Dog Walking Vehicle

Dog Walking Vehicle – Van vs Car

One of the first things you need to consider when starting a dog walking business is what sort of dog walking vehicle to get. You need to think about how many dogs you think you will walk at once and whether a petrol or diesel makes the most sense. Electric may soon become an option as well but currently the technology is still in its infancy. All the cars I’ve owned for the last 10 years or more have been diesel and despite a current anti-diesel trend in big cities I still think they make the most sense outside somewhere like London for the following two reasons:

  1. Diesel vehicles are generally capable of higher mileages (longer useful life) than petrol vehicles.
  2. Diesel vehicles are more fuel efficient than petrol vehicles.

Once I’d decided on a diesel the next decision was what size of vehicle to get. There are people who use estate cars or SUV’s for transporting dogs but in my opinion you want something square and boxy with no sloping roof lines. Essentially you want a van or an MPV that’s derived from a van. Dog crates tend to be very square so your vehicle should be too to maximise space.

At the larger end of the market popular models could be vehicles like the VW Transporter, Fiat Scudo, Citroen Dispatch or Peugeot Expert (the last 3 are almost identical and made on the same production line). The next size down and also very popular with dog walkers are vehicles like Fiat Doblo, Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Partner, VW Caddy, Ford Transit Connect and the Renault Kangoo. This is the size of vehicle I wanted, perfectly suited to carrying about four dogs at a time, good on fuel and relatively reliable and cheap to maintain. Since all of these vehicles are available as a van or car this was the decision I had to make. How I approached this decision and the pros and cons as I saw them form the basis of the rest of this article.

Dog Walking Vehicle – Advantages of Van

Since it’s just Ewelina and I at home I don’t need more than 2 seats so a van was a real possibility. As I see it these are the advantages of a van.

  1. Transporting multiple dogs day in and day out can lead to your vehicle to have that ‘doggy’ smell. If you own a van with a full bulkhead then the driver’s cabin is completely separate from where the dogs will be.
  2. Vans don’t have windows. Some people argue that all that glass in a regular car acts as a greenhouse in hot weather which is not ideal for the dogs. To counter this however a regular car with air conditioning is likely to have a cooler interior than a van where the air conditioning won’t reach the cargo area if you have a bulkhead. The problem with dogs in hot cars always seems to occur when the car is parked with the engine off with no circulation. Realistically no dog is likely to be in my vehicle unattended for more than a few minutes whilst I am collecting or dropping off another dog. However just to be sure I feel it’s wise to invest in a 12v fan for any dog walking vehicle which works regardless of whether the key is in the ignition. Window blinds or tinted windows can also help reduce the impact of the sun. Another perceived advantage of not having windows is that you have much more space for signwriting your dog walking vehicle to help with advertising.

Dog Walking Vehicle – Advantages of a Car

  1. The first advantage of the car based versions of the vehicles I was looking at is their flexibility. If it’s to be your only vehicle, providing the cages can be removed you still have a 5 seater vehicle. The rear seats can be completely removed or folded away giving you interior space similar to the van models. When you need extra seats though there are there.
  2. Another advantage of the car based versions is the cost of insurance. There seems little logic to it but if you get quotes on a vehicle and explain most of the mileage will be business use, the quote for the car based versions will typically be about half that of the van based version.
  3. Another cost related advantage of the car based version of the vehicles I was looking at relates to the cost for road tax. Vehicle excise duty for vans seems to be at a flat rate and takes no account of the size of the vehicle or how polluting it is. Basically all commercial vehicles up to 3500kg maximum weight pay £230.00 tax for 12 months. There are some exceptions made for Euro 4 and Euro 5 vehicles made between short periods but chances are the vehicle you will be looking at will be rated at £230.00 a year. For large polluting commercial vehicles this rate might actually be in your favour over the car based equivalent. For example a Hyundai iLoad van will almost certainly be cheaper to tax than the MPV Hyundai i800, especially if you had the automatic version. For dog walking vehicles like the Fiat Doblo and Citroen Berlingo though, the car based versions are likely to cost around £130.00 to £145.00 a year to tax depending on the model.
  4. Perhaps the biggest advantage of the car based versions is the condition of examples you will find for sale. The vans have often been driven hard and have relatively high mileages. The car based versions of Berlingo’s and Doblo’s seem to appeal to older drivers or families who do lower mileage and typically regularly maintain their vehicles.

