At a glance
Here’s what you need to know about the cost of pet insurance at a glance:
Pet insurance can cost less than £8.70 a month[1]
Accident-only tends to be the cheapest type of pet insurance, and lifetime cover is usually the most expensive.
Costs can be affected by breed, age and where you live
You could save by choosing the right level of cover, raising your excess, keeping your pet healthy, and comparing quotes.
[1] 51% of our customers were quoted less than £8.70 for their pet insurance based on Compare the Market cat and dog insurance premium data for all cover types in June 2026.
What is the average cost of pet insurance?
The majority of Compare the Market customers pay around £105 a year[2] for their pet insurance.
Yours could be higher or lower depending on:
The type of cover you choose
The risk factors insurance providers use to work out your premium
If you’ve ever had to cover vet bills yourself, you’ll know how quickly costs can add up. Pet insurance could potentially save you hundreds of pounds a year.
[2] 51% of our customers were quoted less than £104.40 for their pet insurance, based on Compare the Market cat and dog insurance premium data, for all cover types in June 2026.
How much is dog insurance?
Dogs are generally more expensive to insure than cats, though the actual price you pay depends on factors such as your dog’s breed.
But when you think that an X-ray alone can cost more than £300 in vet fees, the price of pet insurance might not seem so bad. With Compare the Market, you could pay as little as:
£119 a year[3]
£9.84 a month[4].
[3] 51% of our customers were quoted less than £118.13 for their dog insurance in June 2026.
[4] 51% of our customers were quoted less than £9.84 per month in June 2026 for their dog insurance based on the monthly cost when paying for the policy in one annual payment, excluding any interest charged on instalment payments.
How much is cat insurance?
Cats often age better than dogs, which is why their monthly insurance costs tend to be lower.
Premiums will vary depending on the level of cover but Compare the Market customers could get insurance for their cat from:
£68 a year[5]
£5.62 a month[6].
[5] 51% of our customers were quoted less than £67.39 for their cat insurance in June 2026.
[6] 51% of our customers were quoted less than £5.62 per month in June 2026 for their cat insurance based on the monthly cost when paying for the policy in one annual payment, excluding any interest charged on instalment payments.
What types of pet insurance can I get?
There are four types of pet insurance to consider:
Accident-only pet insurance – this is typically the cheapest level of cover. It can cover your pet if they’re involved in an accident but won’t pay out for illness.
Time-limited pet insurance – this covers illnesses and injuries for a set time. Once that time is up, any further treatment or medication costs fall to you.
Maximum benefit cover – also known as ‘condition capped’ or ‘money limited’ insurance. You can claim for each injury or illness up to a set amount with no time restrictions on cover.
Lifetime pet insurance – the most comprehensive (and usually expensive) pet insurance policy. It can help with ongoing vet fees for accidents, illnesses or conditions and there may be an annual payout limit.
Always check what the policy does and doesn’t include to make sure you get the right cover for your pet.
What affects the cost of pet insurance?
Four main factors affect the cost of insuring your cat or dog:
Type of cover – accident-only pet insurance is usually the cheapest, whereas lifetime cover is typically the priciest
Where you live – vet fees vary across the country and this is reflected in the cost of cover
Your pet’s age – insurance tends to get pricier as your cat or dog ages because they’re more likely to need vet treatment
Your pet’s breed – mixed-breed pets are typically cheaper to insure than pedigree cats or dogs, who can be prone to inherited illnesses.
Top tips to cut the cost of pet insurance
Some things are beyond your control. But there are a few ways you could reduce the cost of your pet insurance.
1. Check if your pet qualifies for free treatment
The PDSA supports sick or injured animals if their owners are:
On certain benefits, and
Live near a PDSA hospital or pet care practice.
You could also get support from:
Blue Cross – offers emergency care at its hospitals and pet care clinics for people on benefits
Your local RSPCA – see if you’re eligible for its pet care services.
2. Reduce your level of cover
Pet insurance policies offer varying levels of cover, all at different prices. The most expensive policy might not always be the best fit for your pet’s needs, so you could end up paying for more cover than you need.
3. Increasing your voluntary excess
Choosing a higher voluntary excess – the amount you pay towards any claim, on top of your compulsory excess – can lower your pet insurance premiums.
Just make sure it's an amount you could afford to pay should you need to make a claim.
4. Keep your pet healthy
Taking good care of your pet’s health can be a long-term way to help keep vet bills down.
Make sure your pet:
Has the right cat or dog vaccinations and any annual boosters
Is given a healthy diet
Keeps up good dental health.
5. Have your pet spayed or neutered
Neutering or spaying your cat or dog could potentially lower your premiums because it:
Reduces the chance of them developing various conditions
Makes them less likely to stray.
6. Look for multi-pet discounts
If you have more than one pet, many insurers offer 10% to 15% off when you insure them together. Still, it’s worth comparing as separate policies from different providers might work out cheaper.
7. Compare pet insurance quotes
Shopping around can help you save money. Our pet insurance comparison service makes it easy to compare quotes from a wide range of insurance providers. So, you can find the right cover for your pet at a price you can afford.
Is it worth getting multi-pet insurance?
Some pet insurance providers offer a discount for insuring multiple pets together. You may even be able to do this under the same policy. This can be beneficial because:
You could save money on your premium if having the discount works out cheaper than paying for separate policies
Having all your pets renew at the same time can make admin much simpler
It can be easier to manage paperwork and claims if you have everything with one provider
Some providers let each pet have their own level of cover, even if they’re on the same policy.
FAQs
Does where you live impact the cost of pet insurance?
Yes, where you live can impact the cost of your pet insurance.
The cost of pet treatment seems to mirror the cost of living:
For example, postcodes in London and the South East tend to have the most expensive pet insurance.
Towns and cities are also likely to be more expensive than rural areas as vet fees are generally higher.
Does pet insurance get more expensive as pets get older?
Yes, pet insurance tends to get more expensive as your pets get older. Compared to puppies or kittens, older dogs and older cats are more likely to:
Experience age-related health problems
Have pre-existing conditions, which can limit the number of policies available to you.
In fact, some insurance providers won’t offer new lifetime policies once your pet reaches a certain age. Typically, that’s around eight for dogs and 10 for cats.
What effect does breed have on pet insurance premiums?
Breed can have a huge effect on pet insurance premiums. It’s one of the main things insurers look at when working out your premium.
Some pedigree dogs and cats are prone to hereditary conditions that increase their risk of requiring veterinary treatment. Bulldogs, for example, are prone to breathing issues.
The higher the chance your dog or cat will develop an issue, the more you’ll usually pay for cover.
Looking for something else?
Allie has spent her career helping people quickly understand complicated topics, to help them save money and focus on what matters. With almost 10 years’ experience writing, leading and managing content, she is an expert in personal finance and insurance products.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.
Our content is written by a Compare the Market expert, backed by data and enhanced by technology. Find out how we ensure accuracy and quality in our Editorial Guidelines.
