3 BILLS TRACKED
Written prescription fee
Vets charge up to £40 just to write the prescription. From September 2026 the CMA caps it at £21. Your meds are often 50 to 60% cheaper online.
Every price we track (hover a dot)
| Year | Region | Practice | What it was | List | Paid | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | South West | Independent / charity | Written prescription fee (per item)George Vet Group; £21 first item plus £12.50 per additional drug; undated list | £21 | — | source |
| 2026 | UK | Unknown | Written prescription fee (survey avg, 48 vets)Range £15-£40. CMA cap of £21 applies from Sept 2026 | £30survey avg | — | source |
| 2025 | Yorkshire and the Humber | Independent / charity | Written prescription feeChantry Vets, Wakefield area; undated list | £30 | — | source |
Common questions
How much does prescription fee cost in the UK?
Across 3 real UK prices, the median is £30, with bills running from £21 to £30. These are real prices people paid or that practices published, not estimates.
Why do prescription fee prices vary so much?
It depends on where you are, who owns the practice, and exactly what is included. The Competition and Markets Authority found corporate-owned practices charged 18.3% more on average than independents, and vet prices rose 63% between 2016 and 2023.
Is prescription fee cheaper at an independent vet?
Often, yes. The CMA's 2026 review found independent practices averaged 18.3% less than the six large corporate groups for comparable work. From September 2026 every practice must publish a price list, so comparing a few nearby is worth it.
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Methodology: prices here are published list prices, bills people reported in public posts or submitted directly, and survey averages. Each row says which it is, with a link to the source where one exists. We never estimate and no sponsor can touch a number. Spot an error? Tell us and we'll fix or remove it fast.