Table of Contents
Rating Details
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
How To Choose the Right Pet Insurance Company
How Does Pet Insurance Work?
How To Buy a Pet Insurance Plan
Can Pets With Pre-Existing Conditions Get Pet Insurance?
FAQ
Learn More
Methodology
Fewer
Key Takeaways
These companies stood out for the various benefits that their dog insurance policies provide, including general features like waiting periods and additional cover like alternative treatments
Though there are benefits to their dog plans, John Lewis is the most expensive in this rating
The least expensive option for dog insurance is LV=, which offers numerous additional discounts
Our Best Pet Insurance Companies for Dogs Rating
#1
Petplan
#2
Purely Pets
#3
LV=
#4
John Lewis
Best Pet Insurance Companies in Detail
Petplan »
4.9
U.S. News Rating
Sample Monthly Premium for Dogs*:
£39.81
Sample Monthly Premium for Cats*:
£13.85
PROS:
Offers lifetime and time-limited plans
Cover also for cats, rabbits and horses
Making claims won’t increase premiums
CONS:
Dog premiums can be high
Pre-existing conditions considered on case-by-case basis
Low age limits for enrolling in lifetime plans
Excess:
£65 - £250
Co-Payment:
None
Plan Types:
Lifetime, Time-limited
Cover Limits:
£3k - £12k
Summary: In addition to being rated No. 1 Best UK Pet Insurance for Dogs, Petplan is also No. 1 in our overall rating and best for cats rating. It offers both lifetime and time-limited policy options and they cover dogs, rabbits and horses. Additionally, it is company policy that your premiums will never increase due to making claims on your policy.
We liked Petplan’s dog plan, in particular, for its accident waiting period, alternative treatment, behavioural treatment, dental, boarding fees and more. However, there is a limit on dogs that can enrol in their lifetime plans. It is not available after 8 years old for dogs (sometimes 5 years old for dogs, depending on the breed). If you still want to insure your pup with Petplan, you will need to take out a time-limited policy.
Cover and costs:
There are two policies to choose from: Covered for Life and the Essential plan. The Covered For Life policy provides ongoing cover for vet bills, as long as you renew annually with no break in cover. Pet owners can claim for the same condition each year up to their chosen annual limit of £4,000, £7,000 or £12,000.
For those who prefer short-term cover, Petplan’s Essential plan is a time-limited policy that lasts 12 months with cover up to £3,000 for each illness or injury. Once the 12-month or £3,000 limit has been reached, your pet will no longer be covered for that condition.
Though Petplan does not have a specific pre-existing condition plan, it does claim to cover some cases. These are considered on a case-by-case basis after an application is submitted. Conditions most likely to be accepted are ones that have fully resolved but emerge again later in life.
Petplan’s sample rate for insuring a dog is £39.81 per month, which is slightly on the higher side of the options.
Optional Cover: Petplan’s dog insurance policies include several cover options as standard, including emergency boarding and holiday cancellation cover. Applicants can also choose to add death cover to their policy for an additional fee.
SEE FULL REVIEW »
* Sample monthly costs are for a 6-month-old male Labrador Retriever and a 6-month-old female Moggie cat. Both are in excellent health and are located in Manchester with a £5,000 lifetime cover limit and the lowest excess amounts possible. In the case that a company does not offer a £5,000 cover limit, we chose the closest cover limit available.
Purely Pets »
4.6
U.S. News Rating
Sample Monthly Premium for Dogs*:
£26.81
Sample Monthly Premium for Cats*:
£22.87
PROS:
Payment can be made directly to vets
No max age restrictions for enrolment
CONS:
Only insures dogs and cats
No multi-pet discount
Excess:
£80 - £240
Co-Payment:
0%, 20%
Plan Types:
Lifetime
Cover Limits:
£1k - £15k
Summary: Purely Pets is also No. 2 in our ratings for Best UK Pet Insurance companies. The company only offers lifetime insurance policies, and only covers dogs and cats. It does not place any limits on maximum ages for animals upon enrolment. We also liked its cover for alternative treatment, dental, missing pet, death, boarding fees and holiday expenses.
Cover and costs: Purely Pets breaks down its lifetime cover into three tiers: Bronze, covering vets fees from £1,000 to £5,000; Silver, covering vets fees from £6,000 to £10,000; and Gold, covering vets fees from £11,000 to £15,000.
Cover for additional policy features – like complementary therapies, third-party liability and death from an accident – similarly increases as cover increases Bronze, Silver, and Gold. If an additional cover is particularly important to you, it’s important to compare these carefully before selecting which tier to go for.
