Puppy insurance
A good time to get dog insurance is when your pooch is a puppy. At this age, cover is likely to be less expensive and most health conditions should be covered.
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Dogs, known for their adventurous nature, often encounter risky situations, leading to potential veterinary emergencies.
In 2023, the average pet insurance claim in the UK was £8483, underscoring the rising vet costs and the importance of pet insurance.
Dog insurance provides financial protection against high medical expenses, crucial for safeguarding both your pet's health and your finances. Compare dog insurance policies to ensure your peace of mind and your pet's well-being.
³According to data from statista.
Pet insurance gives you peace of mind from the moment you choose to get it. Dogs of all ages can be insured although premiums will vary because of the associated health factors.
A good time to get dog insurance is when your pooch is a puppy. At this age, cover is likely to be less expensive and most health conditions should be covered.
Despite insurance for older dogs being more expensive, it can still be worthwhile. If your dog has had few health problems in the past, you may still find good value cover for them.
There are four common types of insurance for dogs, with each type providing a different level of cover.
This will cover most of your dog’s necessary vet and medical bills for the rest of their life.
This will only cover your pet for injuries related to an accident. Any vet bills for illnesses or chronic conditions will not be covered.
This will cover your dog for a fixed amount per condition. After the maximum amount has been reached, the condition will be excluded.
This will cover your dog for a limited time per condition (usually 12 months). Once the time limit has been reached, the condition will be excluded.
The level of cover you get from your dog insurance will depend on the type of policy, provider, and any optional extras you choose to add to it.
If you buy a lifetime dog insurance policy, you can usually expect to get the following protection:
Vet bills for treating injury or illness
Tests, scans, and x-rays
Third party liability cover
Prescribed medications and therapies
Vaccinations and preventative treatments
Neutering or spaying your dog
Routine treatments and check-ups
The average premium for dog insurance policy is £9.74 per month2. However, the price for your pet will vary based on several factors including:
Age
Breed
Medical history
The type of policy
Where you live
Breed | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
Labrador retriever | £12.92 |
Cocker spaniel | £12.18 |
Cockerpoo | £9.73 |
French bulldog | £24.19 |
Staffordshire bull terrier | £14.07 |
Average monthly premiums by dog breed according to MoneySuperMarket data from April 2024.
2MoneySuperMarket data from April 2024. 51% of consumers were quoted premiums of £9.74 per month or less for lifetime pet insurance covering a single dog with no pre-existing conditions.
This is for illustrative purposes only. If your circumstances and cover needs differ, your quote may be more or less expensive than the above example. Quote taken 13.03.2024.
Learn more about our full pet insurance quote methodology here.
The type of pet insurance you choose will impact the price of your policy. Accident-only policies are usually the cheapest however they also provide the least amount of cover.
If you have any other pets you want to insure at the same time, a multi-pet policy can be cheaper than individual policies.
This is the amount of money you pay before the insurance covers the rest. The higher the excess, the lower your premiums can be. Be sure you can pay the excess amount you choose.
Optional extras can vary from paying for marketing and rewards should your cat go missing, to covering the cost of dental treatments however they do come with extra costs.
Using our price comparison tool can help you compare quotes from a range of the UK's leading providers to help you find the best policy for a price that suits you.
Spaying, neutering and keeping on top of your dog's vaccinations as well as their flea and worming treatments can help keep your dog healthy as well as lower your premiums.
Vets’ fees can be both expensive and quickly add up, which is why many dog owners take out insurance. There are various options from accident-only through to lifetime cover, so do your research to understand the benefits of each type of policy and then compare prices to find the cheapest deal for your needs.
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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
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.
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.
Comparing dog insurance with MoneySuperMarket is quick and easy. You can get accurate quotes for pet insurance for your dog in just a few simple steps.
Answer a few questions about your dog to help us find policies tailored to your dog’s needs
We’ll find policies that match your criteria and show you how much each will cost
Once you’ve decided on the right policy for you and your dog, just click and we’ll send you straight to the provider’s website to apply
Dogs typically have vaccinations against a range of illnesses when they are puppies – usually at about eight weeks old. Then in some cases boosters are required each year or every three years, for example. Some pet insurance policies, but not all, will cover you for the cost of these injections, which typically cost around £60 each, so check with your insurer.
A microchip is a tiny electronic chip which is permanently implanted under your dog’s skin. The procedure doesn’t hurt your dog. The chip is important because it holds information which links your dog to you and your address - in case your pet is lost or stolen. All details are held on a database.
All dogs over eight weeks old must be micro-chipped by law and there is a £500 fine for owners who don’t comply.
Mirco-chipping a dog costs around £15 and if you need to make contact detail changes on the database, such as a change of address, there could be additional fees. These costs aren’t usually covered under dog insurance.
Some dog insurance policies cover , but they tend to come as standard only on the most comprehensive, and expensive cover.
Low cost pet insurance is unlikely to cover dental treatment for your dog. If this is something you know you want on the policy check out the details of your cover before you buy.
Many insurers include third party liability cover as standard on pet policies, while with others you may need to pay to add it to your policy. This cover is to help towards any legal bills you might face should your dog injure someone or another dog or damage someone’s property.
It’s important to compare quotes for dog insurance, to see what different insurers have to offer. You can avoid paying more than you need to, although it’s worth remembering that the cheapest option isn’t always the best option. Look for a policy that’s tailored to what you need, taking into account your dog’s breed, age and general health, and the price you’re happy to pay. Choose the amount of cover that’s right for you – make sure you’re not under-insured, as this could mean you struggling to afford the vet bills to get your furry friend on the road to recovery.
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 bans the ownership of four specific types of dog: Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro. The law makes it illegal to own, sell, breed, give away or abandon any of these dog breeds.
If you own one of the blacklisted breeds, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to take out pet insurance for it. Many insurers are too concerned about costly claims, so you’ll have to cover any vet bills, and any costs incurred if the dog injures another dog or person, yourself. But, there are some specialist third party liability insurers who will insure your dog if it has a good track record.
It’s a legal requirement to have your dog micro-chipped, but there’s no law to say you must have dog insurance. It’s entirely up to you whether to take out a policy, although it’s a good idea to insure your dog, so that you have the peace of mind of knowing any expensive vet treatment your pet may need will be taken care of.
Most pet insurers won’t cover pre-existing conditions. However, you can still get cover for your dog by going through a specialist insurer.
Cover from these providers tend to be more limited for dogs with health problems. Providers may exclude conditions that your dog has suffered from in the past or apply a limit to your cover. These policies also tend to be more expensive than standard policies depending on the age, breed, and health of your dog.
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