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Do I need dog insurance?
Whilst dog insurance isn’t a legal requirement, it’s essential that you consider taking out a policy if you own a dog. Vet bills are drastically increasing year on year and in 2018, the average pet insurance claim cost a staggering £793. With a dog insurance policy in place, you’ll have peace of mind that if the worst were to happen to your beloved pooch, you’ll be able to claim back the cost of vet fees.
Top Rated Providers
Our comparison table is ordered by review score. The review score is the average weighted score based on product quality and user reviews from the last 12 months. Find out more about how our review score is calculated.
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1st
Review Score9.2/10
Based on 90,595 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£15kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£99per condition -
2nd
Review Score9.0/10
Based on 6,036 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£12.5kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£105per condition -
3rd
Review Score8.9/10
Based on 76,515 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£12kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£110per condition -
4th
Review Score8.9/10
Based on 4,139 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£12kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£105per condition -
5th
Review Score8.8/10
Based on 3,253 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£6kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£95per condition -
6th
Review Score8.8/10
Based on 34,956 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£6kper condition, per yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£99per condition -
7th
Review Score8.7/10
Based on 14,409 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£15kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£120per condition -
8th
Review Score8.7/10
Based on 4,050 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£12kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£100per condition -
9th
Review Score8.6/10
Based on 4,242 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£3.25kper conditionGet a Quote Read moreExcess£99per condition -
10th
Review Score8.4/10
Based on 12,450 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£10kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£50per condition -
11th
Review Score8.3/10
Based on 2,293 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£10kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£250per condition -
12th
Review Score8.3/10
Based on 1,431 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£7kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£99per condition -
13th
Review Score8.2/10
Based on 13,703 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£10kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£80per condition -
14th
Review Score8.1/10
Based on 1,249 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£10kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£99per condition -
15th
Review Score8.1/10
Based on 2,875 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£4kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£199per condition -
16th
Review Score7.7/10
Based on 1,069 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£10kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£110per condition -
17th
Review Score7.6/10
Based on 15,274 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£4kper conditionGet a Quote Read moreExcess£100per condition -
18th
Review Score7.5/10
Based on 2,769 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£10kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£0per condition -
19th
Review Score7.2/10
Based on 523 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£10kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£90per condition -
20th
Review Score6.9/10
Based on 662 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£8kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£75per condition -
21st
Review Score6.1/10
Based on 272 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£10kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£100per condition -
22nd
Review Score5.6/10
Based on 207 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£10kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£120per condition -
23rd
Review Score3.4/10
Based on 737 reviews
Maximum Vet Fees£8kper policy yearGet a Quote Read moreExcess£100per condition
Most dog insurance quotes are provided via Quotezone, who are FCA regulated.
Please note that some of the providers included within our table are not currently offering new policies.
In this Guide
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What types of dog insurance can I get?
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What does dog insurance cover?
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What’s not covered?
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How much does dog insurance cost?
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Compare dog insurance
What types of dog insurance can I get?
There are four main types of dog insurance:
Accident only
This type of policy covers the cost of treatment if your dog is involved in an accident, it doesn’t provider cover for illnesses. However, some providers offer accident and illness policies that cover your dog if they become ill as the result of an accident. This is generally the cheapest type of dog insurance you can get as it offers the least extensive cover.
Time Limited
Time limited policies cover the cost of vet fees over a 12-month period from the date the illness or injury first appeared. Once the 12-month period ends, your dog will no longer be covered for the particular condition you claimed for, even if you renew your policy.
Maximum Benefit
A maximum benefit policy enables you to claim for illnesses and injuries up to a pre-set limit. Unlike time-limited policies, you can claim for the same condition more than once. However, once you’ve reached the maximum amount, you’ll have to cover the cost of further treatment yourself. Maximum Benefit policies are typically seen as the mid-range option.
Lifetime
Lifetime dog insurance covers accidents, illnesses and conditions throughout the lifetime of the policy. The limit is refreshed each year. This tends to be the most expensive type of dog insurance you can get as it offers the most comprehensive level of cover. If your pet develops an ongoing condition that you want to cover for life, you’ll need to renew your lifetime policy yearly or find a new policy that covers pre-existing conditions.
What does dog insurance cover?
This will vary depending on the type of policy you take out but most pet insurance for dogs provides cover for the following:
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Vet fees: You’ll be able to claim back the cost of vet fees if your dog needs vet treatment.
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Theft or straying: You can claim back the cost of paying for a reward and advertising if your dog goes missing or is stolen.
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Death: You can claim back the amount that you paid for your dog is they pass away because of an accident or illness.
- Boarding fees: If you have to go into hospital and can’t look after your dog, dog insurance can cover the cost of putting your dog in the kennels.
- Public liability cover: Provides you with cover if your dog injures a third party or damages their property.
What’s not covered?
Before you take out a policy, make sure you read the terms and conditions thoroughly to check exactly what your dog is and isn’t covered for. Common exclusions include:
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Pre-existing medical conditions: Most pet insurance providers won’t cover your dog for pre-existing conditions. Although ManyPets have created a specific pre-existing pet insurance policy to ensure your pet can get some form of cover, despite having an existing condition.
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Routine treatments: Treatments such as grooming, flea treatment, worm treatment, nail clipping, spaying and castration are typically excluded.
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Dental treatment: The majority of dog insurance policies won’t cover your dog for dental treatment, although more comprehensive policies might offer some cover.
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Breeding and pregnancy: Complications associated with breeding and pregnancy are often not covered.
- Euthanasia and burial: Most insurers don’t cover euthanasia and burial costs.
How much does dog insurance cost?
You can get a lifetime dog insurance policy for as little as £14.71 per month according to Compare by Review data in November 2020.*
*This figure is based on lifetime pet insurance for accidents and illnesses for a four-year-old Labrador who has been spayed and chipped, cost £1000 and lives at a CM postcode.
The cost of puppy insurance will vary depending on a range of factors, mainly the type of policy you choose. Your premium will cost more if you opt for a more comprehensive policy, for example, accident only dog insurance is far cheaper than lifetime dog insurance. Your postcode will also impact the amount you pay because the cost of vet treatment is higher in some parts of the UK. If you live in an area where treatment is known to cost more, it’s likely that you’ll have to pay a higher premium. Pet insurance for older dogs generally costs more too as older dogs are at higher risk of developing health problems or illnesses. And finally, if you have a pedigree dog, you can expect to pay more to insure your dog.
Compare dog insurance
Our comparison table ranks dog insurance exclusively on customer experience and product quality, rather than price. We encourage you to read dog insurance reviews when deciding who to take out a policy with to get an idea of how different insurers treat their customers and handle claims. You want to ensure that you’re in safe hands if the worst were to happen to your beloved pooch.
