What is the Best Pet Insurance 2023?

Home Insurance Pet insurance

Moneyfacts has been analysing data for 35 years and our Star Ratings act as a badge of quality, providing an easy way for you to identify exceptional products that deserve your consideration. The chart below shows a selection of pet insurance policies awarded four and five stars. Scroll down to see the full list.

Featured pet insurance providers

Tesco Bank Pet Insurance
Moneyfacts Star Rating: 5 Stars

Tesco Bank Pet Insurance offers a choice of cover levels to suit you and your pet’s needs.

Direct to Vet payments available

Spread the cost of your policy with no extra cost, if paying monthly by direct debit.

24/7 unlimited, free telephone calls or video calls with Vetfone™ experts, provided by Vetsdirect Ltd, included with every policy.

No cancellation fee

Pets must be at least eight weeks old when cover starts and any pre-existing injuries and illnesses and certain breeds of cat and dog are not covered.

Tesco Bank Pet Insurance is arranged, administered and underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Ltd.

A guaranteed discount for Clubcard members. All you need to do is tell us your Clubcard number when prompted.
Go To Provider's Site
Napo
Moneyfacts Star Rating: 5 Star

Use code 'NAPO5' for 5% discount on policies

Cover for cats and dogs from 4 weeks old, including dental cover* and pre-existing conditions.**

Direct-to-vet payments available.

Free, unlimited 24/7 video calls through FirstVet.

Manage your account and claims online.

We have a low standard excess charge of £75 per condition, per year. No matter your policy

5-star rating from independent financial business Moneyfacts.

Free unlimited access to online puppy training classes with the Puppy Academy

^{*Dental cover includes tartar removal and extractions. Treatments must be prescribed and performed by a registered vet.}
^{**Pre-existing conditions are covered if your pet hasn’t had symptoms, treatment, medication, or advice for it in the last 24 months.}
Go To Provider's Site
Purely Pets
Moneyfacts Star Rating: 5 Stars

Highly Commended in the 2021 Moneyfacts Consumer Awards

0% interest if you pay by monthly Direct Debit

24/7 vet video consultations, symptom checker and qualified vet advice from Joii

15 levels of cover to choose from £1000 - £15,000, over three product suites: Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Flexible excess from as little as £80

Direct payment to vets
Go To Provider's Site
Waggel
GET YOUR FIRST MONTH FREE

Covers Reoccurring conditions & Dental

24/7 video vet with 100% digital claims

Track claims in real-time with a personal claims handler

Online behaviour and nutrition consultations

Supports a charity of your choosing

Payment for loss, theft or death

Perks & discounts unique to your dog
Go To Provider's Site
ManyPets

Moneyfacts Star Rating: 5 Stars

Get a £30 Amazon.co.uk Gift card T&Cs apply.

We were named Pet Insurance Provider of the Year at the 2022 Moneyfacts Consumer Awards

✅ Get £15,000 of vet fee cover that includes dental and behavioural treatment with our Complete policy.
✅ Unlimited 24/7 digital vet service to put your mind at rest

✅ Cover for conditions that ended at least two years ago, plus a policy that can cover pre-existing conditions
✅ Pay up to 20% of your policy back if you don't need to claim with our MoneyBack option
✅ ManyPets customers get 2 months of Flea, tick and worm plan for free
✅ Access to exclusive offers worth up to £500 to give your pet love

^{Previously known as Bought By Many}

^{*when you buy a new MP dog or cat insurance policy and the policy remains active or 45 days after the date the policy starts. Full T&Cs here.}

Go To Provider's Site
M&S
15% online discount

Pay by monthly instalments - at no extra cost

10% multi-pet discount for each cat or dog you choose to insure

Protect your dog or cat from aged 8 weeks

Access to vetfone™ - a freephone 24 hour helpline

M&S Pet Insurance gives you access to a range of services from information about local pet care providers to bereavement support

T&Cs apply
Go To Provider's Site
Animal Friends
Moneyfacts Star Rating: 5 Stars

Over 20 years of providing pet insurance

Donated over £7 million to over 650 charities

We can pay your claim directly to your vet

Free vet video calls with the Joii Pet Care app
Go To Provider's Site
Petsure
Moneyfacts Star Rating: 5 Stars

Award winning pet insurance provider, fighting for fair insurance for cats and dogs.

Tailored cover to suit your pet’s needs, including a choice of vet fees up to £15,000 and add on cover options like dental illness.

Cover for pre-existing medical conditions* and no upper age limits – cover for cats and dogs from 4 weeks old.

Optional excess and bill share.

