Cheapest Pet Insurance UK 2025: Expert Comparison

As a pet parent or carer, ensuring your pet’s health and well-being is one of your most important responsibilities—but it can also be costly. Where Brits spend £35-£50 per vet visit for their furry family members, these costs can reach several hundred or even thousands of pounds in the event of a serious accident or illness.

The best pet insurance providers offer a safety net in such situations, reimbursing you up to 90% of your vet expenses, depending on your policy. Still, the cost of pet insurance itself can be a concern for many pet owners. That’s why we've researched and compared a range of pet insurance providers to help you find the cheapest pet insurance in the UK.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most affordable pet insurance options for various needs and priorities.

Our expert score: 4.7/5

Pros

Cons

The Kennel Club is a well-established name in the dog insurance industry. Although it recently expanded its offerings to include cat policies, its primary focus remains on dogs.

Agria, a Swedish provider with over 125 years of experience in the industry, underwrites the company’s pet insurance.

While the Kennel Club offers lifetime coverage only, its policy is flexible. You can customise it with optional extras, such as overseas travel cover, breeding risks, and coverage for loss from straying or theft.

The Kennel Club boasts a 98% payout rate. Unlike many other providers, it doesn’t increase your premiums once you make a claim. Owners or carers who insure their pets with this company also benefit from 24/7 free access to a vet hotline for professional advice.

Why buy? Expert verdict

If you’re a dog owner, the Kennel Club is one of the top choices for comprehensive, specialised pet insurance. It has a trusted legacy in this space, with over 700,000 dogs insured in the UK since its founding.

The Kennel Club’s lifetime policy protects your furry companion for the long haul. Plus, its vet fee limit of £25,000 is one of the most generous on the market, far surpassing some competitors that cap coverage at £8,000.

Overall, the Kennel Club’s policy is ideal for those who want the assurance of comprehensive financial protection for serious or ongoing health issues that may cost a fortune to treat out of pocket.

✍️ Have you used this provider? Check or leave Kennel Club reviews.

Our expert score: 4.6/5

Pros

Cons

Admiral offers 2 main levels of pet insurance coverage: Lifetime and Time-Limited.

The Lifetime cover, Admiral’s most comprehensive policy, includes up to £10,000 in vet fee coverage, £2,000,000 in third-party liability, and £2,000 for emergency holiday cancellations. It also covers behavioural treatment, dentistry, emergency boarding, and cattery fees.

The Time-Limited plan covers your pet for illnesses and accidents for 12 months from when symptoms first appear. It includes up to £4,000 in vet fee cover, £1,000,000 in third-party liability, and £1,500 in emergency holiday cancellation cover.

Additionally, Admiral partners with PawSquad to provide pet owners free 24/7 access to a veterinary helpline.

Why buy? Expert verdict

Admiral is best suited for people who are looking to insure multiple pets. With this company, you’ll get a discount of up to 15% for every extra pet you add to your policy. And if you're already an Admiral customer with car, home, or travel insurance, you could qualify for an additional 10% discount.

If you’re eligible for both, Admiral applies 10% off the full price of your multi-pet policy, followed by a 15% discount on the newly reduced price. That means you could get a total discount of 23.5%—one of the largest in the market.

Our expert score: 4.6/5

Pros

Cons

ManyPets is a multi-award-winning provider recognised for its exceptional pet insurance policies. It offers a lifetime policy covering vet fees of up to £15,000 annually.

Unlike many insurers, ManyPets also covers pre-existing conditions, provided your pet has been symptom-free for 2 years before the policy starts. The company offers a separate pre-existing condition policy that reduces the waiting period to just 3 months.

ManyPets’s policies also include dental cover for accidents as standard. Additionally, the company offers free extras worth up to £500, including discounts on pet accessories, treats, pet sitting, and preventive treatments like flea control and worming.

Why buy? Expert verdict

ManyPets is an ideal choice for pet owners seeking award-winning, comprehensive coverage. It was voted Pet Insurance Provider of the Year at the 2024, 2022, and 2021 Moneyfacts Consumer Awards—a testament to its reputation for exceptional service and customer satisfaction.

ManyPets’s inclusion of pre-existing condition coverage sets it apart from most competitors. It also excels with value-added services, such as 24/7 access to veterinary advice via FirstVet and discounts on preventive treatment, pet treats, and accessories.

