Pet insurance in the United Kingdom: what it costs
What a typical dog and cat policy costs in the United Kingdom, how the size of the breed changes it, and what to check before you buy.
Checked 8 November 2026
Typical price
Dog
£32 a month, about £384 a year
ABI: average UK pet premium 389 GBP in 2024 (about 32/month); average dog premium about 32 GBP/month (NimbleFins). Lifetime policy for a 1-year-old crossbreed from about 22.67/month. Breed prices on Pet Wiki use this average times the breed factor, so one figure is shown everywhere. Rises steeply with age. source
Cat
£10.10 a month, about £121.20 a year
Cheapest lifetime policy for a 1-year-old British Shorthair 10.10 GBP/month (NimbleFins). Overall ABI average all pets 389 GBP/yr. source
By size
| Size | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Toy | £21.12 | £253.44 |
| Small | £24.96 | £299.52 |
| Medium | £27.84 | £334.08 |
| Large | £35.52 | £426.24 |
| Giant | £48 | £576 |
Our estimate: the typical price scaled by the size of the dog. Real quotes depend on the breed, its age, the cover and the excess.
Check your breed
Estimates for popular breeds
| Breed | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Labrador Retriever | £31.68 | £380 |
| French Bulldog | £45.76 | £549 |
| German Shepherd Dog | £34.56 | £415 |
| Golden Retriever | £30.08 | £361 |
| Dachshund (Standard) | £25.92 | £311 |
| English Cocker Spaniel | £26.56 | £319 |
| Chihuahua | £20.16 | £242 |
| Border Collie | £25.92 | £311 |
| Mixed breed (dog) | £24 | £288 |
| Mixed breed (cat) | £8.58 | £103 |
| Maine Coon | £10 | £120 |
| British Shorthair | £9.49 | £114 |
| Ragdoll | £8.99 | £108 |
Before you buy
- New policies often have an age limit, so insuring young is cheaper and easier.
- There is usually a waiting period before illness cover starts.
- Conditions the animal already has are not covered.
- Check whether hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia are covered. Each breed page lists the ones to ask about.
- A higher excess or co-payment lowers the price but raises what you pay at the vet.
- Look at the yearly limit. One operation can cost more than a cheap policy pays out.
Rules and costs for dogs in the United Kingdom → Pet insurance by country
Prices are typical published prices, not a quote. Pet Wiki is not an insurer or a broker.