24/7 unlimited access to video consultations with UK-based vet FirstVet.
Go To Provider's Site
Everypaw
Moneyfacts Star Rating: 5 Stars

Pet insurance policies for dogs, cats and rabbits

Insure multiple pets for a multi-pet discount

Unlimited 24/7 access to UK vet nurses and vets with Petcall

Manage your policy online with the Pet Portal
Go To Provider's Site
Petplan
Moneyfacts Star Rating: 5 Stars

Petplan is the UK's No.1 pet insurer

Petplan insure over 1.3 million pets

Award-winning pet insurance

Petplan covers things others don’t

97% of Covered for Life® claims paid

You won’t pay more for claiming

Petplan have over 40 years experience helping to keep pets healthy

Over 90% of customers renew with Petplan each year.

Petplan can pay your vet directly
Go To Provider's Site
Fluffy
Every policy comes with free pet training from world-leading experts, 24/7 vet helpline, online pet trainer support and up to 50% discounts on pet food, toys.

Up to £10,000 for vet fees

Up to £750 for dental accidents

Up to £750 for complementary treatments

Up to £1,500 for theft and straying

Up to £2M for third-party liability

Hassle-free claims

10% multi-pet discount
Go To Provider's Site
Scratch & Patch
Moneyfacts Star Rating: 4 Stars

Insurance cats and dogs will love you for

24/7/365 Scratch & Patch Careline gives you unlimited access to fully qualified vet nurses whenever you need them

Choose from 6 levels of cover, including Prime, Premier & Premier Plus

2022 Highly Commended at the Moneyfacts Consumer Awards in the Pet Insurance Provider of the Year

UK based administration and claims handling

No waiting period for illness cover if you switch from another provider and have continuous insurance (otherwise 14 days)
Go To Provider's Site
Post Office

Moneyfacts Star Rating: 5 Stars

We pay 98%* of claims.

Get peace of mind with Post Office Pet Insurance with vet fee cover up to £7,000 per policy year on cat & dog policies, and unlimited access to our 24-hour vet helpline, live chat and video. Plus, cover for local advertising and reward should your pet be lost or stolen. Personalised quotes available now - benefit from multi-pet discount if you insure more than one pet.

^{*Based on Pinnacle Insurance pls Claims Data from 09/2020 to 09/2021.}

Go To Provider's Site
John Lewis
Moneyfacts Star Rating: 5 Stars

Cover for pets from just 8 weeks of age

Annual online health check

24/7 support from the freephone vetfone™ helpline

Six levels of cover for vet fees of up to £12,000 each year as long as you renew your policy and premiums are paid

Up to £2 million third party liability if your dog causes an accident

Dental cover

96% of claims are paid in 5 days (Sept 22 to Apr 23)

Up to £300 for behavioural treatment (included in vet fee limit) - Perfect if they keep going anywhere but the litter tray
Go To Provider's Site
Swinton
Swinton Pet Insurance allows you to cover your beloved cats and dogs against illness, accident or injury for up to £7,000 cover. Basic plans will include medical aid such as MRI scans and dental procedures, while more comprehensive plans will cover you for holiday cancellations due to a pet illness, accidental damage or a reward if your pet goes missing.

Having pet insurance in place not only provides essential financial cover for the unexpected but also provides peace of mind that you won't be caught short if something were to happen to your fluffy family member! But, why choose Swinton?

Insure your cat or dog for up to £7000

Speak to veterinary professionals 24/7

3 levels of cover to meet a range of needs
Go To Provider's Site
Quotezone
Search and compare cheap quotes from over 15 UK insurance providers including PDSA, Animal Friends, Healthy Pets, PurelyPets, and Sainsbury's.

Compare quotes for your furry friend, whether they’re a dog, cat or rabbit, and see how much you could save today!

With Quotezone Rewards, unlock an entire platform of cashback and discounts for a full year just for completing an insurance quote.

Save online at up to 1,000 retailers

Earn cashback on your everyday shopping

Enter free competitions
Go To Provider's Site
Pet Guard
Moneyfacts Star Rating: 5 Stars

Over 37 years protecting the UK’s pets with specialist insurance

Vets bills can be paid directly to your vet

3 levels of annual vet cover up to £12,000

Cover for pets over 2 months old

10% multi pet discount

Cover for new long-term and chronic conditions

0% monthly payment option
Go To Provider's Site
LV=
Moneyfacts Star Rating: 5 Stars

Our pet insurance gives you a choice of 5 levels of cover to meet your needs, with a mixture of Lifetime and Time Limited policies available.

