Lifetime cover
Protects your pet for life, as long as the policy is renewed each year.
Average cost: £14.10
Dog insurance
Compare dog insurance quotes.
Complete a purchase and earn a £10 reward with super save club logo
What is dog insurance?
Pet insurance for dogs offers financial protection to dog owners. It can cover costs in the following situations:
Your dog is ill, injured, or needs to be put down
Your dog is lost or stolen
Your dog harms someone or their property (including their pets)
🚩 If you get paid to look after other people's dogs, you need dog walker insurance
Do I need dog insurance?
Pet insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK. But it can give you peace of mind and protection from some very big bills if your dog gets sick or destroys someone's property.
As well as adult dogs, you can get dog insurance for:
Is dog insurance worth it?
The cost of fixing insurable issues yourself is usually significantly more expensive than taking out insurance.
Average cost of dog insurance per year
£186
.40^
From prices paid by our customers
Average pet insurance claim
£668^
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI)
Average cost of treating pet diabetes
£1,300^
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI)
Our expert says…
More pet owners than ever are taking out insurance to protect their furry friend, with numbers topping 4.6 million in 2024, according to the Association of British Insurers.
A record £1.23 billion was paid out in claims across the year. Most claims were for dogs, at £933 million in claims. Paying for treatment themselves will be out of reach for many dog owners. For example, according to the ABI, the price of treatment for elbow dysplasia, the most common cause of forelimb lameness in young, large and giant breed dogs, can cost more than £50,000.
Our own data suggests most dog owners are opting for lifetime insurance policies. Although these are usually the most expensive option, they also provide the most protection.
Lauren Chong Pet Insurance Expert
How much is dog insurance?
How much is dog insurance?
£14
.57^ a month
This is the current average price paid by MoneySuperMarket customers.
How much is puppy insurance?
£10
.57^ a month
This is the current average price paid by MoneySuperMarket customers.
What impacts the price of dog insurance?
Insurers set their prices based on risk. The more likely they think you are to claim, or the more expensive it would be for them if you did claim, the higher your price is likely to be.
The key factors pet insurers will look at are:
Age
Breed
Medical history
Policy type
Where you live
Breed | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
Labrador retriever | £14.92 |
Cocker spaniel | £12.29 |
Cockerpoo | £10.78 |
French bulldog | £23.77 |
Staffordshire bull terrier | £21.39 |
What is the lifelong cost of owning a dog?
Select a dog breed and our calculator will tell you how much you can expect to spend on your furry friend throughout their life.
Costs included:
Food costs
Insurance costs
Grooming fees
Toys
Vaccinations
Purchase price
How can I make my dog insurance cheaper?
Compare quotes
Shopping around is the best way to find a deal the suits your needs and budget.
MoneySuperMarket can do the hard work for you. With our price comparison tool you can compare quotes from 37
Chose an accident-only policy
The type of pet insurance you choose will impact the price of your policy.
Accident-only pet insurance policies are usually the cheapest. The downside is they also provide the least amount of cover.
Increase your excess
The excess is the amount of money you pay before the insurance covers the rest.
The higher the excess, the lower your premiums can be. The downside is that it makes claims less affordable.
Insure multiple pets under one policy
If you have other animals you can insure them all together under a multi-pet policy, which can be cheaper than individual policies.
Remove extra policy features
Pet insurance policies often offer optional extras, such as cover for marketing and rewards if your dog is lost, or cover for dental treatments.
Adding these will give you better protection, but make your policy more expensive.
Spay, neuter, worm and vaccinate your dog
Keeping your dog in tip-top health is good for them and your insurance premiums - insurers often offer a discount if your dog is up to date with all its recommended treatments.
Train and socialise your dog
Dog insurers charge more to insure dogs that have show previous signs of aggression, such as biting other people or other dogs.
What are the different types of dog insurance?
💡 Top tip: Lifetime cover is the most popular type of pet insurance for dogs.
-
^ -
Maximum benefit
Sets limits on how much you can claim for any given illness or injury.
Average cost: £14.01
^ -
Time limited cover
Covers your pet for a specific period of time (usually 12 months).
Average cost: £13.09
^ -
Accident only cover
Only covers your pet for accidents, not illnesses.
Average cost: £3.95
^
Frequently Asked Questions
What does dog insurance cover?
Dog insurance typically covers:
Vet bills e.g. medicines, therapies and prescriptions
Hospital visits
Diagnosing illnesses e.g. consultations, X-rays, MRIs
Alternative therapies e.g. hydrotherapy or acupuncture
Euthanasia
Lost and stolen pets e.g. advertising, rewards, cost of animal
Third party liability cover e.g. your dog harms someone or their property
Emergency boarding fees e.g. while you are hospitalised
However, cover varies by provider and policy, so always check your insurance documents.
What's not included in dog insurance?
Dog insurance usually won't cover:
Routine care e.g. pet vaccinations, boosters, regular check-ups
Routine dental treatment including routine check-ups
Fleas and worming
Elective or cosmetic treatments
Cremation and burial
Training and obedience classes
Banned breeds or dog breeds classed as dangerous
Unvaccinated or unmicrochipped animals
However, cover varies by provider and policy, so always check your insurance documents.
Does dog insurance cover vaccinations and routine checkups?
No, typical pet insurance policies do not cover vaccinations and routine checkups as they are considered preventative and routine treatments, not unexpected illnesses or injuries.
Instead, insurance covers the major, non-routine costs of serious illnesses and accidents, such as broken bones or conditions like cancer.
Can I get dog insurance quotes for pre-existing conditions?
Yes. You can cover most pre-existing conditions if you take out insurance for pre-existing conditions.
These policies will almost certainly be pricier than standard policies. The average cost of pre-existing condition pet insurance is £12.88
What do I need to get a dog insurance quote?
You’ll need the following to get a quote:
✓ Pet’s age
✓ Pet's breed or size
✓ Pet's health
✓ If they have been neutered/spayed
✓ Price you paid for them
✓ Behavioural history
✓ Medical history
Why should I compare dog insurance quotes with MoneySuperMarket?
-
We're trusted
All our 37
^ pet insurers are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) -
Rated 4.9/5 on Feefo
We're also the UK's most recommended price comparison website
^ . -
Earn rewards
Buy through us and get up to £10
^ with your policy, plus other SuperSaveClub rewards -
Save money
Save £££ on your pet insurance. Plus, we price match and will give you £20 if you find a cheaper deal
^
Trusted Service Awards Winners
MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
Want rewards, cashback and free experiences? We've got you....
-
Earn up to £20^ every time you buy
We’ll reward you every time you make a purchase. Exchange your earnings for a gift card for Amazon.co.uk
^ , Sainsbury’s & more -
Free experiences
A years worth of free experiences across the UK. From London Zoo and Go Ape, to Hussle Swimming and English Heritage, there’s an adventure for everybody. Worth £180
^ . -
Cashback
Whether you're buying clothing, homewares or takeaways, earn up to 10%
^ cashback from brands like Just Eat, eBay & Argos. -
Refer a Friend
You and your friends each get up to £20 when they join the Club and make a qualifying purchase. Win-Win!
LATEST NEWS
4 in 10 dog owners are pro pet Ozempic
New research from MoneySuperMarket reveals that many dog owner would consider giving their pet a GLP-1 style injection if it was recommended by a vet. Younger owners are the most keen: over half of 25-34 year old owners would consider pet weight-loss jabs.
The news follows bio-pharma company Okava’s plans to trial a weight-loss drug for dogs that mimics the effects of Ozempic.
60%
of dogs are overweight or obese
Am I legally required to have dog insurance?
No, there’s no law requiring you to take out dog insurance.
There are other laws dog owners must follow however, including:
Your dog must be microchipped and registered (after 8 weeks old)
Your dog must wear a collar and tag with its owners details on when in a public place
Your dog must be kept under control while in public
You must pick up your dog's poo when in public
If you do not follow these laws you can be fined thousands of pounds.
What are the most common dog health problems?
Some of the most frequent issues seen across all dog breeds include skin allergies, ear infections, dental disease, obesity, arthritis, and gastrointestinal problems (like vomiting or diarrhoea).
Breed-specific conditions (like hip dysplasia in large breeds) are also common.
Can I get pet insurance for working dogs?
Yes, you can get cover for working dogs (like service dogs, police dogs, or farm dogs). However, you will need to declare this to your insurer and policies may cost more or have stricter terms because of the higher risk of injury.
Some companies also offer specialised working-dog policies.
