Pet Insurance
Compare Pet Insurance Quotes
You could pay from £3.09 per month*
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We do not provide advice or make recommendations. Your choice of provider is entirely your own.
Search and compare quotes from up to 25 UK pet insurers, including;
What Is Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance covers your vet bills if your cat, dog, or other pet is injured or becomes ill. You pay a monthly or annual premium and the insurer pays for treatment up to your policy limit.
Vet treatment in the UK can cost thousands of pounds for a single condition. The Association of British Insurers reports that UK pet insurance claims hit a record £1.23 billion in 2024, driven by rising treatment costs.
When your pet needs treatment, you pay an excess (your share of the bill) and the insurer covers the rest. The amount of cover depends on your policy type and the limit you choose.
How To Compare Pet Insurance Quotes
You can compare quotes from up to 25 UK providers in minutes using the online comparison tool.
Enter your pet’s details
Provide your pet’s type, breed, age, and any medical history along with your postcode and contact details. Always disclose your pet’s full medical history, as failing to do so can invalidate your policy.
Compare your quotes
Results appear side by side, showing the price, cover level, excess, and annual limit for each policy. Sort by price or filter by cover type to find the best match.
Check policy details
Don’t just pick the cheapest quote. Check the excess, any exclusions, and whether the policy covers dental, overseas travel, or third-party liability.
Buy online
Once you’ve chosen a policy, you can buy directly from the insurance provider. All quotes come from FCA-regulated insurers, and cover can start the same day.
Pay attention to whether the annual limit applies per condition or across all conditions. A £7,000 per-condition limit gives you more protection if your pet needs treatment for more than one issue.
What Does Pet Insurance Cover?
Standard pet insurance covers vet fees for illness and injury, surgery, medication, and hospitalisation. Most policies also include third-party liability cover for dogs.
Standard cover
All policy types cover the cost of treating your pet after an accident. Illness cover is included on everything except accident-only policies.
Dog policies include third-party liability, which pays out if your dog injures someone or damages their property. This is separate from the cover you’d need if you run a pet care business.
Professional dog walkers and pet sitters need their own dog walking insurance with public liability cover. A personal pet policy does not cover business activities.
Common add-ons and extras
Many insurers offer extras you can bolt on to your policy. These include dental treatment caused by accident, boarding fees if you’re hospitalised, and advertising costs if your pet goes missing.
Overseas travel cover is another popular add-on. It typically covers emergency vet fees, quarantine costs, and replacement of pet travel documents while abroad.
Death and euthanasia cover
Most policies include a death benefit that pays a lump sum if your pet dies from illness or injury. The amount is usually based on your pet’s purchase price or market value.
Euthanasia cover pays for the procedure when a vet recommends it. Some policies also contribute towards cremation costs, though this is less common.
What Types Of Pet Insurance Can You Get?
There are four main types: lifetime, time-limited, maximum benefit, and accident-only. Each type balances cover level against cost differently.
| Policy Type | What It Covers | Limit Resets Annually? | Best For |
| Lifetime | Illness and injury for your pet’s whole life | Yes | Ongoing or long-term conditions |
| Time-limited | Illness and injury for a set period (usually 12 months per condition) | No | Short-term cover at a lower premium |
| Maximum benefit | Illness and injury up to a fixed total payout per condition | No | Budget-conscious owners who want illness cover |
| Accident-only | Accidents only, no illness cover | N/A | Lowest-cost cover for healthy pets |
Which type should you choose?
Lifetime policies cost more each month but cover conditions for your pet’s entire life. Our guide to the best lifetime pet insurance providers compares the top UK options.
If your pet develops a long-term condition like diabetes or arthritis, a lifetime policy keeps paying out year after year. Time-limited and maximum benefit policies stop covering that condition once the limit runs out.
Accident-only policies are the cheapest but leave you exposed if your pet develops an illness. They suit owners who are happy to self-insure for illness but want protection against unexpected injuries.
What Is Not Covered By Pet Insurance?
Pre-existing conditions, routine care, and elective procedures are not covered by standard pet insurance policies. Always check your policy wording for the full list of exclusions.