We can pay your vet directly

We’ll cover your puppy or kitten from eight weeks old

Free 24/7 access to online vets

Variable excesses to suit your pocket

Lifetime options:

Vets fee cover of £3k, £5k or £10k – every year your pet is insured with us

Time Limited options:

Vets fee cover of £1.5k or £2.5k for up to 12 months for each condition
Go To Provider's Site
Agria
Moneyfacts Star Rating: 5 Stars

Lifetime Pet Insurance for dogs and cats with up to £12,500 vet fees cover

97% claims are paid, direct to your vet if you prefer

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Winner of Moneyfacts Consumer Award 2018 & 2019: Pet Insurance Provider of the Year

Winner of Moneyfacts Consumer Award 2018 & 2019: Best Claims Service
Go To Provider's Site
More Th>n
Moneyfacts Star Rating: 5 Stars

Enjoy a 10% discount for each pet you insure on the same policy.

Access to qualified vet nurses, any time, any day

0% APR so you can spread the cost

You can submit a claim online 24/7

Vets bills can be paid directly to your vet. Subject to vet agreement, excess applies.

More Than pays out on 9 out of 10 claims*

_{*MORE THAN data from February 2022 to January 2023}
Go To Provider's Site
4Paws
Moneyfacts Star Rating: 5 Stars

Different levels of cover to suit every budget.

Cover from 6 weeks old

UK based contact centre

24/7 emergency claims line
Go To Provider's Site
Healthy Pets
Moneyfacts Star Rating: 5 Stars

Insuring through Healthy Pets means your pets are covered through one of the longest-standing and most well - established Pet Insurance Specialists. Plus, with Healthy Pets you can.

Rest assured you are covered by people who care as much for your pet as you do.

Get lifetime cover available for vet bills, legal fees, accidental damage and more. Limits apply.

Choose your level of cover and tailor your insurance benefits to build a policy that’s right for you.
Go To Provider's Site
Cover My Pet
3 levels of cover to choose from including Time Limited, Maximum Benefit and Lifetime Cover

Lifetime cover for Dogs and Cats with vet fee options of £2,000, £5,000 and £10,000

Choose your own excess level

Claims paid direct to vet practice (subject to vet agreement)

UK based call centre

Cover available from 8 weeks old
Go To Provider's Site
VetsMediCover
Moneyfacts Star Rating: 4 Stars

Pre-existing conditions until treatment or symptom free for 24 months.

Pets less than 8 weeks old or over 8 years at policy inception.

Illnesses within 14 days of policy inception & injury within 5 days of inception.

Dogs used for guarding, racing, coursing or any dog registered under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Dogs used for working
Go To Provider's Site

Note

Links to third parties on this page are paid for by the third party. You can find out more about the individual products by visiting their site. Moneyfactscompare.co.uk will receive a small payment either if you click the links or if you use their services after you click through to their site. All information is subject is subject to change without notice. Please check all terms before making any decisions.

Disclaimer

The list of pet insurance providers on this page is a selection of services available and gives you an idea of the kind of options available. You can find out more about the individual products by visiting any of the providers listed. All information is subject to change without notice. Please check all terms before making any decisions. This information is intended solely to provide guidance and is not financial advice. Moneyfactscompare.co.uk will not be liable for any loss arising from your use or reliance on this information. If you are in any doubt, Moneyfactscompare.co.uk recommends you obtain independent financial advice.

What elements of the pet insurance policy do we look at?

The many factors we look at to determine star ratings include:

Maximum veterinary fees insured
Claims time limit
Total excess
Fees and charges
Discounts
Boarding fees cover
Death by accident and illness cover
Lost or stolen cover
Advertising and reward cover
Alternative treatments cover
Dental treatments cover

Hereditary conditions cover
Congenital conditions cover
Overseas vet fees
Quarantine costs
Special diet cover
Behavioural disorders cover
Accidental damage to third parties cover
Pet funeral / cremation cover
Third-party legal liability cover
Maximum age limits

Maximum veterinary fees insured
Claims time limit
Total excess
Fees and charges
Discounts
Boarding fees cover
Death by accident and illness cover
Lost or stolen cover
Advertising and reward cover
Alternative treatments cover
Dental treatments cover

Hereditary conditions cover
Congenital conditions cover
Overseas vet fees
Quarantine costs
Special diet cover
Behavioural disorders cover
Accidental damage to third parties cover
Pet funeral / cremation cover
Third-party legal liability cover
Maximum age limits

Maximum veterinary fees insured
Claims time limit
Total excess
Fees and charges
Discounts
Boarding fees cover
Death by accident and illness cover
Lost or stolen cover
Advertising and reward cover
Alternative treatments cover
Dental treatments cover

Hereditary conditions cover
Congenital conditions cover
Overseas vet fees
Quarantine costs
Special diet cover
Behavioural disorders cover
Accidental damage to third parties cover
Pet funeral / cremation cover
Third-party legal liability cover
Maximum age limits

How does a star rating help me find the best pet insurance?