Each policy has a minimum excess of £80. Policyholders looking to lower their monthly premiums can elect to have a higher excess of up to £240. An additional 20% co-payment is optional for animals under 6 years old, but compulsory for animals over 6 years old.
Optional Cover: Additional cover options come standard for Purely Pets, including holiday cancellation, overseas treatment, boarding fees and more. As such, there are no optional cover options.
SEE FULL REVIEW »
* Sample monthly costs are for a 6-month-old male Labrador Retriever and a 6-month-old female Moggie cat. Both are in excellent health and are located in Manchester with a £5,000 lifetime cover limit and the lowest excess amounts possible. In the case that a company does not offer a £5,000 cover limit, we chose the closest cover limit available.
LV= »
4.3
U.S. News Rating
Sample Monthly Premium for Dogs*:
£26.68
Sample Monthly Premium for Cats*:
£7.21
PROS:
Numerous discounts available, including for buying online
Choice of lifetime or time-limited cover
Vet can submit on your behalf
CONS:
Only covers cats and dogs
Lifetime cover not available for older animals
Excess:
£75
Co-Payment:
£0, £75, £125
Plan Types:
Lifetime, Time-limited
Cover Limits:
£1.5k - £10k
Summary: No. 3 LV= offers some of the lowest cover options in our rating. It sells both lifetime and time-limited cover for cats and dogs, though lifetime cover is not available for older animals. We particularly liked its dog policy for its pricing, co-payment options, alternative treatment, and additional benefits that come standard with policies.
Cover and costs: LV= offers three tiers of cover with its lifetime pet insurance policies, covering vets fees up to £3,000, £5,000 or £10,000 per year. Time-limited plans will provide cover for a condition for a maximum of 12 months and there are two tiers available - up to £1,500 or £2,500.
The standard excess for claims is £75. This will apply each year per condition on lifetime plans, but only once per condition if you go for time-limited insurance. Customers can choose to pay an additional voluntary excess of £75 or £125 to reduce the cost of their cover.
There is also a range of discounts to reduce the cost further including for buying online, coupling with other LV= insurance products, or insuring multiple pets.
Optional Cover: While some companies let you customise your policy with optional features, LV= keeps them standardised. This means there are no add-on policies.
SEE FULL REVIEW »
* Sample monthly costs are for a 6-month-old male Labrador Retriever and a 6-month-old female Moggie cat. Both are in excellent health and are located in Manchester with a £5,000 lifetime cover limit and the lowest excess amounts possible. In the case that a company does not offer a £5,000 cover limit, we chose the closest cover limit available.
John Lewis »
3.4
U.S. News Rating
Sample Monthly Premium for Dogs*:
£43.00
Sample Monthly Premium for Cats*:
£12.51
PROS:
No upper age limit for enrolment
Access to a 24/7 vet helpline
CONS:
Only insures dogs and cats
Dog premiums may be pricey
Excess:
£60 - £500
Co-Payment:
0%, 10%, 20%
Plan Types:
Lifetime
Cover Limits:
£2k - £12k
Summary: John Lewis is No. 4 in our Best Pet Insurance Companies for Dogs in the UK rating. It only offers pet insurance for cats and dogs, with no cover for other types of animals. It stood out because of its flexibility in enrollment age and co-payment options. We also liked how many additional cover come standard with dog policies. However, dog premiums may be pricey.
Cover and costs: Lifetime pet insurance policies are available with a cover range from £2,000 to £12,000. Applicants can also choose a fixed excess ranging between £60 and £250, or £500 for vet fee cover of £5,000 or more.
If your pet is under nine years old, you can also choose to pay 10% to 20% towards the cost of vet treatment costs. While there is no restriction on the maximum age for enrolment, if your pet is over nine years old, you must pay a co-payment of 20%.
Pet insurance policies automatically include cover for behavioural treatment, dental treatment and complementary treatment, such as physiotherapy. Cover for treatment foods prescribed by your vet, boarding kennel fees, advertising costs for lost and stolen pets and third-party liability (dogs only) are also included.
John Lewis has the second highest sample monthly costs for dogs out of the insurers in our rating. The sample rate for insuring a dog is £43 per month.
Optional Cover: Unlike some pet insurance policies, John Lewis pet insurance includes an array of cover as standard, such as cover for boarding fees and advertising costs for lost or stolen pets. Death cover is also included. For this reason, there is no option to pay more to include additional cover on your policy.
