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PET INSURANCE

SUPER SAVE UP TO

£238

ON YOUR PET INSURANCE1

Image of a pet carrier

Compare pet insurance quotes from 38 trusted UK insurers2

Get tailored pet cover at the right price by comparing deals from leading UK insurers, all in one place. 

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151% of consumers could save up to £237.72 on Lifetime Pet Insurance. Consumer Intelligence, May 2023. UK Only.

2Accurate as of July 2023

What pet would you like to insure?

  • Dog

    Old or young, we offer a range of dog insurance policies for you to chose from to ensure your dog is fully covered.

  • Cat

    Whether you have an indoor or outdoor cat, insure them to protect from any accidents or injuries that can occur, or health issues that could develop.

  • Rabbit

    Your bunnies need protecting too! Treating your rabbit's injuries or illnesses is just as important as your dogs or cats.

  • Horse

    Equine insurance can cover accidents, illnesses, and can offer protection for your equipment, loss of your horse and more.

Do I need pet insurance?

In the UK, it is not a legal requirement to insure your pets, but that doesn’t mean it’s unnecessary. 

Pets are part of the family, so when your beloved four-legged friend suffers a mishap like an injury or illness, it can be upsetting and often expensive with veterinary treatment costing hundreds of pounds just for a single treatment, and chronic conditions like arthritis in a dog costing over £20003.

Pet insurance can help you cover these medical costs and ease the pressure on your finances so, you can focus on helping your companion get better. 

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3Research conducted by the Association of British Insurers June 2023

What types of pet insurance can I get?

There are four common types of pet insurance pet owners can choose from, each with different levels of cover and cost:

  • Lifetime policy

    With lifetime cover your pet will be covered for their whole life for most of their medical needs and this includes cover for any conditions that your pet may develop while you're insured.

  • Time-Limited 

    Time-limited offers a fixed sum for each illness or injury your pet gets. Your pet will be covered for a limited term per condition (usually 12 months).

  • Per condition

    Also known as ‘maximum benefit’, you will get a fixed amount that your pet will be covered for and you can claim per condition. There is no time limit on how long you can claim.

  • Accident only 

    This is one of the cheapest policies. Your pet will only be covered if they have been injured in an accident. This policy will not provide cover for any illnesses.

What’s covered by pet insurance?

A lifetime pet insurance policy, which is the most comprehensive policy type, will cover most of your vet bills during your pet’s lifetime.

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    What is covered

    • Vet bills for injury or illness
      Any veterinary fees associated with diagnosing and treating illnesses and/or injuries are usually covered by pet insurance policies.

    • The cost of finding a lost pet
      Advertising costs to help find your lost or stolen pet and the cost of a reward to whoever finds your pet.

    • Therapies and prescriptions
      Most policies will cover the cost of any further therapy treatment and necessary prescriptions.

    • Emergency cattery and kennel fees 
      When emergencies happen, you want to be able to rely on your pet insurance policy to ensure the safety of your pet when you really need it.

    • Third-party liability cover
      This is specific to dogs and will cover you if they injure another person, pet, or damage someone's property.

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    What is not covered

    • Pre-existing conditions
      If your pet has any pre-existing conditions, it can mean more expensive premiums or only specifically tailored policies for your pet.

    • Dental treatment
      Any routine check-ups including dental treatment are usually not included in most pet insurance policies.

    • Neutering or spaying
      While spaying or neutering your pet will not be covered by your insurance provider, having this done may allow you to access cheaper premiums.

    • Vaccinations
      Any veterinary fees associated with preventative treatments such as worming, flea treatments, or vaccinations will not be covered.

    • Elective or cosmetic treatments
      Most cosmetic treatments that aim to improve a pet's look or function are unlikely to be covered by your insurance.

Save on multi-pet Insurance

With MoneySuperMarket you can cover up to seven cats, dogs or both under one policy.

Click and see if you can save.

MoneySuperMarket makes it easy to compare quotes on pet insurance

  • Save time

    MoneySuperMarket makes it easy to compare policies from a huge panel of pet insurance providers saving you the time and hassle of researching each provider individually

  • Save money

    Quotes are sorted from the least expensive, so you can quickly find a pet insurance deal that fits your needs and budget, and save money on your insurance premium.

  • Get tailored quotes

    With a wide range of policy options, you can find pet insurance that meets your unique needs and provides the coverage you need for you and your pet.

How much is pet insurance?

The cost of pet insurance premiums will vary depending on several factors, such as:

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    Your pet's age

    Older pets are more likely to have pre-existing conditions or develop health issues, and pet insurance providers may charge higher premiums for them. 

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    The animal's breed

    Certain breeds of pets are more prone to specific health conditions or hereditary diseases, which can increase the risk for insurers. This can result in higher premiums for pet owners of these breeds.

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    Type of policy

    Basic policies may have lower premiums, but they may not cover all of your pet's potential healthcare needs. Comprehensive policies, on the other hand, can provide more extensive coverage but may come with higher premiums.

