Pet insurance UK: the types of cover explained
Pet insurance is a policy you pay for monthly or yearly that can pay towards vet bills, and sometimes other costs, if your pet is ill or injured. In the UK there are four main types: accident-only, time-limited, maximum benefit and lifetime. They differ in how much they pay for each condition and for how long.
Do I have to insure my pet in the UK?
No. Pet insurance is a choice, not a legal requirement, for dogs, cats and other pets. GOV.UK’s guidance on banned dogs says that even a dog on the Index of Exempted Dogs does not need third-party public liability insurance. Whether to insure, and which policy to pick, is up to you.
What are the main types of pet insurance?
Insurers and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) group pet policies into four types. The names are used across the market, but the exact limits and terms differ from one policy to the next.
| Type | How it works |
|---|---|
| Accident-only | Pays towards treatment for accidental injuries, up to a fixed amount for each injury. It doesn’t cover illness. Some accident-only policies also have a 12-month time limit. |
| Time-limited | Covers each new illness or injury up to a fixed amount and for a set time, typically 12 months from when the condition started or was first treated. Once either limit is reached, that condition is no longer covered. |
| Maximum benefit | Sets a fixed amount for each illness or injury, with no time limit. Treatment for that condition is covered until the amount is used up, as long as the policy stays in force. |
| Lifetime | Covers your pet up to a set amount each year. When you renew, the full amount is available again, so a long-term condition can be covered year after year as long as you keep renewing and paying. |
All four types generally cover new illnesses and injuries only: anything your pet had before the policy started is usually excluded. Which type suits a pet depends on the owner’s circumstances, so read each policy’s documents rather than going by the name alone.
What should I check in the policy documents?
- The excess: the amount you pay towards a claim, usually for each condition you claim for.
- Co-payment (co-insurance): on some policies, an extra share of each claim you pay on top of the excess, usually a percentage of the claim.
- Pre-existing conditions: most policies don’t cover an illness or injury your pet had, or showed signs of, before the policy started.
- The waiting period: a period at the start of the policy, typically the first 14 days (sometimes 30), when treatment isn’t covered.
- Limits and exclusions: the overall limit, any limits on particular conditions or treatments, and anything the policy excludes.
- Age rules: some insurers won’t start cover before a minimum age or change the terms as a pet gets older.
If anything in the documents isn’t clear, ask the insurer before you buy.
Does pet insurance cover third-party liability?
Some dog policies include third-party liability. If your dog injures someone or damages someone else’s property and you’re found legally responsible, this part of a policy can pay compensation you’re liable for. Not every policy includes it, and limits vary, so check the policy documents.
What can a policy include if a pet goes missing?
Some policies include benefits if a pet is lost or stolen, such as a payment of the purchase price or market value, or the cost of advertising for a lost pet and of a reward for whoever finds them. Not every policy has these, so check what yours says. If your pet does go missing, see what to do if your dog is lost or how to find a lost cat.
How Taggzi fits in
Taggzi is an ID tag, not insurance. A Taggzi tag has an NFC chip and a QR code, so whoever finds your pet can tap or scan it and contact you, with no app. It isn’t a tracker and it doesn’t pay for anything.
With Taggzi Pro, the Pet Passport keeps your insurer, policy number, renewal date and claims phone number with your pet’s vaccinations and medication, so they’re to hand on the website or in the app when you need them. See Free and Pro plans or read about smart pet tags.
Questions
Is pet insurance a legal requirement in the UK?
No. Insuring a dog, cat or other pet is a choice. GOV.UK says that even a dog on the Index of Exempted Dogs doesn’t need third-party public liability insurance.
What are the four types of pet insurance?
Accident-only, time-limited, maximum benefit and lifetime. They differ in what they cover (accidents only, or illness too), how much they pay for each condition and for how long.
What is the excess on pet insurance?
The amount you pay towards a claim, usually for each condition you claim for. Some policies also have a co-payment: an extra percentage of the claim you pay on top.
Does pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Usually not. Most policies don’t cover an illness or injury your pet had, or showed signs of, before the policy started. Check the policy documents.
Is a Taggzi tag a form of insurance?
No. Taggzi is an NFC and QR ID tag that helps a finder contact you. It isn’t insurance and doesn’t pay for anything. Taggzi Pro’s Pet Passport can store your policy details.