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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.

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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.

  • 1st
    Review Score
    9.2/10

    Based on 101,253 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £15k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £99
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 2nd
    Review Score
    9.0/10

    Based on 7,796 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £12.5k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £105
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 3rd
    Review Score
    8.9/10

    Based on 82,667 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £12k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £110
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 4th
    Review Score
    8.9/10

    Based on 4,535 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £12k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £105
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 5th
    Review Score
    8.8/10

    Based on 3,543 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £6k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £95
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 6th
    Review Score
    8.8/10

    Based on 38,001 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £6k
    per condition, per year
    Excess
    £99
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 7th
    Review Score
    8.7/10

    Based on 16,100 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £15k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £120
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 8th
    Review Score
    8.7/10

    Based on 4,075 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £12k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £100
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 9th
    Review Score
    8.6/10

    Based on 4,728 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £3.25k
    per condition
    Excess
    £99
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 10th
    Review Score
    8.4/10

    Based on 16,823 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £10k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £50
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 11th
    Review Score
    8.3/10

    Based on 4,825 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £10k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £250
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 12th
    Review Score
    8.3/10

    Based on 1,835 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £7k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £99
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 13th
    Review Score
    8.2/10

    Based on 16,531 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £10k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £80
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 14th
    Review Score
    8.1/10

    Based on 918 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £10k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £99
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 15th
    Review Score
    8.1/10

    Based on 2,910 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £4k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £199
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 16th
    Review Score
    7.7/10

    Based on 1,437 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £10k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £110
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 17th
    Review Score
    7.6/10

    Based on 15,594 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £4k
    per condition
    Excess
    £100
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 18th
    Review Score
    7.5/10

    Based on 2,769 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £10k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £0
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 19th
    Review Score
    7.2/10

    Based on 528 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £10k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £90
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 20th
    Review Score
    6.9/10

    Based on 890 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £8k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £75
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 21st
    Review Score
    6.1/10

    Based on 283 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £10k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £100
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 22nd
    Review Score
    5.6/10

    Based on 207 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £10k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £120
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more
  • 23rd
    Review Score
    3.4/10

    Based on 1,003 reviews

    Defaqto Rating
    Maximum Vet Fees
    £8k
    per policy year
    Excess
    £100
    per condition
    Get a Quote Read more

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.

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In this Guide

  • What types of dog insurance can I get?
  • What does dog insurance cover?
  • What’s not covered?
  • How much does dog insurance cost?
  • 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.

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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:

  • Vet fees: You’ll be able to claim back the cost of vet fees if your dog needs vet treatment.
  • Theft or straying: You can claim back the cost of paying for a reward and advertising if your dog goes missing or is stolen.
  • 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:

  • 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.
  • Routine treatments: Treatments such as grooming, flea treatment, worm treatment, nail clipping, spaying and castration are typically excluded.
  • Dental treatment: The majority of dog insurance policies won’t cover your dog for dental treatment, although more comprehensive policies might offer some cover.
  • 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.

Dog Insurance Guides

Check out our insurance guides for more information