Best Pet Insurance

Based on 8,959 reviews
Location
Brand
Rating
Annual Benefit Limit
Amount of Vet Bill Covered
Illness Cover
Routine Care Cover
Tick Paralysis

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Pet Insurance Australia

Get 2 Months' Free* Pet Insurance 🏆 2026

4.5 

Sign Up Today & Get 2 Months' Free* Pet Insurance. *T&Cs Apply. Winner Of 2025 Product Review Pet Insurance Provider of the Year.

Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance

Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance 🏆 2026

4.5 
Summary
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KitCat76VIC2 posts
 

Excellent service! Claim took minutes.Very happy with Bow Wow Meow!

Pet Insurance Australia

Pet Insurance Australia 🏆 2026

4.5 
Summary
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Aixiang12 posts
 

This insurance has paid for itself many, many times over and without it our dog would not be alive! Claims are paid very promptly, and the customer… Read more

service staff are extremely helpful, helping us understand what will be covered and what the costs were before we went ahead with the very expensive surgeries needed. Thank you for all your help!

Knose

Knose

4.8 
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Sharney
 

Excellent to deal with and no problems great communication Prompt payment

Fetch Pet

Fetch Pet

4.8 
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Leeanne L.TAS
  Verified

I absolutely love Fetch, ease of use, always someone to answer my queries. Best thing I ever did was getting my fur baby insured through these guys, definitely not regrets.

Petsy Pet Insurance

Petsy Pet Insurance

4.9 
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Zara K.NSW
 

I scheduled my cat Chilli for a dental procedure after his teeth weren't looking great. It was the first claim I've submitted for pet insurance, and… Read more

it was processed within 48 hours. Customer service was also easy to deal with, very straightforward and quick to let us know what stage the claim was in. Good thing we started Chilli on pet insurance as a kitten, he ended up needing 5 teeth out even though he's only 2 years old! Overall a great experience, and reassuring that the policy holds up when you actually need it.

Seniors Pet Insurance

Seniors Pet Insurance

4.7 
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Juliano
  Verified

It took just 10 minutes to set my policy and found the quote was very reasonable priced

Real Pet Insurance

Real Pet Insurance

4.4 
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gav15 posts
 

Losing our beloved dog, Ollie, was incredibly difficult, but Real Pet Insurance made the claims process simple and stress-free. The claim was… Read more

approved exactly as per the policy, with no hassles. The process was straightforward, and every staff member was friendly, compassionate, and genuinely helpful. Thank you for making a difficult time a little easier. I highly recommend Real Pet Insurance to any pet owner.

Pet Circle Insurance

Pet Circle Insurance

4.5 
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G ScottNSW3 posts
 

We are very happy with Pet Circle Insurance. We had to use it for our cat Audrey when she suddenly became ill. Pet Circle processed our claim quickly… Read more

and efficiently. We have since taken out more insurance with Pet Circle for a couple of new additions to the fur family.

Trupanion Australia

Trupanion Australia

4.5 
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Kayla
 

Previously I havent seen the value in pet insurance but trupanions no payout limits convinced me. Was easy to sign up and pricing is competitive

Guide Dogs Pet Insurance

Guide Dogs Pet Insurance

4.1 
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Dan L.2 posts
  Verified

My 6th German Shepherd Solomon developed Gastric-Dilation Volvulus (GDV) or 'twisted stomach' for us non-medical folk. The condition is… Read more

overrepresented in this breed and I have lost 2 Shephard's previously to the condition. My wife and I had travelled from the Gold Coast to Helensburgh near Sydney to visit one of our sons and took 2 dogs along. On the day following our arrival I noted Solomon seemed lethargic in the afternoon after being very normal late morning and I checked his gums for sign of snake bite and then his stomach for potential GDV, His stomach was bloated and I could feel the twist. We rushed him to the ARH Emergency Vet Hospital in Wollongong and they triaged Solomon on arrival and prepared him for surgery. The staff who were brilliant assisted with contacting Guide Dogs and within minutes, we had pre-approval for the treatment. This rapid outcome was the best news along with the ARH surgeons quick assessment and I left the hospital with the confidence that I didn't need to worry about the cost or the level of treatment Solomin would receive. Solomon's had 4 days in intensive care and pulled through and is now recovering at home on the Gold Coast. He was discharged from the hospital in a very seamless process and all I needed to do was cover the gap.

