Vet fees continue to rise and many other costs are on the increase, but pet insurance has on average become slightly cheaper as providers compete for custom, new research claims.<\/p>\n
The pricing data coincides with a study which found that one-third of UK pet owners don\u2019t have insurance, with cost cited as one of the biggest factors.<\/p>\n
It is estimated that 60% of UK households \u2013 about 17 million \u2013 have a pet, and the high costs of ownership have been in the news lately. Last month, the government announced a big shake-up of the UK vet sector that ministers said should push down costs for pet owners<\/a> by requiring practices to make their pricing clearer.<\/p>\n Pet insurance is mainly designed to cover the cost of vet fees for the treatment of illness and injury; other policy benefits can include things such as cover for loss and theft. One of the main types is lifetime insurance, which is the most comprehensive \u2013 and the most expensive.<\/p>\n Average lifetime pet insurance premiums ended 2025 about 1.6% lower than a year earlier after a 2.3% drop in the final three months of last year, the pricing consultancy Pearson Ham said this week.<\/p>\n It added: \u201cThe most pronounced year-to-date reductions [were] seen among animals aged four to six, where competitive pricing from leading brands has driven premiums down by about 4% over the year.\u201d By contrast, premiums for older dogs and cats \u201chave remained broadly flat year-on-year\u201d.<\/p>\n Pearson Ham said the median lifetime insurance quote last month was \u00a3247 for dogs and \u00a3180 for cats a year, adding that the data \u201cunderlines just how competitive the pet insurance market remains\u201d.<\/p>\n Veterinary nurse at a PDSA Animal Hospital examining a Beagle dog. Photograph: Barrie Neil\/Alamy<\/p>\n Trying to find the best pet insurance for your needs can be daunting; there are hundreds of products available, with big differences in what they offer. Many providers offer several levels of cover.<\/p>\n If the huge choice and various options have left you scratching your head, the financial data provider Moneyfacts has offered pet owners a helping hand. This week it announced the winners<\/a> of its 2026 Moneyfactscompare.co.uk Awards, with ManyPets named \u201cpet insurance provider of the year\u201d. An insurer called Napo was highly commended, with Petgevity was commended.<\/p>\n