Third-party dog insurance

Third-party dog insurance is usually included as standard on most comprehensive pet insurance policies, like lifetime and maximum benefit.

It's a useful feature to know about, because it can cover your dog if it escapes and causes an accident. It also covers attacks, bites and even property damage.

Banned breeds, like XL bullies, need third-party dog insurance as a condition of their certificate of exemption.

Read on to learn the ins and outs of third-party dog insurance, and how it can be useful for any dog owner.

What is third-party dog insurance?

Third-party dog insurance (or third-party liability as it's sometimes known) can pay for the legal costs if your dog causes an injury to someone or their animal. Property damage is covered too.

This type of pet insurance is a legal requirement for exempt banned breeds like XL bully dogs, because they're more at risk of causing a serious injury.

Do you need third-party dog insurance?

If you've got an exempt banned breed (like an XL bully) third-party dog insurance is a legal requirement as part of your certificate of exemption.

This is because these types of dogs, in the government's view, are dangerous dogs, so they're more likely to be involved in an attack and cause damage. Third-party dog insurance acts as a financial safety net, covering legal costs and vet fees if anything happens.

Dogs are unpredictable, so even if your dog isn't a banned breed, it's worth looking into third-party dog insurance. Here are some examples of where third-party liability insurance can help any dog:

• Tripping up the postal worker: Your dog rushes to the door and knocks over the postal worker, and they fracture their wrist. You could be liable for compensation and legal costs.
• Slipping their lead: Your dog slips its lead, runs into the road, and causes a driver to swerve and crash. The driver might follow up with you to pay for vehicle repair, injury claims, and loss of earnings.
• Neighbour's cat: Your dog chases and injures the cat next door and the vet bill is £1,000. Third-party dog insurance could cover those costs.
• Dog-on-dog incident: At a training class, your dog lashes out and bites another dog. You may be liable for vet bills and related expenses.
• Damage to property: Visiting friends, your dog chews through an expensive rug or knocks over a pricey vase. Some third-party dog insurance policies cover accidental damage.
• Damage to a holiday home: Your dog damages a rented holiday home. Liability insurance could cover the cost of a large repair bill.

Can I get third-party insurance for working or high-risk dogs?

Yes, if your dog is a 'high-risk' breed it's worth getting third-party dog insurance for them. High-risk breeds aren't the same as banned breeds, but they're labelled high-risk because of their size, strength, and potential for aggression.

High-risk breeds include:

• Rotweilers
• German Shepherds
• Doberman Pinschers

Working dogs aren't covered by standard pet insurance. You'd need specialist insurance for these types of working dogs:

• Farm dogs
• Gun dogs
• Security or guard dogs
• Assistance dogs (in some cases)

Rural insurers, like NFU Mutual and CLA insure farm or working dogs under their business insurance policies with third-party liability included.

Gun dog and shooting associations sometimes include third-party liability as part of a membership.

Security firms usually have employer liability and third-party liability insurance which covers their working dogs too.

Does pet insurance include third-party liability cover?

In most cases, third-party liability dog insurance should be included as standard with pet insurance. But, the amount of cover you have varies between insurers and policies.

For example:

• Most lifetime pet insurance or maximum-benefit dog insurance policies automatically include third-party dog insurance. These usually have limits between £1m and £3m. The RSPCA includes cover for up to £2,000,000 with all their lifetime policies.
• Usually cheaper policies (like accident-only) offer third-party dog insurance as an add-on. You'd pay extra for this if you wanted to include it on your policy.
• If you only want third-party dog insurance, you can usually buy this through Dogs Trust Companion Club. This costs £25 per year for £1m worth of cover.

There are exclusions though, and some insurers won't pay out if:

• Your dog has a history of aggression
• They've got previous claims involving family members or people who live with you
• Your dog has damaged your own property or injured your pets

Watch out for excesses when you're buying your policy. Most take a chunk from your claim amount. For the Dogs Trust Companion Club policy, this is around £200, but it varies.

Our best advice is to triple check your pet insurance policy wording so you know exactly what's covered and what's not.

What is the Dangerous Dogs Act and how does it affect insurance?

The Dangerous Dogs Act was introduced in 1991. Prior to this, if your dog attacked someone, you wouldn't be prosecuted. They introduced the act so owners took more responsibility for their dogs and their behaviour.

Part of this was breed specific legislation which banned these breeds:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• American XL Bully

XL bullies were added to the list in 2023. This was a controversial addition, as XL bullies aren't a specific breed. So, a dog could be seized based on their looks alone, rather than behaviour.

If you have an XL bully, you should have already applied for an exemption. Once you have this, you can buy third-party dog insurance.

If you haven't got your XL bully exempted yet, you'll need to speak to your local council or police force.

How much does third-party dog insurance cost?

The Dogs Trust Companion club is a type of third-party dog insurance. It costs just £25 a year and covers up to £1m per claim.

You can compare pet insurance policies with third-party dog insurance through us.

Prices start from around £5.19* for an accident-only policy, but they go up if you choose lifetime, or maximum benefit policies (they're more comprehensive). These should have third-party dog insurance included as standard.

Prices can also change depending on your dog's breed, its age and where you live.

*Prices based on Confused.com data taken between June 2024 - August 2024. Costs shown are based on the average monthly price paid for one pet with no pre-existing conditions. "Accident Only" cover across cats and dogs of all ages, breeds and in all locations. Correct as of October 2024.

How to get a third-party dog insurance policy

Usually third-party dog insurance is included in lifetime and maximum benefit policies. If you're opting for a cheaper policy, like accident-only, you may have to add it on.

When you get a quote with us, we don't directly ask if you want third-party dog insurance. But you can check if the insurer offers it on the quotes page by clicking 'more info'.

Here, you'll find a list of benefits, and third-party dog insurance should be listed, along with the amount it covers.