Moneyfacts is recognised by both customers and providers as the go-to place for accurate insight and impartial evaluation of pet insurance policies. The straight-forward five-star ratings system is a simple and effective way for consumers to compare products and providers.

Only those pet insurance policies that deliver the best in terms of both features and benefits can expect to receive our Four and Five Star Ratings. Customers choosing from products that are awarded one of these ratings can be sure they are buying the best cover on the market.

Pet Insurance Star Ratings 2023

Click the headings below to see the full list of star ratings awarded.

Cat Insurance - Four Star

4Paws Pet Insurance - Lifetime £4,000
4Paws Pet Insurance - Lifetime 30% £4,000
4Paws Pet Insurance - Maximum Benefit £7,000
4Paws Pet Insurance - Maximum Benefit 30% £7,000
Admiral - Extra
Admiral - Gold
Admiral - Silver
Ageas - Classic
Agria Pet Insurance - Agria Home Cat Lifetime Plus
Animal Friends - Max Extra
Animal Friends - Superior
Animal Friends - Superior Plus
Argos - Lifetime £1,000
Argos - Lifetime £3,500
Argos - Time Limited £4,000
ASDA Money - Lifetime £2,000
ASDA Money - Time Limited £5,000
Club Care Insurance - Lifetime £7,000
Club Care Insurance - Maximum Benefit £7,000
Co-op Insurance - Lifetime £5,000
Co-op Insurance - Time Limited £5,000
Direct Line - Essential Cover
Everypaw - Lifetime Everypaw £1k
Everypaw - Lifetime Everypaw £2k
Everypaw - Maximum Benefit Everypaw £3k
Healthy Pets Insurance - Gold
Healthy Pets Insurance - Premier
helpucover - Premier
Insureyourpaws.co.uk - Maximum Benefit £5,000
Insureyourpaws.co.uk - Maximum Benefit £6,000
Leisure Guard - Accident & Illness £3,000
MORE TH>N - Basic £3,000
Napo Pet Insurance - Essential
Perfect Pet Insurance - Elite Extra
Pet-insurance.co.uk - Lifetime Lunar Monthly
Pet-insurance.co.uk - Lifetime Yearly
Pet-insurance.co.uk - Standard Lunar Monthly
Petplan - Essential
Petwise - Lifetime £2,000
Petwise - Time Limited £4,000
Purely Pets - Lifetime Bronze
Revolut - Silver
Sainsbury's Bank - Time Limited £3,000
Scratch & Patch - Premier Plus
Swinton - Classic £2,000
The Insurance Emporium - Maximum Benefit Bronze Annual
The Insurance Emporium - Time Limited Bronze Annual
VetsMediCover - Diamond

