Pet Insurance
If your pet's health takes an unexpected turn, insurance could help cover the costs. Protect your pet and your wallet with cover that stands by you.
- Compare live quotes, prices and levels of cover
- Lifetime, non-lifetime and accident-only policies
- Buy online or on the phone
How comparing works
Comparing pet insurance policies is the best way we know to find good value, and with pet insurance it is all about long-term value over your pet's lifetime.Compare pet insurance quotes in 3 steps
Enter a few details
Complete the form with some details about you and your pet.
Compare your quotes
View live quotes and compare prices and levels of cover.
Choose a policy
Purchase your pet insurance policy online or on the phone.
What is pet insurance?
Pet insurance provides financial protection against unexpected costs relating to your pet. As well as covering unexpected accidents, illnesses and injuries, some policies will cover things such as behavioural treatment, or if your pet becomes lost, stolen, or even if they die. Third-party cover will also protect you if your pet harms someone else or their property.
Pet insurance is not a legal obligation. You could self-insure by saving an emergency pot of money for vets' bills, or hope your pet never becomes ill, but emergency surgery and vets' bills can cost thousands, so in our eyes that is a risky approach. There are also charities, such as the RSPCA, which offer discounted or free care to help owners on a low income, those who are retired, or those receiving state benefits.
The hope is that you will never need to use it. But having good quality pet insurance means that if something does happen, your insurer will take care of the cost of getting your pet back on their paws.
How much does pet insurance cost?
There is no single price for pet insurance: what you pay depends on your pet and the cover you choose. Older pets cost more to insure than puppies and kittens because the risk to the insurer is higher, and the excess on policies for older pets can be considerably higher too. Pedigree pets are pricier to cover, because of a higher chance of theft or breeding-related illnesses.
The type of policy matters as well. Accident-only cover is the cheapest and most basic, while lifetime cover is the most comprehensive. If you have claimed in the past year, your premium is more than likely to go up. Paying annually rather than monthly will also be cheaper if you can afford to.
Types of pet insurance
There are several different types of pet insurance policy, but one is the clear winner in terms of popularity and comprehensiveness.
Lifetime cover
Lifetime cover is the most comprehensive, as it pays indefinitely for treatment over your pet's lifetime. Most policies are subject to an annual limit on what the insurer will pay if your pet develops an ongoing condition. Often insurers pay up to a specific amount on vet fees each year (for example, £5,000 every year for the rest of your pet's life), or an annual limit for each condition (for example, £2,000 for diabetes each year), which counts towards your overall annual limit.
Non-lifetime cover
Non-lifetime cover is less comprehensive and excludes conditions once you hit a claim limit. It is broken down into per-condition cover and time-limit per-condition cover. With per-condition cover, once you reach the claim threshold your insurer will not cover your pet for that condition any more, even on new policies (for example, a limit of £5,000 for diabetes for your pet's entire life).
Time-limit per-condition cover
Time-limit per-condition cover adds another threshold: a time limit. After a specified period, the condition will no longer be covered, even if you have not claimed up to the financial threshold.
Accident-only cover
Accident-only pet insurance is the cheapest and most basic. It will not cover illness, only injuries, and insurers typically offer a lump sum for each accidental injury. They also tend to stop paying for treatment for the injury after 12 months.
Tips for comparing pet insurance
Every policy and insurer is different, so read all the policy documents to make sure you have the cover you need. These points will help you compare.
Compare as soon as you bring your pet home
Once your pet has an illness or injury, there is a risk it becomes a pre-existing condition that you would not be covered for in future. Comparing early avoids that.
Check how pre-existing conditions are treated
Many insurers exclude any condition your pet has suffered from before, but some will cover it if there has been a two-year gap since the last treatment.
Look closely at the excess
The excess can be considerably higher for older pets, so understand exactly what you would pay and what your insurer would pay if you make a claim.
Never leave out historical details
It might make your policy cheaper, but your cover could become null and void when your pet needs it most.
Think about long-term value
With pet insurance it is all about value over your pet's lifetime, not just the cheapest price today. Lifetime cover is the most comprehensive; accident-only is the most basic.
Pay annually if you can
If you can afford to, your pet insurance will be cheaper if you pay annually rather than monthly.
