Owning a pet can be rewarding, but it can also be costly. The medical expense of treating illness or injuries can put you in a difficult financial position if you are uninsured. As the pet owner, you are also liable for any property damage or injuries caused by your pet to third parties. Pet insurance in the UK is an important investment as it offers financial support for multiple risks associated with owning a pet.
The best pet policy is one that would offer sufficient cover for your needs. And these will vary depending on you and your pet. The age, species, and pre-existing medical conditions of your pet will determine which type of coverage would be best for you. There are various types and levels of cover to choose from.
| Type of Pet Insurance | What is covered? | Coverage limits | Covers new illnesses on renewal | Waiting period before claiming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifetime pet insurance | Illnesses and injuries, including ongoing conditions | Annual limit resets each year | Yes, provided it is renewed | Usually 14 days |
| Accident-only insurance | Injuries from accidents only | Limit per accident | No | Often none for accidents |
| Annual (time-limited) insurance | Illnesses and injuries for up to 12 months per condition | Limit per condition, expires after 12 months | No | Around 14 days |
| Maximum benefit insurance | Illnesses and injuries per condition | Fixed limit per condition with no time limit | No | Around 14 days |
| Instant cover pet insurance | Immediate cover for accidents (some include illness) | Varies by policy | Sometimes | No waiting period |
We search up to 25 pet insurance providers to save you time and money
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We search up to 25 pet insurance providers to save you time and money
When you shop around for quotes, it’s important to compare policies tailored to your pet’s needs. For instance, cover for a bulldog or labradoodle will be different to cat insurance.
Depending on the level of insurance for dogs or puppies you’ve chosen, your dog could be covered for veterinary fees for illness or injury. There may be additional cover like death benefits, dental care, and payment for ads if your dog goes missing. Third party liabilities are typically covered by most policies for dogs.
Insurance for cats or kittens offers similar coverage. Many pet insurers have no upper age limits for cats, and some may also include cover for pre-existing conditions. It’s important to compare multiple options to find the best deal for your cat insurance.
Increasingly, rabbits have become more popular as pets in the UK. Insurance for rabbits is available as both accident-only or lifetime insurance. It caters to the unique health needs of rabbits covering conditions like GI stasis and respiratory disease. Rabbits can also be added to multi-pet policies.
It’s possible to get insurance for multiple pets. These policies typically cater for pets like dogs, cats, and rabbits and offer discounts for insuring multiple pets at once. Some insurers allow you to have different levels of coverage for each pet and may include coverage for pre-existing conditions.
From around the age of 7, dogs are considered to be older dogs. At this age, dogs can be more prone to developing age-related illnesses or diseases like arthritis or cancer. With these, vet bills can become expensive. This is where insurance for older dogs steps in. It provides focused protection for these expensive treatments.
Many pets are diagnosed or have been treated for conditions before a policy is taken out. This is considered a pre-existing condition. In this case, insurers offer specialised insurance for existing medical conditions that cover these needs. This cover will usually be more expensive but can save you money on medical bills in the long run.
The coverage provided by this insurance will depend on the type and level of insurance selected. Always check the coverage details and any exclusions before you commit to a policy. However, these are common risks that can be covered by pet health care insurance.
Exclusions for this insurance will depend on the terms and conditions of your policy. However, pet policies typically don’t cover:
Pet insurance costs will vary based on the pet, its breed, and its age. The level of cover will also affect the cost. When it comes to the average cost of dog insurance, we have done the research to find the top 20 most expensive dog breeds to insure. This data was taken from a sample of 100,000 pet policies.
| Dog breed | Average Annual Insurance Premium (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bullmastiff | 286.20 |
| 2. | Great Dane | 271.20 |
| 3. | Irish Setter | 205.42 |
| 4. | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 204.25 |
| 5. | Weimaraner | 194.88 |
| 6. | Boxer | 174.26 |
| 7. | Basset Hound | 172.31 |
| 8. | German Shepherd Dog Cross | 170.77 |
| 9. | Shetland Sheepdog | 165.08 |
| 10. | Hungarian Vizsla | 161.40 |
| 11. | Dorset Old Tyme Bulldog | 159.72 |
| 12. | Dogue de Bordeaux | 157.08 |
| 13. | Flat Coated Retriever | 154.63 |
| 14. | Collie (Rough) | 153.98 |
| 15. | Siberian Husky | 153.12 |
| 16. | Bearded Collie | 151.63 |
| 17. | Bernese Mountain Dog | 150.26 |
| 18. | Greyhound | 150.26 |
| 19. | Alaskan Malamute | 149.16 |
| 20. | Bernese Mountain Dog Cross | 147.78 |
It’s important to do research using an insurance comparison platform to carefully compare policies and their prices. You could also have a better chance of finding cheap insurance for a pet by following these tips.
You can do this by staying up-to-date with your pet’s routine check-ups and vaccinations. Being generally observant of your pets and any changes in their behaviour could also help catch issues early.
If you have more than one pet, then it’s usually cheaper to insure all your pets under one multi-pet policy. You can usually insure mixed pets like dogs and cats with the same policy, with coverage tailored to suit the needs of every different type of pet.
When you make a claim, you’ll typically have to pay an excess amount. By opting for a higher excess, you could lower your premiums. Just be sure it is an amount you are comfortable paying when it comes to making a claim.
Paying for insurance annually usually works out cheaper overall than paying monthly. When you use Quotezone, you can see exactly how much you will save by choosing this option before you commit.
Spaying or neutering your pet has many benefits including making your pet less risky to insure. It can reduce health risks and behavioural problems. Keep in mind though that the procedure itself is not typically covered by insurance for a pet.
Always shop around for multiple quotes from different pet insurance companies as they’re not all the same. Taking the time to compare quotes gives you a better chance at finding affordable cover for your pet.
“With research suggesting a dog can cost its owner as much as £30,000 during the course of its lifetime, it should come as no surprise that a pet’s veterinary bills have the potential to be quite sizable if the animal suffers an accident or is diagnosed with an illness. Pets don’t have the NHS to fall back on, of course, so a good pet insurance policy really is the best way to protect your furry friend… and safeguard your finances.”
Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk.
Your insurer will need to know which level of coverage you want as well as the details about your pet or pets. This includes the species, age, breed, sex, vaccination history, medical background, previous claims history and current health status. As the policyholder, you will have to supply your personal details and location.
The process is fairly straightforward. Following a claimable incident you can use the insurer’s claim form. Simply complete and submit this with all the necessary documentation and receipts. It will then be processed by your insurer who will determine the outcome. When your claim is approved you will be reimbursed per the terms and conditions of your policy.
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*Price per month for cover based on a dog, Burger, one year old, no known medical conditions and up-to-date vaccinations. Based on quote data provided by Seopa Ltd during November 2024. The quote price you could achieve is dependent on your individual circumstances.
