*Prices based on Confused.com data taken between June 2024 - August 2024. Costs shown are based on the average price paid for one pet with no pre-existing conditions. "Accident Only" cover across cats and dogs of all ages, breeds and in all locations
Types of pet insurance
Lifetime cover
Lifetime cover is the most popular and comprehensive type of pet insurance. It covers ongoing medical issues your pet has throughout its lifetime, subject to an annual claim limit.
Non-lifetime cover
Non-lifetime cover is less comprehensive and has more exclusions. There are two types of non-lifetime cover: time-limited cover and maximum benefit cover. Time-limited cover limits the amount of time that a new condition will be included under your insurance policy. Maximum benefit cover offers protection for illnesses or injury your pet may experience up to a fixed sum. Once that amount has been paid out, the treatment won't be covered again.
Accident-only cover
Accident-only cover is usually the cheapest and least comprehensive form of pet insurance. It provides a fixed sum of money towards treatment if your pet gets injured, but doesn't offer cover for illness.
Elements of cover to look out for
Pet insurance policies come in all shapes and sizes, so you'll need to carefully check the policy wording before choosing an insurer. Some elements of cover come as standard, but not all policies will include them. In addition to cover against illness and injury, you should keep an eye out for these policy elements:
Dental cover
Dental cover: some policies only cover dental treatment if it's required due to illness or injury. Policies are unlikely to cover routine treatments.
Missing pet cover
Missing pet cover: covers the cost of putting up posters and paying a reward if your pet goes missing.
Overseas travel cover
Overseas travel cover: provides cover if your pet falls ill, is involved in an accident or need treatment while abroad.
Cattery and kennel fees
Cattery and kennel fees: pays for your pet to be put in a cattery or a kennel if you're hospitalised and nobody is able to look after it.
| Insurer | Name of policy | Cat cover policy score | Dog cover policy score |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Agria
|
Lifetime Premium
|
83%
|
83%
|
|
Kennel Club
|
Lifetime Premium
|
N/A
|
83%
|
|
Kennel Club
|
Lifetime plus
|
N/A
|
80%
|
|
Agria
|
Lifetime plus
|
77%
|
78%
|
|
John Lewis
|
Lifetime (£12,000)
|
79%
|
78%
|
|
Petplan
|
Covered for Life (£12,000)
|
79%
|
78%
|
|
John Lewis
|
Lifetime (£7,500)
|
77%
|
76%
|
|
John Lewis
|
Lifetime (£9,000)
|
77%
|
76%
|
|
Argos
|
Lifetime (£7,000)
|
75%
|
75%
|
|
Post Office
|
Lifetime (£7,000)
|
76%
|
75%
|
|
PDSA
|
Lifetime (£8,000)
|
77%
|
75%
|
|
Petplan
|
Covered for Life (£7,000)
|
77%
|
75%
|
|
Agria
|
Home Lifetime Plus
|
76%
|
N/A
|
|
Agria
|
Lifetime
|
75%
|
74%
|
|
Co-op Insurance
|
Lifetime (16,000)
|
72%
|
73%
|
|
Kennel Club
|
Lifetime
|
N/A
|
73%
|
|
M&S
|
Premier (£7,000)
|
74%
|
73%
|
|
M&S
|
Premier (£10,000)
|
74%
|
73%
|
|
John Lewis
|
Lifetime (£5,000)
|
74%
|
73%
|
|
PDSA
|
Lifetime (£5,000)
|
74%
|
72%
|
|
Agria
|
Home Lifetime
|
73%
|
N/A
|
|
M&S
|
Premier (£5,000)
|
72%
|
71%
|
|
Everypaw
|
Lifetime (£6,000)
|
71%
|
70%
|
|
Everypaw
|
Lifetime (£8,000)
|
71%
|
70%
|
|
Everypaw
|
Lifetime (£10,000)
|
71%
|
70%
|
|
K9 Cover
|
Gold (£8,000)
|
N/A
|
70%
|
|
K9 Cover
|
Gold (£7,000)
|
N/A
|
70%
|
|
K9 Cover
|
Gold (£6,000)
|
N/A
|
70%
|
|
Argos
|
Lifetime (£4,500)
|
68%
|
68%
|
|
Post Office
|
Lifetime (£4,500)
|
71%
|
68%
|
|
K9 Cover
|
Silver (£8,000)
|
N/A
|
68%
|
|
K9 Cover
|
Silver (£7,000)
|
N/A
|
68%
|
|
K9 Cover
|
Silver (£6,000)
|
N/A
|
68%
|
|
PDSA
|
Lifetime (£4,000)
|
68%
|
68%
|
|
Co-op Insurance
|
Lifetime (£7,500)
|
66%
|
67%
|
|
Co-op Insurance
|
Lifetime (£10,000)
|
67%
|
67%
|
|
K9 Cover
|
Gold (£5,000)
|
N/A
|
67%
|
|
Petplan
|
Covered for Life (£4,000)
|
69%
|
67%
|
Which? analysed 150 cat insurance policies and 167 dog insurance policies in January 2024. The policies in the table above are some of our Best Buys. These are all lifetime policies that offer high levels of cover and meet our minimum cover criteria. Customer score: survey of 1,300 Which? members that own pet insurance in November 2023. Claims score: based on responses from 758 Which? members. Not all insurers on Confused.com's panel were included in our analysis.
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