What details do I need to get a quote?
Have these to hand before you start.
Pet details
Your pet's name, gender, age and breed.
Medical history
Details of any pre-existing conditions, and whether they have been neutered.
Your details
A few details about you, the proud pet parent.
What does pet insurance cover?
Every policy and insurer is different, so the most important thing is to read all the policy documents. That said, there are typical conditions and treatments most providers will and will not cover.
Typically covered:
- Emergency surgery
- Dental injury (some policies cover dental illness)
- Travel treatments
- Death by accident or illness
- Missing pet cover
- Third party liability
- Euthanasia, cremation and burial
- Pet boarding fees if you fall ill unexpectedly
Not typically covered:
- Routine treatments such as vaccines, flea and worm treatments, nail clipping, grooming, neutering, and routine dental checks and cleaning
- Pre-existing illness or injury
- Pregnancy and costs related to giving birth
There is also typically a 14-day cooling off period after you purchase your policy, during which your pet is not covered. After the 14 days, your policy kicks in and your pet is protected as set out in your policy.
Insurance for pets with pre-existing conditions
A pre-existing condition is any injury or illness your pet suffered before the policy was taken out. It could be a chronic condition (an ongoing problem, such as recurring eye infections) or a historic condition (one your pet no longer suffers from, such as a healed tissue injury).
A lot of insurers will exclude cover for any condition your pet has suffered from before. However, some will offer cover for that condition if there has been a two-year gap since the last treatment. Pre-existing conditions are not just the big things, either: they can include conditions that result from an earlier injury or illness. That is why it is a good idea to compare pet insurance as soon as you bring your new pet home.
Insurance for older pets
The older your pet gets, the more likely it is they will become ill or have an accident. It is possible to buy insurance for older pets, but some insurers will not cover pets over a certain age.
| Pet | Typical upper age limit |
|---|---|
| Dogs | 8 years |
| Cats | 10 years |
| Rabbits | As young as 5 years |
| Horses | Up to 20 years |
Because of the higher risk to the insurer, policies for older pets are more expensive than for puppies and kittens, and the excess can be considerably higher. Do not be tempted to leave off any historical details to bring the price down: your cover could become null and void when your pet needs it most.
Ready to compare pet insurance quotes?
Answer a few questions about you and your pet and see live prices.
Frequently asked questions
How does pet insurance work?
After your policy's cooling off period of 14 days, your pet is covered as set out in your policy. If you need to make a claim, you typically need to do so within 30 days, and you will need to provide relevant receipts and invoices.
Should I buy pet insurance monthly or annually?
If you can afford to, your pet insurance will be cheaper if you pay annually.
I claimed on my policy last year, will my premium go up?
More than likely, yes. That is all the more reason to shop around and compare policies when you renew.
How can I get pet insurance?
Comparing pet insurance policies is the best way we know to find good value. Enter a few details about you and your pet, compare live quotes and levels of cover, then buy the policy you choose online or on the phone. With pet insurance, it is all about long-term value over your pet's lifetime.
Can you insure pedigree pets?
Yes. Your premium will be pricier, as the risk to the insurer is greater. This could be due to a higher chance of theft, or the potential for breeding-related illnesses.
Can I buy insurance for a rescue pet?
Yes. Just make sure you have all of your pet's medical details from the rescue centre, so you buy an accurate level of cover.
Will pet insurance cover a pre-existing condition?
A lot of insurers exclude any injury or illness your pet suffered before the policy was taken out. Some will cover that condition if there has been a two-year gap since the last treatment, so it is worth comparing.
Is pet insurance a legal requirement?
No. You could self-insure by saving an emergency pot for vets' bills, but emergency surgery and vets' bills can cost thousands, and charities such as the RSPCA only offer discounted or free care to owners on a low income, those who are retired, or those receiving state benefits.
Written by Michael Foote, Insurance & Finance Expert
Founder of Quote Goat, with over 20 years' experience in finance and insurance. He has appeared on TV and in Forbes, The Telegraph and The Metro.
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Quote Goat provides access to a pet insurance comparison service operated by Seopa Ltd. This page is general information, not advice. Always check the policy documents to make sure the cover meets your needs.