Pet insurance is an insurance policy that will cover the cost of veterinary treatment should your pet get injured or develop an illness. Pet insurance can be expensive and may seem like an unnecessary cost, particularly if you do not need to claim.
In this article, I share 7 factors that can affect the cost of your pet insurance policy, what you can do to try and reduce the cost of your premium and how using a comparison site such as Quotezone* could mean you pay from £3.35 per month**.
1 minute summary
- Pet insurance is designed to cover the cost of unexpected veterinary bills for your pet.
- Pet insurance should ideally be purchased while your pet is young to ensure you can get cover for any conditions that may arise as your pet ages, if your pet already has a condition, it will not be covered by insurance as it will be considered pre-existing.
- Pet insurance can be expensive and several factors can affect the cost such as the type of cover you choose, your pet's age and breed and where you live.
- If you have more than one pet, a multi-pet policy may mean you can save money on pet insurance costs.
- Shopping around for pet insurance with a comparison site such as Quotezone* can help you find the best policy for your pet by comparing several pet insurance policies at once.
1. Type of pet insurance policy
One of the biggest factors that will affect the cost of your pet insurance policy is the type of pet insurance policy you choose. The more comprehensive pet insurance policies are usually the most expensive. Below we briefly summarise the different types of pet insurance policy.
Lifetime pet insurance
Lifetime pet insurance is the most extensive pet insurance policy for your pet because the veterinary fee cover for illnesses and injuries renews each policy year, meaning that if you use some of your veterinary fee limit in one policy year, it will reset for the following policy year allowing you to make additional claims. Because lifetime pet insurance offers such a good level of cover for your pet, it is usually the most expensive.
The two most common types of lifetime pet insurance are:
- Annual limit lifetime pet insurance – this lifetime pet insurance policy will insure your pet for a set vet fee amount per policy year e.g £15,000 for all vet fee claims
- Annual limit per condition lifetime pet insurance – this lifetime pet insurance policy will insure your pet for a set vet fee amount per condition per policy year e.g £6,000 per condition such as arthritis and diabetes
For more information on Lifetime pet insurance read our article, ‘Lifetime pet insurance explained‘.
Maximum benefit pet insurance
Maximum benefit pet insurance vet fee cover does not renew each policy year and because of this, it is usually slightly cheaper than lifetime pet insurance. You can still get a good level of veterinary fee cover for both illness and injury for your pet. Maximum benefit pet insurance will insure your pet for a set amount per condition, similar to annual limit per condition lifetime pet insurance, but the veterinary fee cover does not renew annually. For example, your pet can be insured for up to £8,000 per condition and once the vet fee limit has been reached the condition will no longer be covered by the insurer.
For more information on Maximum benefit pet insurance, read our article ‘Maximum benefit pet insurance explained‘.
Time-limited pet insurance
Time-limited pet insurance will cover your pet for both accidents and illness however you are only covered up to the veterinary fee limit or for a set time period, which is usually around 12 months from the first clinical signs of the condition. For example, your pet may be insured for £3,000 per condition and you can claim until the vet fee limit is reached or for up to 12 months after the first clinical signs or treatment of the condition was first received, whichever comes first. Time-limited pet insurance is usually the cheapest pet insurance that covers both illness and injury however you can reach the vet fee limit quite quickly if your pet needs recurring treatment.
For more information on Time-limited pet insurance policies, read our article ‘Time-limited pet insurance explained‘.
Accident-only pet insurance
Accident-only pet insurance will only cover your pet for accidents and does not offer any cover for treatment due to illness. For example, your pet could be covered for up to £3,000 per accident but some policies enforce a 12-month time limit from the onset of the condition. It is usually the cheapest pet insurance policy for your pet because you are not covered for illness.
For more information on Accident-only pet insurance, read our article ‘Accident-only pet insurance explained‘.
Find the right Pet Insurance for you
Our partner Quotezone will compare quotes from over 15 UK pet insurance providers
- You could pay from £3.35 per month**
2. Pet type and breed
The type of pet you wish to insure will affect the cost of your insurance and typically cats are cheaper to insure than dogs. The breed of your pet will also affect the cost of your pet insurance as pedigree breeds are more susceptible to certain conditions, which increases the likelihood of you having to claim. In the below tables, we highlight some cost differences between the different types and breeds of pets.
Breed cost comparison table for dogs
The following table compares the pet insurance cost of some of the most popular dog breeds in the UK. We have compared the cost across four different types of pet insurance policy so you can compare how the type of pet insurance policy will also affect the cost of your insurance premium. The quotes in the below table are based on 4 different breeds of 1-year-old dog, living in a South East postcode and show the cost of a monthly pet insurance premium with each provider. For the purpose of the quotes we said we paid £1,000 for the pedigree dogs. For more information on how your address affects the cost of your premium, jump to the “Where you live” section.
