What is PDSA pet insurance?
PDSA stands for People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, and it's a vet charity that offers free or low-cost treatment for pets. It is aimed at owners who can't always afford the full cost of veterinary treatment. The PDSA has been around for more than 100 years and cares for over 4,600 animals across its 48 pet hospitals every day. Every PDSA pet insurance policy sold contributes to the work of the charity. PDSA pet insurance is underwritten by Pinnacle Insurance Limited.
The PDSA Lifetime £8,000 policy has a Defaqto 5* rating. It also offers a 24/7 vet helpline for policyholders. In addition, 97% of claims made are paid out within five working days.
PDSA pet insurance key features
Here's a quick overview of PDSA's pet insurance policies:
- Get time-limited or lifetime cover for cats and dogs
- Manage your policy and make claims online via the PDSA Insure Hub
- Get advice from Petcall, the 24/7 vet helpline
- Contribute to the PDSA charity with every policy you take out
- Benefit from quick claims processing (97% of claims paid out within 5 days)
- Upper age limit for new policies (dogs must be under 8 years, some breeds under 5 years and cats must be under 10 years old)
PDSA pet insurance policy types
PDSA pet insurance offers both time-limited and lifetime insurance policies for dogs and cats. These come at different levels of cover to suit all budgets.
You can also opt for multi-pet insurance, which allows you to manage your cat and dog policies from the same hub. PDSA's multi-pet insurance policies are exactly the same as its single-pet policies; the key benefit is that you get an overview of all your pets' policies in one place. There are no discounts, however, for insuring multiple pets.
What does PDSA pet insurance cover?
PDSA offers a range of policies to suit different needs and budgets. You can opt for a time-limited cover or a lifetime cover with vet fee cover ranging between £2,000 and £8,000.
PDSA Time Limited
PDSA's Time Limited policy offers pets cover for illness and accidents for up to 12 months from the date of treatment or until the fee limit for the specific policy is reached. But once the 12 months lapse or the fee limit is reached, your pet won't be covered for that illness or accident or any related issues that arise from it. Time-limited policies work well if you're looking for budget-friendly options that only cover short-term illnesses and accidents. For more information on time-limited pet insurance, read our article, 'Time-limited pet insurance explained'.
With PDSA, you can opt for Time Limited £2,000 or Time Limited £5,000. Here's what you get as standard with either policy:
- Vet fees up to £2,000 or £5,000 per condition over the 12-month period
- Fixed £75 excess per incident per policy year
- Emergency expenses cover abroad up to £500
- PDSA pet call
- Up to £500 in case of death or theft
- Dental cover for illness and accidents
If you want a more comprehensive policy and are willing to spend a little more on premiums, then you might want to look at the PDSA Lifetime option.
PDSA Lifetime
Lifetime policies are a great option if you want lifelong cover for any conditions that might crop up during your furry friend's life. As long as you keep up with premiums and renew each year, your pet will typically be covered for conditions that develop while the policy is active. For more information on lifetime insurance, read our article, 'Lifetime pet insurance explained'.
PDSA's Lifetime policy offers pets five levels of veterinary fee cover depending on your needs. These fees reflect the maximum amount the insurer will pay out each year for all accidents and illnesses combined. The different levels of cover are as follows:
- Lifetime £2,000
- Lifetime £3,000
- Lifetime £4,000
- Lifetime £5,000
- Lifetime £8,000
We've compiled a table below to help you compare the lifetime policy options and their limits.
| Lifetime £2000 | Lifetime £3000 | Lifetime £4000 | Lifetime £5000 | Lifetime £8000 | |
| Vet fees | £2,000 per year | £3,000 per year | £4,000 per year | £5,000 per year | £8,000 per year |
| Excess | £75 per condition per year | £75 per condition per year | £75 per condition per year | £75 per condition per year | £75 per condition per year |
| Public liability cover (£250 excess) | £1,000,000 | £1,000,000 | £1,000,000 | £1,000,000 | £1,000,000 |
| Dental cover for injury & illness | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Death from illness | £1,500 | £1,500 | £1,500 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| Death from accident | £1,500 | £1,500 | £1,500 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| Theft | £1,500 | £1,500 | £1,500 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| Burial costs | £200 | £200 | £200 | £200 | £200 |
| Kennel or Cattery fees | £1,500 | £1,500 | £1,500 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| Holiday cancellation | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,500 | £1,500 | £3,000 |
| Emergency expenses abroad | £500 | £500 | £700 | £1,000 | £1,500 |
PDSA pet insurance policy exclusions
PDSA's pet insurance policies have some general exclusions you should be aware of. These include, but are not limited to:
How much does PDSA pet insurance cost?
