Time-limited cover
Covers your pet for a specific period of time (usually 12 months).
Average cost: £12.75
What is lifetime pet insurance?
Lifetime policies are the most comprehensive type of pet insurance. As long as you keep renewing the policy each year, any medical conditions your pet develops will continue to be covered, and the amount you can claim for resets at each policy renewal.
Lifetime pet insurance can cover costs in the following situations:
Your cat or dog is ill, injured, or needs to be put down
Your cat or dog is lost or stolen
Your dog harms someone or their property (including their pets)
Is it right for me and my pet?
A lifetime dog insurance policy or a lifetime cat insurance policy may suit you if you are looking for:
✔ The most comprehensive cover possible
✔ A policy that suits your pet for life
✔ Animals that are prone to medical conditions but haven't developed any yet
🚩 Insurers can (and often do) increase your premiums and your excess when your policy renews.
How much is lifetime pet insurance?
Lifetime dog insurance
£14
.10^ a month
Average prices paid by our customers
Lifetime cat insurance
£7
.81^ a month
Average prices paid by our customers
What impacts the price of pet 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
How much is the average pet insurance claim?
£668^
Paying out of pocket for insurable problems is usually significantly more expensive than taking out an insurance policy.
If your pet stays healthy and safe, you won't recoup your investment. But you'll have the peace of mind of knowing if something did go wrong the treatment options available to your pet won't be limited to what you can currently afford.
What does lifetime pet insurance cover?
Cover varies by provider and policy, so always check your insurance documents.
-
Typically covered
✔ Vet bills e.g. medicines, treatments and prescriptions
✔ Hospital visits
✔ Diagnosing illnesses e.g. consultations, X-rays, MRIs
✔ Dental treatment for accidents, like breaking a tooth
✔ Alternative therapies e.g. hydrotherapy or acupuncture (when recommended by a vet)
✔ Euthanasia (putting pets down)
✔ Lost and stolen pets e.g. advertising, rewards, refund of purchase price
✔ Third party liability cover e.g. your dog harms someone or their property
✔ Emergency boarding fees e.g. if you are unexpectedly hospitalised
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Not typically covered
✖ 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
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages of lifetime pet insurance?
If you want the most comprehensive cover possible for your pet, you should opt for lifetime dog insurance or lifetime cat insurance.
One of the biggest advantages of this type of cover is that it will pay out for chronic health conditions, as long as they develop while your pet is insured. That could save you thousands of pounds.
What are the disadvantages of lifetime pet insurance?
Lifetime pet insurance is the most expensive type of pet insurance policy. Insurers also have the right to increase your premiums and excess as much as they like when your policy renews each year.
Although you can cancel at any point, walking away from a lifetime insurance policy after your cat or dog has been diagnosed with a medical condition means all treatment costs for this condition will be excluded from future insurance policies.
What other costs come with lifetime pet insurance?
Lifetime policies, like all types of pet insurance, have caps on how much you can claim. You will likely have a total claim amount limit, and possibly also claim limits for individual conditions. Any expense above these limits you will have to pay for yourself.
Similarly, you have to pay the excess on your lifetime pet insurance policy each time you make a claim. This is the amount you contribute to the overall cost, and will be set out in your policy documents when you take out insurance. Some insurers will also have a percentage excess, which means you are responsible for a fixed amount of any claim bill.
Lifetime pet insurance will not cover various medical expenses your cat or dog needs. This includes vaccinations, spaying or neutering, and routine check-ups.
How can I get cheaper lifetime 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, showing you quotes from 37
^ of the UK's leading pet insurers. -
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.
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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 may refuse cover if your pet has not had their 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.
Our expert says…
Most pet insurers won't cover pre-existing conditions, which is any medical issue your pet showed symptoms of before your policy started. Generally, this means you also won't be covered if the condition is treated but returns years later, or if it appears in a different part of the body.
Since chronic conditions like diabetes can cost thousands of pounds a year, this can add significant financial strain to pet owners.
There are a couple of ways around the problem. The first is to take out specialist pet insurance. This is likely to be more expensive than standard insurance. The second is to have a lifetime insurance policy in place before your pet is diagnosed with anything, so all future costs are covered by your insurance.
Lauren Chong Pet Insurance Expert
What are the other types of pet insurance?
💡 Top tip: Lifetime cover is the most popular type of pet insurance.
-
^ -
Maximum benefit
Sets limits on how much you can claim for any given illness or injury.
