Best Pet Insurance UK 2025: Expert Comparison

For many of us, pets are like family, and it’s distressing when they’re unwell or injured. It’s even worse if you’re worried about vet bills. Luckily, the best pet insurance can cover these expenses.

Although most pet care coverage applies to examinations and treatment, some providers offer 24/7 access to trained vets via support lines and video calls. This service brings peace of mind if you’re unsure what’s wrong with your pet.

To help you choose the right cover, we’ve reviewed some of the best pet insurance companies in the UK and compared payout limits, policy exclusions, and emergency vet support. Regardless of your budget and pet’s needs, there’s something for everyone in our top picks.

Using a postcode in Northern England, we obtained the quotes below for a 3-year-old mixed-breed female dog without any pre-existing health conditions. The prices are for providers’ lifetime plans. Where available, we’ve listed both monthly and annual prices. Exact costs depend on your pet’s age, breed, medical history, and location.

Let’s compare the details of these best buys to help you make the right choice.

Our expert score: 4.7/5

Pros

Cons

Co-op Insurance provides lifetime and time-limited insurance policies for dogs and cats. Lifetime plans cover your pet for accidents and illnesses, and cover continues unless you cancel your policy. Annual payout limits range from £1,000 to £16,000 and refresh annually.

A time-limited policy protects your pet for 12 months after the first treatment for an accident or illness. You can choose between 2 cover levels: £2,000 and £5,000. Cover limits renew each year.

Policies include vet fees and costs for advertising and rewards if your pet is lost or stolen. The company also covers legal costs for injuries inflicted by your pet, dental treatment, and complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, chiropractic medicine, and hydrotherapy. Pet owners have access to trained vets 24/7 via video consultations.

Why buy? Expert verdict

With annual premiums of £95.64 and monthly costs of £7.97, Co-op could be your choice if you’re looking for affordable cover from a household name. You’ll also get a 5% discount if you’re a Co-op member and a 2.5% reduction if you’ve adopted your pet from a certified rescue shelter or animal charity.

A similar policy from ManyPets was almost double the price, while Direct Line was nearly 3 times higher. The price makes Co-op a top pick for budget-conscious pet lovers.

Our expert score: 4.7/5

Pros

Cons

Vetsure offers 8 policies for dogs and cats, including specialist cover for older animals, puppies, and kittens. You can choose between 3 levels of cover: Premier Plus, Premier, and Accident Only. Annual payout limits range from £1,000 to £7,000.While many companies won’t insure dogs over 8 years old, Vetsure covers senior dogs up to 10 on its Older Dogs plan. Note that the plan offers accident protection but not illness cover.

Unlike most providers, Vetsure works with a network of accredited vets. If you visit one of these vets, the company guarantees direct payment and offers a £20 discount on your excess. Regardless of the vet you visit, you’ll pay the excess only once per condition.

Vetsure policies include veterinary fees, complementary medicine, death expenses, and advertising fees if your pet is lost or stolen. The company also offers a 10% discount if you insure more than 1 pet.

Why buy? Expert verdict

Vetsure’s specialist cover for puppies and older dogs provides plenty of flexibility, regardless of your dog’s age. The company is also ideal if you’d prefer to work with an accredited vet within Vetsure’s network. Although many pet lovers already rely on a particular veterinarian, new owners may welcome help to find a reliable professional. A vet within Vetsure’s network saves on excess costs and eliminates upfront fees.

In addition, Vetsure provides accident-only cover, which isn’t available through all providers. It’s a good choice if you have an outdoor pet at higher risk for accidental injury.

✍️ Have you used this pet insurance? Share a rating and review for Vetsure on Review Centre and see what others have to say.

Our expert score: 4.6/5

Pros

Cons

Tesco Pet Insurance covers cats, dogs, kittens, and puppies with Standard, Extra, and Premier plans. The main difference is the annual cover limit: £3,000 for Standard, up to £7,500 for Extra, and £10,000 for Premier.

All policies cover accidents, illnesses, injuries, death expenses, and complementary therapies, such as physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. Standard and Extra include emergency dental cover, while Premier covers annual check-ups and recommended treatments.

The company also provides 24/7 phone and video consultations with qualified vets and vet nurses from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Consultations are unlimited, and you can send photos during video calls.

Why buy? Expert verdict

Not all insurers offer kitten cover, so Tesco Bank’s policy is appreciated. Buying insurance while your cat is young and healthy is always sensible. As cats age, they’re more likely to develop health conditions, making it more difficult to find affordable coverage.

Tesco Bank is an excellent choice for Clubcard holders, as the Tesco supermarket chain offers a guaranteed policy discount to members. You’ll also receive Clubcard points when buying pet insurance.

Tesco Bank is also a good option if your pet suffers multiple injuries from the same accident, as the company will treat them as a single health issue.

✍️ Have you used this pet insurance? Share a rating and review for Tesco Pet Insurance on Review Centre.

Our expert score: 4.5/5

Pros

Cons

Although most providers cover only dogs and cats, options exist for other pets. Agria offers lifetime plans for dogs, cats, rabbits, and horses, with cover limits of up to £20,000. Policies include vet fees, dental care, third-party liability, and theft cover. Home vet visits are also available for horses.