Pet insurance costs vary depending on several factors, such as your pet's age, breed, type, and medical history. The type of policy you choose and even whether you live in an urban area can also affect costs. For more information on what affects the cost of pet insurance read our article '7 factors that affect the cost of pet insurance'.
The best way to work out costs is by requesting a quote that takes into account your specific circumstances. But, if you want to get a rough idea of costs, take a look at the quotes below.
The cost of PDSA pet insurance for a 1-year-old dog
The quotes below are for a 1-year-old cross-breed dog with no underlying health conditions. The dog is neutered and microchipped. The quotes include an excess of £75 per year per condition which stays the same until renewal.
| Policy Type | Policy Conditions | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
| Time Limited | Time Limited Cover - £2,000 | £9.74 | £116.88 |
| Time Limited | Time Limited Cover - £5,000 | £16.01 | £192.12 |
| Lifetime | Lifetime Cover - £2,000 | £10.14 | £121.68 |
| Lifetime | Lifetime Cover - £3,000 | £12.89 | £154.68 |
| Lifetime | Lifetime Cover - £4,000 | £14.83 | £177.96 |
| Lifetime | Lifetime Cover - £5,000 | £17.31 | £207.72 |
| Lifetime | Lifetime Cover - £8,000 | £22.89 | £274.68 |
These quotes are accurate as of 16th January 2026
The cost of PDSA pet insurance for a 1-year-old cat
The below quotes are for a 1-year-old cross-breed cat that has no underlying health conditions. The cat is neutered and microchipped. The quotes include an excess of £75 per condition per year which stays the same until renewal.
| Policy Type | Policy Conditions | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
| Time Limited | Time Limited Cover - £2,000 | £13.87 | £166.44 |
| Time Limited | Time Limited Cover - £5,000 | £22.23 | £266.76 |
| Lifetime | Lifetime Cover - £2,000 | £13.66 | £163.92 |
| Lifetime | Lifetime Cover - £3,000 | £18.18 | £218.16 |
| Lifetime | Lifetime Cover - £4,000 | £24.57 | £294.84 |
| Lifetime | Lifetime Cover - £5,000 | £26.67 | £320.04 |
| Lifetime | Lifetime Cover - £8,000 | £30.79 | £369.48 |
These quotes are correct as of 16th January 2026
PDSA pet insurance excess
PDSA offers a flat excess structure for younger pets. You'll typically pay £75 per condition per year with the Lifetime policies. You'll pay £75 per incident per year with the Time Limited policies.
Once your dog turns 8 or your cat turns 10, the excess structure changes. At this point, there's a 20% co-insurance applied, meaning you'll have to pay 20% of the treatment cost on top of any excess. For some dog breeds, the co-insurance excess applies when they turn 5. Here are some examples of breeds where this earlier age limit applies:
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- OId English Bulldog
- Giant Schnauzer
- Great Dane
- Shar Pei
- Tibetan Mastiff
How do I make a claim with PDSA pet insurance?
The easiest way to make a claim is to ask your vet to claim directly via Vet Pawtal. If they are not signed up to Vet Pawtal then you can claim yourself via the online PDSA Insure Hub. All you need to do is:
- Log in to the PSDA Insure Hub using your log-in details (including your policyholder e-mail)
- Head to the Claims section
- Fill out the online form including details about your pet and their vet. Hit submit.
The PDSA will process the claim from there, by contacting your vet to verify costs and assessing your claim. The fastest way to submit and process a claim is online, but you can request a paper copy via the Hub or call 0344 543 1129 to ask for a paper copy to be posted to you too.