Furthermore, ManyPets offers a unique Money Back Program: If you agree to pay a slightly higher premium, you can receive 20% back on your annual premium at renewal if you haven’t made a claim that year.

Our expert score: 4.5/5

Pros

Cons

LV= offers 2 main coverage options: Lifetime Cover and Time-Limited Cover. The Lifetime Cover option, rated 5 stars by Defaqto, covers up to £10,000 in annual vet fees.

LV= also incentivises new customers with a 10% discount for the first year when purchasing a policy online. Additionally, existing LV= customers with home or car insurance can save further with a 10% multi-product discount on their pet insurance.

Another unique benefit of this provider is reimbursement of up to £1,500 for advertising to find a lost pet, including up to £500 as a reward. Another plus? LV= partners with FirstVet to offer customers free 24/7 virtual consultations with qualified veterinarians.

If you frequently travel with your pet, LV= could be an excellent and affordable choice.

Its 180-day travel coverage in the EU is one of the most extensive travel allowances available, ensuring your pet enjoys uninterrupted protection during extended trips abroad. Some providers, for example, allow a maximum of 30 days per trip and a maximum of 3 trips during 1 insurance period.

While abroad, your pet receives the same level of coverage as in the UK, including vet fees, loss or theft reimbursement, and access to First Vet’s 24/7 veterinary consultations.

✍️ Have you used this provider? Leave or check LV= pet insurance reviews.

Our expert score: 4.4/5

Pros

Cons

The Insurance Emporium has been in the pet insurance industry for more than 80 years. It offers some of the cheapest pet insurance for cats and dogs that are older.

You can choose from 5 different levels of cover: Public Liability, Accident-Only, Time-Limited, Maximum Benefit, and Lifetime. The Lifetime policy is the most comprehensive, offering up to £8,000 annually for vet fees and up to £1.5 million in public liability coverage.

The Insurance Emporium boasts an impressive 95% claims payout rate and offers a 10% discount for insuring multiple senior pets.

For senior pet owners, the Insurance Emporium is an excellent choice because its policies are tailored to the needs of older animals. Its wide selection of policies allows you to pick a plan that best suits your needs.

The Insurance Emporium's policies for senior pets are also among the cheapest in the industry, starting at just £4.46 per month for cats and £5.58 for dogs. Their multi-pet discount of up to 10% further enhances the value.

Pet insurance falls into 4 major types: accident-only, time-limited, maximum benefit (also known as money-limited), and lifetime.

Accident-only plans, as the name suggests, cover the cost of veterinary emergency care for accidents such as getting struck by a vehicle, swallowing a foreign object, or falling from a height. It doesn’t cover the cost of illnesses. Accidentally-only is typically the cheapest type of pet insurance.

Time-limited policies cover the cost of treating illnesses or injuries caused by accidents for a set period, typically 12 months. Once this time limit expires, the policy will no longer cover ongoing treatment.

Maximum benefit insurance (aka money-limited insurance) covers specific illnesses or injuries up to a set financial limit. There’s no time limit for claiming but once you hit the monetary cap, you can no longer claim for that condition.

Lifetime insurance is the most comprehensive form of pet insurance. With this type, your pet is covered for life for the treatment of each condition. That includes ongoing treatment for chronic conditions like diabetes or arthritis. There’s still a limit on the amount you can claim (either as a total or for each condition, depending on the provider), but that resets when you renew your policy.

The best insurance for your pet depends on several factors, including your budget, your pet’s medical history, breed and age.

If you have a healthy, young pet and are on a tight budget, an accident-only might be a good starting point for protecting your pet against unexpected accidents. Keep in mind that it won’t cover your pet for illnesses.

A time-limited or maximum-benefit policy could be ideal if you can afford to spend a little more and want coverage for accidents and illnesses.

Meanwhile, a lifetime policy is often the best choice if you have a pet with a history of health problems or a breed prone to certain conditions. It ensures long-term coverage for all issues your pet develops while the policy is active, including chronic conditions like arthritis, diabetes and heart disease. Some insurers may have age limits for this kind of policy, so it’s wise to act sooner rather than later if you’ve just become a pet owner.

Typically, pet insurance helps cover the costs related to accidents and illnesses. This includes emergency exam fees, diagnostic and imaging tests like X-rays and MRIs, medications, specialist care, surgeries, and hospital stays.

