Cheap Pet Insurance

Are you looking for cheap pet insurance? Find below a list of low cost pet cover providers. Start saving money on your monthly premiums with a range of online discounts.

Provider	Type of cover	Monthly premium from	Online discount	Max vet fees	Excess from	More Info
	12-month and per condition available	get quote to find out	20% + 5% extra for Club Card holders	£4,000	£50
	12-month and per condition available	£3.42	25%	£7,000	£75+10%
	12-month and per condition available	£6.00	20% off Essential cover only	£6,000	£70
	Per condition	£3.95	10%	£6,000	£65
	12-month and lifetime	£3.89	5%	£7,000	£60
	12-month	varies	15%	£3,000	£55
	12-month + lifetime	£3.58	10% + £15 towards microchip	£7,500	£75

Guide to finding affordable pet insurance

With so many companies offering health cover for cats and dogs it’s not always easy to find a policy that is both reliable and affordable. That’s why we’ve put together an easy-to-read comparison table of the best and cheapest pet insurance companies in the UK. However, whenever you buy pet insurance, always consider the following:

1. Make sure you’re happy with the type of cover: there are 3 main types of cover in the UK:
   • 12 month policy: vet fees for illnesses and accidents will be covered up to the maximum benefit for a maximum of 12 months; once the limit or time is reached, the cover is excluded from the policy.
   • Per condition: this type of cover gives great value for money as it covers a condition up to the maximum benefit with no time limit. With More Than for instance you coud get up to £7,000 towards each seperate accident or illness and claim for years until your £7,000 allowance is up.
   • Lifetime pet insurance: this is the most comprehensive type of cover but isn’t generally the cheapest. It will cover vet fees up to a maximum benefit per year which is fully replenished at renewal. This cover provides continuous cover for ongoing conditions that can go on for years.
2. What’s the true cost of the policy? Look at the excess: a certain policy may be cheap but what’s the cost if you were to make a claim and how much would you get back? Have a look at the excess as you’ll have to pay for it yourself. Some companies will give you a cheap premium but enforce a high excess which could even be a percentage of the claim. You’ll have to think what’s best for you: do you want a cheaper premium with a higher excess in case things went wrong or the piece of mind that you excess will be low and fixed?
3. Take out cover as soon as possible to limit the possibilities of a condition not being covered: most policies will not cover illnesses for the first 14 days of cover. This means that if your pet were to develop an illness during that time, you wouldn’t be covered and would have to pay for the treatment costs yourself – this really defeats the purpose of having insurance. Many pet owners have been surprised by this and left out of pocket because they’ve waited too long before finally buying pet insurance: don’t take any chances and get cover as soon as possible. Accidents, however, are generally covered immediately with no ‘waiting period’.

The best ways to find cheap pet insurance for you cat and dog

1. Insure your pet when still young: it’s a fact of life that as pets get older they’re more likely to develop an illness or suffer from an accident. Pet insurance companies are therefore  statistically more likely to pay out claims for pets over 6 years of age and that’s why premiums are generally more and more expensive as your pet grows up. If you’re looking for cheap pet cover then you might want to protect your pet when they’re still young – it will cost you less.
2. Choose your excess: some companies will give you the option to increase your excess above the standard rate. This gives pet owners greater control of their policies and will provide them with a smaller premium. Remember that you pay the excess only if you have to make a claim so you could save quite a bit of money each year if nothing happens.
3. Look for online discounts: most companies will offer you a discount for buying cover online, sometimes up to a third off. These offers are generally for a limited period of time – Tesco recently offered up to 50% off for instance. When these good deals come about, make the most of them.
4. Insure more than one pet: most providers will also give you an extra discount if you insure more than one pet with them. This is what they call a multipet discount and it can reach up to 15% off.
5. Buy from a budget provider: Argos, Tesco, Churchill and Direct Line are all providing affordable pet cover starting from about £4 a month. Remember though that these prices are indicative only and generally about 10% of customers can enjoy such low prices. Pet insurance premiums are calculated on your postcode, claim history, type and breed of pet as well as age. So if you need to take out cover for an older pet you probably won’t be able to benefit from the lowest premiums advertised. Nevertheless, these prices are a good indications of the competitiveness of these providers.