You can register for the Hub when you take out a policy with the PDSA.
PDSA pet insurance customer reviews
PDSA pet insurance currently has a 4.7 out of 5 customer review score on TrustPilot. It's rated "Excellent" based on over 1,700 reviews. 83% of customers gave it 5 stars and commented on the ease of setting up the policy, the value for money they received and the speed claims are processed and paid. However, 6% of customers gave it a 1-star rating and complained about challenges with getting claims paid out and increase in premiums on renewal.
Alternatives to PDSA pet insurance
There are lots of alternatives to PDSA and it's always worth getting several quotes before committing to a particular company. One of the easiest ways to save time and money on your pet insurance is to look on a comparison website such as MoneySuperMarket*. Comparison sites let you compare several providers simultaneously to ensure you're getting the best insurance policy for your pet.
Waggel
Like PDSA pet insurance, Waggel also specialises in insuring cats and dogs but only offers lifetime pet insurance. If you are looking for more vet fee cover than PDSA offer, Waggel has policies with vet fee cover of up to £15,000 per year. Unlike PDSA it offers a choice of excess options to tailor your policy to suit your budget. There is also no upper age limit for taking out new policies and there is no compulsory co-payment as your pet ages, so if you have an older pet with no pre-existing conditions then Waggel may be a better option. Like PDSA, they're highly rated and the company currently has a 4.5 out of 5 score on TrustPilot. You can find out more about Waggel in our independent review.
Animal Friends
The pet insurance offered by Animal Friends, like PDSA, is provided by Pinnacle Insurance Limited. However Animal Friends offers accident-only and maximum benefit pet insurance policies as well as time-limited and both types of lifetime insurance policies. Like PDSA they impose a compulsory co-payment once your pet reaches a certain age, this is 8 years old for dogs and 10 years old for cats but unlike PDSA there is no upper age limit for taking out new policies. Animal Friends also give various excess options and their most comprehensive vet fee cover is £18,000 per year. Animal Friends also score well on TrustPilot with 4.5 out of 5. You can find out more about Animal Friends in our independent review.
PDSA vs Waggel vs Animal Friends
The table below compares the key features and prices you can expect to pay with PDSA, Waggel, and Animal Friends.
| PDSA | Animal Friends | Waggel | |
| Types of insurance policy offered | Lifetime & time-limited | Lifetime (annual limit & annual limit per conditon), time-limited, maximum benefit & accident only | Lifetime |
| Option to pay no excess | No | No | Yes |
| Covers pre-existing conditions | No | No | No |
| Covers older pets | No¹ | Yes | Yes |
| Trustpilot score | 4.7/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
Trustpilot scores are accurate as of January 2026. ¹New policies are only available to dogs under the age of 8 (5 in some cases) and cats under the age of 10.
If you have a pet with a pre-existing condition then you may find our article, 'Best pet insurance for pre-existing conditions' useful.
PDSA pet insurance pros and cons
PDSA's pet insurance policy comes with lots of great features, but there are also some disadvantages to be aware of. Let's take a look at the key pros and cons.
PDSA Pros
- Each policy contributes to PDSA's charity work
- Simple, flat excess structure
- Online claims process
- 97% of claims paid out within 5 days
PDSA Cons
- No discounts for insuring multiple pets
- No cover for pre-existing conditions
- Co-insurance excess for dogs over the age of 8 (or 5 for selected breeds) and cats over the age of 10
- Upper age limit for new policies
Summary
To sum up, the PDSA offers straightforward pet insurance policy options with flat excess structures for cats and dogs. Every policy also helps the PDSA charity keep doing its important work. Whether you're on a budget or looking for a comprehensive policy, the PDSA has a variety of choices on offer. It offers time-limited policies as well as lifetime policies that come with different cover amounts up to £8,000. Claims are paid out quickly and there's a simple online claims process.
It's worth remembering that pre-existing conditions are not covered and there aren't any discounts for insuring multiple pets. If you want to take a look at even more pet insurance alternatives before making your decision, check out the best pet insurance policies in the UK.
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