Average cost: £15.63
^ -
Accident only cover
Only covers your pet for accidents, does not protect against illnesses.
Average cost: £3.95
^
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What do I need to get a lifetime pet 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 compare lifetime pet insurance quotes with MoneySuperMarket?
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We're trusted
All our insurance providers are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
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Rated 4.9/5 on Feefo
We're also the UK's most recommended price comparison website
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Quick and easy
Give us a few details and we'll show you multiple quotes in minutes, saving you time and effort.
We're 100% independent, working only for our customers
Unlike some of our competitors, MoneySuperMarket is not owned by an insurance company. So we can offer the best value, with savings delivered straight to you.
By combining independence with our excellent technology, we can negotiate the best prices and the best value on products and services.
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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.
Does lifetime pet insurance go up every year?
Yes, it's likely that you'll find that cost of your pet insurance policy increase when it comes to renewing your policy. As you pet gets older, it's normal to expect that your premiums will to. This is because, to an insurance provider, the older your pet gets, the more likely you are to claim for health issues.
Does lifetime pet insurance cover accidents?
Yes, lifetime pet insurance does cover accidents as well as injuries and health conditions that have started after you took out your policy.
How does lifetime pet insurance differ from max benefit pet insurance?
The key difference between a max benefit policy and a lifetime one is that max benefit offer a fixed one-off amount per condition. However, since lifetime insurance offers more comprehensive cover, they usually cost more than maximum benefit policies and also allow a pre-set amount yearly amount per condition that will reset when you renew your policy.
Does lifetime pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
No. Your lifetime cover will not cover any pre-existing conditions your pet has before you took out your policy. If your pet develops any health conditions while you are covered, your policy will continue to cover that condition up to a set amount per year.
Can I cancel lifetime pet insurance?
Yes. After you take out a policy, you will have a 14 day cooling period where you can cancel your policy with no extra charges. After this period, if you are able to cancel your policy at any given time but depending on your policy, this may be subject to extra charges.
What types of pets can I cover with a lifetime policy?
Lifetime pet insurance is available for cats and dogs through MoneySuperMarket.
Is there an age limit for lifetime pet insurance?
If you are looking for a new policy, some providers have an age limit for older pets however, if you are an existing policyholder, this limit will not apply to you.
Can I cover for the same condition each year?
As long as the condition is developed while your pet is insured under your current policy, a lifetime policy will continue to cover the same conditions up to a pre-set annual limit.
What's the difference between annual and lifetime pet insurance?
Annual pet insurance covers your pet for a specific period, usually a year. If your pet develops a chronic condition, the coverage for that condition may cease after a certain period, typically a year. Lifetime pet insurance, on the other hand, covers your pet for its entire life, as long as you renew the policy annually. This means that if your pet develops a chronic condition, it will continue to be covered year after year, up to the annual limit set by your policy.
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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.
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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 9 Dec 2025 by
Based on the 10th percentile of monthly premiums our customers were quoted per month for cat insurance based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket between September 2025 and November 2025 where only 1 pet was included in the quote.
SuperSaveClub restrictions and T&Cs apply. Click here for details.
Accurate as of 03 December 2025.
Based on the 51 percentile of monthly premiums our customers were quoted less than £12.75 per month where the customer requested time limited pet insurance based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket in the month of November 2025 where only 1 pet was included in the quote and the pet didnt have pre-existing medical conditions
Based on the 51 percentile of monthly premiums our customers were quoted less than £15.63 per month where the customer requested max benefit pet insurance based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket in the month of November 2025 where only 1 pet was included in the quote and the pet didnt have pre-existing medical conditions
Based on the 51 percentile of monthly premiums our customers were quoted less than £3.95 per month where the customer requested accident only pet insurance based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket in the month of November 2025 where only 1 pet was included in the quote and the pet didnt have pre-existing medical conditions
Based on 1 visit per month – average ticket value £15.30 (Oct 24)
T&Cs and restrictions apply, see here for more information
YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).
ABI data 2023
T&Cs and restrictions apply, see here for more information
T&Cs apply, click here for more information
Based on the 51st percentile of monthly premiums our customers were quoted per month for dog insurance based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket between September 2025 and November 2025 where only 1 pet was included in the quote.
Based on the 51st percentile of monthly premiums our customers were quoted per month for cat insurance based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket between September 2025 and November 2025 where only 1 pet was included in the quote.
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