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    Your location

    The cost of pet insurance can vary depending on where you live. This is often because veterinary costs can be higher in urban areas than in rural areas, which can affect the price of insurance.

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    Previous medical history

    Pre-existing conditions or previous injuries can increase the risk of a reoccurrence, and as a result, can increase the cost of pet insurance.

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    You cat or dog's gender

    In some cases, the gender of your pet can affect the cost of insurance. This is because certain conditions, such as urinary tract infections, are more common in female pets.

What is the cheapest pet insurance?

The cheapest pet insurance type is accident only, which will only cover your pet for accidental injury. This means that you will not be covered for illnesses or vet costs outside of accidental injury.

Does pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

If your pet has health conditions you can still get insured but it’s likely insurers will exclude the condition from the policy.

Alternatively, MoneySuperMarket offers a range of different pet insurance providers that offer specialist cover for pets with pre-existing conditions although you may expect higher premiums due to the higher risk of your pet needing treatment.

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If you take out a standard policy, be sure to read your policy documents carefully to understand what will be covered as you may be expected to pay for any fees related to existing conditions yourself. If you fail to declare any pre-existing conditions, you risk invalidating or cancelling your policy.

How to find the best pet insurance?

Pet insurance isn’t ‘one-size-fits-all’ and the cheapest option won’t always be the best. To find a great value policy for you, here are some steps you can follow:

  • 1

    Decide how much cover you need

    The most comprehensive policy might not be the most cost effective, especially if you have an older pet or one with health problems. 

  • 2

    Decide on your excess

    By agreeing to pay a certain amount of your vet bills you can reduce the cost of your policy. 

  • 3

    Compare pet insurance providers

    You can use our comparison tools to find a great value policy with cover tailored to you and your pet. 

  • 4

    Shop for extra benefits

    Some pet insurance providers will have additional cover extras and options for your pet, like dental cover or pet travel insurance.

  • 5

    Pay yearly instead of monthly

    If you can afford it, it can sometimes be more cost-effective to pay for your pet insurance annually rather than monthly.

  • 6

    Keep a lookout for better deals

    Even if you already have pet insurance, there’s always the possibility that there is something better out there. 

Saarrah Mussa

Our expert says

"

Sometimes you can save a couple of pounds monthly with a cheaper pet insurance policy, but when things do go wrong and vet bills are piling up, you could lose more money if your policy doesn't cover those costs. When choosing pet insurance, it’s important to consider what could happen to your pet in its lifetime and ensure you have the right cover to match.

"
- Saarrah Mussa, Insurance expert

Compare Pet insurance with MoneySuperMarket

Our comparison tools are quick and easy to use. In just a few steps you can get accurate quotes for policies tailored to you and your pet.

  • Tell us about your pet

    Give us a few details about your pet and the type of cover you’re looking for 

  • We’ll do the work

    We’ll put together a list of providers with appropriate cover for your specific needs

  • You’re on your way

    Pick the policy that is perfect for you and your pet  

You’ll need to provide the following information so we can help you find you pet insurance quotes:

  • Your pet’s age

  • The breed or size of your pet

  • The health of your pet (and if it has been neutered)

  • How much you paid for your pet (if you bought it rather than adopting it)

  • Your pet’s behavioural history

  • Your pet’s medical history

The excess is the amount you’ll need to pay when you make a claim on your pet insurance. If you set a higher excess, this can bring your premiums down, but make sure you can afford the excess in the event of a claim. Some insurers will ask you to pay a flat fee for the excess, whereas others will ask for a flat fee plus a percentage of the remaining cost, so check your policy carefully before you buy. 

If you have more than one pet, you’ve got the option to take out separate pet insurance cover for each animal, or to get one policy for all your pets. This is known as multi-pet insurance, and it can make it easier to manage your pet cover. It can also be cheaper, because many insurers offer discounts if you cover more than one animal on the same policy.

When you need to make a claim, call your insurer’s claims department and be sure to have your policy number, as well as the details of what happened to your pet and the vet fees you were charged or quoted. If your pet is already being treated, be sure to have all the details of the condition and the treatment required. Once you fill in a claim form and provide your insurer with all the necessary documentation to support your claim, your insurer can then review your claim. 



Pet insurance provides you with cover when the unexpected happens. Even if you have an indoor pet, health conditions can happen when you least expect them to, and when they find themselves feeling curious, accidents are also bound to happen. Vet fees don’t come cheap, which is why your insurance is there when you need it the most.   

If you’re still on the fence, take a look at our guide to see if you should get pet insurance. 



Be sure to talk to your veterinarian about your financial situation. While some vets offer credit plans and are able to provide you with some financial support to accommodate your situation, others may refer you to a less expensive vet facility.  



You work hard to earn your money, and we don’t think you should waste a penny of it paying over the odds on your household bills. That’s why at MoneySuperMarket, we’re on a mission to save Britain money.

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You might be wondering if we work with all the companies in the market, or if our commercial relationships with our partners might make us feature one company above another. We’ve got nothing to hide, and we want to give you clear answers when it comes to questions like these, so we’ve pulled together everything you need to know on this page.