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.