I changed to Guide Dogs after a rejected claim from another insurer when Solomon was 7 months old and have been with Guide Dogs ever since (he'll be 8 in June) for multiple pets and this isn't my first claim with Guide Dogs.

If you are shopping around for an insurance option for your pet, I'm more than happy to recommend Guide Dogs.

Petinsurance.com.au

Petinsurance.com.au

4.2 
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Angela C.NSW
 

Once upon a time, little Amelia's parents chose Pet Insurance hoping we would never have to use it. Then, last Friday, our worst nightmare became… Read more

reality. IVDD knocked on our door. In the blink of an eye, we found ourselves facing every Dachshund owner's greatest fear. It didn't matter how many ramps we had, how careful we were, or how strictly we prevented jumping. The moment every dog parent hopes will never come had arrived.

To make a long story short, Amelia needed emergency spinal surgery on Friday night. Along with the heartbreak and uncertainty about her condition came the overwhelming stress of the hospital bill.

Today, I can only say thank you. Choosing Pet Insurance was one of the best decisions we ever made. In the middle of one of the hardest moments of our lives, the pre-approval process and GapCover were incredibly smooth, allowing us to focus on what truly mattered: Amelia's recovery.

I honestly can't imagine what this experience would have been like without insurance. Thank you, truly, for making such a difficult situation just a little bit easier. Your efficiency, compassion, and seamless claims process helped us through one of the biggest storms a pet parent can ever face.

We are forever grateful.

Everyday Pet Insurance

Everyday Pet Insurance

3.4 
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PatTQLD22 posts
 

Everyday Pet Insurance saved me so much money when my 1 year old cat had a bad fall one night when we were asleep and woke to her crying. She had… Read more

broken her hip and ended up in emergency at 2am. I had only recently taken out the policy, but thanked my lucky stars as the bill ended up in the thousands and I only had to pay a few hundred. I had tossed up whether or not to take out a policy as she was so young and an indoor cat, but it really paid off. The 10% off a monthly shop helps too.‍

Potiki

Potiki

4.6 
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JayNSW3 posts
 

Have made numerous claims over last 2.5 years for two pets with Potiki and have had no problems and prompt service every time. Has saved me a lot of money from unexpected vet visits and hospitalisations.

Buddy Pet Insurance

Buddy Pet Insurance

4.8 
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Caramel2 posts
  Verified

perfect service very clear communication answered all my questions perfectly

Medibank Pet Insurance

Medibank Pet Insurance

4.2 
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Geoff E.WA3 posts
 

While the first part of the claim was handled efficiently, I experienced significant delays and communication issues regarding the second part. My… Read more

vet called numerous times and was assured the payment had been sorted, yet the claim did not appear in your system when I logged in or called. Each inquiry resulted in being directed back and forth between your team and the vet with no resolution.

The funds were successfully deposited into my account today. I understand the delay was due to a system error that required IT intervention. While I appreciate that the matter is now resolved, it would have been helpful to receive a proactive update regarding the status of the issue while it was being fixed.

Petcover

Petcover

3.0 
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Michelle C.
 

Review from Tweed Valley Pomeranians Registered Breeders: We are extremely pleased with the support we have received for our clients in converting… Read more

the introductory Breeders Policies to ongoing pet insurance for their puppies. We use the introductory policies with complete transparency with our clients and with Pet Cover. These policies provide peace of mind to us, and to our new puppy owners while they are welcoming their new family members into their homes. Petcover has been responsive, and supportive, as we have required, for a smooth transition. Thank you Pet Cover!!

Bupa Pet Insurance

Bupa Pet Insurance

3.4 
Summary
AnjuNSW
 

Worst service. Before surgery, we needed approval for both the surgery and a CT scan, but Bupa asked us to wait 2 business days and couldn't even… Read more

tell us whether our insurance would cover the procedures.