So as you can probably see from the image at the top of this post the vehicle I finally purchased was a Citroen Berlingo Multispace car based dog walking vehicle. The Fiat Doblo was also in contention and I especially like the idea of their long wheel base high top version. However the high top version is pretty hard to find. Also with the Doblo the vast majority of sales were the van version whereas the Berlingo has sold very well in the UK as a car as well as a van. I prefer the look of the Berlingo over the Doblo but truthfully that alone would not be a deciding factor. User reviews seem more positive for the Berlingo and that was one of the deciding factors for me. My used example came from a Citroen dealership. Now I have the vehicle I need to consider what sort of cages to get!

If you are a dog walker reading this feel free to comment about your buying decision. Perhaps you decided to look at ex police dog vans, or found something already fitted out with cages on the agilitynet website. I’d be keen to hear what dog walking vehicle you ended up getting and why.

May 2020 Update – I still own the Citroen Berlingo diesel but it’s now my reserve vehicle. In October 2019 I purchased a petrol automatic Renault Kangoo. My Lintran cage system fits in both vehicles. There were two main reasons for purchasing a petrol this time, as follows:

  1. The geographic area that I cover for dog walking has reduced. The improved fuel consumption of diesel is now less of a factor.
  2. Diesels are not really suited to short city journeys where the DPF can become clogged. Long trips away at weekends were becoming much less frequent.

Ironically, since the start of the coronavirus I’ve seen an increase in the number of requests for long distance pet transport jobs. Diesel can still make sense for these long trips and so the Berlingo may come out of semi-retirement.

Please Share

Some Other Articles



26 Comments

  1. This will be something i will be looking into in the future.
    My first thought about car vs van was also the road tax prices which like you mentioned can vary alot. I currently drive a diesel Renault Megane Sports Tourer and only pay £20 per year.

    Another dog walker local to me purchased an ex police van although ive read some can be driven into the ground before sold on.

    1. Hi Reece,

      The right size vehicle largely depends on how many dogs you think you’ll walk at any one time. Car based MPV are cheaper to tax than vans. What I liked about buying the car version was that many you see for sale have actually done low mileage for the age, much lower than the van versions typically.

      Yes I’ve seen people who buy ex police vans but again they usually have high mileage. Van insurance quotes was the main reason though that I decided on a car based version. I’m waiting for Lintran to make me a custom cage that takes up almost the entire rear of the vehicle. It will mean the middle row of seats comes out but I think I will end up with the right vehicle for my needs.

      Good luck whatever you decide to get for your dog walking business.

      Gary

      1. Hi there . I am just starting my own dog walking business, and I’ve purchased a Peugeot expert tepee.. do you think I’ve purchased the right vehicle? It’s very roomy and boxy in the back but also not to huge to drive

        1. Hi Alexandra,

          The model you have purchased is slightly bigger than my Citroen and is a good choice for dog walking. You will easily be able to transport 6+ dogs, even large breeds in such a vehicle. It’s also relatively fuel efficient.

          I’m assuming it’s a diesel and if so the only thing I’d say is that if it’s fitted with a dpf make sure it gets a good run from time to time. Diesels from about 2006 tend to have the dpf and they don’t like constant short journeys.

          Good luck

          Gary
          The Northampton Dog Walker

          1. Thank you so much for your reply . Van is all fitted for use now .. and I have been up and running for about 3 weeks now. Business is great .. and I’ve definitely made the right decision in buying this vehicle 🤗

  2. I bought a citroen xsara picasso and it is huge inside. I have been walking dogs for over eight years and one of the pit falls is the vehicle insurance. We got a policy that included a replacement vehicle if we were in an accident. What they don’t tell you or state on any web site is that certain professions do not get replacement cars or vans, and yes you guessed it dog walkers is one. Our business almost folded because of it so make sure that you can allow dogs into an insurance replacement vehicle. We were lucky as I managed to buy another vehicle at very short notice and this took away our funds.
    Due to this we have now made sure we have enough funds available to buy another vehicle if the same happened again.

    1. Hi Stewart,

      Thanks for the comment. I’ve heard of some dog walkers who use a Picasso. During the research some said it was not as square and boxy and it tapers in towards the roof. Does the Picasso have the same low boot line as the Berlingo which makes it easy for dogs to jump in?

      Your comment about insurance is interesting and something to be aware of. Like you said having a contingency is a must. Hire companies usually have a no pets rule so you might need to replace the vehicle yourself while you wait for the claim to go through, fingers crossed it’s something I won’t face any time soon. Using your vehicle for business can throw up problems like these. Another is breakdown cover. When my RAC was due for renewal I asked if they would be able to take the dogs as well as me. They said it would depend on the driver who came to help and was at their discretion and based on size of vehicle, number of dogs. They also said if I had sign writing on the vehicle (which I don’t) then I would need to go for their commercial breakdown policy in any event.

