Pet Insurance Quotes: Compare and Save

What are the different types of pet insurance policies?

Typically there are four types of insurance policies.

Accident only - covers accident and some health issues. We advise you to read the terms of the policy before you make the purchase
Maximum benefit - Recommended for short term health issues but you can claim more than once for the same condition.
Lifetime - As the name suggests, it provides lifetime cover for your pet.
Time limited - One of the cheapest pet insurance options, as it covers them for a limited amount over a 12 month period. After which, you can no longer claim on the same pet condition and hould you decide to renew the pet insurance policy, the pre-existing illness will no longer be eligible.

What are the different types of pet insurance policies

What is pet insurance?

Pet insurance provides cover for unfortunate events like your pet falling ill or injuring themselves in an accident
Insurance policies can also pay-out in case your pet dies, is stolen or lost and/or damages third party property

Will the age of my pet affect the premium amount?

Yes, the older the pet, the higher the premium is likely to be, however this may vary between cover providers.

What else should I watch out for?

Before selecting the level of pet cover you require, you should always read the terms and conditions. Things you should look out for include

Travel or holiday cover (foreign cover)
Dental Cover
Missing pet cover
Vet’s Fees
Kennel and cattery fees

It’s time to compare pet insurance

Compare pet insurance with us to protect your cats, dogs and other pets. You can find pet insurance comparison quotes with us in few minutes to provide protection for your pet and the cover they deserve. Find out more information below about pet insurance cover, cover type, costs and what it includes.

Compare pet insurance in 5 easy steps

Your information – Your name, address and contact details

Your pet’s information – Animal type, Pet’s age, breed and gender

Where your pet lives – Pet’s permanent address

Pet’s medical history – Declare any pre-existing conditions

Pets price - How much did you pay to adopt or purchase

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Why should you get insurance for your pets?

As you are aware, there’s no NHS free service for pets so when they need a treatment you need to take your pets to veterinary care. Your dogs and cats will require a treatment for any injuries or illness throughout their lifetime, including recurring conditions such as arthritis, skin conditions or diabetes. Veterinary care can be really expensive (you may end up with lots of vet bills) which is why you should consider getting protection for your pets and for your peace of mind. With pet insurance, you can ensure that your cat or dog receives quality care without having to worry about the high costs associated with vet bills.

There are 4 different types of pet insurance

Maximum benefit

maximum benefit pet cover gives you a fixed sum to claim on annually. The cover can be per condition, per policy or both. Once you have claimed your yearly allowance you can’t claim further and pre-existing medical conditions aren’t covered under maximum benefit per cover.

Life time

Life time pet insurance cover provides protection for your pet’s illnesses or injuries with no time limit on each illness condition. However, at Free Price Compare, we compare a different type of pet insurance policy. We compare pet insurance providers who provide lifetime policies, which means that whatever vet fee limit you choose, it will refresh each year when you renew your policy. With our lifetime policies, you can claim up to the full vet fee limit every year, and we will continue to provide cover for conditions your pet may develop during their lifetime. If you continuously renew your policy, you'll get ongoing cover for injury and illnesses every year, including at renewal when the limit resets.

Time limited

It means that your pet is insured with a 12 month essential policy, which provides cover for a specific period of time. This type of policy comes with a cap on the claim allowance for the required treatment. However, once the 12 month period has ended or you've reached your claim allowance amount, you are not allowed to claim again for the same condition. This type of policy is particularly beneficial for older pets who have exceeded the upper age limit and need a less comprehensive policy.

Accident only

Accident only pet cover helps you pay for the required treatment if your pet is involved in an accident. However, an accident only plan will not provide protection for illness or disease and your pet’s pre-existing medical conditions aren’t covered.

There are 4 different types of pet insurance

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What’s covered under the Pet policy?

Levels of cover and benefits will vary based on type of pet cover you choose, however most policies often include treatment for pets involved in an accident and or illnesses to your pet.

Third party liability cover - for dogs only

Injuries and accidents

Pets alternative therapies

Treatment for any unexpected illnesses

Costs of diagnostics for blood tests and illnesses

Costs of finding your lost pets (mainly adverting costs)

How to get pet insurance cheaper?

Contact PDSA charity – PDSA might be able to help you cover the vet fees
Avoid getting pedigree breeds – usually crossbreed pets are cheaper to insure
Multi pet cover – one policy for all of your pets can be cheaper option
Vaccinations – if you are up to date with all of the pet’s vaccination then the insurer might give you cheaper cover
Get your pet microchipped – chipping your pets can help you reduce your premiums
Their health – healthy lifestyle and exercise can keep your vet bills lower
Consider co-insurance – co-insurance can be cheaper for older pets
Compare insurers – Compare pet insurance with us to get great deals

Is it more expensive to buy a cover for an older animal?

Older pets are more likely to get health issues which is why it can be more expensive to insure older animals compared to younger ones.

It is possible to protect your older pet with a standard pet cover policy or you may need to go to a specialist insurer if required.

What is third party liability insurance for pets?

Third party liability insurance provides you protection when your dog causes accidental injuries to others or damage to property, person and pets. It can also help you cover any legal costs due to an accident caused by your dog.

Can vaccination affect the price of my pet insurance?

Up to date vaccinations can help you get better discounts with some insurers which can help you further reduce your premiums. However, pet insurance will not cover any cost related to vaccinating your pet.

Pet Insurance Frequently asked questions

Many pet owners see their pets as an integral part of the family and are keen to insure them against illness or accident.

Pet insurance can provide cover in case your pet dies, is lost or stolen, attacked a third party or damaged property. You can get more details by reading our beginners’ guide to pet insurance.

Insurance for pets can cover all kinds of animals, including dogs and cats.

Not at all. There is a variety of policy options for pets on the market. The four main ones you will find are: accident only, time limited, maximum benefit and lifetime. You can select the most appropriate one for you according to the needs of your pet and your budget.

When a policy contains a co-insurance it means that if you make a claim you will be charged a percentage of the outstanding veterinary fees after the excess has been deducted.

If you have an older animal, your premiums are likely to be higher; however cover should be available for all ages of pets. If you are looking to take out pet insurance on a puppy or a kitten insurance usually begins when your pet is six-to-eight weeks old.

A previous illness may not be covered when you take out a new policy and it’s best to check. Make sure your pet has the appropriate vaccinations too.

Pedigree animals often carry an increased premium as their value is higher. With more intensive breeding, they can suffer more from genetic disorders.

If your dog causes accidental injury or damage to someone’s property you can be covered by third party liability insurance. This type of insurance can also help with legal bills should you be required to defend yourself in a Court case involving your dog.

Microchipping your pet is a recommended procedure and can offer many benefits to both owner and animal; it may help you secure a lower premium too. Microchipping can be done for all kinds of pets, including ferrets, rabbits and other small mammals.

It’s always recommended you read through your policy Terms & Conditions. Check carefully to make sure you understand what your policy covers, such as:

Travel and holiday cover
Veterinary fees
Kennel and cattery fees
Cremation costs
Cover for missing pets
Dental cover
Cover for alternative therapies

For answers to any further questions, see our pet insurance guides.

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