Pre-existing conditions
If your pet already has a diagnosed condition when you take out the policy, treatment for that condition will not be covered. Some insurers also exclude conditions that showed symptoms before the policy start date.
Switching insurer can create new exclusions. If your pet was treated for a condition under a previous policy, your new insurer may treat it as pre-existing.
Routine and preventative care
Vaccinations, flea and worming treatments, neutering, spaying, and routine check-ups are not covered. These are classed as preventative or elective.
Most insurers require your pet’s vaccinations to be up to date as a condition of cover. Failing to vaccinate can void your policy.
Waiting periods
Most policies have a waiting period of 14 days from the start date before you can claim. Any illness or injury during this window is excluded.
Some conditions, like cruciate ligament problems in dogs, can have longer waiting periods of up to six months. Check the policy documents before you buy.
Pregnancy and breeding
Pregnancy-related treatment and complications during birth are classed as elective and excluded from standard policies. If you breed your pet, you’ll need specialist breeder insurance.
Behavioural conditions
Treatment for behavioural issues like aggression, anxiety, or destructive behaviour is excluded by most policies. Only a small number of insurers cover behavioural therapy.
How Does A Pet Insurance Claim Work?
You take your pet to the vet, pay the excess, and submit a claim for the remaining cost. The insurer reviews it and pays out based on your policy terms.
Your dog needs surgery costing £2,500. Your policy has a £150 excess and a £7,000 annual limit.
You pay the £150 and the insurer pays the remaining £2,350.
If your policy includes a co-payment (common for older pets), you also pay a percentage of the claim on top of the excess. A 20% co-payment on that £2,350 means you pay an extra £470, bringing the insurer’s share to £1,880.
Direct claims vs reimbursement
Some vets claim directly from your insurer, so you only pay the excess upfront. Others require you to pay the full bill and then claim reimbursement.
Ask your vet which method they use before treatment starts. Keep all invoices, receipts, and clinical notes as most insurers require these with your claim.
How long does a claim take?
Most insurers aim to settle claims within 5–10 working days once they have all the paperwork. Complex claims involving ongoing treatment or specialist referrals may take longer.
If your claim is rejected, your insurer must explain why in writing. You can escalate the decision to the Financial Ombudsman Service if you disagree.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
Dog insurance starts from around £5 per month for accident-only cover and £11 per month for lifetime cover. Cat insurance starts from around £10 per month.
| Pet Type | Cover Level | From (per month) |
| Dog | Accident only | £5.00 |
| Dog | Time-limited | £9.30 |
| Dog | Maximum benefit | £10.90 |
| Dog | Lifetime | £11.10 |
| Dog (Crossbreed) | Average across levels | £22.67 |
| Dog (Cocker Spaniel) | Average across levels | £22.72 |
| Dog (Golden Retriever) | Average across levels | £24.30 |
| Dog (German Shepherd) | Average across levels | £38.15 |
| Dog (English Bulldog) | Average across levels | £66.50 |
| Cat | All levels | £10.10 |
| Rabbit | All levels | £10–£16 |
Prices based on quote data provided by Seopa Ltd, June 2025. Your actual premium depends on your pet’s age, breed, health history, and where you live.
What affects the price?
Breed is the single biggest factor for dogs. An English Bulldog costs nearly three times more to insure than a Crossbreed because the breed is prone to breathing, skin, and joint problems.
Age also matters. Premiums rise as pets get older because they’re more likely to develop health conditions.
Some insurers set upper age limits of 8–10 years for dogs, though others have no limit. Policies taken out before this age can usually be renewed, but new cover from a different insurer becomes harder to find.
Your postcode, the level of cover you choose, and the voluntary excess you set all affect the final price. Higher excess means a lower monthly premium.
Where you live matters too. Vet fees are higher in London and the South East, so premiums in those areas tend to cost 20–30% more than the national average.
*Price per month for cover based on a dog, Mika, seven months old, no known medical conditions, up-to-date vaccinations, and microchipped. Based on quote data provided by Seopa Ltd during May 2026. The quote price you could achieve is dependent on your individual circumstances.
*Price per month for cover based on a cat, Zeus, one year old, no known medical conditions, up-to-date vaccinations, neutered, and microchipped. Based on quote data provided by Seopa Ltd during May 2026. The quote price you could achieve is dependent on your individual circumstances.