Comparison table – how breed affects the cost of dog insurance
| ManyPets* | Direct Line | Animal Friends | Scratch & Patch | |
| Policy type | Lifetime | Maximum benefit | Time-limited | Accident-only |
| Policy name | Complete | Advanced | Prime Plus | Bronze |
| Veterinary fee limit | £15,000 per policy year | £8,000 per condition | £4,000 per condition (12-month time limit per condition plus £10,000 annual claim limit) | £2,250 per year |
| Policy Excess | £99 | £95 | £99 | £125 |
| Medium-sized mixed breed (monthly cost) | £42.78 | £26.37 | £19.25 | £5.91 |
| Labrador (monthly cost) | £66.49 | £41.55 | £26.32 | £5.46 |
| French Bulldog (monthly cost) | £181.88 | £99.50 | £41.46 | £14.59 |
| Cocker Spaniel (monthly cost) | £53.62 | £32.39 | £24.49 | £5.09 |
| More information | ManyPets pet insurance review | Direct Line pet insurance review | Animal Friends pet insurance review | Scratch & Patch pet insurance review |
(Quotes correct as of 21/08/24 and based on the most comprehensive policy with each of the providers. The cost may vary depending on the exact policy you choose)
Breed cost comparison table for cats
The quotes in the below comparison table compare the difference in the cost of pet insurance for a range of popular cat breeds in the UK. We have compared the cost of the four main types of pet insurance and the table highlights how the type of pet insurance policy affects the cost of your premium. The quotes are based on a 1-year-old cat living in a South East postcode and show the cost of a monthly premium. For the purpose of the quotes we said we paid £1,000 for the pedigree cats. For more information on how your home address may affect the cost of your pet insurance premium, jump to the “Where you live” section.
Comparison table – how breed affects the cost of cat insurance
| ManyPets* | Direct Line | Animal Friends | Scratch & Patch | |
| Policy type | Lifetime | Maximum benefit | Time-limited | Accident-only |
| Policy name | Complete | Advanced | Prime Plus | Bronze |
| Vet fee limit | £15,000 per policy year | £8,000 per condition | £4,000 per condition (12-month time limit per condition and £10,000 annual claim limit) | £2,250 per year |
| Policy Excess | £99 | £80 | £99 | £125 |
| Moggy (monthly cost) | £33.68 | £18.43 | £15.48 | £5.58 |
| Bengal (monthly cost) | £62.58 | £33.41 | £22.40 | £8.09 |
| British blue shorthair (monthly cost) | £50.72 | £24.05 | £17.54 | £6.79 |
| Maine coon (monthly cost) | £72.84 | £33.27 | £22.40 | £6.27 |
| More information | ManyPets pet insurance review | Direct Line pet insurance review | Animal Friends pet insurance review | Scratch & Patch pet insurance review |
(Quotes correct as of 21/08/24 and based on the most comprehensive policy with each of the providers. The cost may vary depending on the exact policy you choose)
3. Age of pet
The age of your pet will affect the cost of your pet insurance. As your pet ages, it is more likely to develop an illness or suffer from an injury which, in turn, will increase the chance of you making a claim. As a result insurers usually up the monthly premiums to compensate for this. Some insurers enforce an upper age limit for a new pet insurance policy, this is usually around 8 years old for dogs and 10 years old for cats, but this does vary between providers. Upper age limits on pet insurance can mean it is more difficult to insure older pets for new policies. Some providers also have upper limits that can be lower for pedigree breeds so be sure to check your insurance policy carefully. If you are looking to insure an older pet, you may find the following article useful, ‘The best pet insurance for older pets‘.
The below comparison tables highlight the cost differences you can expect across a range of pet ages.
Age cost comparison table for dogs
The following quotes are based on a medium-sized mixed-breed dog, living in a South East postcode and with no underlying health conditions. The table compares the cost of a monthly pet insurance premium depending on the age of a mixed-breed dog. We have also compared how the type of pet insurance policy you choose affects the monthly cost of your premium as your dog ages.
