UK pet insurance compared
UK avg: £436/yr dogs, £179/yr cats (ABI)Young dogs typically cost £25–40/month to insure, young cats £8–15. Flat-faced breeds run roughly double; London adds 20–40%.
Petplan
- UK's biggest pet insurer
- Covered For Life lifetime policies
- Pays vets directly in many practices
- No price hike for claiming promise on some plans
ManyPets
- Up to £15k vet fee cover
- Pre-existing conditions options
- Strong Trustpilot rating
- Online claims, fast payment
Animal Friends
- Value pricing
- 38k+ five-star Trustpilot reviews
- Supports animal charities
- Range of cover levels
Agria
- Lifetime-only cover specialist
- Breeder & kennel club partnerships
- Free cover for new puppies/kittens
- Vet helpline included
Waggel
- Lifetime cover only
- Video vet calls included
- Simple all-digital claims
- Named claims handler
Everypaw
- Flexible lifetime tiers
- 24/7 vet helpline
- Dental illness options
- Multi-pet discounts
Compare pet cover levels and prices across leading UK insurers.
Compare at MoneySuperMarketWhat to compare before you buy
- Lifetime vs annual (time-limited): only lifetime cover keeps paying for chronic conditions year after year.
- Vet fee limit per year: £7k+ is sensible for dogs — the average claim is now £848 and surgery runs into thousands.
- Excess plus co-payment: many insurers add a 20% co-payment once your pet is older — check when it kicks in.
- Dental illness (not just dental accident) cover is rare and valuable.
- Expect premiums to rise with age and after claims — switching later means losing cover for developed conditions, so choose carefully upfront.
Pet insurance for US visitors
For visitors in the United States — typical costs shown are US national averages (Bankrate, NerdWallet, KFF, NAPHIA and similar, as of 2026). Links may be affiliate links. US accident & illness cover averages about $62/month for dogs and $32/month for cats (NAPHIA, 2025 data).
Embrace
- Accident & illness cover
- Diminishing deductible perk
- Wellness rewards add-on
Healthy Paws
- No annual payout caps
- One simple plan
- Strong claims reputation
Frequently asked questions
Is pet insurance worth it?
With the average claim at £848 and complex surgery costing £3,000–£6,000, insurance converts a potentially unaffordable hit into a predictable monthly cost. The alternative — self-insuring into a savings pot — only works if the pot exists before the diagnosis.
Why did my premium jump after a claim?
Most insurers reprice on age, vet inflation and claims history at renewal. Some (like certain Petplan plans) promise not to penalise claiming — a feature worth paying for.
Can I insure a pet with an existing condition?
Standard policies exclude pre-existing conditions. A few insurers (e.g. ManyPets) offer limited pre-existing options, and lifetime policies cover conditions that develop after you join — which is why switching insurers late in a pet's life is costly.
What does pet insurance usually not cover?
Pre-existing conditions, routine and preventive care (vaccinations, neutering, flea treatment), and usually dental unless it follows an accident. Some policies add wellness options, but the core cover is for unexpected illness and injury.
Why do premiums rise so much as my pet ages?
Older pets claim more often and for more expensive chronic conditions, so premiums climb steeply with age and after claims. That's why locking in lifetime cover while your pet is young and healthy usually works out cheaper over its life.