If you cover more than 1 pet, you’ll receive a 5% multi-pet discount, although higher discounts are available through some competitors. Additionally, the company has an attractive rewards programme, with discounts from Toggi, Currys, and Love Louis. Offers apply to products for both pets and their owners.

During our evaluation, this insurer ranked second-most expensive, with monthly premiums of £26.73 and annual costs of £130.80.

Why buy? Expert verdict

Agria has won several accolades from industry experts, including a Telegraph Best Buy in 2025, and has a 5-star Defaqto rating. That makes Agria a top pick if you value customer service.

This provider could also appeal to sustainable-minded pet owners, as it’s the UK’s first carbon-positive insurer. In addition, Agria works closely with animal welfare charities and has donated more than £1.2 billion to these organisations across the UK.

While the company quoted the highest premiums, this shouldn’t necessarily put you off, as its cover is far more comprehensive than most providers.

Plus, at 98%, Agria has the highest claims payout rate of the insurers we reviewed, followed by M&S at 97% and Petplan UK at 96%.

✍️ Have you used this pet insurance? Share a rating and review for Agria on Review Centre.

Our expert score: 4.5/5

Pros

Cons

With Asda, you can choose between lifetime and time-limited cover for dogs and cats. The lifetime policies cover new chronic conditions for life ranging from £2,000 to £10,000. Time-limited cover ranges from £2,000 to £5,000 and lasts 12 months from the first treatment date.

Policies include vet fees, dental costs, MRI scans, and expenses relating to the death of a pet through illness or injury, although death-through-illness cover expires when your pet reaches the age of 5. As with all policies on our list, you’ll pay an excess when claiming. You’ll also pay a 10% co-pay towards vet expenses if your pet is 5 years old or older.

Pet owners get 24/7 access to vets and preventative nurse clinics through the Joii app. These sessions cover more than 160 conditions, including parasite control, weight management, and dental health.

Why buy? Expert verdict

The Joii app is a fantastic perk. If you book a video consultation, you’ll receive your pet’s treatment plan and product recommendations. The app also includes a symptom checker tool, which could be invaluable if you’re unsure whether your pet is ill.

Asda could also be an excellent option if you have 2 or more pets, as it offers a 10% multi-pet discount. The insurer also quoted the second lowest premium for a 3-year-old mixed-breed female, at £10.90 per month and £130.80 per year.

Asda’s free 1-to-1 consultations with vet nurses can be a real money-saver, too, as it’s common for these services to cost around £50 without insurance.

✍️ Have you used this pet insurance? Share a rating and review for Asda Pet Insurance on Review Centre.

Our expert score: 4.4/5

Pros

Cons

M&S Bank offers cover for dogs and cats across 4 policy types: lifetime, time-limited, specialist dog cover, and specialist cat cover. Lifetime cover offers Premier, Plus, and Standard policies, with annual vet limits from £2,000 to £10,000. With time-limited cover, there’s a £3,000 cap per condition over 12 months.

Plans include vet fees, emergency boarding, death fees, advertising costs if your pet goes missing, and liability insurance if your pet injures someone. You also have 24/7 access to trained veterinary nurses through the company’s helpline service.

Why buy? Expert verdict

M&S is a sensible choice if you want to save on your pet insurance. It offers a 10% discount if you cover more than 1 pet, although there’s a 3-pet limit per policy. You’ll also receive a 15% discount when buying online.

The company’s quick response time is impressive, too, with 97% of claims paid within five days. A speedy turnaround can help prevent added stress during an already difficult time.

Additionally, M&S is the third lowest-priced option on our list. We were quoted £11.77 per month and £141.21 per year for a 3-year-old mixed-breed female dog.

With over 30 years of experience, M&S is a well-established brand in the pet insurance industry. In addition, its policies are underwritten by the Royal Sun Alliance, which has been operating for more than 300 years.

Our expert score: 4.4/5

Pros

Cons

Insuring more than 1.3 million pets, Petplan offers 2 levels of cover for dogs, cats, and rabbits: Covered for Life and Essential.

Its Covered for Life plan allows lifetime claims as long as you renew the policy yearly. You can choose claim limits of £4,000, £7,000, or £12,000.

The Essential plan provides short-term cover for 12 months, allowing you to claim up to £3,000 per illness or injury. Once you reach these limits, your cover will expire. However, you can still claim for any new health issues your pet experiences.

Policies include physical and online consultations, prescription medicine, diagnostic tests, surgery, and cancer treatments. Unlike some providers, Petplan covers behavioural issues, hereditary conditions, and alternative therapies.

The company quoted £29.31 per month for a mixed-breed female dog, making it the most expensive option on our list.

Why buy? Expert verdict

Petplan is our top pick if you have rabbits in your family, as many providers cover only dogs and cats.

We’re also pleased that the company pays 97% of claims. Many providers have far lower payout rates or don’t disclose this data. Petplan guarantees that it won’t increase your premiums after you make a claim, which protects you from future hikes. In extreme cases, some insurers increase premiums by up to 50% after a claim.

