Posted by As a dog owner in the UK, you have to consider getting pet insurance for your dog. This is because this insurance can help you cover the costs of unexpected vet bills, allowing you to give your dog the best possible care.
However, the cost of pet insurance for dogs in the United Kingdom can be out of reach at times, and this can make it difficult for you to get your pet suitable coverage based on your budget. You don’t have to panic anyway, as we have taken our time to put together the cheapest pet insurance for dogs in the UK.
This guide will help you make an informed decision when protecting your dogs from illnesses and injuries. Let’s get started already.
What are the Benefits of Pet Insurance for Dogs?
The following are the benefits of pet insurance for dogs:
- Can help cover expensive vet bills
- Provides peace of mind
- Covers third-party liability
- It covers dental care.
Can Help Cover Expensive Vet Bills
Vet bills can be quite expensive, especially if your dog has a serious illness or injury. Let’s say your dog has cancer and requires treatment. This will certainly cost thousands of pounds, and it could weigh you down if you don’t have pet insurance.
Even more routine procedures, such as vaccinations and neutering, can add up over time. Pet insurance can help cover these costs, so you don’t have to worry about not being able to afford to take care of your dog.
Provides Peace of Mind
One of the best things about having pet insurance is the peace of mind it can provide. Knowing that you have a financial safety net in place if your dog gets sick or injured can be a real comfort.
It means you can focus on what’s most important—getting your dog the care they need. This can also help you make decisions about your dog’s care with a clear head without having to worry about the cost.
Covers Third-Party Liability
Many pet insurance policies also include coverage for third-party liability. This means that if your dog causes injury to someone else or damages their property, your insurance policy will cover the cost of compensation.
This is important because, even if you have the best intentions and take all the necessary precautions, accidents can still happen. Third-party liability coverage can provide financial protection if the worst does happen.
It Covers Dental Care
Dental care is an important part of a dog’s overall health, but it can be expensive. You can even say that dental disease is one of the most common health issues in dogs.
A pet insurance policy that covers dental care can help you afford the cost of treatments like teeth cleaning, extractions, and even specialist care.
It’s important to note that not all policies will cover dental care, so it’s left for you to carefully check out the policy details.
Types of Pet Insurance Policies in the United Kingdom
Here are the types of pet insurance policies available in the UK:
- Accident-only policies
- Time-limited policies
- Maximum benefit policies
- Lifetime policies
- Combined policies.
Accident-Only Policies
Accident-only policies are the most basic type of pet insurance. They only cover treatment for injuries and accidents and don’t cover ongoing conditions or illnesses.
This makes them the most affordable type of policy, but they don’t provide as much protection as other types of policies.
They may be suitable for pets that are at low risk of developing ongoing conditions or illnesses, or for people on a tight budget.
Time-Limited Policies
Time-limited policies are a step up from accident-only policies, as they provide cover for a set period, usually 12 months.
This means that if your pet develops an illness or condition during that time, they will be covered for treatment.
But once the period is up, the condition will no longer be covered. So, if the condition is ongoing or requires long-term treatment, you will need to pay for it yourself.
Maximum Benefit Policies
These are another type of pet insurance policy that provides a certain amount of coverage, up to a set monetary limit.
Once this limit is reached, the policy will no longer provide coverage for that condition. The limit can be used over the life of the pet, and it can be used to cover multiple conditions.
These policies are more expensive than accident-only and time-limited policies, but they offer more comprehensive coverage.
Lifetime Policies
Lifetime policies are the most comprehensive type of pet insurance policy, as they provide cover for the entire life of the pet as long as the policy is renewed each year.
This is to say that any condition or illness that your pet develops will be covered, even if it is ongoing or requires long-term treatment.
These policies are the most expensive type of pet insurance, but they provide the most protection for your pet.
Combined Policies
They provide coverage for both accidents and illnesses, with a time limit on each condition. The benefit of these policies is that they provide more coverage than accident-only policies, but they are cheaper than lifetime policies.
They can be a good option for people who want to protect their pets from both accidents and illnesses but don’t want to pay the high cost of lifetime policies.
Things You Need to Consider When Choosing Affordable Pet Insurance for Your Dog
Below are the factors you should have at the back of your mind when buying your dog’s affordable pet insurance:
Age of Your Dog
The age of your dog can be a significant factor in determining the cost of your pet insurance policy because, as your dogs get older, they may be more likely to develop health issues that require treatment.
As a result, insurance premiums may be higher for older dogs. That said, there are some policies available that are specifically designed for older dogs, and these may offer more affordable premiums.
Breed of Your Dog
Some breeds, such as bulldogs and pugs, are more likely to develop health problems than others. As a result, insurance premiums for these breeds may be higher than for other breeds.
If you have a breed that is known for being more prone to health problems, it’s important to make sure your policy covers any specific conditions that are common in your dog’s breed.
Policy Limits
Policy limits are the maximum amount that your insurer will pay out for claims. Different policies may have different limits, so you need to check what your policy covers and how much it will pay out in the event of a claim.
If you have a policy with a low limit, you may find that you have to pay for some of the treatment costs yourself.
Policy Excess
A policy excess is the amount that you will need to pay towards any claim that you make on your pet insurance policy.
This is usually a fixed amount, such as £100 or £250. The higher the policy excess, the lower your premiums will be.
But it’s important to remember that you will need to be able to pay the excess if you need to make a claim.
