Can I cancel my pet insurance?
Key takeaways
You usually have a 14-day cooling-off period after taking out pet insurance, during which you can cancel and receive a refund (often minus any time you were insured)
Cancelling after the cooling-off period may cost you, as insurers can charge admin fees or withhold refunds depending on their terms, especially if you’ve made a claim
Pet insurance policies often auto-renew, so you need to actively cancel if you don’t want the policy to continue into the next year
There may be circumstances where you want to cancel your dog insurance or cat insurance, or cover for another animal, before the end of the policy term.
For example, you may think that pet insurance has become unaffordable or that you can find cheaper cover elsewhere. You might also need to cancel your policy if your pet goes missing or dies.
If you’re thinking of cancelling pet insurance to save money, it’s important to weigh up the savings from not paying premiums against the potential cost of vet bill if your pet gets ill or injured. We explore this more in our guide 'Is pet insurance worth having?'.
Without insurance, you’d have to foot the bill for any medical treatment your pet needs yourself.
Can I cancel my pet insurance at any time?
Yes, you can cancel your pet insuranceat any time, though the rules for refunds and fees depend on when you cancel and whether you have made a claim.
Only the policyholder can cancel the insurance and they will need to contact the insurer.
Contacting them by phone is best, although some insurers let you cancel online or by email. You should check your policy for the exact procedure to follow to cancel. You might find this information by:
Reading your policy documents
Checking your insurer’s website
Phoning your insurer and asking
Using your insurer’s online chat or email support
What is the main reason people cancel pet insurance?
The main reason people cancel pet insurance is because they can’t afford it. Pet insurance can be quite expensive, and the cost of living crisis means many people are struggling to make ends meet.
Some pet owners simply cancel their pet insurance and go without cover, while others might look for a better deal with another insurer, or buy a policy offering a more basic level of cover.
There might also be instances where you are not happy with your insurer’s service or you have a negative claims experience, so you decide to leave.
How do I cancel my pet insurance?
The process for cancelling your pet insurance depends on where you are at with your policy. For example, you might:
Cancel during the 14-day cooling off period
Cancel mid-policy
Cancel auto-renewal
Cancelling during the cooling-off period
When you buy any type of insurance you can cancel the policy within 14 days of the cover starting. This is called the 'cooling-off period' and it normally begins the day you receive your insurance documents or when the cover starts (whichever is later).
As with other types of insurance, you can cancel pet insurance in the 14-day cooling-off period and receive a full refund. The only exception to this is if you have already made a claim on your policy. In this scenario no premium will be refunded.
To cancel during the cooling-off period, call your insurer and ask what the process is. You might be able to cancel over the phone or by completing an online form.
Cancelling mid-policy
After the 14-day cooling-off period, some insurers will let you cancel free of charge, while others will charge a cancellation or admin fee.
This fee must be reasonable. If you think it’s not, you can dispute it with the insurer and ultimately take your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
The process for cancellation depends on your insurer, so check your policy. You might be able to cancel in the following ways:By phone
By email
By competing an online form
When cancelling, you’ll need to give your insurer certain information. As an example, PetPlan’s online cancellation form asks for the following:Your name and date of birth
Your postcode
Policy number
The number of pets whose policies you wish to cancel
Reason for cancelling
Whether you plan to change insurer or go without cover
The date you want to cancel your policy
Cancelling auto-renewal
Some pet insurance policies are set up to ‘auto-renew’.
Your insurer will write to you about 28 days before your pet insurance policy ends, tell you the renewal price and as long as you don’t cancel your renewal, it will go ahead at the new price.
The payment will be taken via the payment method you used previously.
Although auto-renewal means there won’t be a gap in your cover, it’s not always a good idea.
Your renewal premium for the next year’s cover may be more than the amount you paid the previous year due to your pet aging, it’s health status, or adjustments in policy terms.
If your renewal quote is too expensive, or you find better cover elsewhere, contact your insurer to cancel auto-renewal before the renewal date. You might also be able to do this online.
Should I cancel pet insurance?
There are several factors to consider before you cancel your pet insurance policy:
Pre-existing conditions
If your pet has a pre-existing health condition, this is likely to be excluded from any new pet insurance policy you take out with a different provider.
If you have ‘lifetime’ pet insurance, any condition your pet develops will continue to be covered as long as you keep renewing the policy each year. So think very carefully before cancelling a lifetime policy.
If you have more than one pet
If you have multi-pet insurance, cancelling cover for one of your pets may affect how much you pay to insure the others.
Waiting periods
If you cancel your pet insurance to switch providers, there is likely to be a waiting period before your new policy becomes active.