SEE FULL REVIEW »
* Sample monthly costs are for a 6-month-old male Labrador Retriever and a 6-month-old female Moggie cat. Both are in excellent health and are located in Manchester with a £5,000 lifetime cover limit and the lowest excess amounts possible. In the case that a company does not offer a £5,000 cover limit, we chose the closest cover limit available.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
According to the Association of British Insurers, the average cost of pet insurance is £327 a year. However, the amount you pay will depend on a range of factors, so it could be much less than this. These factors include:
Age: Premiums tend to increase as your pet gets older due to the increased risk of health problems.
Breed: Premiums for large, pedigree or exotic pets are likely higher.
Location: Vet fees can vary across the UK, so the cost will increase in locations like London.
Policy Type: A more comprehensive pet insurance policy will provide more cover, but it will cost you more.
Deductible Level (Excess): The lower the deductible, the higher your premiums will be.
Previous Claim History: Making a claim on your pet insurance policy can result in higher premiums the next time you renew.
If you are looking for inexpensive cover for your pet, check out our rating of Best Cheap Pet Insurance in the UK.
Pet Insurance Cost Comparison
Petplan »
4.9
U.S. News Rating
SAMPLE MONTHLY COST FOR DOGS* £39.81
COVER LIMITS £3k - £12k
EXCESS £65 - £250
THIRD PARTY LIABILITY £1,000,000 - £3,000,000
See Review »
Purely Pets »
4.6
U.S. News Rating
SAMPLE MONTHLY COST FOR DOGS* £26.81
COVER LIMITS £1k - £15k
EXCESS £80 - £240
THIRD PARTY LIABILITY £1,000,000 - £2,000,000
See Review »
LV= »
4.3
U.S. News Rating
SAMPLE MONTHLY COST FOR DOGS* £26.68
COVER LIMITS £1.5k - £10k
EXCESS £75
THIRD PARTY LIABILITY £2,000,000
See Review »
John Lewis »
3.4
U.S. News Rating
SAMPLE MONTHLY COST FOR DOGS* £43.00
COVER LIMITS £2k - £12k
EXCESS £60 - £500
THIRD PARTY LIABILITY £2,000,000
See Review »
* Sample monthly costs are for a 6-month-old male Labrador Retriever and a 6-month-old female Moggie cat. Both are in excellent health and are located in Manchester with a £5,000 lifetime cover limit and the lowest excess amounts possible. In the case that a company does not offer a £5,000 cover limit, we chose the closest cover limit available.
How To Choose the Right Pet Insurance Company for You
There are a lot of factors to consider as you shop for pet health insurance. The steps below can help you find the right company and policy for you and your pet.
Decide what type of policy you need. Pet owners can choose between different types of policies, including:
Lifetime pet insurance: the most comprehensive and expensive type of cover that pays out for the cost of vet treatment throughout your pet’s life, with yearly annual limits
Time-limited pet insurance: offers a fixed sum to cover the treatment of a given illness or injury for a limited time - typically 12-month periods. For older animals, some companies will only offer these policies
Exotic pet insurance: designed for pets other than cats or dogs, such as hamsters, rabbits, geckos, and snakes
Multi-pet insurance: typically a form of lifetime cover that allows you to bundle your insurance for multiple pets and, often, multiple species
Pre-existing condition insurance: designed to cover the ailments of animals with pre-existing conditions, which are typically excluded from most policies
Determine what is (or isn’t) covered under the policy. Closely examine which conditions and treatments are covered for your pet and identify any limits, exclusions, or age-specific restrictions. If you own a breed of pet that is prone to hereditary or congenital conditions, such as hip dysplasia or asthma, verify that the policy will provide coverage for treatment. Keep in mind that insurers generally don’t cover pre-existing conditions.
Choose excess. Most pet insurance policies include excess, or the amount of money you pay before the insurance company will begin to cover expenses. Typically, these will be per condition, per year. Selecting a higher excess will lower your monthly premium.
Choose a co-payment rate. Co-payments refer to the amount, in addition to your excess, that you will have to pay of your bill. These are typically percentages up to 35%, though some will offer a fixed amount. This is another way to lower your monthly premium.
Determine cover. Cover refers to the total amount of money an insurer will pay for covered expenses (e.g., $10,000 a year). Your insurer will only cover expenses up to that amount so, after that, you’ll need to cover any additional costs until the next policy year.
Find out if you can customise your premiums. Some insurers allow policyholders to customise their premiums by adjusting one or more aspects of their policy. Some will have extra cover (e.g., holiday cancellation, overseas cover) standard as part of their policies. Others will initially provide a more basic policy that can add on only cover that you want. Each insurer will also be different in the amount of level of cover, excess and co-payment you can select.
Check for discounts. Some insurers will offer discounts that can bring down coverage costs. Discounts vary in availability and type but may include multi-pet discounts or bundling with other insurance products.
