How much does pet insurance cost in 2025?
Key takeaways
Pet insurance costs £10.49
^ a month on averageThe average pet insurance price for dogs is £14.57
^ and for cats it is £8.09^ Breed, age, health, location and policy type all impact the cost of pet insurance
How much does pet insurance cost in 2025?
You can get cover from just £3.95
If you want pet insurance that covers pre-existing conditions you will need to take out a pet insurance specialist policy. The average cost for this type of cover is £12.88
How much does dog insurance cost in 2025?
Monthly price from | Average monthly price | |
|---|---|---|
Dog | £6.28 | £14.57 |
Puppy | £4.77 | £10.57 |
The breed, age and health of your dog will heavily impact the cost of your insurance.
How much does cat insurance cost in 2025?
Monthly price from | Average monthly price | |
|---|---|---|
Cat | £4.26 | £8.09 |
Kitten | £4.20 | £6.92 |
The breed, age and health of your cat will impact the cost of your insurance.
What impacts how much I'll pay for pet insurance?
Pet's species and breed
Dogs cost more to insure than cats. That is partly because dog owners are financially and legally responsible if their animal harms someone or their property, so dog insurance usually includes third party liability cover.
Breed can also make a big difference to cost. That's because some breeds are prone to specific health issues. For instance, larger dog breeds may be more prone to conditions like hip dysplasia.
Dog breed | Average monthly price |
|---|---|
Cockerpoo | £10.78 |
Golden Retriever | £14.43 |
French Bulldog | £23.77 |
Cat breed | Average monthly price |
|---|---|
Birman | £9.05 |
Ragdoll | £7.93 |
Maine Coon | £10.83 |
Pet's age
Younger pets are typically healthier. That means they're generally cheaper to insure.
Age | Cat | Dog |
|---|---|---|
Under 1 | £6.63 | £9.49 |
3-4 | £6.02 | £12.07 |
Over 7 | £13.13 | £25.51 |
Insurance type
There are four different types of pet insurance cover. The more protection they include, the more they cost to purchase.
Lifetime pet insurance: Protects your pet for life, as long as the policy is renewed
Maximum benefit: Limits on how much you can claim for any given illness or injury
Time limited: Covers your pet for a specific period of time (usually 12 months)
Accident only: Only covers your pet for accidents, not illnesses
Average Monthly Prices | Dog | Cat |
|---|---|---|
Lifetime | £14.10 | £7.81 |
Maximum benefit | £14.01 | £7.41 |
Time limited | £13.09 | £7.26 |
Accident only | £3.95 | £3.01 |
Pet's health
You will pay more for your pet insurance if your animal is not up-to-date with their recommended vaccinations, and if they have not been neutered or spayed
A pet with a history of health issues or any pre-existing conditions may be seen as a higher risk, which can be reflected in higher insurance costs
🚩 Pet insurance does not generally cover any medical issues that were identified before you took out the policy. If you want to cover pre-existing conditions, you can take out specialist pet insurance.
Your location
Vets charge more for their services in high cost of living area like London, so if you live in these areas you will pay more for your pet insurance than if you lived in a lower cost of living part of the UK.
Pet's behaviour
You can still get insurance if your dog has a history of aggressive behaviour, such as biting or tackling people or pets. But you will probably have to pay a bit extra.
How can I get cheaper pet insurance?
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
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 cat or 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 pet
Preventing your cat or dog from breeding and keeping them in tip-top health is good for them and for your insurance premiums.
Insurers often offer a discount if your dog is up to date with all its recommended treatments. (They may also refuse some types of cover if your pet has not had them.)
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.
Should I buy pet insurance?
There is no legal requirement to have pet insurance. Its main advantage is that you won't have to worry about affording unexpected vet bills. Insurance can give you the peace of mind that you will have access to more care options if your dog or cat becomes ill or injured.
According to the Association of British Insurers, the average pet insurance claim is for £668
📣 Did you know? 16%
^ of UK households have pet insurance, according to MoneySuperMarket data. The most popular pet insurance type is lifetime cover.
How can I find the best pet insurance?
Shopping around and comparing options allows you to find the cover you want for the best price possible.
MoneySuperMarket can do the work for you. You can compare pet insurance quotes from 37
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...
