How to get cheap pet insurance

How to save money on pet insurance

Pets can be expensive at the best of times. And while pet insurance can shield you from fearsome vet bills, the premiums can also bite.

Here, we explain how to get the best deal on cover for your cat and dog.

If you're looking for the best policies, as scored by customers and our experts, see our pet insurance reviews.

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

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1. Buy pet insurance when your pet 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 insurance before your pet falls ill, you're maximising the number of illnesses they'll be covered for.

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

• Find out more: how to complain to your vet and the best vets in our consumer survey

2. Use cashback websites

Cashback can be an afterthought, but you need to activate it before buying.

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.

That's why cashback is best used as part of shopping around, not instead of it. In many cases, you can get cash for using cashback sites to reach a comparison site.

3. Use multiple comparison sites

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.

They'll have different panels of insurers, so using more than one can help you check you're getting the best quotes.

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.

It's also worth getting a quote from insurers that don't feature on some or all comparison sites, for example Direct Line and PetPlan.

• Find out more: all our pet insurance reviews

4. Tweak the excess

A simple tip to reduce the cost of a policy is to adjust the excess you pay. This is the amount you contribute upfront towards any claim. 

The higher the excess you're willing to pay, the lower the premium, but think carefully about how much you can realistically afford if your pet does need expensive treatment.

One option is to get pet insurance that you intend to use only for expensive operations, then set aside savings for less-serious vet visits so you don't need to claim on your insurance for them.

• Find out more: Best savings accounts 2025 

5. Pay annually

Monthly payments may seem convenient, but insurers sometimes charge interest on instalments, meaning you'd pay more this way across the year.

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

6. Haggle with your current provider

Armed with your lower quotes, call your insurer and ask if it can better those rates.

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

Keep in mind that if you switch, your pet's pre-existing medical conditions may not be covered by the new insurer, so factor this in when working out who offers the best deal.

7. Consider a multi-pet policy

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

You may also be able to get a discount if you hold car or home insurance with the same insurer.

However, it's likely that shopping around and using different insurers will be your best bet.

8. Use a broker 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. If you're 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 pet insurance tends to be used far more often than many other types of insurance. According to data published by the Financial Conduct Authority, 42% of customers with lifetime policies made a claim in 2024.

If you're not convinced about the value of pet insurance, or simply can't afford it, there are alternatives.

You could self-insure by saving a set amount of money to cover potential vet bills. The benefit of this approach is that you have the money available for other emergencies, and it can earn interest (although 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.

Several charities offer free treatment for pets, although help is usually means-tested and intended for people who are on a low income, retired or receiving certain state benefits.

How much pet insurance do I need?

Insurers paid out a record £1.2bn to treat sick and injured pets in 2024, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI). 

It found that the average claim was £685, but treatment for serious conditions can spiral into the thousands. For example, treatment for elbow dysplasia – the most common cause of forelimb lameness in young, large and giant-breed dogs – can cost more than £50,000. 

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

• choosing 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.

As well as the cover level you choose, the price of insuring your pet will depend on factors such as its age, breed and size. Behaviour, current health and medical history also make a difference, as does how much you paid for your pet.

For more details about the main types of pet insurance and the differences between policies, visit our guide: pet insurance explained.