Dog Insurance - Five Star

4Paws Pet Insurance - Lifetime £12,000
4Paws Pet Insurance - Lifetime £7,000
4Paws Pet Insurance - Lifetime 30% £12,000
4Paws Pet Insurance - Lifetime 30% £7,000
Admiral - Gold
Admiral - Platinum
Ageas - Ultra
Agria Pet Insurance - Agria Lifetime
Agria Pet Insurance - Agria Lifetime Plus
Animal Friends - Assure Plus
Animal Friends - Lifetime £10,000
Animal Friends - Lifetime £18,000
Animal Friends - Prestige
Animal Friends - Superior Plus
Argos - Lifetime £7,000
Argos - Maximum Benefit £5,000
ASDA Money - Lifetime £10,000
ASDA Money - Lifetime £6,000
ASDA Money - Lifetime £8,000
Club Care Insurance - Lifetime £12,000
Confidas - Pet Lux
Confidas - Pet Max
Co-op Insurance - Lifetime £10,000
Co-op Insurance - Lifetime £16,000
Co-op Insurance - Lifetime £5,000
Co-op Insurance - Lifetime £7,500
Direct Line - Advanced Cover
Direct Line - Select Premier Pet Insurance
Everypaw - Lifetime Everypaw £10k
Everypaw - Lifetime Everypaw £4k
Everypaw - Lifetime Everypaw £6k
Everypaw - Lifetime Everypaw £8k
Insureyourpaws.co.uk - Lifetime £10,000
Insureyourpaws.co.uk - Lifetime £5,000
Insureyourpaws.co.uk - Lifetime £7,500
Itch Insure - Lifetime £4,000
Itch Insure - Lifetime £7,000
John Lewis - Lifetime £12,000
John Lewis - Lifetime £2,000
John Lewis - Lifetime £3,000
John Lewis - Lifetime £5,000
John Lewis - Lifetime £7,500
John Lewis - Lifetime £9,000
Kennel Club Pet Insurance - Kennel Club Lifetime
Kennel Club Pet Insurance - Kennel Club Lifetime Plus
Leisure Guard - Accident & Illness £12,000
Leisure Guard - Accident & Illness £6,000
LV= - Lifetime £10,000
LV= - Lifetime £3,000
LV= - Lifetime £5,000
LV= - Time Limited £1,500
LV= - Time Limited £2,500
M&S Bank - Premier
ManyPets - Complete
ManyPets - MoneyBack
ManyPets - Pre-Existing
ManyPets - Regular £5,000
ManyPets - Regular £7,000
MiPet Cover - 365Flex £5,000
MiPet Cover - LifetimeFlex £10,000
MiPet Cover - LifetimeFlex £12,000
MiPet Cover - LifetimeFlex £4,000
MiPet Cover - LifetimeFlex £6,000
MiPet Cover - LifetimeFlex £8,000
MORE TH>N - Classic £4,000
MORE TH>N - Classic £8,000
MORE TH>N - Premier £1,000
MORE TH>N - Premier £2,000
MORE TH>N - Premier £4,000
MORE TH>N - Premier £6,000
Napo Pet Insurance - Advanced
Napo Pet Insurance - Essential
Napo Pet Insurance - Harmony
Napo Pet Insurance - Serenity
NatWest - Premier Pet Insurance
PDSA - Lifetime £3,000
PDSA - Lifetime £4,000
PDSA - Lifetime £5,000
PDSA - Lifetime £8,000
Perfect Pet Insurance - Elite Extra Plus
Petguard - Accident & Illness £12,000
Petguard - Accident & Illness £3,000
Petguard - Accident & Illness £6,000
Petplan - Classic
Petplan - Classic +
Petplan - Ultimate
Pets in a Pickle - Lifetime Cover
Petsure - Lifetime Cover £1,000
Petsure - Lifetime Cover £10,000
Petsure - Lifetime Cover £15,000
Petsure - Lifetime Cover £3,000
Petsure - Lifetime Cover £5,000
Petsure - Lifetime Cover £7,500
PETtrac - Accident & Illness £12,000
PETtrac - Accident & Illness £3,000
PETtrac - Accident & Illness £6,000
Petwise - Lifetime £10,000
Petwise - Lifetime £6,000
Petwise - Lifetime £8,000
Post Office - Lifetime £7K
Purely Pets - Lifetime Gold
Purely Pets - Lifetime Silver
Revolut - Gold
Royal Bank of Scotland - Premier Pet Insurance
RSPCA Pet Insurance - Gold
RSPCA Pet Insurance - Platinum
RSPCA Pet Insurance - Silver
Saga - Super
Sainsbury's Bank - Lifetime £10,000
Sainsbury's Bank - Lifetime £2,500
Sainsbury's Bank - Lifetime £5,000
Sainsbury's Bank - Lifetime £7,500
Sainsbury's Bank - Maximum Benefit £3,000
Sainsbury's Bank - Maximum Benefit £6,000
Swinton - Classic £7,000
Tesco Bank - Extra £4,000
Tesco Bank - Extra £7,500
Tesco Bank - Premier £10,000
Tesco Bank - Premier £2,000
Tesco Bank - Premier £4,000
Tesco Bank - Premier £7,500
Tesco Bank - Standard
The Insurance Emporium - Lifetime Bronze Annual
The Insurance Emporium - Lifetime Bronze Monthly
The Insurance Emporium - Lifetime Gold Annual
The Insurance Emporium - Lifetime Gold Monthly
The Insurance Emporium - Lifetime Silver Annual
The Insurance Emporium - Lifetime Silver Monthly
The Insurance Emporium - Maximum Benefit Bronze Monthly
The Insurance Emporium - Maximum Benefit Gold Annual
The Insurance Emporium - Maximum Benefit Gold Monthly
The Insurance Emporium - Maximum Benefit Silver Annual
The Insurance Emporium - Maximum Benefit Silver Monthly
The Insurance Emporium - Time Limited Bronze Monthly
The Insurance Emporium - Time Limited Gold Annual
The Insurance Emporium - Time Limited Gold Monthly
The Insurance Emporium - Time Limited Silver Annual
The Insurance Emporium - Time Limited Silver Monthly
Vetsure - Premier
Vetsure - Premier +£1k Top Up
Vetsure - Premier +£2k Top Up
Vetsure - Premier Plus
Vetsure - Premier Plus +£1k Top Up
Vetsure - Premier Plus +£2k Top Up