      Thanks again for the comment, it will give readers even more information to consider which is all good.

      Gary
      Northampton Dog Walker

  3. Hi Gary

    I am setting up a dog Walking business in Stirlingshire and followed your lead buying a Citreon Berlingo multispace. But am regretting it now as I don’t seem to be able to get insurance for it if I remove the rear seats. I have tried direct line, admiral and Hastings. They class that as modifying the vehicle, even though the car is built to flip and remove the rear seats..I asked them does that mean if people remove their rear seats for a trip to the dump, or ikea etc their car insurance is invalid and they to,d me yes. Curious as to who you are with.

    1. Hi Catherine,

      I’ll check who I’m insured with in the morning but what they are telling you sounds like complete nonsense.

      If you were removing seats by undoing bolts then I can see that they might consider this a modification. The berlingo though is designed as an mpv meaning multi purpose and the seats just unclip. They assess the risk of each model and these are purchased by people who want that flexibility. For an insurer to claim you would not be insured by removing the seats to take things to the dump I feel could be challenged. Indeed I’ll check with my insurer who knew the intended use when they took my money. If they try and claim a modification I’ll take it to insurance ombudsman.

      Will get back to you.

      Gary

  4. Hi Gary.

    Just got business car insurance quote from Liverpool Victoria to cover removing my seats, putting crates in ( classed as interior changes) and magnetic signs covered too under modifications to paintwork. So good to go. What a hassle!

    Catherine

    1. Hi Catherine,

      I checked following your comment. I’m with Hastings Direct but they use various underwriters. The underwriter for my policy has no problem with the seats being removed since that’s a feature of the Berlingo. They also have no issue with my Lintran cage but if it was not a removeable cage it may be a different story. They are sending me something in writing to this effect.

      On the subject of advertising they did say large lettering on windows would be considered a modification but car magnets are perfectly OK.

      Good luck.

      Gary

  5. Great insight into vans, I’m just at stage of getting started. So this has been really helpful. Where did you get your cages for inside?

    1. Hi Jackie,

      Thanks for your comment. I obtained my cages from Lintran who measured the interior of the Berlingo and custom made them. You can also buy ready made cages for certain vehicles and can sometimes find these used for a good price. Normally the advice is for the cage to fit right up to the seats which offer better crash protection. Lintran are good company to deal with so you can always ask their advice. I have a seperate blog post about Lintran cages. Essentially they do powder coated and galvanised. I went with the latter which is more rust resistant. Cage outlast vehicle many times over which is why I went for a system that could be removed. My Berlingo in 2009 and the 2018 model is exactly same. This gives me an upgrade path for some time. When you have permanently installed cages you either have to sell your vehicle to another dog walker or lose lots of money as new vehicle owner may not want or need the cages. Good luck.

  6. Hello Gary,thank you for all the helpful information, it is very kind of you. Would you mind telling me how much it cost to get your vehicle fitted with cages please? I am starting up my own dog walking business next year.
    Thank you
    Kristy

    1. Hi Kirsty,

      From memory they were between £1200.00 and £1300.00. They are custom made so the quote varies depending on the exact spec you go for. I had the harder chew resistant mats for example and I went for an anodised finish rather than powder coated because it’s more rust resistant.

      The advantage of the Lintran cages in my opinion is that they are removable. Too often I see dog walkers with permanently installed cages trying to sell their vehicle when they feel it’s becoming unreliable and complaining that buyers won’t pay them extra for the cages (which many buyers won’t want anyway). Good cages could last 30 years so all I need to do is replace my vehicle with another that’s similar in dimensions so the cage will still fit. Also for those who decide to quit dog walking, used Lintran cages normally sell for about half the new price. Cages that are permanently installed become worthless used unless you can sell cage and vehicle to another dog walker.

      Good luck.

      Gary

  7. This article is just what I needed. I’ve spent hours trying to research the best car/van for my dog walking business. And not knowing what to go for. Keeping the car cool was one of my big worries, but I’d prefer a car model over a van, as this will be my only vehicle. I think the Belingo car seems the way to go for me. With the added fan and blackout windows. Thanks! : )

    1. Hi Zoe,

      Yes the car version of the Berlingo makes a lot of sense. The seats clip out which means insurers don’t see certain cages as a permanent alteration to the vehicle (my Lintran cage comes out and seats can be refitted in minutes). I guess it depends on how many dogs you walk at once which will determine the ideal vehicle. The Berlingo is a very good option. I’m actually thinking of getting a spare vehicle and looking at Renault Kangoo cars. Those made after 2010 until 2013 (when they stopped the car and just sold the van) have seats that fold flat. There are also many more petrol automatics than you find with Berlingo and Partner models. I’m a fan of diesel, just not of Diesel particulate filters. If you plan to only do short journeys then I would seriously consider the pros and cons of diesel. I may use a petrol for most of the dog walking and keep the diesel for the longer trips and as a useful backup for when one car is being serviced etc.

