Which company should you use to insure your pets?

Below is a list of all the major pet insurance companies that allow you to get quotes and sign up quickly and easily over the internet - Often at prices much cheaper than you can get offline.

Check out our sections entitled 'Why insure?' and 'What to look for?' for more information about pet insurance.

		10% Discount
	Pet Plan is a specialist in Pet Insurance and was one of the first companies to start offering it in the 1970s. They have a range of policies to choose from, designed to suit both your pocket and your pet's needs.	2 months free
	Churchill Cat Insurance starts from only 16p per day - And dog insurance starts from only 27p per day. Another key benefit is expert advice, including bereavement counselling and a legal advice line.	5% Discount
	Pet Insurance offers a range of policies with different cover levels. Also includes cover for advertising and reward in the event of your pet going missing.	5% Discount
	Offers a multi pet discount of 15% and also provides a pet bereavement helpline. Policyholders have access to their own Personal Customer Manager enabling them to speak to the same person every time they call.	15% Discount
	The RSPCA pet insurance policies not only provide comprehensive levels of protection for your pets, but also help the RSPCA continue to care for neglected or unwanted animals - 20% of each years premiums are used to help the RSPCA's work.	5% Discount
	Tesco pet insurance gives you 12 months free Petback Protection from the Missing Pets Bureau. It also has no maximum age limit, fixed excess payments and a guarantee that the poilicy conditions won't change as your pets get older.	20% Discount
	M&S pet insurance covers cats and dogs from 2 months old. They cover your pet for the full duration of treatment, upto £7,000 per year as long as you keep your policy renewed. Also includes FREE pet travel cover and FREE access to helplines.	5% Discount

What to look for?

• Time limits for treatment – some insurers have a limit to how long they will pay for treatment for
• Some pet insurance offers assistance for when a pet goes missing, for example advertising costs
• If you have more than one pet, some insurers offer discounts for additional pets
• Insurance companies normally charge an excess, sometimes fixed amounts, sometimes a percentage of the total claim
• Some companies raise the price for insuring older pets (normally 8-10 years old)
• Are you taking your pet on holiday with you? - Some companies offer pet travel insurance, either included for free with your pet insurance or as an optional extra
• Some companies charge more if you want to pay monthly, others don't
• Make sure you've got enough cover, most policies have a maximum amount they will pay per year and often they have a maximum amount they will pay per condition
• Some policies will only treat an ongoing condition for a fixed period of time (e.g. 12 months), others will continue to pay for a problem as long as you have a policy with the company
• Make sure you understand what's covered and what's not - Don't be caught out!
  

Why Insure?

Did you know that vets’ bills can make up over a third of the cost of owning a cat or dog?

Vets’ bills are always increasing, costs can be hundreds or even thousands of pounds (even the costs for a broken leg can now be over £1000).

Insurance starts from just a few pounds a month and helps you to be prepared for the unexpected. If your pet is involved in an accident or becomes ill, this insurance can be called upon to pay for their treatment.

Pet insurance often has no upper age limit and can be taken out when animals are a few weeks old. In addition, most companies offer a discount for insuring more than one pet.

Pet insurance Policies will normally cover:

• Treatment if your pet becomes ill or is injured;
• The price you paid for your pet if it is killed due to accidental injury, such as a road accident;
• Third party liability cover (usually just for dogs) for injury or damage to third parties.

It's also often possible to take out optional extras that include:

• Pet Travel Insurance;
• Cover for pet accomodation if you should be hospitalised.