Pet insurance in New Zealand: what it costs
What a typical dog and cat policy costs in New Zealand, how the size of the breed changes it, and what to check before you buy.
Checked 8 November 2026
Typical price
Dog
50 NZD a month, about 600 NZD a year
Cove Insurance price guide: comprehensive (accident and illness) dog cover 20-80+ NZD/month depending on breed, age, excess (undated). Canstar NZ: average pet insurance 757/yr (~63/month, all pets). source
Cat
40 NZD a month, about 480 NZD a year
Cove Insurance price guide: comprehensive (accident and illness) cat cover 30-50+ NZD/month (undated). Accident-only cover from ~10/month (catinsurance.co.nz). source
By size
| Size | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Toy | 33 NZD | 396 NZD |
| Small | 39 NZD | 468 NZD |
| Medium | 43.50 NZD | 522 NZD |
| Large | 55.50 NZD | 666.00 NZD |
| Giant | 75 NZD | 900 NZD |
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 | 49.50 NZD | 594 NZD |
| French Bulldog | 71.50 NZD | 858 NZD |
| German Shepherd Dog | 54 NZD | 648 NZD |
| Golden Retriever | 47 NZD | 564 NZD |
| Dachshund (Standard) | 40.50 NZD | 486 NZD |
| English Cocker Spaniel | 41.50 NZD | 498 NZD |
| Chihuahua | 31.50 NZD | 378 NZD |
| Border Collie | 40.50 NZD | 486 NZD |
| Mixed breed (dog) | 37.50 NZD | 450 NZD |
| Mixed breed (cat) | 34 NZD | 408 NZD |
| Maine Coon | 39.60 NZD | 475 NZD |
| British Shorthair | 37.60 NZD | 451 NZD |
| Ragdoll | 35.60 NZD | 427 NZD |
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 New Zealand → Pet insurance by country
Prices are typical published prices, not a quote. Pet Wiki is not an insurer or a broker.