60-second summary:
Here’s the lowdown on third-party liability cover for your dog:
Third-party cover is designed to protect you financially if your dog hurts someone or damages their property.
It could cover legal fees and compensation if someone brings a claim against you related to your dog.
You’ll need to be upfront with your insurance provider about any aggressive behaviour your dog has shown to avoid invalidating your policy.
Some insurance providers may refuse to cover certain breeds.
Third-party cover is often included as standard in dog insurance, particularly lifetime and max-benefit policies. If not, you may be able to add it on for an extra fee.
What is third-party dog insurance?
You may think your dog would never deliberately harm anyone (or anything), but third-party insurance for dogs could help cover unexpected costs should the unthinkable happen.
Data released by NHS Digital shows that there were 10,678 hospital admissions in England in 2023-2024 due to dog bites or strikes – and those are only the attacks that were serious enough to need a trip to hospital. Alarmingly, dog bite incidents appear to be on the rise: the number of cases needing hospital treatment has increased by over 56% in the last decade, up from 6,836 in 2013-2014.
Even if your pooch wouldn’t normally hurt a fly, accidents do happen. Maybe your dog gets overly excited at seeing your elderly neighbour and accidentally knocks them over when they jump up, causing them to break their hip. Or what if your puppy runs into the road and causes a car accident?
Third-party pet insurance is there to cover you in case someone decides to take civil action against you if your dog:
Injures someone
Injures another dog or animal
Damages someone else’s belongings or property.
What does third-party insurance for dogs include?
If your dog causes damage or injury (or worse), it’s you the owner who will be legally responsible for their behaviour. You may be ordered by a court to pay third-party costs and compensation. And the costs of legal claims can be eye-wateringly expensive.
Depending on the terms of the policy, third-party dog insurance might cover:
Vet bills if your dog injures another pet
Costs of repairing damage caused to someone else’s property by your dog
Legal fees
Any compensation or treatment costs you’re ordered to pay.
Are there any exclusions to watch out for with third-party pet insurance?
Most policies won’t cover dogs that have a history of aggressive behaviour towards humans or other animals. Bear in mind that if you fail to disclose your dog’s history of aggression or damaging property to your insurance provider, it could invalidate your policy.
Also, some insurance providers won’t cover certain breeds of dogs that are considered riskier, even if that breed is not banned. For example, they may exclude a dog that has been crossed with a banned breed and/or larger dogs like mastiffs and wolfhounds.
Policies vary so it’s important to read the terms carefully and make sure you’re aware of any other exclusions. For example:
Third-party pet insurance will likely not cover you for any damage if you take your dog into your workplace
If you work from home, you may not be covered for injury to any clients visiting you or employees
Cover might also exclude injury to anyone you’ve asked or hired to look after your dog.
How much will third-party dog insurance cover?
If your dog injures someone or damages property, you could end up facing a huge bill for legal fees and compensation costs, so third-party pet insurance typically comes with high cover limits. Depending on the policy and level of cover you choose, the maximum limit could range from £1 million to £3 million.
You don’t want to be left footing that bill, so read the terms of your policy carefully to understand what’s included and what’s not.
How much does third-party insurance for dogs cost?
The cost of pet insurance that includes third-party cover varies depending on several factors, including:
The type of policy chosen
Cover level
Your postcode
Your dog’s health and treatment history
The breed as well as size of your dog.
Third-party cover is more likely to be included as standard in lifetime and max benefit dog insurance policies, which tend to be on the more expensive end of the scale for pet insurance.
How do I get third-party dog insurance?
Third-party liability cover may be included as standard with more comprehensive pet insurance policies. Or, in other cases, you might be able to add it on to your policy for an extra fee.
When you take out a lifetime pet insurance policy, third-party cover typically comes as standard, up to a specified maximum limit. At the end of each year when you renew your policy, the maximum limit resets, so making a claim one year shouldn’t affect your ability to claim up to the maximum limit in future (although it will likely bump up your premiums).
Maximum-benefit pet insurance often also includes third-party cover as standard, but the maximum benefit won’t reset every year like it does with a lifetime policy. The maximum amount you can claim applies for the lifetime of the policy, so once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Time-limited pet insurance may also include third-party cover as standard but check to be sure. You’ll typically be covered for the whole policy term, but only up to the maximum claim limit for third-party cover.
Accident-only pet insurance may not include third-party cover as standard but you may be able to add it on to your policy if you choose.
Cover does vary between insurance providers, so be sure to check all the terms and conditions of any policy carefully before you buy.
Can ‘dangerous dogs’ be covered by third-party dog insurance?
If your dog is categorised as a ‘dangerous dog’ breed, you might find it difficult to find third-party cover for them. You may need to look for a specialist provider.
Under the Dangerous Dogs Act UK, it’s illegal for a dog to be “dangerously out of control” in a public or private space, including your home, or to bite or attack someone. The legislation also makes it an offence if a person is worried or afraid that a dog may bite them.
This means that, as well as making sure your dog is under control when you’re out and about, you should always make sure people like delivery drivers and postal workers can safely get to your front door without having to face off with your dog.
If your dog is found by a court to be dangerously out of control you could face an unlimited fine or a prison sentence, or both. So if your dog is showing behavioural issues, it’s important to act quickly. Speak to your vet or a certified dog trainer for support.
What dog breeds are banned in the UK?
It’s against the law to own one of five dog breeds in the UK that are classed as dangerous dogs:
XL Bully (banned in England and Wales only)
Pit Bull Terrier
Dogo Argentino
Fila Brasileiro
Japanese Tosa.
Ownership of these dogs is banned – unless they’ve been successfully registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs. If your dog is registered, you must by law have third-party liability insurance included in your pet insurance policy.
We do not compare insurance quotes for dangerous dogs. However, you could contact insurance providers directly to see if it’s possible to find third-party pet insurance cover for these breeds.
Do I legally need to get insurance for my dog in the UK?
No, you are not legally obliged to have pet insurance for your dog, unless they are on the Index of Exempted Dogs when they must have third-party liability insurance.
But pet insurance can be valuable if your dog becomes ill or injured, hurts someone or damages someone else’s property. Otherwise, you might face high bills.
"I have lifetime cover for Kingston, my Great Dane, because it was important to get third-party insurance included. Although friendly, he’s so big and can be a bit destructive. He destroyed my friend’s football boots and has broken mirrors. I’d hate to think of the financial repercussions had it been a stranger or something more expensive."
Reanna Harrison – Dog owner
How can I find third-party dog insurance?
Comparing pet insurance policies that include third-party liability cover is easy with our comparison service. Simply tell us a bit about you and your dog and we’ll provide you with a range of different policy options and levels of cover.
FAQs
Can I get third-party cover for a working dog?
To find third-party cover for a working dog, you may need to look for specialist dog insurance. Many standard dog insurance policies exclude third-party damage or injury caused by your dog in a workplace.
Read the terms of any dog insurance policy carefully before you buy to make sure you’ll be protected from liability.
Does third-party dog insurance cover me for damage in my own home?
No, third-party cover only applies to damage or injury caused to other people and their property.
If you’re worried about your dog causing damage in your own home, you can normally add accidental damage cover to your home insurance, but be sure to read the terms carefully, as many policies exclude certain types of pet damage caused by behavioural problems like chewing, scratching and fouling.
Do I need third-party pet insurance for my cat?
No, although cats are certainly capable of causing a fair amount of damage, cat owners are not legally responsible for their behaviour in the same way as dog owners are for their four-legged friends. For that reason, cat insurance policies generally don’t include third-party cover.
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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.
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