✍️ Have you used this pet insurance? Share a rating and review for Petplan on Review Centre and see what others have to say.

Pet insurance falls into 4 categories: lifetime, time-limited, maximum benefit, and accident-only.

With lifetime cover, your insurer protects your pet from accidents and illnesses until they pass away. However, restrictions often exist on the amount you can claim per condition over 12 months. If you renew the policy yearly, your pet is covered for life.

Time-limited insurance allows you to claim a set amount within a certain period, usually 1 year. You can’t claim again once you hit your allowance, and your cover will end on the specified date.

Maximum benefit policies cover specific conditions up to a pre-defined amount. Usually, there’s no limit on the number of times you can claim for a condition, and the policy remains valid until you’ve hit the claim limit.

Accident-only policies pay towards your expenses if your pet is involved in an accident but will not meet the cost of illnesses.

Some providers also specialise in covering pets with pre-existing conditions. However, these policies tend to be more expensive than others, as there’s a greater chance you’ll make a claim.

What type of pet insurance do I need?

The type of pet insurance you need depends on your budget, your pet’s medical history, and the level of cover you’re comfortable with.

Accident-only could be a sensible option if you’re on a limited budget, as it’s typically the most affordable type of pet insurance. But remember, it doesn’t cover other health or medical conditions.

You might consider a defined benefit policy if you want to be covered separately for each condition your pet develops. For example, an ear infection and a broken leg would have separate annual allowances.

Pet owners with older animals could opt for a time-limited policy, as buying cover later in your pet’s life tends to be more expensive.

Since lifetime cover typically offers the most comprehensive protection, it could be ideal for pets with chronic or ongoing health issues.

While policies vary, pet insurance typically covers expenses related to vet bills, lost pets, hospitalisation, and legal fees if your pet injures someone.

Vet services typically cover the cost of diagnosing and treating injuries and health conditions, including expenses for examinations, medications, scans, MRIs, and hospital stays. Some policies also cover physiotherapy, homoeopathy, and acupuncture.

If your pet is lost or stolen, your policy may pay advertising costs for their return. Many providers reimburse you for the current market value of your lost pet.

Some more comprehensive policies cover expenses such as overseas vet bills if your pet needs care abroad. Others pay the cost of a cancelled holiday if you can’t travel because your pet is unwell.

Most pet insurance policies don’t include coverage for pre-existing conditions. That means you’ll need to cover healthcare costs for conditions like diabetes if your pet was diagnosed before purchasing the plan.

When choosing pet insurance, find a company that offers good value for money while still providing enough cover for your needs. We recommend considering these factors:

Excess

Choosing an affordable excess (the amount you pay towards any claim) is critical. While choosing a high excess may reduce premiums, it could be a mistake if you can’t afford the cost of a claim.

Coverage limits

Check for payout limits, as many insurers restrict the number of claims you can make per year or condition. Low limits could leave you out of pocket if your pet has significant medical costs.

Claims process

Checking the claims process on any provider before you buy can help avoid future hassle. Pay particular attention to the documents you need to submit and the methods for claiming. For example, some customers prefer to claim via an app.

Payout times

With vet bills running into hundreds and sometimes thousands, look for a company that will process your claim and reimburse you quickly.

Industry reputation

Read reviews from customers and industry experts to check the company’s reputation. Awards can also indicate an insurer’s reliability.

For each provider, we analysed customer satisfaction scores on review sites and trade publication reviews. We also evaluated terms and conditions on the companies’ websites and looked at factors such as:

We requested a range of quotes to gauge the affordability of each provider, entering details of several animals with varying medical histories in different parts of the country.

We reviewed each company’s terms and conditions to check for any exclusions affecting the ability to claim.

To test the appeal of pet insurance providers, we looked at the different policy types and the flexibility of cover levels.

We tested each provider’s quote tools for ease of use and navigation. Sites with jargon-free language were more likely to make our top picks.

We thoroughly reviewed insurers’ websites, giving extra points to educational articles and pet health guides. Companies with apps also gained higher marks.

What counts as a pre-existing condition?

Insurers define a pre-existing condition as any medical problem your pet had at your policy start date. Most insurers won’t cover pre-existing conditions. However, some may include these if your pet hasn’t shown symptoms for a specified time.

How do I pay the vet?

You have 2 options for paying a vet: direct payment or reimbursement. With direct payment, your insurer settles the bill on your behalf. The reimbursement option means you pay the vet and reclaim the money from your insurer. Not all vets accept payments directly from an insurer.

Will my pet insurance be valid abroad?

Some pet insurance policies are valid outside the UK, although not all are. Check your policy’s fine print if you plan to take your pet abroad. Some insurers may also allow you to add overseas cover as an optional extra.

Finding the best pet insurance in the UK may not be on your mind when your pet is healthy. However, buying cover can safeguard your family against future emotional and financial distress. In addition to helping you meet the cost of vet bills, many policies provide access to 24/7 emergency vet helplines.

While the best pet insurance policy for you depends on numerous factors, we hope you can find one that suits your needs in our top picks. Remember, the key is to compare as many providers as possible to find one that fits your budget and provides enough protection for your beloved pet.