Nous utilisons des cookies pour mesurer l’audience et améliorer votre expérience. Vous pouvez accepter ou refuser. Consultez notre https://www.assur360.ca/en/privacy-policy-and-personal-information/.

Pet transport insurance Quebec 2026

Do you operate an animal transport service — livestock, horses, pets, zoo or laboratory animals? This activity combines classic road risks and risks specific to the transport of live cargo: mortality, poor ventilation, diseases, injuries, emergency euthanasia. At Assur360, our AMF-certified brokers specializing in commercial transportation structure your policy with the extensions adapted to your clientele. CFIA compliance. 3-minute business submission.

Pet transport truck — Assur360 insurance

IN BRIEF

Live Animal Transportation Insurance

The transport of live animals (cattle, horses, commercial pets) requires a specialized cargo ship. The loss of a live animal is not covered by a standard cargo ship.

Important: Carriers must comply with the Health of Animals Regulations (Canadian Food Inspection Agency). Breaks in protocol can invalidate coverage.

PET TRANSPORT INSURANCE

Specialized Live Cargo Coverage

Cattle, horses, domestic animals. RC $2-10 million. Ventilation, euthanasia, diseases.

Free 3-minute quote
$10M
RC max
CFIA
Compliance
9+
Insurers
3 min
Submission

The main animal transport segments

🐄

Livestock (cattle, hogs, poultry)

Slaughterhouses, farms, auctions. RC $2-5 M. Breakdown and transit time = CFIA key criteria.

🐴

Horses (sport, breeding, leisure)

Horse trailer, equestrian competitions, cross-border USA. Value per animal $5k to $500k+.

🐕

Pets

Residential transportation, moving, shelters, commercial sales of dogs/cats. RC $2 million.

🦁

Zoo / circus / exotic animals

Tailor-made speciality. CFIA + CITES permit. High unit value. RC $5 million+.

🧪

Laboratory animals

Rodents, primates for research. Strict health controls. University/pharma requirements.

🐟

Aquaculture / live fish

Transport of lobsters, salmon, crustaceans. Hydrogen peroxide ventilation. High value cargo.

What a pet transport policy covers

🛡️

Civil liability

Damage to third parties (accident, escaped animal, secondary collision). Limits $2 million to $10 million.

💨

Breakdown ventilation / collective asphyxiation

Ventilation system failure = mass mortality. Essential extension for livestock and poultry.

💉

Emergency euthanasia

Veterinary costs + value of the animal if euthanasia necessary to avoid suffering following injury.

🦠

Sudden Communicable Diseases

Transport fever (cattle), cardiac stress (horse), following a sudden event during transit.

🐴

Agreed Value (Horses/Special Animals)

For high-value animals, value set in advance by veterinary evaluation. Compensation without debate.

🚛

Specialized Vehicle and Equipment

Cattle truck, horse van, cages, ventilation system, watering troughs, stalls. Replacement cost possible.

How to Apply — Steps

1

Evaluation of your customers and routes

Types of animals, unit value, destinations (QC, Canada, USA), average transit time.

2

CFIA Licence Validation and Certifications

CFIA licence (cross-border), CCIAB (livestock), animal welfare training, driver’s record.

3

Inspection of specialized equipment

Ventilation, drinking troughs, partitions, camera surveillance, temperature/air quality alarm systems.

4

Choice of limits and extensions

RC $2-10 million, agreed value for high-value animals, euthanasia, diseases, ventilation breakdown.

5

Comparison 9+ Specialty Insurers

Not many insurers accept this segment — we access specialized markets (Lloyd’s, Northbridge, Intact).

6

Policy issuance + annual follow-up

Policy issued, breeder/customer insurance certificates, claims and mileage review.

💡

Animal welfare certification = discount and commercial argument

Carriers certified in animal welfare programs (Certified Livestock Transporter in Canada, ALIAS for horses, handling training) get discounts of 5-15% from several insurers. As a bonus: a strong commercial argument for winning contracts with major agri-food chains, equestrian clubs and zoos.

Indicative rates for pet transport insurance 2026

Type of transportJourneyRCAnnual bonus / truck
Local Livestock (Cattle/Hogs)QC2 M $6,500 – $11,000
Interprovincial LivestockQC–Ontario$5M $9,000 – $14,000
QC + USA5 MSport Horses$8,500 – $15,000
High Value Horses (Agreed Value)International10M $12,000 – $22,000
Pets (moving)QC/Canada$2M $3,500 – $7,500
Zoo Animals / ExoticSpecialized$5M+On Quote
Maritime Live Fish / Lobsters+ QC5 M $11,000 – $18,000

*Indicative rates 2026. Get your exact price in 3 minutes.