The waiting period is usually about two weeks and is in place to stop pet owners taking out cover at the point of needing to make a claim. The effect of the waiting period is that your pet will be temporarily uninsured.
Financial risk
Vets fees are expensive. If you cancel your pet insurance, you’ll need to foot these costs yourself. As an example, the Animal Trust charges up to £1,849 for a fracture repair for a cat or dog.
The Animal Trust is a not-for-profit organisation. Private vets will charge much more than this (but not many display their prices on their websites).
Unless you have sufficient savings, suddenly needing to pay vets fees could have a serious impact on your financial situation. If you can’t pay for treatment it could mean your pet being in pain, becoming more seriously ill or, in the worst case scenario, passing away.
Will I get a refund if I cancel my pet insurance?
Whether you receive a refund depends on your insurer's cancellation terms, how long you've been insured and whether you've made a claim.
Cancellation time | What to check |
|---|---|
⏱️ Within the cooling-off period (First 14 days) | • You are usually entitled to a full refund |
📅 Part-way through the policy (After 14 days) | • If you paid upfront, you should receive a pro-rata refund for unused months (if you haven't claimed) |
🏥 After making a claim | • Making a claim typically binds you to the cost of the entire 12-month contract |
💳 When paying monthly | • Monthly payments are instalments on a year-long contract, not a flexible monthly subscription |
💔 When your pet dies or goes missing | • You must notify them directly and provide a vet certificate or formal documentation |
Don't assume you'll automatically receive a refund for the unused months of your policy. Some insurers may require the full annual premium to be paid if you've made a claim, even if you pay monthly.
Others may have different terms for particular circumstances, such as the death or theft of a pet.
Check your policy documents and ask your insurer to explain any refund, fee or outstanding balance before confirming cancellation.
What can I do if I disagree with a pet insurance cancellation fee?
If you think your insurer has charged the wrong cancellation fee, withheld a refund incorrectly or asked you to pay premiums you don't owe, contact the provider first and explain why you disagree.
Keep copies of your policy documents, cancellation confirmation, payment records and any correspondence with the insurer.
If you're unhappy with the response, you can make a formal complaint using the insurer's complaints procedure.
The insurer generally has eight weeks to provide its final response. If you remain dissatisfied, you may be able to refer the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, subject to its eligibility rules.
Can I cancel my pet insurance if my pet dies?
If your pet dies, contact your insurer to find out how to cancel the policy and whether any refund or outstanding premiums will apply.
If you've made a claim during the policy year, you may still have to pay the remaining annual premium, depending on your policy terms. This can apply whether you paid upfront or by monthly instalments.
You may also be able to make a claim under a policy benefit relating to your pet's death.
Some insurers offer ‘Passing Away’ cover. For example, Many Pets covers the value of your pet if they pass away due to an accident or a diagnosed illness up until the age of nine.
After your pet is nine-years-old, Many Pets will only cover passing away as a result of an accident (not an illness). It also offers ‘Farewell’ cover, which can help with costs up to £150 if your pet needs to be put to sleep.
Can I cancel my pet insurance if my pet goes missing?
If your pet is lost, missing or stolen, contact your insurer before cancelling, as your policy may include help with finding your pet.
For example, Petplan’s policies offer up to £2,000 in cover towards advertising and rewards.
Some insurers will also pay a percentage of the amount you paid for your pet if it is reported lost or stolen. If you have a dog, they will need to be microchipped to be eligible for this.
If your insurer settles a claim for a stolen or missing pet, it will cancel your policy from the date it pays your claim. If your pet is later found, you’ll need to buy a new pet insurance policy.
What are the alternatives to cancelling pet insurance?
If you're thinking of cancelling because your premiums have increased or become difficult to afford, consider these alternatives first.
Ask your insurer about reducing your premium: Explain that you're struggling with the cost and ask whether it can offer a cheaper policy or a different level of cover. You may be able to reduce your premium by changing your cover limits or excess, but make sure you understand how this could affect future claims.
Compare other pet insurance policies: If you want to find cheaper or more suitable cover, compare policies before cancelling your current one. Look at the vet fee limits, excesses, exclusions and how long conditions can be covered, rather than choosing on price alone.
Check how switching could affect existing conditions: A new insurer may exclude medical conditions your pet has already developed. Your pet's age and health could also affect the price and availability of replacement cover. Check the new policy's terms and start date before ending your existing insurance.
If you decide to switch, compare pet insurance quotes with MoneySuperMarket to explore available policies.
Why compare pet insurance with MoneySuperMarket
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.
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