How much does dog insurance cost?

Health gets complicated. That means calculating your dog's insurance quote can get complicated, too. Broadly, we calculate your insurance quote by looking at your dog's: Lots of other factors go into this as well, but the majority of insurers will use the above as a baseline. But remember: the cheapest pet insurance out there may not have the cover you or your dog needs, so make sure you're getting something that works first.

What does dog insurance cover?

Our dog insurance covers vet fees for accidents and illnesses up to your chosen limit. Depending on your plan, it can also cover emergency boarding, the cost if your dog is lost, stolen or passes away, legal action taken against you because of your dog, dental illness and accidents and vet-referred behaviour treatment. Please read your handbook for exact cover terms. This will tell you exactly what you are and aren’t covered for.

Is dog insurance worth it?

Weigh the cost of your insurance against what you could comfortably pay upfront for major treatment, keeping in mind that with a lifetime plan, your cover keeps renewing for ongoing conditions. It really depends on you and your circumstances.

How do I choose the right dog insurance?

When choosing dog insurance, we’d recommend: It’s also worth checking if dental treatment, behaviour treatment and complementary therapies like hydrotherapy are included, since these vary between insurers and can add up in cost over your dog’s lifetime.

Is dog insurance a legal requirement, and do I need it?

No, dog insurance isn't compulsory in the UK. But it can give you peace of mind that you can pay expensive vet bills and get your dog back to health.

Are dog vaccinations, spaying and neutering covered?

No. Neutering, spaying and vaccinations are classed as routine and preventative procedures, which aren’t covered.

Does where you live impact the cost of dog insurance?

Yes, the cost of vet treatment varies around the country, which means your home address can affect how much you pay for pet insurance .

Is pet insurance more expensive for older dogs?

Generally, the cost to insure a one or two-year-old dog is much less than the cost of insuring an older dog. Your insurer may also ask you to pay a percentage of the cost for any claims an owner makes for pets over seven. This is called a co-payment. Co-payments are a fixed percentage you'll pay for your pet's treatment. We calculate this percentage from your vet bill minus the excess. With us, you can choose to pay a 10% or 20% co-payment when your pet is under seven to lower your insurance price. But you must agree to a 20% co-payment when your pet is seven or over at renewal. You can learn more about this in our excess and co-payment explainer guide . Many people see the cost of their dog insurance increasing over time ( our cost guide discusses this), and feel that the insurance company is acting unfairly – but higher costs for older dogs reflect the fact that visits to the vet are more likely. Some owners opt to 'self-insure' by paying a fixed amount into a savings account each month, so that there is a reserve to draw on if their dog gets sick, instead of continuing to pay the insurance premium. The risk is that you may need vet treatment before your savings have built up or the cost of treatment will be higher than what you've saved.

Is death, euthanasia and cremation covered by dog insurance?

Yes, we offer financial support to help you say goodbye and handle the final arrangements during that difficult time. This is up to £200 on Standard Care and Standard Care Pre-existing, and up to £500 on Complete Care. Separately, if your dog passes away from an accident or illness, we pay out up to £500 on Essential Care, up to £1,500 on Standard Care and Standard Care Pre-existing, and up to £6,000 on Complete Care. This cover has an age limit of nine for deaths caused by illness. Please read your handbook for exact cover terms.

Is there an age limit or age restrictions to dog insurance?

We love dogs of all ages and therefore have no upper age limit! As long as your dog is over four weeks old, we can provide a plan for you. From puppies to older dogs , we've got you covered.

Will my dog be covered if it’s lost or stolen?

All of our plans have some level of lost or stolen cover .

Why are some dog breeds more expensive to insure than others?

Smaller dogs usually cost less to insure than bigger dogs and cross breeds usually cost less than pedigrees. The cost of pedigree dog insurance varies significantly between breeds and the cost of insuring cross-breed dogs (such as Cockapoos or Labradoodles) will reflect the cost of insurance for the dominant breed. Dogs with a propensity to develop breed-specific medical conditions also tend to be more expensive to insure. Find the cheapest & priciest dog breeds in the UK here .

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Compare our dog insurance plans

	Complete Care	Standard Care	Standard Care Pre-existing	Essential Care
Plan details
Vet fee cover up to	£20,000	£10,000	£7,000	£5,000
Pre-existing conditions cover
Excess	Once per year (not per condition, like many other insurers)	Once per year (not per condition, like many other insurers)	Once per year (not per condition, like many other insurers)	Once per year (not per condition, like many other insurers)
CT/MRI scan and cruciate ligament surgery				£1,000
Dental illness & accident				Accidents only (Up to £1,000)
Complications from routine treatment
Emergency boarding	£1,000	£1,000	£1,000	£1,000
Death of your pet	£6,000	£1,500	£1,500	£500
Missing or stolen (including advertising)	£6,000	£1,500	£1,500	£500 (excluding replacement costs)
Behaviour treatment