Written Estimates from Vets: Your New Rights Under CMA Rules
One of the most significant consumer protections introduced by the CMA's March 2026 veterinary reforms is the requirement for written estimates before significant treatments. If your pet needs a procedure that is expected to cost more than £500, your vet must now provide a written estimate before proceeding. This guide explains your rights and how to use them.
Key takeaways
- Written estimates are now required by CMA rules before any treatment expected to cost over £500 — you have the right to this before authorising any significant procedure.
- You can use the estimate to check insurance cover, obtain a second opinion or simply decide whether to proceed — there is no obligation once an estimate is provided.
- If your final bill significantly exceeds the written estimate without your informed consent being obtained mid-treatment, you have grounds for a formal complaint.
What the New Written Estimate Rules Require
Under the CMA's March 2026 reforms, UK veterinary practices are required to provide a written estimate to the owner before commencing any treatment or procedure expected to cost more than £500. The estimate must clearly set out the expected costs of the treatment, what it includes, and any significant range of potential additional costs depending on what is found during the procedure.
This reform was introduced specifically to address widespread owner complaints about unexpected bills — one of the most common grievances raised in the CMA investigation. Estimates do not have to be precisely accurate (veterinary medicine involves genuine clinical unpredictability), but they must be made in good faith and must include the most significant likely costs. A vet who provides a low estimate knowing the likely true cost is likely to be significantly higher would not be acting in good faith.
What the Estimate Should Include
A written estimate should be clear enough to allow you to make an informed decision about whether to proceed and how to fund the treatment. It should include: the proposed procedure or treatment; the anticipated cost broken down into main components (surgical fee, anaesthetic, hospitalisation, medications); any significant anticipated additional costs that may arise (for example, if exploratory surgery reveals a more complex situation); and how and when payment is expected.
It should also make clear what happens if additional costs arise during the procedure that were not anticipated — whether you will be contacted mid-treatment for consent, or whether a specific cost ceiling has been agreed. In the case of complex or variable procedures (such as dental extractions where the number of teeth needing removal cannot be confirmed until the dog is under anaesthetic), a clear indication of the range of possible costs is required.
Your Right to Decline or Shop Around
Receiving a written estimate is not a commitment to proceed. You have the right to take the estimate away, consider it at home, discuss it with family, check your pet insurance cover, or obtain a comparison estimate from another practice. A vet cannot charge you for providing an estimate, and providing an estimate does not create an obligation for you to proceed with that practice.
For non-emergency situations, seeking a comparison estimate from a second practice is a legitimate use of this right. You can also use the estimate to check what is covered by your pet insurance policy before authorising the treatment. Always ensure your insurer pre-authorises large claims where possible — insurers may query or decline claims where authorisation was not sought in advance for elective procedures.
What to Do If the Bill Exceeds the Estimate
If the final bill significantly exceeds the written estimate you were given and no additional informed consent was obtained during the procedure, you have grounds for a formal complaint. The first step is to ask the practice for a full, itemised breakdown of all charges and a written explanation of why the costs exceeded the estimate.
If the explanation is unsatisfactory, you can raise a formal complaint with the practice, escalate to the RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons), or in cases of significant financial detriment, consider the small claims court or the Financial Ombudsman if the matter involves insurance. Keep all written communications, the original estimate, and all invoices — documentation is essential for any formal process. The RCVS maintains a complaints process for issues of professional conduct.
Find a Vet Near You
Your right to a written estimate before significant treatment is part of a broader move towards greater transparency in UK veterinary care. Use CompareMyVet at app.comparemyvet.uk to find local practices that publish their prices, making informed decisions before any treatment is even needed.
Common questions
Yes, in genuine circumstances where unexpected complications arise during treatment. However, a vet should attempt to contact you during the procedure if costs are expected to significantly exceed the estimate, to obtain updated consent. A bill that dramatically exceeds a written estimate without any explanation or mid-treatment contact is grounds for a complaint.
Under the new CMA rules, vets are required to provide written estimates proactively for treatments over £500 — you should not need to request it specifically. However, if a vet attempts to proceed without providing one for a significant treatment, you are fully entitled to request a written estimate before agreeing to proceed.
No — these are two separate rights. A written estimate details the anticipated cost of a treatment before it is carried out. A written prescription is a document enabling you to obtain prescribed medication from a source other than your vet (such as an online pharmacy). Both are now regulated under the CMA March 2026 reforms, with prescription fees capped at £21 for the first medicine.
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