Why do you need dog insurance?
If your pooch gets poorly you won't be able to pop to the local NHS vets for free treatment. From a basic consultation to an overnight stay and surgery, vet bills can cost hundreds if not thousands of pounds. This is where dog insurance can step in, footing the bill where you would otherwise have had to.
Why insure your dog with Direct Line?
- Customisable cover
With two customisable cover levels, you can choose insurance which is right for you and your dog. - Multi-pet discount
Save 12.5% on the cost of pet insurance when you insure more than one dog – or cat - on the same policy. Add a new pet at any time.
Multi-pet discount is introductory and applies for the first 12 months of the policy. Find out more - Claim online
We aim to take the stress out of making a dog insurance claim. Use our online form and we can deal directly with your vet. Make a claim
Dog care advice 24/7
With free access to PawSquad, advice from qualified vets is always only a video call or live chat away.
Go to PawsquadSave on dog medication
Pet Drugs Online provides discounted medication, so your policy claim limit can go further.
Which pet insurance is right for you and your dog?
A selection of dog cover add-ons is also available, offering help with boarding fees, holiday cancellations and third party liability if your dog's involved in an accident. Learn more and compare cover levels
Essential cover
Our most affordable dog insurance provides up to £4,000 of cover per condition. Each condition is covered for up to 12 months from the date of the first treatment.
Advanced cover
Our highest level of dog insurance has no time limit on how long you can continue to claim for each condition, with cover of up to £8,000 per condition.
What can impact my premium?
- Age. The older your pet gets, the more expensive your cover is likely to be. This is because your pet is more prone to chronic medical conditions in later years.
- Rising vet fees. Fees are increasing throughout the UK because vets can now provide more advanced treatments.
- Breed. Some breeds are more expensive to insure as they're more susceptible to certain medical conditions.
- IPT. If Insurance Premium Tax either increases or decreases, insurance premiums are impacted.
- Introductory discounts. If the price you've paid today includes an introductory or renewal discount, you might find your insurance is higher in following years once the offer ends. Other factors including, but not limited to, the age and breed of your pet or claims history could also have an impact on your premium at renewal.
Frequently asked questions
There are a lot of factors which will impact the price of your quote. Some of the most important include:
- Age. As your pet gets older it's more likely to suffer from an ongoing medical condition, therefore increasing the cost of the cover.
- Rising vet fees. The cost of veterinary care is increasing in part due to advancements in treatments vets can provide, with vet fees varying throughout the UK.
- Breed. Some breeds are more likely to suffer from certain medical conditions.
- Insurance Premium Tax. The cost of dog insurance is adjusted as Insurance Premium Tax either increases or decreases.
- Introductory discounts. If the price you've paid today includes an introductory or renewal discount, you might find your insurance is higher in following years once the offer ends. Other factors including, but not limited to, the age and breed of your pet or claims history could also have an impact on your premium at renewal
The excess is the part of the claim you have to pay, but only once per condition. For dogs, the standard excess is £95.
You have the option to increase the excess to £190, which will reduce the annual cost of the insurance.
Dog insurance excess is a flat fee, with the same two excess amounts available to every dog owner.
The quickest and easiest way to submit a claim is through our secure online portal. Simply complete the online form, and we"ll contact your vet direct to deal with the claim. If they agree, we"ll also pay them directly too.
Throughout your claim we'll keep you in the loop with regular updates on its progress.
Alternatively, you can download the pet insurance claim form and email it back to us at petclaimreturn@ukipartnerships.com or call us on 0345 246 8496 (lines open Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm, Saturday 9am - 5pm).
We currently don't offer a no claims bonus on pet insurance. It's important to us that your dog gets the treatment it needs, so we don't want a no claims bonus affecting your decision on whether or not to visit a vet.
Page updated: 18th May, 2020