Has anyone transported a puppy under 12 weeks old across EU borders by car (before rabies vaccination)?

Hi everyone,

I’m in the process of bringing home a puppy, and I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

The puppy will be under 12 weeks old, and I’ll need to travel across EU borders within the EU to bring them home. The plan is to travel by car.

Because of the puppy’s age, rabies vaccination has not been done yet (as it’s not possible at this age), which I know complicates things. I’m trying to understand how this works in practice and whether others have successfully done this legally and safely.

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who:

• Transported a very young puppy under 12 weeks old within the EU
• Traveled by car across one or more borders
• Did so before rabies vaccination

How did you handle the paperwork?
Were there any issues at borders or checks?
Anything you wish you’d known beforehand?

I’m aware that rules can vary by country, so I’m mainly looking for real-world experiences, not just regulations on paper.

Thanks in advance!