How To Save Money On Pet Insurance
Comparing quotes, increasing your excess, and paying annually are the quickest ways to reduce your premium without cutting cover.
Compare quotes from multiple providers
Prices for the same pet can vary by hundreds of pounds between insurers. Comparing quotes from multiple providers is the single most effective way to find a lower premium.
Increase your voluntary excess
Raising the excess (the amount you pay per claim) lowers your monthly premium. Only set an excess you could afford to pay when you need to claim.
Pay annually instead of monthly
Monthly payments include interest that can add 15–20% to the total annual cost. Paying your premium in one lump sum removes that charge.
Insure your pet when it’s young
Premiums are lowest when your pet is young and healthy. Insuring a puppy or kitten also means conditions that develop later are covered from the start, rather than being classed as pre-existing.
Keep vaccinations up to date
Vaccinated pets are cheaper to insure because they’re less likely to develop preventable illnesses. Some insurers offer lower premiums for pets with a full vaccination history.
If you have more than one pet, look at multi-pet insurance policies. These bundle cover for all your animals under one policy, often at a discount.
Keeping your pet at a healthy weight, exercising them regularly, and attending annual vet check-ups also signal lower risk to insurers.
Don’t compare on price alone. The cheapest policy may have a low annual limit, high co-payment, or narrow exclusions that leave you underinsured when it matters.
Which Pets Can You Insure?
Dogs and cats are the most commonly insured pets in the UK. You can also find cover for rabbits and other small pets through specialist providers.
Dogs
Dogs have the widest choice of policies because they’re the most popular pet to insure. Premiums vary by breed, so comparing dog insurance quotes is worth the time.
Breeds with known health conditions (like Bulldogs, Pugs, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels) cost more to insure. Mixed breeds are typically the cheapest.
Working dogs and gun dogs need the same cover as pets, though some policies exclude dogs used for commercial purposes. Check whether your policy covers working activities before you buy.
Cats
Cat insurance is generally cheaper than dog insurance because cats tend to have fewer claims. Our guide to the best cat insurance providers covers the top UK options.
Indoor cats cost less to insure than outdoor cats because they face fewer risks. Pedigree breeds like Siamese and Bengals carry higher premiums than moggies.
Older cats can still be insured, but most providers set upper entry limits of 10–12 years. If your cat is already insured, you can usually renew the policy past this age.
Rabbits and small pets
Rabbit insurance is available from a smaller number of providers. Premiums start from around £10 per month and cover vet fees for illness and injury.
Rabbits need annual vaccinations against myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease. Insurers expect these to be up to date as a condition of cover.
Guinea pigs, hamsters, and other small pets are harder to insure. Fewer providers offer policies, so you may need to search through a specialist broker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, most insurers offer multi-pet policies that let you cover two or more animals under one plan. Multi-pet discounts of 5–10% are common.
For most pet owners, yes. The PDSA estimates that around two thirds of UK pet owners have no insurance, yet a single surgery can cost £3,000–£5,000.
Vets recommend at least £7,000 per year for dogs and £4,000 for cats. Lifetime policies with higher limits give you the most protection against expensive, ongoing conditions.
Most policies have a 14-day waiting period for illness cover. Accident cover usually starts immediately or within 48 hours.
Pedigree breeds are more prone to hereditary and breed-specific conditions. Insurers charge more because they’re statistically more likely to need treatment.
Yes, vet fees vary by region. Pet insurance tends to cost more in London and the South East, where vet treatment fees are higher.
Yes, but options narrow as pets age. Some insurers set upper age limits of 8–10 for dogs and 10–12 for cats, though others have no upper age limit at all.
You lose all cover immediately. Any conditions treated under the old policy may be classed as pre-existing if you take out a new policy later.
Some policies cover dental treatment caused by an accident, but most exclude dental work related to decay or gum disease. Check your policy wording.
No, pet insurance is not compulsory in the UK. However, a single vet bill for a cruciate ligament repair can cost £1,500–£4,000, so most vets recommend cover.
Most pet insurance policies let you choose any vet in the UK. Some insurers also cover specialist referral centres and out-of-hours emergency vets.