Why am I paying $80 fortnightly if customer service can't clearly explain what is covered when I call?

Very disappointing experience. I would not recommend Bupa.

Bupa
Bupa    

Hi Anju, Thanks for taking the time to share this feedback,… Read more

Prosure

Prosure

3.8 
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JeffNSW2 posts
 

I would not recommend this company. The automatic annual increases applied by this company is unscrupulous and excessive. Watch out. First year for… Read more

gold was $1,000 a year in GST. 2nd year auto-renewal (I missed) rose to over $1,600 in GST Who does a 60% increase? Year 3 they tried to renew for over $2,000 incl GST. When I called to cancel they offered a discount on the excessive $2,000 and bonus free months. No company can explain these increases by keeping up with CPI increases and even allowing for your pet ageing. If you pet lived to 10 years you would be up for $20,000 +. Yopu're better off finding the cash, even with vet bills being so high.

Guardian Pet Insurance

Guardian Pet Insurance

4.2 
Summary
AnnaQLD3 posts
  Fair Incentive

Great pet insurance – Guardian were excellent to deal with. If the vet clinic was unable to process a gap payment it was easy to submit invoice and vet notes through the… Read more

portal when lodging a claim. Claims were always processed within a few days and received 80% of vet fees incurred. Definitely value for money for our dog who had numerous issues. Had our policy with guardian for 6&1/2 yrs until we unfortunately had to have her euthanised due to terminal illness.

HCF Pet Insurance

HCF Pet Insurance

3.0 
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Grant
  Verified

Don't waste your money. They decided a skin condition was a preexisting condition for my pet so every claim for over 2 years was rejected by them… Read more

because they said it was preexisting. The final straw was when they said that an insect bite on a paw was linked to a "preexisting" ear skin condition. It was only after complaining and getting them to review the claim TWICE that they finally agreed to approved the claim, which they did not reimburse because it was less than the excess. Total vet bills in nearly three years was around $1200. Total pet insurance paid was close to $3000 and not one claim paid.

PetsOnMe

PetsOnMe

4.0 
Summary
Theresa WNSW
 

I have recently made a third claim on my policy. As before the payment was in my account within a couple of days! Thanks Mallory!

Petmed

Petmed

2.8 
Summary
Michelle C.
 

Seriously disappointed – Have had insurance with Petmed for over 10 years and with the premium increasing to an outrageous cost requested to drop cover to a lower level. Was… Read more

told they are not modifying or doing any new policies. So disappointing because now my dog is over 10 it seems I either cough up $2600 a year for his policy amor have no insurance m. Seriously disappointed!!!

RACQ Pet Insurance

RACQ Pet Insurance

2.4 
Summary
Cua C.QLD2 posts
 

I would not recommend this insurance. Be aware that once your pet reaches around 7 years old, the premium can increase significantly. At that stage,… Read more

it is often very difficult to switch to another insurer because any existing health issues may be treated as pre-existing conditions and excluded from cover.

In my experience, this leaves policyholders feeling trapped. I also found the claims process frustrating, as payments were delayed and required repeated follow-up phone calls before my claim was processed.

If you haven't signed up with them yet, consider yourself lucky and compare other insurers before making a decision.

1300 Insurance Pet Protect

1300 Insurance Pet Protect

2.8 
Summary
Helen HirstQLD30 posts
 

Great Insurance for your pet – Very happy with our pet insurance which we've had for 7 yrs Show details

Petbarn Pet Insurance

Petbarn Pet Insurance

3.0 
Summary
Lawrence M.
 

I spoke to your rep Mahdi this morning. He explained everything in detail and only now i understood the pet insurance cover. Due to his explaination i decided not to cancel the policy. Show details

Coles Pet Insurance

Coles Pet Insurance

2.1 
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Adam HVIC
 

Absolute junk insurance. They only pay out to a very narrow group of illnesses! If your Vet can't work out what is wrong, then Coles doesn't pay. Try cancelling your policy! I'm still trying!

