Microchipping Database UK: Which One Is Your Pet On, and How to Check
Your pet's chip number leads to one of the government-listed databases, and a quick lookup will show which one, so you can make sure the details on the record are still current.
You know your pet has a chip, but if someone asked which microchipping database holds the record, you might not be able to say. Research cited in Battersea Dogs and Cats Home’s 2026 report found 60% of dog owners didn’t know which database held their record, and of those, 92% didn’t know how to find out. A lookup of the chip number shows which database holds the record.
What a microchip database does
A microchip holds only a number. The database stores your details against that number, so when a vet, dog warden or rescue scans a found pet, they look the number up and can reach you. The record holds your contact details and your pet’s description, and our guide to registering your pet’s microchip walks through what to do after the chip goes in.
In England, the law sets out what a compliant database must do. They have to be reachable by phone and online around the clock. When someone asks about a chip registered on another compliant database, they have to pass the enquiry on to the right one.
In England, “microchipped” in law needs two things together: a compliant chip implanted, and the required details recorded on a compliant database. A chip that was never registered doesn’t count, and even a registered chip lets you down if the details are stale. If you’re not sure whether your pet’s record is complete, our page on checking whether your pet’s microchip is registered shows you how to find out.
How to find which database your pet is on
The chip number itself won’t tell you which database holds the record, because a chip can be registered on any compliant database.
- Find your pet’s 15-digit chip number. It’s on the paperwork from when the chip was implanted. If you can’t find it, a vet, dog warden or rescue centre can scan your pet for it.
- Enter the number into our chip checker, which searches multiple UK databases at once.
- The result shows whether the chip is registered and which database holds the record. It won’t show the owner’s contact details.
- Once you know the database, log in or contact them and check the name, address and phone number on the record are current.
If a vet can’t find a chip at all, our guide to what to do when a microchip can’t be found explains the next steps.
The UK's list of compliant pet chip registries
There is no single national microchipping registry in the UK. As of October 2026, GOV.UK lists 25 databases that meet government standards, and your pet only needs to be on one of them. In England, there’s no formal approval or licensing process: a database holds itself out as compliant, and Defra can serve a notice if it doesn’t meet the conditions.
The list includes AnimalData, Animal Microchips, Animal Tracker, ChipHERO, Chipped Monkey, Chipworks, DKC, FidoID, Greyhound Chip ID (racing greyhounds only), HomeAgain, Identibase, Lost Paws, MicroChip Central, My Animal Trace, MyPet, National Veterinary Data Service, Pet Database, Pet Identity UK, Petlog, PetScanner, ProtectedPet, SmartTrace, Track Your Paws, UK PETtrac Microchip Database and We Trace Pets.
If you’ve come across a name that isn’t on the list, be cautious. A chip brand is not itself a listed database.
Emails that claim to be from your pet's database
GOV.UK warns that emails from any database outside the government list asking for money to register your pet could be a scam. It points to the National Cyber Security Centre for reporting.
If an email asks for payment, find your pet’s chip number and run it through a lookup first so you can see which database genuinely holds the record. If the email comes from a name that isn’t on the GOV.UK list at all, don’t pay.
Moving your pet's record to Pet Database
If the database holding your pet’s record isn’t where you want it, you can switch. You don’t need a new chip to change databases — a chip registered on another database can be moved to Pet Database without re-chipping.
The move itself is done online. Our comparison page sets out three steps. First find your pet’s microchip number, which you’ll usually find on their microchip certificate, vet records or adoption paperwork. Then enter it in the chip checker to see which database currently holds the record, and register or transfer it online, with no new chip or trip to the vet needed.
Once you’ve filled in a few details about your pet, Pet Database contacts your existing database to let them know you’d like to move and asks them to close the old record. The old database may get in touch with you directly to confirm, but you won’t need to do anything else.
If you’re not already a member, moving your pet’s record means taking out Standard membership, a one-off £20 payment that includes updates for life.
Common questions
Is the chip checker free to use?
Yes. There's no fee, and no account is needed.
Is FidoID a microchip database?
Yes. If your pet’s chip is registered with FidoID, that registration meets the legal requirement, and a chip lookup will show FidoID as the database holding the record.
What is Pet Database?
Pet Database is a UK pet microchip database on the GOV.UK list, so it’s Defra-compliant. Vets, dog wardens and rescuers can use it to reach you when a found pet is scanned.
Find your pet’s chip number, run it through a lookup, and check the record that comes back. It takes a moment to see which database holds the record, and it means a found pet can reach you.