Legal obligations — CFIA and animal welfare

⚠️

Non-compliance with the Health of Animals Regulations = fines + denial of compensation

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) imposes strict rules: maximum transit time (28 hours for cattle, 36 hours for horses, less for young animals), adequate ventilation, watering, mandatory rest, complete documentation. One violation = fines of up to $250,000 + the possibility for the insurer to refuse compensation in the event of a claim. Compliance with the Health of Animals Regulations = non-negotiable.

FREE QUOTE

Protect your transported animals and your reputation

Compare 9+ specialty insurers in 3 minutes. Expertise in livestock, horses, pets.

Free📞 quote 1-866-357-4451

Quebec cities served

Assur360 supports animal transporters throughout Quebec: Saint-Hyacinthe (agri-food hub and slaughterhouses), Drummondville, Quebec City, Montreal, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, Saguenay, Rimouski, Thetford Mines, Gaspé (aquaculture) and Rouyn-Noranda. Coverage for auctions, slaughterhouses, farms, stables, zoos, shelters and QC-USA cross-border carriers.

Related articles

Frequently Asked Questions — Transporting Animals

What is pet transport insurance?
It is a specialized commercial insurance for companies transporting animals — livestock, horses, pets, exotic animals, zoo or laboratory animals. It combines civil liability, live cargo coverage, transport equipment and specific extensions (ventilation, euthanasia, diseases).
What types of animals do you transport?
We cover: livestock (cattle, pigs, poultry), horses (competition, breeding, hiking), domestic animals (dogs/pet cats, shelter, moving), zoo or circus animals, laboratory animals (scientific transport), exotic animals and live fish/shellfish (aquaculture).
Is civil liability for animals high?
Yes. An accident involving livestock can cause bodily injury to third parties (escaped animal on the road = collision), property damage (leaks, contamination) and lawsuits against farmers (loss of value). Recommended RC: $2 million minimum, $5 million for competition horses and zoo animals, up to $10 million for specialized international transportation.
Is the vehicle’s ventilation covered?
Yes. Failure of the ventilation system (failure of fans, excessive temperature, collective asphyxiation) is a major cause of mortality during livestock transport. The ventilation equipment breakdown extension covers the loss of animals as a result of this breakdown, similar to the reefer protection for foodstuffs.
What are the Canadian regulations for transporting animals?
The Health of Animals Regulations (Canadian Food Inspection Agency — CFIA) govern transport: maximum transit time (28-36 hours depending on species), ventilation, rest, watering requirements, driver certification, veterinary documentation. Non-compliance = fines + refusal of compensation.
Is emergency euthanasia covered?
Yes, via the emergency euthanasia extension. If an animal is seriously injured during transport and the veterinarian recommends euthanasia to avoid suffering, the insurance covers: veterinary costs, value of the animal, costs of disposal of the corpse. Veterinary documentation required.
Are communicable diseases covered?
Partially. Sudden and accidental illnesses contracted during transport may be covered (transport fever in cattle, cardiac stress in horses). Epidemics (foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza) and pre-existing chronic diseases = standard exclusions. Pre-transport veterinary certificates are required.
What certifications do insurers require?
Depending on the type: CCIAB (Canadian Cattle Identification Certification), ALIAS program (horses), CFIA permit for cross-border transport of live animals, animal welfare training for drivers. Insurers offer 5-15% discount for certified carriers.
How are mortality claims assessed?
Compensation is based on the market value of the animal (slaughter value for livestock, market value for sport horses) at the time of the loss. For high-value horses, pre-evaluation + “agreed value” policy. Keep: veterinary certificates, boarding manifests, photos, delivery reports.
How much does pet transport insurance cost?
For a cattle truck (cattle/hogs): $6,500 to $11,000 / year. Competition horse truck: $8,500 to $15,000 / year. Pet transportation (urban/moving): $3,500 to $7,500/year. Exotic animals/laboratory: on specialized estimate.

Why trust Assur360?

✓AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers) certified firm
✓ Brokers who are members of the ChAD
✓More than 100,000 submissions processed
✓Network of 13 brokerage firms in Quebec
✓Independent of any insurer
✓9+ insurers compared in 3 minutes

FREE QUOTE

Your animal transport deserves real expertise

Free pet transport quote in 3 minutes. 9+ insurers compared. Specialized AMF brokers.

Get My Quote📞 Call a Broker
Scroll to Top