      Gary

  8. I am looking for a van or car that I can transport upto 6 dogs in at any one time.
    It also needs to have at least 4 seats as it will be my only vehicle and on occasion I look after my grandchildren.
    Biggest problem is my budget is my budget, I only have £1000. What would you suggest?

    1. Hi Kerry,

      It’s hard to make a suggestion based on your limited budget. Does it need to seat 4 and carry 6 dogs at the same time? My Berlingo and Kangoo either have seats that can be easily removed or folded flat. It makes them flexible vehicles but I could not transport 6 dogs and 4 people all at once.

      In my honest opinion having such a low budget might be a false economy. Very cheap vehicles tend to go wrong quickly and repair costs add up. Also you are losing money when your car is off the road being repaired. If you can’t stretch the budget my advice would be to probably buy something much older but with low mileage and full service history. With MPV like Berlingo and Kangoo the car based versions were often owned by elderly people who did low milage and looked after them.

      Good luck.
      Gary

    1. Hi Claire,

      I don’t drive your vehicle. Does your van have a bulkhead? If not I would advise getting an electrically powered roof vent. Even though I drive an MPV Berlingo with air conditioning I’m planning to get a roof vent and temperature sensor to allow me to apply for DEFRA type 2 for transport work.

      Gary

  9. Hi Gary ,

    What are you’re thoughts on just using a car as a main vehicle for transporting dogs , looking at starting my dog walking business but becoming stuck… I need a vehicle were I can also use it with seats for travelling in but need it for use with the dogs was looking at a Citroen belingo but find there all quite high mileage… or a Citroen c3 new model but becoming stuck what can you suggest thank you?

    1. Hi Holly,

      Since I wrote by post about dog walking vehicles my thoughts have changed a little. Firstly I would not recommend a diesel these days. They are not suited to short journeys but I’m finding more modern diesels still get issues with DPF and Adblue systems even if you only ever do motorway work. So unless you are looking at a very old diesel I would look at petrol models.

      In terms of mileage I would not automatically be put off by high mileage, depending on what make and models you are looking at. I’d rather buy a high mileage vehicle that has full service history than a lower mileage vehicle with no service history.

      What you need to consider is how many dogs you think you will want to walk at any one time. If you only plan to walk 2-3 at once you might find smaller vehicles are suitable. To give an example, I now exclusively do pet transport rather than dog walking. I currently use a 2016 Peugeot Partner diesel but I would not buy another. I’m seriously looking at smaller vehicles like the Honda Jazz. The rear seats fold flat and then you have a surprisingly large space. They are petrol cars and they don’t have a turbo. If serviced properly they are very reliable and capable of high mileage. Models between 2010 and 2015 can be purchased for relatively cheap money compared to some other models.

      I’ll probably edit this post when I have time to update my thoughts. When it was written I was a fan of the diesel but newer models are problematic. Some modern petrols are capable of very good fuel consumption figures.

      Gary

  10. I started my business 1 year ago. Surviving with my lovely VW convertible! Even got a greyhound in the back! I’ve decided it’s time to expand to enable me to take more dogs.
    I definitely want a car type van and wondered which one is most affordable maintenance and insurance wise.
    Thanks for info. Really helpful.
    Now debating on Petrol or diesel as I’m in Greater London area (south London)
    Which ‘window van’ do you recommend?

    1. Sorry for late reply, it’s been a manic few months. Since I wrote this post my thoughts have changed and I really need to update it. I cannot recommend a modern diesel. The amount of issues with DPF filters and AdBlue injectors are not worth it and these parts are expensive if they need to be replaced.

      Depending on how many dogs you plan to walk at once and what size breeds you have will dictate the sort of car. There are petrol versions of things like Peugeot Partner / Citroen Berlingo or the VW Caddy, Ford Tourneo Connect which are all car based vans. Many dog walkers though seem to manage with smaller vehicles. I don’t plan to walk large groups anymore so when it comes to replacing my current Peugeot Partner I will seriously look at something like the Honda Jazz. The rear seats fold completely flat and the space is surprisingly large for a small car. They are one of the most reliable cars you can buy, economical to run and they don’t have a turbo so nothing really ever goes wrong with them. Everyone is different but for me I want a vehicle that will cost me as little to own as possible (ideally just paying for servicing and tyres etc).

Leave a Reply to Jackie Haughie Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *