What is third party liability on dog insurance?
Key takeaways
Third party liability dog insurance helps cover compensation and legal costs if your dog injures someone or damages property
Third party liability is usually included as standard in dog insurance policies
It generally won’t cover fines, dogs with history of aggression, or situations where you were considered to have acted irresponsibly
What is third party liability pet insurance?
Third party liability insurance covers costs if your dog causes injury to another person, another animal, or damages someone else’s property. It is included within many dog insurance policies, and it is also possible to buy it separately as stand-alone cover.
Third party liability cover is generally only included in dog insurance, because cat owners are not legally liable for their animals to the same extent.
What is covered by third party liability pet insurance?
Third party liability pet cover can help pay for:
legal expenses
compensation claims
vet bills for injured animals
medical costs if someone is hurt
property damage
It can also cover wider compensation, such as loss of earnings if someone is unable to work following an injury caused by your dog.
What situations would third party liability cover me for?
Third party liability pet insurance is designed to protect you financially if you are found legally responsible for an accident or damage caused by your dog that financially impacts someone else.
For example, it could cover you if your dog runs into the road and causes a cyclist to fall off their bike and break their arm, or if your dog attacks another dog at the park and the owner is left with a hefty vet bill.
💡 Top tip: If an incident occurs, do not admit responsibility and do not offer or agree to pay any money to any person without first speaking to your insurer. Third party liability claims can be invalidated if you do this.
Do I need third party liability insurance for my dog?
There is no legal requirement to hold third party liability pet insurance (unless you own a banned dog breed).
However, it is recommended for most dog owners. If your dog injures someone or damages property, you could face a compensation claim or legal action. These costs can run into thousands of pounds.
But bear in mind that not all dogs or situations can be covered by third party liability insurance. In particular, you may struggle to find an insurer who will cover banned dog breeds or dogs with a known history of aggression.
Do I need third party liability insurance for my cat?
Pet insurers do not usually offer third party liability cover for cats.
This is partly because cats are generally considered less likely to cause the kind of injury or damage that leads to liability claims, and partly because cats are treated differently to dogs under law.
Cats have a legal 'right to roam' which means their owners are not required to control them outdoors or prevent them from entering private property.
Is third party liability cover standard in all pet insurance policies?
Third party liability cover is commonly included with dog insurance policies, particularly lifetime policies and maximum benefit policies. It is not usually included in pet insurance policies for other types of animals.
Cover levels and limits vary between insurers, so it is important to check your policy documents.
Does pet insurance cover my dog attacking another dog or livestock?
Third party liability insurance may cover some of the costs if your dog injures another animal or livestock and you are found legally responsible. For example, it could cover any compensation that is paid to the other owner or farmer and the associated legal costs.
However, insurers usually expect owners to have taken all reasonable precautions to stop the attack from happening. That means it may not pay out if your dog was off-lead or if it had a previous history of aggression.
Third party liability insurance will also not cover any fines issued. These can be substantial. In particular, a UK law against livestock worrying now allows for unlimited fines to be imposed on dog owners who let their dog attack, chase or cause distress to agricultural animals. You should always keep your dog on a lead when walking through farmland.
Does third party liability insurance pet insurance cover fines or legal penalties?
No. Third party liability cover does not pay for fines, fixed penalty notices or criminal penalties.
You can be fined if you allow your dog to behave in an anti-social manner. For example, you can be given an unlimited fine if your dog is dangerously out of control and a fixed penalty notice of around £50 to £100 for dog fouling.
These costs would be your responsibility alone.
Does third party liability insurance pet insurance cover dogs in the workplace?
Many pet insurance policies exclude or restrict third party liability cover if your dog is taken into your workplace. This includes business-related incidents that happen while working from home, for example if you take client appointments in your house.
Third party liability pet insurance will generally cover incidents that happen in other people's workplaces, for example if you take your dog into a cafe or pub where you are a customer.
Working dogs, such as those used for security or therapy purposes, are generally not covered at all by standard pet insurance. You will need specialist cover.
Does third party liability cover apply if my dog injures me or members of my household?
No. Third party liability cover generally only covers the persons and property of people who did not actively choose to be near your dog.
It almost always excludes:
the pet's owner
anyone who lives in the pet's household, including tenants or roommates in shared accomodation
anyone who is visiting the pet's household
immediate members of the pet owner's family
dog-sitters (including unpaid dogsitting by friends and family)
business contacts of the pet owner, including employees
💡 Top tip: Most home insurance policies won't cover pet damage either. So if your dog rips up your sofa or pees on your carpet, you're almost certainly going to have to swallow the cost yourself.
How much third party liability cover do I need?
Pet insurance policies often include third party liability cover of around £1 million to £2 million, although the exact limit varies by insurer.
These cover limits are so high because claims can involve serious injury, legal action or significant property damage. Compensation and legal costs can quickly run into tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds, so higher limits help protect you against these risks.
How much does third party pet insurance cost?
You do not usually buy third party cover as a separate policy, it will be rolled into your standard pet insurance cover. The average cost of pet insurance for dogs is £13.13
What will third-party liability cover for dogs not cover?
Third party liability cover for dogs will generally not cover:
Dogs with known aggressive behaviour
Banned dog breeds
Incidents that happen while your dog is being used for business purposes
Injury or damage to you, your family, members of your household, guests, employees, or anyone handling your dog with your permission
Damage to property owned by you or people connected to you, such as your home or belongings
Fines, compensation or prosecution costs following criminal proceedings, although it may cover the legal costs of defending those proceedings
Incidents that result from a deliberate act by you, or from something you could reasonably have prevented.
Claims may also be rejected if your dog has a history of escaping, attacking, or causing damage and this was not disclosed.
Does third party liability pet cover dangerous dogs?
No, standard third party liability pet insurance (and pet insurance generally) will generally not cover dogs classed as dangerous or banned in the UK.
These banned breeds include:
Pit Bull Terrier
Japanese Tosa
Dogo Argentino
Fila Brasileiro
American XL Bully
If your dog is a banned breed but on the Index of Exempted Dogs (IED), you must have third party liability insurance in place until 30 June 2026. This cover is usually only available through specialist insurers such as Dogs Trust and only available until the end of June. The government is due to provide further guidance to owners on what happens after this.
How can I compare pet insurance policies with liability cover?
You can compare pet insurance quotes from 39
Comparing policies helps you check limits, excesses and what is included before you buy.
Author
Beth Leslie
Senior Insurance Content Editor
Beth is an experienced writer and editor who specialises in financial and economic content. She is currently the Senior Insurance Content Editor for MoneySuperMarket. Beth is passionate about making...
