Best dog insurance policies 2025

Best UK dog insurance policies compared

• Want the best dog insurance policy or insurer? Use our tables below, then go to Stickee.com or another comparison site, or you can go direct to the insurer.
• Want the cheapest dog insurance policy or insurer? Follow the links to Stickee.com, or another comparison site, to get a list of policies. Then check what the policies scored by searching our tables.

Please note that the information in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. Please refer to the particular terms and conditions of an insurer before committing to any financial products.

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Best Buy dog insurance policies

In total, we named 20 dog policies as Which? Best Buys. Here we take a deeper look at the top performers:

Agria Lifetime Premium

• 83% policy score for dog cover, joint 2nd of 169 dog policies we reviewed
• 70% customer score, which meant it placed as 1st of the 9 insurers we had customer scores for

We like: this has one of the highest vet-fee limits out of the ones we assessed – £20,000 per year. The cap includes costs for scans and also contributes £750 for therapy provided by a behaviourist.

We don't like: as with most (but not all) policies, medical conditions that existed before the policy was taken out are excluded from cover.

• Read our expert review of Agria pet insurance

Kennel Club Lifetime Premium

• 83% policy score for dog cover. This places it joint 2nd of 169 dog policies we reviewed

We like: this has the highest vet-fee limit among products we reviewed – £25,000. It also included a high liability limit (for compensation-related costs should your dog damage any property or cause injury) of £3,000,000. 

We don't like: holiday cancellation cover only applied if the dog requires 'lifesaving' treatment or surgery.

• Read our expert review of Kennel Club pet insurance

How can you save money on dog insurance?

1. Find out the needs of your dog breed

According to the Association of British Insurers, the average pet insurance claim paid in 2023 was £668. Factoring in the possibility of needing to make multiple claims, and the fact that vets' prices are on the rise, we wouldn't recommend a policy that pays out less than £2,000 annually.

But all pets are different, so it's well worth understanding your dog's needs to make sure you get adequate cover.

Dogs are generally more expensive to maintain (and insure) than cats, and certain breeds are more susceptible to chronic conditions than others. For example, Labrador retrievers can be prone to cruciate ligament problems, while dachshunds are prone to getting back problems, both of which can set you back thousands of pounds in treatment costs.

Talk to your vet about common conditions and what level of cover they recommend.

2. Buy insurance when your dog is healthy

This might seem counterintuitive but, as most policies exclude pre-existing conditions, buying early means you're maximising the cover your pet will get.

3. Make sure your dog is up to date on its jabs

Make sure your dog gets the appropriate inoculations and injections, including boosters. This will minimise its chance of getting an illness that could lead to expensive premiums.

4. Pay annually (if you can afford it)

Your insurer may charge interest if you pay monthly rather than annually, which can be expensive.

5. Haggle at renewal 

If the insurer increases your dog's premiums without good reason, call it to discuss the premium. It may be open to negotiation.

• Find out more: how to find cheap pet insurance

Do you need dog insurance?

Dean Sobers, Which? insurance expert says:

'For most breeds of dog, you aren't legally required to own pet insurance, so it's ultimately your choice as to whether you want to fork out on premiums.

'With no NHS for pets – and some vets procedures costing thousands of pounds – insurance means you'll have significantly less to worry about should your dog require expensive medical treatment.

'Another core benefit of having insurance for your dog is that it covers the costs of compensation (cover limits range from £1m to £3m among those we examined), should your pet harm someone or cause property damage. 

'The main downside is pet cover can also be fairly pricey (especially for older pets), and exclusions or high compulsory excesses can chip away at the policy's value.

'One alternative to owning insurance is “self-insuring” – paying for your dog's medical needs from savings. If you put aside regular amounts into a savings account, you'll have a growing fund to help pay for steep vet bills.'

• Find out more: pet insurance alternatives • dog harness and dog food reviews.

 Types of dog insurance

 About Which? dog insurance research

In December 2024, we analysed 169 pet insurance policies covering dogs. We examined the amounts they paid out in vet fees, plus other benefits provided, including costs for holiday cancellation, dental cover and advertising, and reward costs to help find your dog if it goes missing.

We compared 34 features of the policies, plus the amount each pays in vet fees, to create a policy score. The higher the score, the more comprehensive the cover.

Policies that we've named as Best Buys are all lifetime policies that did well in our analysis of cover, scoring at least 70%. In addition:

• Each will pay out a minimum of £2,000 per year in vet fees.
• Each will pay out a minimum of £1,000 for any single condition in a year, if an annual condition limit applies.
• They all provide dental cover for both accidents and illnesses.

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