Pet insurance
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Types of pet insurance
Looking for pet insurance to cover those unexpected accidents, or full cover that’ll pay out if your dog or cat gets a lengthy illness?
Whatever level of cover you’re looking for, there’s a pet insurance policy for you. We’ve set out the main types below, to help you pick the best pet insurance for you and up to 7 of your furry friends.
Accident only
This policy provides a fixed sum to help towards your pet’s treatment. This usually only covers accidents and not illnesses, with some policies having a time limit on treatment.
Time limited
Here a fixed sum is available for each separate illness or injury. The policy covers treatment for a specific period of time, usually 12 months from the start of the illness or injury.
Maximum benefit
A maximum set amount is made available to cover each illness or injury your pet may suffer. Once the amount has been paid out, the treatment won’t be covered again.
Lifetime pet insurance
This covers any new illness or injury up to a set amount each year. As long as the policy is renewed it should provide cover for long-term or recurring illnesses.
What does pet insurance cover?
Depending on your policy, pet insurance can cover anything from treatment costs for accidents to ongoing care for costly illnesses – protecting both your pets and your pocket from any nasty shocks.
But it can cover other things too.
A pet insurance policy typically includes:
- Accidents and injuries to help with treatment costs if your pet is injured
- Unexpected illnesses some policies pay towards vet bills for unexpected illness, and some also cover holiday cancellations if you have to stay home to look after an ill pet
- Kennel or cattery fees if you’re hospitalised and unable to look after your pet
- Liability cover to help with the costs if a third party takes legal action against you over damage caused by your pet
- Advertising and reward costs to help find your pet if they go missing
As with all insurance, it is important to read the small print to make sure you know what you're covered for. While pet insurance can cover many things you may not have been expecting, there’s a few things it won’t include cover for.
These are mainly preventative treatments.
Most pet insurance policies typically exclude:
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Preventive treatments e.g. neutering and vaccinations
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Dental treatment
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Pre-existing conditions - See below on how to get cover
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Routine check-ups
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Behavioural problems
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How much does pet insurance cost?
Pet insurance can start from as little as £3.91* per month - but there's a few factors that can affect how much you're likely to pay. We've set them out below, to give you rough idea of what you'll be paying.
Type of pet
The type of pet you're insuring is the first thing to bear in mind. Cat insurance tends to be cheaper than dog insurance, but there's a host of other factors that can affect your monthly premium too. So while it's not the main thing that'll affect your premiums, it's worth considering.
Age
Your pet's age is another thing to keep in mind. The older they are, the more it's likely to cost to insure them – so it's worth getting them covered as soon as possible. We've set out the average cost to insure a healthy pet for each year of its life, below.
| Age | Average cost** |
| 0-4 | £5.95 |
| 5-9 | £6.20 |
| 10-14 | £6.87 |
| 15-19 | £6.68 |
| 20+ | £6.13 |
Breed
While crossbreeds are usually the cheapest to insure, the cost of pet insurance for pedigrees can vary from breed to breed. Sadly, most pedigree breeds are predisposed to certain illnesses like breathing issues or arthritis, which can drive up insurance costs.
If you've yet to bring home a furry friend, it's worth researching their breed, what health issues they're predisposed to, and the average cost to insurance them. That way, you'll know how much you're likely to pay before you bring your pet home.
With that in mind, we've set out the top five most popular dog breeds in the UK below, and the average costs to insure them.
| Breed | Average cost** |
| Labrador Retriever | £7.44 |
| Cocker Spaniel | £6.77 |
| Jack Russell Terrier | £6.91 |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | £7.30 |
| Cockapoo | £6.42 |
For a similar rundown on the cost of insuring breeds of cat, see our cat insurance page.
Location
Where you live can affect how much pet insurance costs. In mainland UK, Londoners can expect to pay the most for their pet insurance, at an average monthly cost of £7.85 for dog insurance. And Scotland can expect the best deal, at a budget-friendly average of £6.97.
Where do you sit? We've set out the average pet insurance costs by region below.
Regional data is an average of prices during April - July 2020. Prices correct on 10/11/2020. **Average cost of quotes for specific age and breed of pet is based on Confused.com data from April to July.
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Got more questions? Our FAQs could help
Our service is free to use and compares a wide range of trusted household names. Confused.com is an intermediary and receives a commission from theidol.com if you decide to buy through our website. Our commission is based on a percentage of a fixed price per pet insured, but will not increase your premium. We pride ourselves on impartiality and independence – therefore we don't promote any one insurance provider over another.