Dog Insurance

If your fur baby gets sick or injured, dog insurance can help you foot the bill. Compare 10+ policies in Australia.

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Name Product Accidental Injury Illness Maximum Yearly Benefit Paralysis Tick Benefit Maximum yearly benefit Reimbursement rate Reimbursement Rate
Medibank Ultimate Pet Care
$15,000
$1,200
$15,000
80%
80%
Want a $100 PETstock e-voucher? Plus, health members save 10% every year. Sign up using promo code PET100. Ends 19 Oct 2021. T&Cs apply. Visit our website to find out more.
Budget Direct Pet Insurance
$12,000
$1,500
$12,000
80%
80%
Get 15% off on your first year’s premium when you buy online.
PD Deluxe Plan
$15,000
$2,300
$15,000
100%
100%
⭐Finder Exclusive: Apply online and get your first 2 months free. Offer ends 30 November 2021. T&Cs apply.
Knose Pet Insurance
$25,000
$25,000
$25,000
70%, 80% or 90%
70%, 80% or 90%
⭐Finder Exclusive: Get 10% off your first year's premium. Lower prices for lower risk pets. T&C's apply.
PIA Major Medical Cover
$15,145
$1,200
$15,145
80%
80%
Covers specified accidents and illnesses, with Routine Care Cover included. Get 2 months free when you sign up.
Vets Choice Elite Cover
$15,000
$2,500
$15,000
80% or 100%
80% or 100%
Get a 5% discount when you insure more than one pet.
Petsy Dog Accidental Injury and Illness Cover (Vet Select)
$25,000
$1,500
$25,000
100%
100%
Enjoy 2 months free and personalised pet tag with promo code: PETSYPET. Petsy members enjoy free personalised gifts, exclusive pet discounts and perks for humans.
Kogan Pet Luxury Cover
$15,000
$2,000
$15,000
80% or 65%
80% or 65%
Sign up and get $75 Kogan.com Credit. T&Cs apply.
Coles Premium Cover
$15,000
$2,500
$15,000
80% or 100%
80% or 100%
Earn 10x Flybuys points per $1 spent on pet food at Coles Supermarkets. T&Cs apply.
PetSecure Accident and Illness Cover
$12,000
$500
$12,000
75% or 85%
75% or 85%
Your pet is covered for life.
RSPCA Ultimate Plus Accident and Illness Cover
$20,000
Up to $20,000 annual limit
$20,000
80%
80%
Comprehensive cover for your pet, including the option of routine care. Get 1 month free for the first year of new policies. T&C's apply.
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Compare up to 4 providers

What is dog insurance?

Dog and cat side by side
Dog insurance works like this: You pay a monthly premium – usually around $20 to $60 per month – and in exchange, your insurer pays a percentage of your dog's vet bills when they get sick or injured.
Hand holding money icon
Most of the dog insurance providers on Finder pay between 80% and 100% of the vet bill. You can claim up to $25,000 a year with some policies, though most have a cap (annual limit) of around $15,000.
Clock
When you first take out dog insurance, you'll typically need to wait around 30 days before you're covered for illnesses, though accidents are covered straight away.

What does dog insurance cover?

Dog insurance can cover your furry friend for the following:

Ambulance vehicle with pet paw on the front

Accidents

Most cheap dog insurance policies can cover accidental injuries such as a fracture, snake bite or bite wound. For example, if your dog is hit by a car and fractures its leg, a typical accident insurance policy can pay for 80% of the vet bill.

Vet building with pet paw on the front

Illnesses

If your dog gets sick, pet insurance can typically cover 80% of the vet bill. It can help pay for cancer treatment, skin conditions, eye and ear conditions and more. You'll find illnesses covered in more comprehensive policies.

Pet toothbrush and scissors

Routine care

Routine care encompasses preventative treatments such as dental care, vaccinations, desexing and microchipping. It's usually available as an optional add-on with comprehensive dog insurance policies.

How much does dog insurance cost?

Dog insurance costs around $840 per year for comprehensive cover. This figure is based on the average costs of the 560 dog breeds available in Australia.
Keep in mind though, that the costs will vary depending on your dog's breed, age and where you live. For instance, it's likely to cost you around $709 a year to insure a poodle, whereas a French bulldog is likely to be double that at approximately $1,456. You can find out more about average dog insurance costs by breed here.

Pet daycare

What's the best dog insurance?

We've put together a list of our top pet insurance picks to make your decision easier. Here's a short breakdown of some of our choices. You can find out more about them here.

Pet insurance for older dogs

It's much trickier to get pet insurance for older dogs but we've found a few policies that can cover your pet if they are older than 9, including Medibank Essential Pet Care (which has no age limit), PIA Essentials Cover and RSPCA General Accident & Illness Cover.

Exclusions to watch out for

  • Illnesses. Medibank, PIA and RSPCA are the only insurers available on Finder that cover older dogs for both illnesses and accidents. Most will not cover you for illnesses if you try to take out a policy after your dog turns 9.
  • Pre-existing conditions. If you are able to take out illness cover, you won't be covered for any pre-existing conditions your dog has. A pre-existing condition is an ailment your dog had before you took out a policy.

Get dog insurance for your breed

Your questions about dog insurance answered

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