Frequently Asked Questions

On the 6th of April 2016 it became a requirement for all dogs over the age of 8 weeks in England, Scotland and Wales to be permanently identified with a pet MicroChip - for more details please click here.


For a change of address you may update via the telephone, online or in writing.

A change of keeper will only be accepted in writing or through an online account for security reasons. We have procedures in place to ensure that a transfer is legitimate and to try and prevent transfers when a pet is missing or has been stolen. Even if you do not have contact with the previous keeper, we will be able to handle this once the application is received.

There is more than one database in the UK for MicroChipped pets so it is advisable to have your pet's MicroChip number to hand before contacting us regarding your pet as it will enable us to help you more easily.

To find out more about updating details please click here to check the number and follow the further options.


We will happily accept any paperwork back via email provided it has been signed where neccessary.

Simply take a high-quality photo or scan and attach it to an email to us. You should find the email address in the top right-hand corner of all our forms.

Please note that if we find the image is unclear we may request you post it to us instead.


If you are applying to transfer the animal into your details you can include your pet's new name in the application.

If the animal is already registered in your details, you can update the name by signing up for an online account here and linking your pet or by contacting us directly.


In the event that the previous registered keeper has sadly passed away, we would not require their authorisation for the transfer.

We would need you to confirm their full name and include a note that they have passed away with your application. If applying online this can be included in the 'Additional Notes' section. If applying via a paper form this can be written on the form.

Provided the details match the previous registered keeper on our system, we can approve the transfer without completing our standard transfer process.


As a database we do not receive any external funding so rely on keepers paying a small fee for detail updates to keep our database running 24/7, 365.

This charge can vary depending on the type of update you are completing but any changes to telephone numbers or email addresses are free of charge. You will find the amount shown when applying for a change either online or via a paper form.

You should find there are options of how to make payment as you apply for the update. We accept payments online, in the post and via the telephone.

If you have further questions about our charges please contact us.


There is a cost in providing, maintaining and developing the database service which we operate, particularly manning the lost and found telephone service 24 hours a day. We receive no government funding for providing this service.

The price paid at the time of having the MicroChip implanted is for the MicroChip and implantation procedure. Only a very small proportion of this money is received by the database service.

It is also important to remember that we want to provide a database service for the entirety of your pet's lifetime and not just this year or the next - the charges we make help to ensure this happens.

We understand that some pet owners will need to update details more frequently than others which is why we offer the option to upgrade to PETtrac Plus - for more details click here.


The MicroChip database's main purpose is to help reunite lost and stolen pets with their keepers. If a MicroChip is scanned, the finding organisation can contact us to get the registered details to aid with the reunification process.

The PETtrac database is there to help reunite lost pets 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - trained personnel, online services, SMS services and mobile apps all help provide this dedicated service.

We always ensure your data is protected and information is only passed out to authorised personnel who we can verify. If we cannot verify the person who has found your pet, we would contact you ourselves to pass on details to aid in the reunification.


A MicroChip is a tiny computer chip which has an identification number programmed into it. The chip is encased in a strong bio-compatible glass, and is small enough to fit into a hypodermic needle. Once the chip has been implanted, the unique number can identify your pet throughout their lifetime once registered on a pet MicroChip Database. The MicroChip is covered in an anti-migratory coating to help prevent the MicroChip moving around the body.

A MicroChip scanner is used to send a radio signal through the skin of the animal to read the chip. The animal feels nothing as the scanner is passed over them and the chip is read. The MicroChip number is then relayed to the scanner where it is displayed.

Every MicroChip number is unique. The number will remain the same for the lifetime of the animal, even if the animal is rehomed, and no other animal will have the same number.


No, MicroChips are not GPS tracking devices. They are scanned with a handheld MicroChip scanner, the MicroChip number is then displayed on the scanner and the authorised authorities use this number to identify you and your pet.

Currently, the technology does not exist to manufacture an implantable GPS pet MicroChip but there are devices which will attach to your pet's collar to provide this service.


No, currently it is only compulsory to have dogs, cats and horses MicroChipped

If you have a dog over 8 weeks of age or a cat over 20 weeks of age then it must be MicroChipped and up to date details registered on a compliant UK MicroChip Database.

For more details about compulsory MicroChipping, please click here.


For dogs it is a legal requirement for them to wear a collar tag under the Control of Dogs Order (1992). For more information on the engraved brass collar tags we offer which also state that a pet is microchipped please click here.

If you have a question which hasn't already been answered above, please contact us.