Lifetime cover, dog, £7,000 vet fees
£32
per month
£384
per year (from)
Vet fee limit: £7,000 per year
Renewal: Guaranteed for life
First month free
Free, quick comparison
Pet insurance comparison
Compare pet insurance for cats and dogs, covering vet fees, third-party liability and more — from lifetime cover to cheaper time-limited policies.
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Lifetime cover, cat, £6,000 vet fees
£19
per month
£228
per year (from)
Vet fee limit: £6,000 per year
Complementary therapies: Included
Lifetime cover, dog, £8,000 vet fees
Quotes sorted by indicative annual premium (low to high)
Prices shown are indicative UK market rates for comparison only. Your actual premium will depend on your property, location, claims history and level of cover.
What is pet insurance?
Pet insurance covers veterinary treatment costs for your cat or dog, along with extras such as third-party liability, dental treatment and the cost of advertising for a lost pet.
Cover ranges from lifetime policies that renew your vet fee limit every year for the animal's whole life, to cheaper time-limited or accident-only policies with more restrictions.
What are the benefits of pet insurance?
Protects against unexpected vet bills
Treatment for conditions like cruciate ligament surgery can cost several thousand pounds.
Lifetime cover for chronic conditions
Ongoing conditions such as diabetes remain covered year after year under a lifetime policy.
Third-party liability included
Covers costs if your dog injures someone or damages property, particularly important for dog owners.
What does pet insurance include?
Vet fees
Treatment, surgery, medication and diagnostic tests up to your policy limit.
Ongoing conditions
Lifetime policies continue to cover chronic conditions at each renewal.
Third-party liability
Cover if your dog causes injury or property damage to someone else.
Dental treatment
Cover for dental injury and, on some policies, dental illness.
Lost pet advertising
Contribution towards advertising and reward costs if your pet goes missing.
Complementary therapies
Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy cover on many higher-tier policies.
How does pet insurance pricing work?
Premiums are based on your pet's breed, age, and location, since certain breeds are more prone to particular conditions and vet costs vary regionally.
Lifetime policies cost more than time-limited or accident-only cover because the insurer commits to covering ongoing conditions for the rest of the pet's life, provided you keep renewing.
Do you need pet insurance?
Given that major veterinary treatment can cost several thousand pounds, most vets and animal charities recommend insuring cats and dogs from a young age.
It is particularly important for dog owners given the third-party liability risks, and for breeds prone to hereditary conditions requiring ongoing treatment.
How to choose pet insurance
Lifetime cover is usually worth the higher premium for long-term peace of mind, since time-limited policies stop paying for a condition once the benefit limit or 12 months is reached. Check the vet fee limit is realistic for major surgery, and confirm any breed-specific exclusions.
How to save money on pet insurance
Insuring a pet while young keeps premiums lower and avoids pre-existing condition exclusions building up. Increasing your excess, choosing a co-payment percentage, and insuring multiple pets with one insurer for a multi-pet discount also help.
Related guides
These guides might help.
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The break-even point most UK travellers hit after two or three holidays a year.
What pet insurance actually pays out for
Lifetime vs time-limited cover explained, and why the small print matters more than the premium.
FAQs
Lifetime cover renews your vet fee limit each year for the pet's whole life, while time-limited cover only pays up to a set amount or for 12 months per condition, after which it is excluded.
No insurer covers a condition your pet already had before the policy started, which is why insuring pets young is generally cheaper and more comprehensive.
Standard policies do not cover routine care such as vaccinations, flea treatment or neutering — some insurers offer this as a separate wellness add-on.
Yes, breeds prone to hereditary or breed-specific conditions, such as French Bulldogs or large dog breeds, typically carry higher premiums.
Our services are provided at no cost to you. We may receive a commission from the companies we refer you to, but this does not affect what you will pay for the product you choose.
Written by the Grow Your Business personal finance team