How to get cheap pet insurance

How to save money on pet insurance

Pet insurance prices are rising but but you can still save money by shopping around. 

Price comparison sites that allow you to view multiple quotes at a glance are a good place to start; they can help you understand the costs associated with different types of policies. The main ones for insurance are Compare the Market, Confused.com, GoCompare and MoneySuperMarket.

Get a quote from insurers that don't feature on some or all comparison sites. For example, Direct Line and PetPlan. Once you're on the insurer's website, check that the policy details match what you're expecting, and that the insurer has received the correct details about you and your pet, so the quote is accurate.

Read on to find many more ways to save on pet insurance.

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7 more ways to get cheap pet insurance

Given the substantial cost of pet insurance, even small changes can pay off. Here are seven simple ways you can reduce the price:

1. Buy pet insurance when your dog or cat is healthy

It might seem counterintuitive, but it's much better to buy pet insurance when your pets are in good health. This is because pre-existing conditions are usually excluded from new pet insurance policies.

So, if you buy pet insurance before your pet falls ill, you're maximising the number of illnesses your pet will be covered for.

2. Pay annually

Monthly payments may seem convenient, but a monthly plan is essentially a high-interest loan and can add significantly to your costs.

You might be able to save a significant amount if you pay annually. You may be able to use an interest-free purchase credit card to spread payments.

3. Stay up to date with jabs

Keeping your pet as healthy as possible can really help you save money on pet insurance. So make sure your pet gets the appropriate vaccinations and injections, including boosters, regularly.

This could make all the difference, because if your pet falls ill and you need to claim, your insurance premium could rise sharply in subsequent years.

4. Haggle for a better deal

If you believe your pet insurer has raised premiums without good reason, ask it to justify the increase.

If you’ve seen lower prices elsewhere, point that out and ask your insurer if it can better those rates.

Tell them you're willing to switch to another insurer if they're not able to provide a better quote – if you've been a loyal customer for many years, it's worth mentioning this.

5. Tweak the excess

One simple tip to reduce the cost of a policy is to tweak the excess you pay. This is the amount you immediately contribute towards any claim. The higher the excess you are willing to pay, the lower the premium, but think carefully about how much you can realistically afford if your pet does need expensive treatment.

6. Save with a multi-pet policy

If you have more than one pet, it might work out cheaper to get a multi-pet policy rather than insuring each animal separately. Some providers will offer a discount for this type of policy.

7. Use cashback websites

Cashback sites – such as Quidco and TopCashback – are worth checking out while you shop around for policies. They pay you a cash reward when you click through from them to buy products and services, including insurance.

Be careful, though. They won't necessarily offer you the best-value deals, even with cashback included. For example, a £1,000 insurance policy with £200 cashback is far from a bargain if you can get the same cover elsewhere for £700.

Cheap pet insurance for unusual pets

While cats and dogs are the most popular pets, many animal lovers have snakes, spiders and lizards.

More exotic pets – and animals with vastly different needs such as horses, birds and rabbits – may not be adequately covered under traditional policies.

Speak to pet-insurance specialists to find the cover you need and, if you are still struggling, use the British Insurance Brokers' Association to find a broker service for further help.

Is pet insurance worth buying?

The chance of claiming depends on your pet, but a survey of Which? members who held pet insurance in 2023 found that 40% had not made a claim in the past five years.

If you're not convinced about the value of pet insurance, there are alternatives.

You could self-insure, by saving a set amount of money to pay for potential vet bills. The benefit of this approach is that you have the money available for other emergencies and it can earn interest (though inflation may sap its value over the years).

This fund may need to be substantial, as the cost of operations can run into thousands of pounds, so it makes sense to start saving early.

There are several charities that offer free treatment to pets, though help is usually means-tested and intended for people on a low income, retired, or receiving certain state benefits.

How much cover do I need?

A record £1bn was paid out by insurers to treat sick and injured pets in 2022, with the Association of British Insurers finding the price of treating a serious condition can spiral into the thousands. Claims for spinal surgery on a dog, for example, totted up to £10,000, while the cost of a fractured femur for a pedigree cat hit over £8,000.

Factoring in the possibility that you may need to make multiple claims (which isn't uncommon), as a rough starting point, we'd recommend:

• cover that pays out for injuries as well as illness.
• steering clear of policies that offer less than £2,000 a year.

Bear in mind these are minimum recommendations, and any treatment cost above your chosen cover amount will come from your own pocket.

The price of insuring your pet will depend on factors such as age, breed and size. Behaviour, current health and medical history also make a difference, as does how much you paid for your pet, if you bought rather than adopted it.

To find out more details about the main types of pet insurance and the differences between policies, visit our guide 'pet insurance explained'.