As you shop for a pet health insurance policy, there are a few other factors that can help you make your decision. Most companies in our rating offer several customer service options, including email, phone, and online chat support as well as mobile app access. Reviewing customer service and support options can help you find an insurer that meets your policy management and claims handling preferences. In particular, while most in our rating offer 24/7 access to vet support, there are a few that do not.
How Does Pet Insurance Work?
When you take out a pet insurance policy, you’ll pay a monthly or annual premium to your insurance provider. Then, if your pet needs vet treatment or you need to make a claim for another reason, you’ll need to contact your insurer and fill in a claims form, making sure to include your pet’s medical history and any treatment invoices. In some cases, your vet can fill in the form for you.
Always check whether there is a time limit for making a claim with your insurer. John Lewis, for example, asks that claims be made within 90 days of treatment.
If the treatment is urgent, you might need to pay for the vet treatment upfront and then seek reimbursement from the insurer. However, some insurers like LV= and Purely Pets will pay vets directly, so that you’re not left paying out of pocket.
But whatever the case, you will need to pay an excess. This is the amount you are required to pay towards any insurance claim. Pet insurance claims are usually paid out within seven to 10 working days.
How To Buy a Pet Insurance Plan
1. Review pet insurance companies and rates.
All of the insurers in our rating offer free online quotes, and in many cases you can buy a policy immediately.
2. Apply for a policy.
You will usually be asked your pet’s name, whether they’re a cat or dog, their breed, their age, where you live, and broad questions about whether they have any pre-existing conditions. You will also be asked to select a plan, where applicable, and make decisions about your cover, excess, and co-payment rates. At this point, you will also determine any add-on cover for your policy.
3. Purchase coverage.
If you’re buying pet insurance online, you will have the opportunity to create a web account to manage your policy. You may also be able to purchase a policy by calling the insurer or working with an agent.
Some insurers may request your pet’s health records or require your pet to be examined by a licensed veterinarian prior to final approval. If your pet has any pre-existing conditions, whether officially diagnosed by the vet or not, those conditions will generally be excluded from your coverage unless it is specifically a plan for pre-existing conditions.
Can Pets With Pre-Existing Conditions Get Pet Insurance?
It is still possible to take out a pet insurance policy if your pet has a pre-existing medical condition, such as arthritis. However, with most standard policies, that condition will likely be excluded. That means your insurer will not pay out if you make a claim relating to that particular condition.
If you’d prefer to get cover for your pet’s pre-existing condition, you’ll need to look for a specialist insurer. Doing so means you’ll usually pay more for your policy due to the expected cost of ongoing treatment. What’s more, there are still certain conditions that won’t be covered and those that are covered might come with limitations, so check carefully.
In our rating, Petsure and ManyPets have specific policies and options for cover of pre-existing conditions. Petplan says it will consider covering pre-existing conditions on a case-by-case basis.
FAQ
What is the best pet insurance?
Petplan is the No. 1 insurer on our rating of the Best Pet Insurance Companies in the UK. It offers both lifetime and time-limited policy options and they cover cats, dogs, rabbits, and horses. Additionally, it is company policy that your premiums will never increase due to making claims on your policy.
Is pet insurance worth it?
The value of pet insurance is largely based on your expectations. There is no legal requirement to have pet insurance in the UK. Some individuals might prefer to save a set amount each month to put towards the cost of pet care.
However, vet bills can become very expensive very quickly, and this amount can become higher than any amount you’ve saved. For example, according to the ABI, treatment for arthritis in a dog can cost more than £2,000, while spinal surgery claims can cost as much as £8,000 to £10,000.
By contrast, the average pet insurance premium stands at £327 a year - meaning your out-of-pocket expense for a surprise injury may be a lot less with pet insurance.
As part of your decision, it’s also worth considering whether your pet’s breed is more susceptible to certain illnesses or health conditions as this can make it even more important to take out pet insurance.
Do pet insurance plans offer discounts?
Yes, many pet insurance companies offer discounts. To help make policies more budget-friendly, many companies offer discounts when you insure multiple pets. There are also some discounts if you bundle other insurance products (like LV= home insurance, for example) as well as if you sign up for your policy online.
Does pet insurance only cover dogs and cats?
Most pet insurance companies only have coverage for dogs and cats, but this is not the case for all companies.
In our rating, we have three companies that offer insurance policies for other types of pets: Petplan offers horse and rabbit insurance; Agria Pet Insurance offers horse and rabbit insurance; and Everypaw offers rabbit insurance.
How do you file a pet insurance claim?