The Cheapest Pet Insurance for Dogs
By
Sam Gilbert
Although we don't advocate making decisions about dog insurance solely based on cost, we recognise that for many dog owners in the UK finding the cheapest pet insurance is a priority. So, we've searched the market to find the cheapest pet insurance for dogs.
Top 5 Cheapest Pet Insurance policies for Dogs 2018
- Animal Friends - Accident Only. £3.73 a month.
- Purely Pets - Accident Only. £4.82 a month.
- Animal Friends - Basic. £5.52 a month.
- More Than - Accident Only. £5.53 a month.
- Bought by Many - Value. £9.07 a month.
- Argos Pet Insurance - Silver. £11.02 a month
All of these are indicative quotes for pet insurance, based on insuring a 3 year old medium-sized crossbreed dog in an MK postcode. We got these quotes in January 2018.
What are the catches with cheap pet insurance?
Three of the top five cheapest policies - from Animal Friends, More Than, and Purely Pets - are all "Accident Only" pet insurance policies. That means they only pay out for vet bills if your dog suffers an accident - and not if they pick up an illness that requires treatment. As a result, they all receive low independent ratings of 1 star out of 5 from Defaqto.
The other two cheapest pet insurance policies for dogs, Argos Silver Pet Insurance and Animal Friends Basic, do cover costs for dogs' illnesses. However, as they are still Basic pet insurance policies (sometimes referred to as "time-limited"), they will only pay out for the first 12 months of any illness or medical condition affecting your dog.
Argos' Silver policy scores 3 stars out 5, and Animal Friends Basic pet insurance scores 2 star out of 5 with Defaqto. Animal Friends scores lower as it only covers £3,000 of vet treatment, with an additional limit meaning you can only claim up to £500 for each medical condition.
If you're not sure these are compromises you would want to make when buying pet insurance for your dog, why not read our article on the Best Dog Insurance available? It explores the reasons why cheapest isn't always best when it comes to dog insurance.