Dog Insurance - Four Star

4Paws Pet Insurance - Maximum Benefit £7,000
4Paws Pet Insurance - Maximum Benefit 30% £7,000
Admiral - Extra
Admiral - Silver
Ageas - Classic
Ageas - Extra
Animal Friends - Max Extra
Animal Friends - Super
Animal Friends - Superior
Argos - Lifetime £2,000
Argos - Lifetime £4,500
Argos - Maximum Benefit £2,000
Argos - Time Limited £4,000
ASDA Money - Lifetime £2,000
ASDA Money - Lifetime £4,000
ASDA Money - Time Limited £5,000
Club Care Insurance - Lifetime £7,000
Club Care Insurance - Maximum Benefit £7,000
Co-op Insurance - Time Limited £5,000
Direct Line - Essential Cover
Frank - £4,000 - All Options
Healthy Pets Insurance - Gold
helpucover - Premier
Itch Insure - Lifetime £2,000
Leisure Guard - Accident & Illness £3,000
MiPet Cover - LifetimeFlex £2,000
MORE TH>N - Basic £3,000
Only Paws - £4,000 - All Options
PDSA - Lifetime £2,000
Perfect Pet Insurance - Elite Extra
Pet-insurance.co.uk - Lifetime Lunar Monthly
Pet-insurance.co.uk - Lifetime Yearly
Pet-insurance.co.uk - Standard Lunar Monthly
Pet-insurance.co.uk - Standard Yearly
Petplan - Essential
Petwise - Lifetime £2,000
Petwise - Lifetime £4,000
Petwise - Time Limited £4,000
Purely Pets - Lifetime Bronze
Revolut - Silver
Sainsbury's Bank - Time Limited £3,000
Scratch & Patch - Premier Plus
Spot On - £4,000 - All Options
Swinton - Classic £4,000
The Insurance Emporium - Maximum Benefit Bronze Annual
The Insurance Emporium - Time Limited Bronze Annual
VetsMediCover - Diamond
Whistle & Wag - £4,000 - All Options

Pet insurance explained

Many pet owners consider their beloved cat or dog as one of the family. Unfortunately, when a pet falls ill the vet’s fees can quickly mount up. Pet insurance is there to help you pay for the veterinary costs should your cat, dog or other domestic pet becomes sick or is injured.

In addition, if you choose you can expand the cover to include a range of other perils, such as public liability (if your dog attacks and injures another animal and/or person or it damages someone else’s property), the cost of keeping your cat or dog in a cattery or kennels if you fall ill and must go into hospital or temporary care and even the replacement value if your animal is stolen or lost.

At a glance

Pet insurance protects you from the high cost of vet’s bills if your pet falls ill or has an accident.
Dog insurance can include public liability insurance – in case your dog injures someone or causes damage to their property (including another animal or livestock).
When taking out pet insurance cover make sure you understand what treatments are covered and if there are any limits or excesses to pay.
Nearly all domestic pets can be insured but be aware that the older they are the higher the premium you are likely to be charged.

What kind of pet can I insure?

Most people tend to buy pet insurance for their cat or dog; however, cover isn’t just restricted to our four-legged friends. It’s perfectly possible to insurance a range of domestic animals, such as hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs or anything else you may find in a pet shop. This also includes certain types of birds, like budgies or parrots.

Pets which you keep for the purposes of racing them, such as greyhounds (unless they are retired) or pigeons, may cost more to insure (or may be declined entirely) due to the higher likelihood of them being injured or lost.

Of course, pet insurance is available for the not-so-common pets too, so if you have an exotic animal, such as snakes, lizards, spiders – even tropical fish – you can still find there’s a policy out there for you.

Horses and ponies aren’t covered under domestic pet insurance but can still be insured by an equine insurance provider.

How much does pet insurance cost?

The cost of your pet insurance can vary tremendously depending on what type of animal you are insuring, their age and what is covered under the policy. Insurance which has higher limits, more comprehensive cover and greater benefits will cost more than those offering basic cover for a limited number of risks.

The cost of pet insurance however is small compared to the £100’s and even £1,000’s you could have to pay in vet’s bills if your furry friend gets seriously ill or injured. Worse yet, if you can’t afford to pay and must have your pet put down.

Things which might increase your premium

Age – Older pets will cost more to insure and may not get cover at all
Medical history – You will have to declare any medical problems which your pet has already suffered. These can increase the premium or the risk may be excluded completely from cover (Never be tempted to lie or simply not disclose this kind of information – this is illegal and can result in both prosecution and your policy being cancelled)
Type and breed of pet – Dogs tend to attract a higher premium than cats. Exotic pets and pedigree breeds will also tend to increase the premium you can expect to pay. However, on the plus side some insurers offer multibuy discounts if you are insuring more than one animal.

