The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published its final report on the UK veterinary market on 24 March 2026. The headline finding: vet prices in the UK rose 63% between 2016 and 2023, well above inflation. The CMA has ordered 14 remedies to fix what it calls a market that is not working well for pet owners, including mandatory price publication by all UK vets.
This is the most significant shake-up in UK veterinary pricing in decades. If you own a pet — or are thinking of getting one — here is what you need to know, in plain language.
What is the CMA, and why did they investigate vets?
The Competition and Markets Authority is the UK government body responsible for making sure markets work fairly for consumers. It investigates industries where there are signs of poor competition, high prices, or a lack of transparency.
In September 2024, the CMA launched a formal investigation into the UK vet market. The trigger was growing concern from pet owners about rising costs, surprise bills, and the difficulty of comparing prices between practices. According to the PDSA’s 2025 PAW Report, 52% of UK pet owners reported being worried about affording vet care in the next 12 months.
The investigation took 18 months. The CMA gathered pricing data from thousands of practices, surveyed pet owners, and analysed market structure. The final report runs to over 1,000 pages.
What did the CMA find?
The findings paint a clear picture: the UK vet market is not working well for pet owners. Here are the key numbers.
| Finding | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Price increases | Vet prices rose 63% between 2016 and 2023 | CMA Final Report, March 2026 |
| Market concentration | 6 large corporate groups own more than 60% of UK vet practices | CMA Final Report, March 2026 |
| Chain vs independent pricing | Chain vets charge on average 16.6% more than independent practices | CMA Final Report, March 2026 |
| Pet owner awareness | Only 19% of pet owners compared prices before choosing a vet | CMA Final Report, March 2026 |
| Corporate ownership growth | Corporate ownership rose from under 10% two decades ago to over 60% today | CMA Final Report, March 2026 |
In short: a small number of corporate groups now dominate the market, prices have risen far faster than inflation, and most pet owners have no easy way to compare what different vets charge.
The CMA also found that many pet owners do not know whether their vet is independently owned or part of a corporate chain. Practices often keep their original name after being acquired, making it difficult to tell.
The 14 remedies: what’s actually changing?
The CMA has not simply published a report and walked away. It has ordered a legally binding set of remedies — rules that vets must follow. Here are the most important ones for pet owners.
Mandatory price publication
All UK vet practices must publish their prices for the most common treatments. This includes consultation fees, vaccinations, neutering, dental procedures, and other routine services. Prices must be published both online and displayed in the practice.
This is the single biggest change. For the first time, you will be able to see what a vet charges before you walk through the door.
Prescription fee cap
The CMA has capped the fee vets can charge for writing a prescription at £21 for a standard prescription and £12.50 for a repeat prescription. Previously, some practices charged significantly more, which discouraged pet owners from buying medicines elsewhere at a lower price. According to the CMA, buying pet medicines from an online pharmacy can save 30-50% compared with buying directly from your vet.
Written estimates for treatments over £500
If your vet recommends a treatment likely to cost more than £500, they must now provide a written estimate before proceeding. This gives you time to consider the cost, seek a second opinion, or compare prices at another practice. No more bill shock after the fact.
Itemised bills
Vets must provide itemised bills that break down exactly what you are being charged for. This means you can see the separate costs for the consultation, medication, anaesthesia, and procedure — rather than a single lump sum.
Ownership transparency
Every vet practice must clearly display who owns it. If a practice is part of a corporate group, that must be visible to pet owners. No more hidden ownership behind a familiar local name.
What is the timeline for these changes?
The reforms will not happen overnight. Here is the schedule.
| Milestone | Date | Who it affects |
|---|---|---|
| CMA final report published | 24 March 2026 | Sets out findings and remedies |
| CMA Order issued | Expected September 2026 | Legal instrument requiring compliance |
| Large chain vets must comply | December 2026 | Corporate groups with 10 or more practices |
| All remaining vets must comply | March 2027 | Independent practices and smaller groups |
Large corporate chains have a tighter deadline because they have the resources to implement changes quickly. Smaller and independent practices get an additional three months.
What does this mean for you as a pet owner?
In practical terms, here is what changes.
You will be able to compare prices before choosing a vet. From March 2027, every vet in the UK must publish their prices. You will be able to look up what different practices charge for the same treatment and make an informed choice.
You can save money on prescriptions. With the new prescription fee cap, it becomes much more practical to get a prescription from your vet and buy the medication from an online pharmacy. This could save you a significant amount, especially for ongoing treatments.
You will know what you are paying for. Itemised bills and written estimates mean no more surprises. You will see exactly where your money is going.
You will know who owns your vet. If your local practice has been bought by a corporate chain, you will know about it. This helps you make an informed decision about where to take your pet.
Competition should increase. When prices are visible, vets will face real competitive pressure for the first time. Practices that charge significantly more than their neighbours will need to justify it or adjust.
How Pawlee connects to these reforms
Pawlee is building a free comparison tool to help UK pet owners use these newly published prices to find the best-value vet near them. When mandatory price publication begins, Pawlee will aggregate those prices so you can compare them side by side — just search by postcode and treatment.
The CMA reforms create the transparency. Pawlee makes that transparency useful. You can join the Pawlee waitlist to be notified when the tool launches.
For more on whether these reforms will actually bring prices down, read our guide on what the CMA report says about vet prices. And if you have been wondering why vet bills feel so high in the first place, we have covered that too: why are vets so expensive in the UK?.
Want to see what specific treatments cost? Browse our treatment price guides, breed health guides, and condition cost guides.
Pawlee is a free, independent UK vet price comparison service. Compare vet prices by postcode when we launch — join the waitlist.
