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Pet insurance

Q: What should I do if my pet goes missing?

If your dog or cat is microchipped and they go missing, contact the microchipping company to see if they’ve been handed in anywhere. Failing that: Get in touch with your local animal rescue centre Ask your neighbours Put the word out on social media. Some pet insurance policies offer help with advertising and reward money if your pet goes astray.

Don't get caught out by vet fees

^10% of our customers were quoted less than £3.91 per month in June 2026.

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Get covered for unexpected costs – an X-ray can cost over £400 and a CT scan over £1,000^[1]
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^10% of our customers were quoted less than £3.91 a month in June 2026 for their pet insurance, based on cat and dog insurance premium data. This applies to those paying for the policy in one annual payment, excluding any interest charged on instalments.

Pet insurance comparison from 24 leading providers with 302 products to choose from^[3]

^[3]Correct as of June 2026.

Why do I need pet insurance?

Pet insurance is a type of insurance policy that can help cover the costs of treatment if your pet falls ill or gets injured. Vet bills can be expensive, and pets don’t have an NHS.

The right pet health insurance policy could cover your dog or cat's vet bills, so they can get the care they need without you having to worry about the cost.

Did you know?

Average prices of vet services rose by a staggering 63% between 2016 and 2023 – that's according to the Competitions & Markets Authority (CMA) Veterinary services for household pets report, published in March 2026.

What pet are you looking to insure?

Cat

Kitten or senior cat, moggy or purebred, we can help you find cover for your feline friend.

Dog

Puppy or older dog, pedigree or mutt, you can compare a range of policies.

Types of pet insurance policy

Lifetime pet insurance

Lifetime pet cover is the most comprehensive option. Keep renewing the policy and your pet could be covered for accidents, injuries and illnesses that develop while they’re insured.

Time-limited pet insurance

Time-limited pet insurance covers illnesses and accidents for up to 12 months. This will either be from diagnosis or up to the limit of the policy, whichever happens first. After that, the condition won’t be covered, even if you renew.

Maximum benefit pet insurance

Maximum benefit pet insurance covers accidents and illnesses up to a maximum amount per condition. Once that limit is used up, your pet will no longer be covered for that condition.

Accident-only pet insurance

Accident-only pet insurance is usually the cheapest option. It covers vet bills for accidents but not illness, and often excludes things such as compensation if your pet dies, advertising/rewards if it goes missing, alternative treatments, and kennel/cattery fees.

Some extras, such as overseas cover, may be added for a cost. It might suit young, healthy pets, but always check the details.

How much is pet insurance?

The cost of your pet insurance will depend on:

The type of policy you choose – more comprehensive cover (such as lifetime insurance) usually costs more
The amount of cover you want – policies with lower maximum pay-outs may be cheaper, but they might not pay for everything if your pet has a serious accident or condition
The insurance provider you choose – each provider prices according to their claims history and experience of risk
The age and health of your pet – insuring older pets tends to be more expensive as they’re more likely to develop illnesses or conditions
The type and breed of animal – for example, certain breeds of dogs may be more prone to hereditary diseases
Whether your pet has been spayed or neutered – this can eliminate the risks associated with breeding and pregnancy. It also makes pets less likely to stray
The size of the compulsory excess – how much you’ll have to pay towards a claim
Where you live – a trip to the vets may be more expensive in certain areas

Keep in mind, the cheapest policy might not give your pet all the protection they need. Sometimes paying a little more can give you extra peace of mind.

Bear in mind...

While the cheapest pet insurance policy may save you money, it might not offer all the cover you want. This could then mean compromising on your pet’s medical care if they ever needed treatment.

Did you know that a total hip replacement for your pet could cost more than £8,000, depending on your pet’s age, breed and the complexity of the surgery?

Pet insurance premiums

Pet	Monthly premium^[4]	Annual premium^[4]
Dog	£9.84	£119
Cat	£5.62	£68

FAQs

What is co-insurance?

Co-insurance means that you agree to pay a percentage of the vet bill if you make a claim – on top of the fixed excess.