So, when choosing any of the cheapest pet insurance for dogs in the UK, you need to consider whether you can afford the excess.
List of 5 Cheapest Pet Insurance for Dogs in the UK
The following are the most affordable pet insurance companies for dogs in the UK:
Overview of the Cheapest Pet Insurance for Dogs in the United Kingdom
Tesco Bank
- Year Founded: 1919
- Average Annual Premium: £73.57
Pros
- You can easily get through to their customer service
- Direct payment to the vet is available
- They offer discounts for members of the Tesco Clubcard.
cons
- Yes, their policy is very cheap, but you can find cheaper coverage elsewhere.
Description
Tesco Bank is one of the largest and one of the cheapest pet insurance providers in the UK. It offers a premium of £6.13 for your dogs per month and also allows you to claim up to £3,000 per accident within 12 months.
Its vet cover includes £500 for complementary therapy, which extends to the treatment of the teeth and gums of your dog if they are damaged as a result of an accident.
This insurer also offers a range of add-ons, such as holiday cover, dental cover, etc. And their policies are available for dogs, cats, rabbits, and other small animals.
Animal Friends
- Year Founded: 1943
- Average Annual Premium: £45
Pros
- They have the option of making direct payments to the vet
- This insurer has one of the most competitively priced cat insurances.
cons
- Their customer support line is not always free for you to contact.
Description
This is arguably the cheapest pet insurance for dogs in the UK, with a premium of £3.75 per month. In addition, you can also claim up to £2,500 per accident, and it has unlimited vet coverage.
One of the main advantages of Animal Friends is that they offer discounts for multiple pets, so you can save money if you have more than one pet.
For vet complementary treatments, you can get a claim of up to £500, and there could be another £500 to put the pet to sleep if recommended by the vet due to injuries caused by an accident.
Perfect Pet
- Year Founded: 2000
- Average Annual Premium: £140.01
Pros
- No claims discount protection
- Cover for advertising costs if your pet goes missing
- 24/7 vet helpline.
cons
- Some policies have a fairly low vet fee limit.
Description
Perfect Pet is a pet insurance provider that offers both lifetime and time-limited policies for your dogs. One of the main selling points of Perfect Pet is that they offer “no claims discount protection,” which means that your premium will not go up after you make a claim.
This can be a big benefit if your pet has a pre-existing condition or is prone to illness. They also offer some unique benefits, such as coverage for behavioral therapy and advertising costs if your pet goes missing.
Perfect Pet costs £11.66 per month for your dogs; an excess of £90 is levied per claim, and a 15% co-payment is also payable from when an insured dog turns eight years of age.
Healthy Pets
- Year Founded: 2017
- Average Annual Premium: £76.71
Pros
- They offer third-party liability coverage.
- This provider has a direct payment to vet available.
cons
- They do not have a free vet advice line.
Description
Healthy Pets is a pet insurance provider that offers both lifetime and time-limited policies for dogs and cats.
This policy offers £1 million in third-party liability cover for dogs, in addition to unlimited vet cover, which lasts up to 12 months from the first treatment for an accident.
It has a reputation for being flexible and accommodating, and one of its main advantages is that they have no upper age limit for pet insurance, so you can get coverage for older pets that might be difficult to insure with other providers.
Pet Protect
- Year Founded: 1983
- Average Annual Premium: £75.32
Pros
- Their premium is very affordable
- They provide some unique benefits, such as training and behavior therapy coverage.
cons
- Lower maximum age limit for some policies.
Description
Pet Protect is a pet insurance provider that focuses on providing quality coverage at a competitive price.
They offer both lifetime and time-limited policies for dogs and cats, with a range of optional extras, such as holiday cover and third-party liability.
Pet Protect also offers some unique benefits, such as coverage for training and behavior therapy and advertising costs if your pet goes missing.
Tips for Saving Money on Pet Insurance
- Compare quotes from multiple providers
- Consider a time-limited policy rather than a lifetime policy
- Increase your excess
- Opt for a lower level of coverage
- Choose a policy with a higher voluntary excess
- Get a multi-pet discount if you have more than one pet.
FAQs
Do I need to insure my puppy?
While it's not a legal requirement to insure your puppy, it's a good idea to consider getting insurance as soon as possible because puppies are more likely to get into mischief and get themselves into situations that could lead to injury or illness. Hence, having pet insurance in place from an early age can help protect you from the financial impact of these events.
What is the difference between lifetime and time-limited pet insurance?
Lifetime pet insurance covers ongoing conditions for the life of your pet, while time-limited pet insurance covers conditions for a set period.
How can I find the best value in pet insurance for my dog?
Some ways through which you can find the best value pet insurance for your dog include comparing quotes, looking for policies with the right level of coverage, considering any extras that might be included, etc.
How do I compare pet insurance policies?
You can compare pet insurance policies by looking at the coverage provided, the excess amount, and any exclusions or limitations. It's also a good idea to check out any online reviews.
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Conclusion
There are several things to consider when choosing the cheapest pet insurance for dogs in the UK, which have been detailed above.
It’s also important that you understand the terms and conditions of the policy and the claims process before making a purchase.
Lastly, you should also consider other additional benefits that may be included, such as a 24/7 vet helpline or holiday cancellation coverage. This information can help you find the best policy for your dog, ensuring they are protected in case of illness or injury.