Compare Pet Insurance Quotes

We are delighted to offer you a Pet Insurance comparison tool!

As a nation of animal lovers, our pets are treated as one of the family. As such we know that you would want them to be protected if they were to become ill, have an accident or go missing. A pet insurance policy is there to provide the cover that will help you financially deal with unwanted veterinary bills.

We know that paying for insurance of any kind can be fraught with many questions – and cover for your pets is no different. To help you make an informed decision about your pet cover, we’ve answered a few of the more common queries below. Once you’re ready, simply complete your details on the online form below to obtain and compare the quotations from multiple pet insurance providers through the comparison tool powered by Quotezone.co.uk.

QuoteZone.co.uk is an online comparison service. startrescue.co.uk have selected QuoteZone.co.uk but do not offer any recommendations and/or advice, nor sell pet insurance or any products available via the Quotezone.co.uk comparison tool. If by using the QuoteZone.co.uk comparison tool you find a suitable product which meets your demands and needs and you decide to proceed with an application, you will be dealing directly with the product provider. Any contract will be between you and the chosen provider and not startrescue.co.uk.

What is pet insurance?

Pet Insurance is designed to assist the owner with unwelcome vet bills if a pet requires treatment for illness or accidents. Depending on what type of pet insurance policy you decide on will determine what costs are covered. With some pet insurance policies, you can claim in the event of the death of your pet, if your pet is stolen or lost, or if it causes damage to a third party’s property.

Do I need pet insurance?

Having pet insurance is not mandatory and it is something that none of us like to think about and pay for. But just like your car and home should be covered against the unexpected, owning a pet should be thought of in the same way. Our pets mean a lot to us and it is never easy to think of them falling ill or getting injured, but it is something that could happen. Having the safety net of pet insurance, means that vet bills are one less thing to worry about if your pet requires treatment.

There are many expenses involved in owning a pet, so pet insurance cover against unexpected vet bills could be very beneficial. Especially considering cats and dogs are prone to specific illnesses that require veterinary help that can rack up considerable costs.

If you have, or looking to get, a purebred dog then you’ll probably know the likelihood of it developing a problem. For example, Golden Retrievers and other large purebreds are susceptible to hip dysplasia, which can cost up to £7,000 to treat (www.which.co.uk).

Your dog or cat may also suffer from multiple illnesses as it becomes older. Numerous trips to the vet in your pet’s later life will obviously incur greater on-going costs, which could be eased with the right pet insurance policy.

Is pet insurance worth it?

Deliberating the worth of any insurance is very much personal and those of us that do decide to purchase a policy appreciate the peace of mind it can afford us. You’ll need to decide whether or not you could afford the costs involved in treating your pet in the event of illness or injury or even the expense concerned with a lost or stolen pet. If you don’t want to deal with a large vet bill it may be prudent to get a pet insurance quote and see if you’ll feel more comfortable paying monthly for an insurance policy.

What types of pet insurance are there?

Although you will find that there are many different pet insurance cover levels, offering varying features and benefits, there are essentially four types of policy.

Accident only

As these policies only cover your pet for accidents and injuries, it is usually the cheapest option. Your pet is generally not covered for illness with an accident only policy. And it’s worth mentioning that the majority of pet insurance claims are due to illness, so an accident only pet insurance policy may leave you out of pocket in the long run.

An accident-only policy usually has a set maximum amount per accident that you can claim, as well as a set maximum amount throughout the duration of the policy.

Time-limited

A time-limited policy is restricted by the length of time (usually a 12 month period) as well as maximum claim amount for an injury or illness. If you reach the capped limit of claim amount or time, your cover will stop, even if your pet is in mid-treatment.

A time-limited pet insurance policy is typically suited to older pets or those needing short-term illness or injury treatment. However, recurring vet bills will not be covered once the policy comes to an end, which could leave you with an unwanted on-going vet bill.

Older dogs and cats are often not eligible for lifetime pet insurance, meaning time-limited pet insurance is the best way to cover your four-legged (or two-winged) companion.

Maximum benefit

This policy provides insurance indefinitely, provided you renew your policy. However, there is a maximum amount of vet fees covered per condition. Once this maximum amount has been reached, your pet will no longer be covered.

You may be looking at taking out a maximum benefit pet insurance policy if you have a younger pet, or your pet is likely to suffer from recurring illnesses that requires a medium level of cover.  

Lifetime

The most comprehensive pet insurance that, if renewed, provides cover for the whole life of your pet. You can claim the same amount each year, no matter how many claims you might have to make. This policy is ideal if your pet picks up a long-term illness which requires regular on-going treatment at significant expense.

Please be sure to fully read the policy terms to understand if there are any limits imposed on claiming for vet bills against certain illnesses or procedures.