Will dog insurance cover me bringing my dog to my workplace?
It depends. Several pet insurers will not cover your dog in an office or other workspace, even if they are just accompanying you to your job. Always check your policy wording.
If your dog is working at your workplace (providing security, therapy, or other services), you are likely to need a specific plan or rider to cover work-related injuries or liability.
Can I insure an aggressive dog?
Yes, pet insurers will usually still cover your dog if they sometimes bite or otherwise act aggressively. But you will probably have to pay higher insurance premiums.
Can I insure a dog classed as dangerous?
No, if you own an illegal dog breed you will struggle to take out insurance for it. This is the case even if you've proved to the court your dog is well behaved and received an exemption that allows you to own it.
The banned breeds, as defined by the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 are:
American XL Bully
Dogo Argentino
Fila Brasilerio
Japanese Tosa
Pitbull Terrier
Insurers also often will not cover dogs that are mixed with banned breeds. They may cancel your policy if they receive veterinary evidence that your dog has this sort of heritage - even if you weren't aware of it yourself.
Can I insure an older dog?
Some dog insurers set upper age limits for taking out a new policy. This is usually 8 years old, although it may be lower for certain breeds.
If you already have insurance for your pet, most insurers will continuing covering your dog for its entire lifespan (as long as you continuously pay the premiums).
How does MoneySuperMarket create and review the content on the website?
At MoneySuperMarket, we want to give you clear, accurate and trustworthy information so you can make confident financial decisions for your circumstances.
Every page on our website goes through a careful editorial process before it is published. It’s written or reviewed by one of our experienced experts, checked for accuracy, and updated regularly to reflect the latest information.
We do use AI tools to support our research and drafting, but a human editor is always in the loop to review, fact-check and approve everything before it’s published, so you can trust that what you’re reading is both reliable and up to date.
You can read more in our editorial guidelines.
How does MoneySuperMarket make money?
We get paid by the companies we work with, but the payment we get doesn’t have any bearing on the information we provide. We get paid in different ways, depending on the type of product or service you buy through us. Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible, but we only show results from our partner providers.
Our comparison service is, and will always be, free to use.
Why should I use a price comparison website?
One of the best ways to get the lowest prices and best deals is to compare quotes from different companies. We do the work for you, comparing quotes side-by-side and giving you all the information you need so you can choose the right deal for your needs and your wallet.
We don’t give recommendations or financial advice, but we give you clear information so you can choose financial products that suit your circumstances.
Does MoneySuperMarket work with all the providers on the market?
No, not every company can be included in our service. This is because some companies don’t want their products included on comparison sites, and some decide that they would rather not pay a fee. There are also a few smaller providers who can struggle to cope with the volume of customers that can find their products if they appear on MoneySuperMarket.
Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible so that you can choose the deal that suits you.
Is pet insurance eligible for SuperSaveClub and rewards?
Yes, you can earn SuperSaveClub rewards when you buy pet insurance through MoneySuperMarket.
This includes:
Up to £10, which you can withdraw as a pre-paid Mastercard or a gift card for brands like Sainsbury's and Amazon.co.uk
Free Days Out pass (worth £180), which gives free entry to a range of UK attractions (you must download our app to get this)
Cashback of up to 10% when you spend at brands including eBay, Just Eat and Argos
To earn SuperSaveClub rewards on purchases you must:
Sign up to SuperSaveClub (it's free)
Be signed in to your account when you make the purchase
More information can be found on our SuperSaveClub homepage.
Is pet insurance eligible for Price Promise?
Yes, pet insurance is included in our Super Save Price Promise.
If you buy through us then find the same deal for less we will:
refund the difference
give you a gift card worth up to £20
Terms and conditions apply. More information can be found on our Price Promise page.
Reviewed on 11 Dec 2025 by
Based on the median annual price of comprehensive car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket between August 2025 and October 2025.
Based on the median annual price of comprehensive car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket between August 2025 and October 2025.
Based on the median annual price of comprehensive car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket between August 2025 and October 2025.
Based on the median annual price where policyholder was in the age group 60-69 and the vehicle was an electric engine type for car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket between August 2025 and October 2025.
Based on the median annual price where policyholder was in the age group 17-24 and the vehicle was an petrol engine type for car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket between August 2025 and October 2025.