Comparison table – how age affects the cost of dog insurance
| ManyPets* | Direct Line | Animal Friends | Scratch & Patch | |
| Policy type | Lifetime | Maximum benefit | Time-limited | Accident-only |
| Policy name | Complete | Advanced | Prime Plus | Bronze |
| Vet fee limit | £15,000 per policy year | £8,000 per condition | £4,000 per condition (12-month time limit per condition and £10,000 annual claim limit) | £2,250 per year |
| Policy Excess | £99 | £95 | £99^ | £125 for dogs under 8 £275 for dogs over 8 |
| 2-month-old dog (monthly cost) | £33.78 | £34.41 | £16.68 | £6.49 |
| 1-year-old dog (monthly cost) | £42.78 | £26.37 | £19.25 | £5.91 |
| 5-year-old dog (monthly cost) | £45.43 | £44.48 | £31.66 | £6.00 |
| 8-year-old dog (monthly cost) | £69.45 | £77.85 | £36.96 | £6.31 |
| More information | ManyPets pet insurance review | Direct Line pet insurance review | Animal Friends pet insurance review | Scratch & Patch pet insurance review |
(Quotes correct as of 21/08/24 and based on the most comprehensive policy with each of the providers therefore the cost may vary depending on the exact policy you choose) ^ With Animal Friends a 20% co-payment as well as the excess must be paid when your dog is 8 years or older
Age cost comparison table for cats
The following quotes compare the cost of a pet insurance premium depending on the age of your cat. The quotes are based on a mixed-breed cat with no underlying health conditions and living in a South East postcode. The table also compares how the type of pet insurance you choose affects the cost of your pet insurance premium as your cat ages.
Comparison table – how age affects the cost of cat insurance
| ManyPets* | Direct Line | Animal Friends | Scratch & Patch | |
| Policy type | Lifetime | Maximum benefit | Time-limited | Accident-only |
| Policy name | Complete | Advanced | Prime Plus | Bronze |
| Vet fee limit | £15,000 per policy year | £8,000 per condition | £4,000 per condition (12-month time limit and £10,000 annual claim limit) | £2,250 per year |
| Excess | £99 | £80 | £99 | £125 |
| 2-month-old cat (monthly cost) | £24.67 | £19.17 | £14.36 | £5.07 |
| 1-year-old cat (monthly cost) | £33.68 | £18.43 | £15.48 | £5.58 |
| 5-year-old cat (monthly cost) | £25.33 | £21.46 | £15.99 | £5.00 |
| 8-year-old cat (monthly cost) | £33.01 | £29.83 | £19.04 | £5.00 |
| More information | ManyPets pet insurance review | Direct Line pet insurance review | Animal Friends pet insurance review | Scratch & Patch pet insurance review |
(Quotes correct as of 21/08/24 and based on the most comprehensive policy with each of the providers therefore the cost may vary depending on the exact policy you choose)
4. Where you live
You may not realise that where you live will also affect the cost of your pet insurance premium and it is something to consider, particularly if you move home. The cost of veterinary care in your area is likely to contribute to the cost of your pet insurance premium and as highlighted in the below table.
The cost of dog insurance based on location
The following comparison table compares the cost of a pet insurance policy for a 1-year-old medium-sized, mixed-breed dog with no underlying health conditions at 4 different addresses in England. The table also shows how the type of pet insurance policy affects the cost of your monthly premium.
Comparison table – how your home address affects the cost of dog insurance
| ManyPets* | Direct Line | Animal Friends | Scratch & Patch | |
| Policy type | Lifetime | Maximum benefit | Time-limited | Accident-only |
| Policy name | Complete | Advanced | Prime Plus | Bronze |
| Vet fee limit | £15,000 per policy year | £8,000 per condition | £4,000 per condition (12-month time limit per condition and £10,000 annual claim limit) | £2,250 per year |
| Excess | £99 | £95 | £99 | £125 |
| BS6 postcode (monthly cost) | £46.67 | £26.84 | £26.52 | £5.36 |
| BR2 postcode (monthly cost) | £46.67 | £26.97 | £21.99 | £6.10 |
| M16 postcode (monthly cost) | £38.99 | £26.40 | £18.21 | £5.00 |
| TS10 postcode (monthly cost) | £42.07 | £19.73 | £18.57 | £5.37 |
| More information | ManyPets pet insurance review | Direct Line pet insurance review | Animal Friends pet insurance review | Scratch & Patch pet insurance review |
(Quotes correct as of 21/08/24 and based on the most comprehensive policy with each of the providers and the cost may vary depending on the exact policy you choose)
The cost of cat insurance based on location
The following comparison table compares the cost of a pet insurance policy for a 1-year-old mixed-breed cat with no underlying health conditions at 4 different addresses in England. The table also shows how the type of pet insurance policy affects the cost of your monthly premium.
