Vet Prescription
Fee Cap: £21
No UK vet can charge more than £21 for the first medicine on a prescription, and £12.50 for each additional. This single reform could save pet owners hundreds of pounds a year.
What Is the £21
Prescription Fee Cap?
As part of its landmark investigation into the UK veterinary market, the CMA found that high prescription fees were one of the most significant barriers to competition. Vets were deliberately charging £20-35 (or more) for prescriptions to discourage pet owners from buying cheaper medications online.
The CMA determined that the actual administrative cost of writing a prescription is well below £10. The excess was pure profit — and a tool to keep pet owners locked into buying overpriced medications from the practice.
To address this, the CMA imposed a legally binding maximum fee of £21 for the first medicine on a prescription, and £12.50 for each additional medicine. The CMA's final decision was published on 24 March 2026.
The cap applies to every vet practice in the UK — corporate chains and independent practices alike. There are no exceptions. The RCVS will monitor compliance, and practices that breach the cap can face regulatory sanctions.
what vets currently charge — some up to £50 in London
max for first medicine — £12.50 for each additional
actual admin cost per CMA analysis
It Is Not Just the Fee Cap
The CMA imposed four prescription-related reforms. Together, they transform how prescriptions work.
£21 maximum prescription fee (£12.50 for additional medicines)
The absolute maximum any vet can charge is £21 for the first medicine, and £12.50 for each additional medicine on the same prescription. This applies to all practices, all medications, and all types of prescription.
Mandatory prescription offer
Vets must proactively offer a written prescription for every medication they dispense. You should not have to ask — they must tell you about the option as standard. If they fail to do this, they are in breach.
No penalties for buying elsewhere
Practices cannot penalise you in any way for choosing to buy medications from an external online retailer. No surcharges, no refused appointments, no removal from the practice list, no higher consultation fees.
Clear signage about prescription rights
Every practice must display clear signage informing clients of their right to a written prescription and the option to buy medications elsewhere. This must be visible in the waiting area.
How Much Can You Save
with the New Cap?
The prescription cap makes buying online viable for virtually every pet medication. Here is what typical savings look like.
| Medication | From vet | Online + £21 Rx fee | Annual saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apoquel 16mg (dog allergy) | £840/yr | £392/yr | £448 |
| Felimazole 5mg (cat thyroid) | £420/yr | £200/yr | £220 |
| NexGard Spectra (flea/worm) | £220/yr | £144/yr | £76 |
| Metacam (dog pain relief) | £180/yr | £120/yr | £60 |
| Vetmedin (dog heart) | £600/yr | £320/yr | £280 |
Savings are indicative, based on typical UK prices as of March 2026. "Online + £21 Rx fee" includes prescription fee of £21 (first medicine) per 6-month prescription, amortised across the year. Actual savings vary by dosage, supplier, and location.
What to Do If Your Vet
Charges More Than £21
Any vet charging more than £21 for a first-medicine prescription is breaking the CMA's legally binding order. Here is what to do:
Refuse to pay more than £21
You are within your rights to refuse. Tell the practice that the CMA maximum is £21 and you will not pay more.
Document the overcharge
Keep the invoice or receipt showing the prescription fee. Ask for written confirmation of the amount charged. Take a photo of any price list displayed in the practice.
Report to the RCVS
Email [email protected] with details of the practice, the date, and the amount charged. The RCVS monitors compliance with the CMA reforms.
Report to Trading Standards
Call Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133, who will refer you to local Trading Standards. Breaching the CMA order is a consumer protection matter.
Or use VetCost Protect
VetCost Protect handles the complaint process for you. We draft the letters, file the reports, and chase responses. You focus on your pet.
Frequently Asked Questions
The CMA has capped the maximum fee a vet can charge for writing a prescription at £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for each additional medicine. This applies to all UK vet practices, corporate and independent. No exceptions.
The cap takes effect from March 2027 for larger practices (15+ sites) and September 2027 for smaller ones, following the CMA Order in September 2026. The CMA's final report was published on 24 March 2026.
Most UK vets charge £20-35. Some corporate practices and London vets charge £40-50+. The CMA found the actual admin cost is below £10, meaning the excess is profit designed to stop you shopping around.
By getting a £21 prescription and buying online, you can save 30-70% on medications. For long-term medications like Apoquel (dog allergy), savings can exceed £400/year. For thyroid medications, £200+/year.
They are breaking the law. Refuse to pay more than £21, document the overcharge, and report to the RCVS ([email protected]) and Trading Standards (Citizens Advice: 0808 223 1133). VetCost Protect can also handle this for you.
Yes — all written prescriptions for POM-V medications. One-off, repeat, and multi-item prescriptions. Every practice, every medication, no exceptions.
No. Under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, your vet must issue a prescription on request. The CMA also mandates proactive prescription offers. Refusal is a breach of both the VMR and CMA reforms. See our guide on prescription rights.
Save hundreds with the new cap
Compare medication prices from trusted online retailers. With the £21 cap (£12.50 for additional medicines), buying online saves you 30-70% on pet prescriptions.