Microchipping a dog typically costs somewhere between about $25 and $60 for the implant, and it is often cheaper or free at a shelter, rescue or low-cost clinic. Registration is a separate cost and a separate step.
Prices vary by region and provider, so treat that as a range to sanity-check a quote against rather than a fixed figure. Call two local clinics and you will know your own number in five minutes.
What you are actually paying for
- The chip and the implant. One appointment, no anaesthetic, no surgery. Comparable to a vaccination.
- Registration. Enrolling the number in a registry with your contact details. Sometimes bundled, often not.
- Nothing else, ever. There is no battery, no replacement, no maintenance. The chip lasts the animal’s lifetime.
Cheaper and free options
- Shelters and rescues. Nearly all chip before adoption, and the cost is usually inside the adoption fee.
- Low-cost and community clinics. Often run microchip days at a fraction of clinic pricing.
- Animal control and municipal programmes. Some run free or subsidised chipping, particularly where licensing is tied to it.
- Combine it with another visit. Adding a chip to an appointment you were having anyway avoids a second consult fee.
The cost people forget
A cheap or free implant with no registration is worth nothing at all.
This is the most common way the whole thing fails. The chip goes in, the owner is handed a number, and the registry record is never completed. The scan works perfectly, the number displays, and the trail stops there.
So when you compare prices, compare the whole chain: implant, registration, and whether anyone answers the phone at 2am when a shelter has your dog. A registry with no revenue has no funded way to do the last part.
Peeva is $54.95 a year or $249 for the life of the pet, covering the support line, ownership verification and keeping the record current.
Already paid? Check it landed
Whatever you paid, verify it worked. Run the number through a lookup and confirm it returns you and a phone number you still answer. A registration that silently failed looks identical to one that worked, right up until the day it matters.
Common questions
Is there an annual fee for a microchip?
Not for the chip — it is passive hardware with nothing to maintain. Any recurring fee is for the registry service behind it.
Does pet insurance cover microchipping?
Some wellness plans include it. Standard accident and illness policies usually do not. Check your specific policy.
Does it cost more for a large dog?
No. Same chip, same procedure, regardless of size.
My dog is already chipped. What does it cost to update my details?
Updating an existing record should be quick and free at any reputable registry. If you are being charged to correct your own phone number, that is worth questioning.
Related from Peeva
- How to register a dog microchip
- Look up a microchip number
- Where to register by prefix
- Register your pet’s microchip
Microchip resources
Find the registry by microchip prefix · Look up a microchip number · Universal microchip scanners · Register your pet’s microchip