Choose a policy which gives a level of cover you are happy with at a price you can comfortably afford. Of course, you can always choose to pay monthly to spread the cost of most pet insurance premium but remember that you’ll probably be charged interest for doing so.

What does pet insurance cover?

Veterinary bills and medical treatments

At the most basic level you can buy pet insurance policies which work perfectly to cover you against unexpected vets bills for illness or injury.

These include the cost of drugs, any surgeries required and even physiotherapy to help your pet recover. Some policies will also cover the cost of non-standard treatments, such as acupuncture, homeopathy and behavioural therapy.

However, it’s important to note that some things – such as the cost of regular check-ups, vaccinations, booster shots, anti-flea treatments and grooming – will not be covered. For more information see the section on What is excluded from pet insurance? below.

Pet value on loss or death

Pet insurance also often covers the value of your treasured pet, should they die due to illness, accident, be lost or even stolen. While the average cat or kitten might be bought for less than £50 – often they are free to a good home – pure-bred pedigree cats can have a value measured in the hundreds and even thousands of pounds, as can many dogs.

Exotic pets by their very nature tend to be rarer and cost far more than ordinary domestic pets. While no sum could truly make up for the loss of your furry friend at least this will compensate you for your basic financial loss.

In cases where a pet goes missing some insurance policies will cover you up to a set limit to advertise for your lost pet and even offer a modest reward for finding the animal and returning it to you or for information that leads to a conviction if the pet was stolen.

Public liability

As mentioned previously pet insurance can also include an element of public liability cover should your animal injure someone or do damage to their property (including another pet or livestock). This cover is normally reserved for dogs, but it can also be extended to venomous exotic pets too.

Boarding costs

Many pet insurance policies may also cover the cost of boarding your cat or dog at a cattery or kennels, should you have to go into hospital or into temporary care. Often these boarding charges are only claimable for periods over four days, if the costs exceed a certain limit – such as £500 – and have an upper limit to all payments – say, up to £2000 for any single occasion.

Overseas costs

Some policies will cover your pet for all or some of the above events while you are abroad. This is great if you have a second home overseas which your pet might travel to with you.

What will my pet be covered for?

There are several different types of pet insurance which affect what you are covered for, if there is a limit on what you can claim and how often per year.

See the section below What types of pet insurance are there? for more info

What is excluded from pet insurance?

There are some things which you cannot insure against or claim for with pet insurance. What you are insured for will differ depending on your policy and provider. This is one of those occasions where you really should read the small print!

Dental care (check carefully!). Some policies will cover this at an additional expense or even as part of their standard cover. However, some will not cover dental treatments for your pet at all or may have a limit on cost of treatments. Check your policy carefully and make sure this is in place if necessary. In all cases cosmetic dental work will not be covered.
Pre-existing health conditions*. Very often these are specifically excluded from cover, unless they arise during the period of insurance. For example, if it is known that your dog has liver problems before you take out the policy you will probably not be able to claim for treatments or death specific to this cause. If, however, your pet’s condition is diagnosed after 14 days from the start of the policy this will likely be covered (subject to your policy’s cover, terms and exclusions).
Regular health check-ups, vaccinations and immunisations (including booster shots)
Grooming costs – Including claw-clipping, de-matting and cosmetic procedures
Routine and preventative treatment – This includes flea, tick and worm treatments, spaying and castration costs
Pregnancy – Some policies may exclude claims related to pregnancy or your pet giving birth - Be sure to check
Euthanasia and cremation costs- Some policies do not cover the cost of having your pet put to sleep and/or the costs of cremation. In addition, if these are covered then there may be policy limits which restrict how much they will pay in these circumstances. Again, check your policy carefully.

* - Hereditary illnesses. If you pet has a family history or a tendency in the breed to develop certain health problems, you must declare this when taking out the policy. Most insurers will accept the risk if your pet is not showing any signs of this condition when the policy is taken out (although you may be charged a higher premium).
If your pet subsequently develops this condition 14 days or more after the policy starts and you have ‘unrestricted’ cover then you will be covered (subject to your normal policy conditions, limits and exclusions).

Always make sure you know what is covered by your pet insurance policy and what isn’t – Don’t find yourself in the unenviable position of having paid a premium only to find out later that you aren’t covered when the worst happens

What types of pet insurance are there?

Pet insurance falls into four types: Lifetime, maximum benefit, time-limited and accident only.

Lifetime

This is the most comprehensive cover level and so is usually also the most expensive. However, it does provide the widest level of cover for your pet. Lifetime insurance means that you will be able to claim up to a set amount (detailed in your policy) every year that your pet is covered – for example, cover may stipulate a maximum total of £10,000 per year.