Comparison table – how your home address affects the cost of cat insurance
| ManyPets* | Direct Line | Animal Friends | Scratch & Patch | |
| Policy type | Lifetime | Maximum benefit | Time-limited | Accident-only |
| Policy name | Complete | Advanced | Prime Plus | Bronze |
| Vet fee limit | £15,000 per policy year | £8,000 per condition | £4,000 per condition (12-month time limit per condition and £10,000 annual claim limit) | £2,250 per year |
| Excess | £99 | £80 | £99 | £125 |
| BS6 postcode (monthly cost) | £47.11 | £18.76 | £19.73 | £5.34 |
| BR2 postcode (monthly cost) | £44.22 | £18.85 | £16.87 | £5.60 |
| M16 postcode (monthly cost) | £33.68 | £18.46 | £16.03 | £5.00 |
| TS10 postcode (monthly cost) | £31.45 | £13.79 | £13.74 | £5.00 |
| More information | ManyPets pet insurance review | Direct Line pet insurance review | Animal Friends pet insurance review | Scratch & Patch pet insurance review |
(Quotes correct as of 21/08/24 and based on the most comprehensive policy with each of the providers and the cost may vary depending on the exact policy you choose)
5. Excess and co-payment
The excess on your pet insurance policy will affect the cost of your pet insurance premium. If you choose a higher policy excess you are likely to see a reduction in your pet insurance premium as you are contributing more towards the cost of treatment in the event of a claim. Some insurers also give you the option to contribute to the claim cost even further with a co-payment. A co-payment is a percentage contribution, which is usually 20%, towards the remaining cost of the veterinary fee claim. Some pet insurance providers allow you to choose the percentage you wish to contribute and usually the higher the percentage, the lower your pet insurance premium. But remember if you do choose a higher excess and co-payment amount, this is what you will have to pay towards the cost of veterinary fees when making a claim.
It is also worth noting that some pet insurance providers also make a percentage co-payment compulsory once your pet reaches a certain age, so it is worth reading your policy documents carefully so this does not come as a surprise.
TOP TIP: One thing to look out for when looking at pet insurance policies via a comparison site, is that some of the policies include a compulsory co-payment to make them cheaper
6. Previous claim history
If you have previously claimed on a pet insurance policy for your pet, this is likely to affect the cost of your pet insurance premium as insurers will be expecting you to make another claim. This is particularly apparent when renewing your premium with the same pet insurance provider and in this instance, it may be better to compare the cost of other policies before auto-renewing. However, if you have previously claimed for a condition on your pet insurance policy and choose to switch providers, it is unlikely that the condition will be covered on a new policy.
Some insurers such as Petplan claim that you will not be penalised for making a claim and your individual claims history should therefore not affect the cost of your premium.
7. Pre-existing conditions
If your pet has any pre-existing conditions this will affect the cost of your pet insurance premium and it is best to declare any conditions your pet has been treated for previously by your vet. This is because if you go to make a claim, your insurer is likely to contact the vet for a full medical history and any pre-existing condition that has not been declared could affect your claim. Some insurers offer cover for pre-existing conditions and more information can be found in our article ‘Pet insurance for pre-existing conditions explained‘.
How to reduce the cost of pet insurance?
How much you pay for the cost of your pet insurance premium varies on a range of factors, as highlighted in this article. Aside from making changes to those factors listed above, where possible, there are a few other steps you can take to try and reduce the cost of your pet insurance premiums, such as:
- Spay/Neuter your pet – Spaying/Neutering your pet to reduce the risk of health complications as well as straying
- Shop around – Get a range of quotes from different insurers to ensure you're getting the best deal
- Buy a multi-pet policy – Look for a multi-pet policy if you have more than one pet as some insurers will offer a discount
You could also compare the cost of multiple pet insurance policies at once using a comparison site such as Quotezone* or MoneySuperMarket*. Using a comparison site will allow you to find the best policy for your pet. One thing to consider, however, is that not all comparison sites are whole of market so you may be able to find a better deal with another provider. Also, some pet insurance providers such as Direct Line do not appear on comparison sites so you would need to visit the provider directly to get a quote. More information on the cost of pet insurance and how to reduce the cost of your monthly premium can be found in our article ‘How much does pet insurance cost?‘
Do I need pet insurance?
Another way to reduce the cost of pet insurance is by cancelling it altogether and choosing to self-insure. This means that you can save a monthly amount as if you were paying for insurance, into a separate account, and use this if your pet needs veterinary treatment. One thing to consider with self-insuring is that you may need to use a large chunk of your savings should your pet need expensive treatment or an operation. Also, if you choose to get insurance later down the line, it will likely be more difficult and more expensive to obtain cover for any pre-existing conditions. Find out more in our article, ‘Do I need pet insurance?‘
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