead.
Source: Rightvet pricing data, June 2026.
OOH consultation fees vary by location as well as by practice.
Where you live affects what you are likely to pay.
Regional medians use practices that publish a matching OOH consultation price. Regions with fewer than 30 data points are excluded.
A few steps that can reduce uncertainty and protect your finances when your pet needs urgent care.
In a genuine emergency, go immediately. Where time allows, these steps can help.
Call ahead if possible. The practice can prepare and confirm current fees before you arrive.
Take your pet's vaccination records and any recent clinical notes if you have them to hand.
Ask for an estimate before treatment begins, especially for diagnostics or procedures beyond the initial consultation.
Check whether your insurance policy covers emergency care and whether the practice will claim directly from your insurer.
Ask for an itemised invoice on discharge so you can submit a complete insurance claim.
Sourced from each practice's own website. Nothing estimated.
Rightvet maps RCVS-registered UK veterinary practices and records fees published on their own websites. This page uses first-opinion practices only for comparisons. No price on this page is estimated.
CMA service 3 is the out-of-hours or emergency consultation fee as classified by each practice. CMA service 1 is the routine first consultation fee. The OOH premium is the difference between the two national medians.
Rightvet maps 4,825 UK first-opinion practices. Of these, 1,265 publish an OOH consultation price online. OOH prices are among the least published fees in the dataset; the median is based on a smaller sample than routine consultation figures. The true distribution is wider than published data alone can show.
If a price is wrong for your practice, email hello@rightvet.uk and we will review it.
What owners ask when their pet needs urgent care.
The median published out-of-hours consultation fee across UK practices is £130. This covers the consultation only. Any treatment, tests or medication are charged in addition. Prices vary by practice and region.
Most emergency vets ask for payment at the point of treatment or on discharge. Some accept payment plans, but this is at the practice's discretion. If you have pet insurance, ask the practice whether they will claim directly from your insurer or whether you pay first and reclaim.
In principle, yes. In practice, your own practice may refer you to a specific out-of-hours provider they have an arrangement with. If you go to a different provider, your records may not travel with you, which can slow assessment. In a genuine emergency, go to the nearest open practice.
Your normal practice handles routine and booked appointments during the day. An out-of-hours service is available when your practice is closed, typically evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Some practices run their own overnight rota; many refer to a regional emergency centre. Emergency centres carry specialist equipment and staffing, which is reflected in the fee.
Most comprehensive pet insurance policies cover emergency treatment, including the out-of-hours consultation fee, diagnostics and treatment. Check your policy excess, any annual or per-condition limits, and whether the policy covers hereditary or pre-existing conditions. Always ask the practice for an itemised invoice so you can submit a complete claim.