Depending on the provider and type of policy, other items that may be covered include holistic treatments like acupuncture and behavioural therapies, death from accidents and illness, loss by straying or theft, cremation and burial and third-party liability (such as if your dog bites someone).

Some policies also offer a wellness coverage add-on that helps to offset the costs of preventive treatments (such as vaccinations) and spaying or neutering.

Generally, pet insurance doesn’t cover hereditary or pre-existing conditions, elective or cosmetic surgeries or procedures, breeding costs, or routine dental care. However, check with the specific provider to confirm.

To pick the right pet insurance for you and your furry family member, carefully consider these factors:

Excess and reimbursement rates

Check how much excess (the amount you pay towards a claim) you’ll need to pay upfront and the percentage of vet bills the insurer reimburses. Opt for a balance that fits your budget without leaving you out of pocket during emergencies.

Exclusions

Be aware of what isn’t covered, such as pre-existing conditions, routine checkups, or alternative therapies, which can vary by insurer.

Customer service and reviews

Look for insurers with a reputation for swift claims processing and reliable customer support. User feedback and reviews on platforms like Review Centre can help.

Waiting period

All pet insurance policies include a waiting period—a set timeframe after purchase during which you can’t make claims. This is designed to prevent fraudulent claims for pre-existing conditions.

Always check the waiting periods for different conditions before signing up. If you have a playful pet, for example, you never know when it can get into an accident, so opting for a provider with short waiting periods can be hugely advantageous.

Price transparency

Look for companies that provide clear, upfront pricing. Transparency ensures that you fully understand what you're paying for and won’t be caught off guard by additional or hidden costs later on.

Additional perks

Some insurers go above and beyond by offering perks like pet health advice, discounts on pet supplies, or access to online vet consultations. These extras can enhance a policy’s overall value and make one provider stand out from the rest.

Customer support

Good customer service can make a huge difference, especially during emergencies. Providers offering 24/7 support through hotlines or apps can assist with urgent queries or claims, ensuring you’re not left waiting when your pet needs care. Check if the provider has knowledgeable staff to guide you through the claims process or clarify policy details.

Customisable plans

Look for providers that offer customisable options where you can adjust the coverage based on your pet’s health needs and your budget. For example, some insurers allow you to choose your annual coverage limits, excess amounts, and add-ons like wellness packages, which can cover routine care like vaccinations and check-ups.

While our primary aim was to find some of the cheapest pet insurance providers, we know affordability shouldn’t come at the expense of adequate coverage or reliable service. That’s why we also considered other key factors to ensure these policies provide real value for money.

Coverage options

We examined what each policy covers, ensuring even budget-friendly plans provide comprehensive protection for various accidents and illnesses.

Waiting period

We also considered the waiting period associated with each insurance policy. A shorter waiting period is crucial to avoid unnecessary delays in receiving care.

Claims process

We evaluated each provider’s claims process efficiency. We included only companies that offer a smooth, hassle-free, and fast claim-filing experience.

Exclusions and limitations

We carefully reviewed each policy’s exclusions and limitations, such as those regarding pre-existing conditions, breed-specific exclusions, and waiting periods. We focused on providers that offered transparent and reasonable exclusions or limitations.

Customer satisfaction

We considered reviews and ratings on different online platforms to gauge customer satisfaction with claims processes, customer service, and overall value. We prioritised providers that had mostly positive feedback.

What is the average cost of pet insurance?

According to the latest data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the average annual pet insurance premium is £389. However, the actual cost of pet insurance will depend on the type and breed of your pet, age, location and medical history.

Do pet insurance plans cover pre-existing conditions?

Most pet insurance providers don’t cover pre-existing conditions, which are illnesses or injuries diagnosed before the policy's start date. That said, some insurers may offer limited coverage for conditions that have been fully treated and symptom-free for a specified period.

When is the best time to get pet insurance for my pet?

The best time to get pet insurance is as soon as possible, ideally when your pet is under 1 year old. Insuring your pet early can help lock in lower premiums and ensure coverage before any medical conditions arise, which the insurer could later classify as pre-existing and thus exclude from coverage.

Selecting the right pet insurance is a vital step in safeguarding not just your pet’s health and finances. To simplify your decision, this guide has highlighted some of the cheapest UK providers available for various needs and priorities. Start comparing your options today, and give your pet the protection it deserves without breaking the bank.