What does pet insurance typically cover?

Pet insurance policies and levels of cover can vary quite considerably, so we strongly advise you to read the full policy terms to completely understand that the policy you choose is the right one for you. It is not always best practice to opt for the cheapest pet insurance policy available, as it may not provide the cover that you think you’ll need or want for your pet.

Even though you’ll likely find variances across different insurers, most of them share certain features, often including:

• Vet fees
• Specific medical expenses
• Compensation for death by accident or illness
• Advertising or recovery costs if your pet is lost or stolen
• Dental work
• Third-party damage to property or another animal

How much is pet insurance?

The exact cost of pet insurance depends on a number of factors, such as where you live, how old your pet is, what type and breed of pet you have, if your pet has any history of medical issues and what pet insurance policy you choose.

£243 per year or £20.25 a month is the average price of pet insurance. This is according to figures based on pet insurance quotes collected from Consumer Intelligence between May 2017 and May 2018.

The cost of pet insurance is growing, with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) stating that there has been an increase of £57 in premiums since 2007. The increase has been attributed to rising vet bills which gets passed on to the insurers and the eventually then policyholders.    

How to reduce the cost of pet insurance?

• The cost of owning a pet and paying out for pet insurance is not an inconsiderable amount. So anyway to reduce the cost of your pet insurance is likely to be a welcome one. If you consider the following tips when requesting your quote, you might end up paying less for your premium. Look after your pet’s health

  • Make sure your pet is vaccinated correctly
  • Protect them against fleas and worms
  • Stay on top of their dental health
  • Give them plenty of exercise and a healthy diet. Reducing the chance of claiming means premiums are less likely to rise – prevention is better than cure.
  • Think about neutering or spaying your pet. Spaying or neutering your pet can reduce its potential to stray and develop a number of different conditions. Doing so could result in lower premiums.
  • Micro-chip your pet. Due to legislation changes, most insurers will require your dog to be micro-chipped. It also helps keep tabs on your pet if they do go missing.  
  • Insure your pets when they’re young and healthy. Quotes for older pets that have a pre-existing condition will always be more expensive than quotes for a young and healthy pet. Remember to tell your insurer everything they need to know to avoid being refused a claim in the future.  
  • Increase the excess you pay. You can choose to increase the excess you will have to pay on your policy which will lower your premium. However, make sure you are able to pay the excess if you do have to make a claim.
  • Only purchase the cover level you need. Don’t fall in to the trap of being covered for more than you require. You may just need the cheaper limited cover if you’re certain that you can cover the costs if your pet needs to have on-going continuous treatments.
  • Cover more than one pet. If you have more than one pet that you’d like to insure, check which insurers provide a discount for multi-pet cover.

Pet insurance comparison. Use our comparison tool to compare pet insurance quotes. Having a number of quotes to choose from is a great way to understand what you require and what price you are willing to pay. 

What doesn’t pet insurance cover?

With so many different insurers each providing their own level of pet insurance cover it’s no wonder some people just choose the cheapest option available to them. You could get lucky doing this and choose the cover level suitable for you, but it makes sense to research the type of pet insurance policy you really require. Some policies exclude certain things which you might believe are necessary.

There are a number of common treatments that are often excluded from a standard pet insurance policy. Routine vaccines, pregnancy and birth expenses, flea and worm control, as well as neutering and spaying are frequently excluded from policies. Any pre-existing medical conditions will not be covered, which also applies if you change pet insurance provider.

We highly recommend taking time over your pet insurance decision and carefully reading through the policy terms to fully understand what is and isn’t covered.

How much do vet appointments cost?

A typical cost of a consultation and diagnosis is approximately £60. If your pet requires any further treatment then your vet bill will increase dependent on what the treatment is.

Vet bills can certainly add up if your four-legged companion manages to get itself insured or develops an injury. Listed below are typical vet costs associated with treating common injuries and health problems for dogs.

• Tumour removal after a biopsy: £650+
• Treatment for arthritis: up to £370
• Bloating or gastroenteritis: up to £480
• Otitis Externa (ear condition) treatment: £300
• Diagnosis of skin conditions often found in small dogs: £400
• Repairing and treatment of torn knee ligament: £1,200
• Treatment of a typical wound: up to £400

(www.pets4homes.co.uk)

What do I need from my vet to claim?

Some parts of the claim form will need to be completed by the vet that treated your pet. You will need to show the invoices issued by the veterinary practice for the treatment of your animal. If it is the first time you are claiming you will need to provide your pet’s full clinical history. You can ask your vet for your pet’s full clinical history; you will need to contact any other vets that you have visited too.

The majority of insurers will reimburse your vet directly.