The percentage varies by policy, but it’s typically 10-20%
Co-payment insurance policies may be more common for older pets as they’re more at risk of falling ill
Not all providers offer co-insurance, so check if you’re unsure.

Is it worth paying for pet insurance?

Pet insurance could protect you from costly vet fees if the unexpected happens. Even indoor pets can get into scrapes or fall ill.

When you think that a fracture repair could cost over £1,400, pet insurance could be a small price to pay in comparison.

Do I need to pay an excess for pet insurance?

For most types of pet insurance, you’ll have to pay an excess with each claim. Pet insurance policies can have:

A set excess – £90 per claim, for example
A voluntary excess – an amount you choose to pay to get a lower premium in addition to the set excess
A co-payment – a percentage of the claim, sometimes called a contribution excess
A combination of the above – so, for example, a £90 excess plus 10% of the claim plus the voluntary excess as well.

Most providers will specify if the excess is likely to change as your pet gets older.

What should I do if my pet goes missing?

If your dog or cat is microchipped and they go missing, contact the microchipping company to see if they’ve been handed in anywhere. Failing that:

Get in touch with your local animal rescue centre
Ask your neighbours
Put the word out on social media.

Some pet insurance policies offer help with advertising and reward money if your pet goes astray.

Can I travel with my pet to Europe?

You can travel to Europe with your pet, but:

You’ll need to get an animal health certificate (AHC) to travel to Europe or Northern Ireland
You’ll need to prove your pet has a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination
There may be other requirements depending on where you’re travelling to. GOV.UK offers more information on taking pets abroad.

You might also want to consider pet insurance with overseas cover. Not all providers offer this feature, so check it’s included when comparing policies.

How do I claim on pet insurance?

To make a claim on your pet insurance:

Call your provider’s claims line – have your policy number handy. Check with your vet if they can claim on your behalf
If your pet is ill, ask the claims team if a particular treatment is likely to be covered before you go ahead
Confirm what evidence you need for your claim, such as invoices and receipts
Submit your claim as soon as possible.

You might have to pay the bill and claim back the money. But if the bill is less than your excess, then it might not be worth claiming.

What happens if I can’t afford vet bills?

If you can’t afford vet bills, you could try:

Shopping around online to get prescribed medication more cheaply
Credit-based payment plans from the vet
Swapping to a different vet with lower fees
Seeing if your pet is eligible for free or low-cost treatment through an animal charity.

Start by speaking honestly to your vet. Let them know what you can afford in case they can suggest alternative treatments.

Will property be covered if my pet damages it?

Dog insurance could cover your legal liability for third-party damage caused by your dog to another person’s property. Check the terms of your policy to see what’s covered.

But keep in mind that:

Pet insurance doesn’t cover damage to your own property
Most home insurance policies exclude pet damage.

You may be able to add accidental damage cover to your home insurance policy. But even this might exclude certain types of pet damage, such as chewing or scratching.

Does pet insurance cover ‘cherry eye’ in dogs?

Whether your pet insurance covers ‘cherry eye’ depends on:

What type of policy you have
If this is the first time your dog has had the problem.

Cherry eye, which is a problem with the dog’s third eyelid, might be helped by medication. But surgery is often needed if the gland in the eyelid has swelled up.

Talk to your pet insurance provider to check if you’re covered.

Does pet insurance cover BOAS surgery?

Whether your pet insurance covers Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) surgery depends on:

The type of policy you have
If their BOAS is being treated as a pre-existing condition
The severity of the condition
Whether any other treatment options are possible.

If in doubt, talk to your pet insurance provider. It'll let you know if your cover includes BOAS treatment and eventual surgery if needed.

Methodology

^[1] Animal Trust data, accurate as of February 2026

^[2] As of 1 July 2026, Compare the Market had an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 from 135,810 people who left a review on Trustpilot. The score 4.9 corresponds to the Star Label ‘Excellent’.

^[4]Based on 51% of customers who compared quotes for this type of policy in June 2026.