These limits ‘reset’ every year so in the example above you’d be able to claim up to £10,000 of treatment every year. Any costs over and above this will not be covered – For example, if the total value of your pets treatment comes to £13,000 in a single year you can claim up to £10,000 of this but you would have to pay the remaining £3,000 yourself. Lifetime pet insurance policies tend to set limit either by condition per year or lifetime annual cover (which works like a total overall limit per year).

Per condition per year limit. This is where there is a limit to how much you can claim for per condition each year. For example, the limit could be £2,000 per year for your cat’s liver disease and £1,000 for skin conditions per year so these would be the maximum amounts you could claim annually. Again, these limits reset at renewal every year.
Lifetime annual cover. This is cover provides an overall limit to how much you can claim over the period of one year. For example, cover may limit the total amount for all claims to £5,000 per year.

Both types of lifetime cover will reset on an annual basis (so long as you renew your policy with that provider and don’t go elsewhere) so your pet can have ongoing treatment for the remainder of its life.

Maximum benefit

These may also be called per condition policies or money limited policies.
This type of policy often has limits which will not reset even when you renew so your pet will only be covered up to the policy limit for this condition for their lifetime, regardless of whether you renew with that insurer after a year. Once you have claimed for treatment up to this limit you will have received the ‘maximum benefit’ available under that policy. You will be responsible for the remainder and any further costs for this condition, even if you renew the policy with the same insurer.

As ever, check the small print carefully for details of the limits your policy will impose in any treatment before you buy to ensure you are getting the cover you want for your pet.

Time limited

This type of policy normally covers a pet for both injuries and any illnesses. However, these are limited to fixed limits in both how long you can claim for, as well as how much the insurers will pay for treatment. Normally claims are limited to around 12 months from when your pet falls ill or suffers an accidental injury.

When the time or monetary limit has been reached you will no longer be able to claim for your pet’s treatment. This applies even if you renew the policy.

Accident only

This is the lowest level possible to obtain for your pet and is the cheapest to obtain. It’s likely that the cover levels will be lower than lifetime or annual policies and feature larger excesses.

Accident cover does not insure against illness at all but only treatment if your pet suffers an accident (such as being hit by a car).

A word about excesses...

All pet insurance policies are likely to carry some form of excess. For example, if your pet’s policy has a £250 excess this means that the insurers will not pay for the first £250 of any claim.

Most policies also charge a percentage of the amount outstanding after the excess has been deducted, this will vary depending on the age of the animal.

Different excesses may apply for different conditions, treatments or pets as well so check your policy carefully.

Frequently asked questions on pet insurance

How soon is my pet covered by insurance?

Pet insurance policies normally carry a waiting period of 14 days from when the policy starts. No claims are covered within this 14-day period but after this your insurance operates as normal.

Consequently, be cautious regarding any pet insurance that offers ‘instant’ cover.

How do I claim on my pet insurance?

In cases where the treatment is on-going, insurers can arrange to pay vets directly for their fees. However, most vets will insist on an account being settled straight away or in advance, in which case you will have to submit your invoices and other payment proof to your insurer so they can reimburse you (subject to cover limits and any excesses).

Always keep copies of any invoices or other documents which you send to the insurance company for your own records and in case they are lost en-route.

How can I cancel my pet insurance policy?

Cancelling your pet insurance policy should be a matter of simply calling your insurer and informing them that you don’t need cover any longer. If you are moving to another insurer, then be sure to let your current insurance company know that you won’t be renewing your policy with them (many insurers will automatically renew your policy and take payment accordingly). If you cancel your insurance mid-policy (rather than at renewal) you may be charged a fee.

Pros and cons of pet insurance

Veterinary treatment - especially for serious and long-term conditions – can be very expensive.
Depending on the cover you choose it often covers more than just vets’ bills – including public liability and boarding fees, etc.
There are a wide variety of covers available allowing you to choose a pet insurance plan which suits your budget

Pet insurance doesn’t cover the cost of routine vet treatments (such as inoculations, deworming and check-ups, etc.)
Policy excesses may mean you have to contribute toward the cost of treatments, while policy limits may restrict the total amount that insurers will pay over a year or per condition.
You may have to settle the vets bill first before being repaid by the insurers (less any excesses or policy limits)

Compare other insurance policies

Featured - Savings Allowance

Specialist mortgages

Featured - Debt and your credit score

Featured - Travel Insurance

Other

Featured - Student current accounts

Featured - Purchase Cards

Credit repair

Featured - The triple lock explained

How much can I give as a cash gift?

Featured guides

Latest news - by category

Other money & finance news

Featured - How to invest in shares

Other Star Ratings categories

Moneyfacts Awards

About

Legal