Budget Direct Pet Insurance

Budget Direct Pet Insurance

1.8 
Summary
SamVIC2 posts
 

unable to login to my policy and change my payment details as they don't seem to be in the 21st century. also cant cliam through my vet. terrible service. will go elswhere

Kogan Pet Insurance

Kogan Pet Insurance

5.0 
Summary
Lisa
 

I’m very happy as a long time customer, and got the help I neededed, far more than I expected with a 3 months free cover for my girl Lucky to help me… Read more

out short term. Very appreciative and happy that Kogan also value my customer. Thankyou to all involved. A loyal customer. Lisa and Lucky

Vets Choice Insurance For Pets

Vets Choice Insurance For Pets

1.9 
Summary
nolygirl3 posts
 

Due to separation the insurance needed to be changed into my ex partner’s name as he was going to be looking after the payments and the dog was… Read more

staying with him. Dog was staying in the same house since brought home in 2023. Same Elite cover insurance policy since the same time, same dog. When the name on the policy was changed we were told there was a 21 day stand down period. Why? Dog hasn’t changed, his home hasn’t changed only the person whose name was on the policy has. Very dissatisfied and disappointed at such a ridiculous clause.

Vets Choice Insurance
Vets Choice Insurance    

Dear nolygirl, Thank you for your… Read more (+1 reply)

PD Pet Insurance

PD Pet Insurance

5.0 
Summary
Andrea2 posts
 

PD Pet Insurance service is amazing. Approval of the claim was next day and money in the bank within a few days. Queries relating to the claim was also by next day. So quick and efficient. Show details

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4.5 

Sign Up Today & Get 2 Months' Free* Pet Insurance. *T&Cs Apply. Winner Of 2025 Product Review Pet Insurance Provider of the Year.

A man and his dog spending quality time at the park

Is pet insurance worth it?

Pet insurance may be worth it if you don't think you'll be able to afford the upfront costs of paying for veterinary treatment when your dog or cat is sick or injured.

This is the primary reason pet insurance exists - to help you afford veterinary costs. The nature of an accident or even an unexpected illness is that it's sudden and unplanned. If you don't have enough money saved up for a rainy day, you could find yourself in a stressful situation, prolonging treatment for your pet until you figure out how to get the money.

How does pet insurance work?

Pet owners pay an insurance premium, which is usually deducted monthly. When the time comes for you to claim, your pet insurer will cover a certain percentage of eligible vet bills, up to the annual limit specified by your policy.

This usually falls within the gambit of 65-85% of the bill, depending on the level of cover you've chosen. For certain conditions, you may have to pay both an excess and a co-payment.

How much is pet insurance in Australia?

MoneySmart estimates that the cost of a monthly pet insurance premium is around $20-60, which amounts to a higher-end figure of $720 per year. This is comparable to the sum you’d spend on ‘premium dog food, plus treats’ which MoneySmart ballparks at $800 per year.

The exact price of a pet insurance premium is tricky to zero in on, as it depends on several factors that make each pet insurance quote unique. Here are some of the primary factors that will affect the price of your premium.

Your pet’s age, breed and species

Cute French Bulldog pup
A French Bulldog puppy.

Age: The best time to insure your pet is when they’re still a puppy or a kitten. Many policies allow coverage from 8 weeks old. Insuring your pet while they're young means they're less likely to develop a pre-existing condition that's excluded from coverage. The older your pet becomes, the more expensive pet insurance becomes, too.

Species: Pet insurance is mainly available for dogs and cats, however some insurers offer coverage for other animals, too (like 'exotic' pet insurance for rabbits or birds).

Cat insurance is generally cheaper than dog insurance, and there’s less of a price discrepancy between cat breeds, whereas for dogs the cost of a premium will fluctuate greatly depending on their breed.

Breed: Some breeds have inherent health conditions that make them more expensive to insure. For example, the average cost of insuring a 1-year old French Bulldog on an annual comprehensive policy is around $1,456, compared to $610 for a Jack Russell terrier.

Excess

The amount of excess you choose to pay also effects the price of your premium (a lower excess equals a higher premium). Some pet insurance plans are 'no excess,' but will cost more each month.

Excesses may be charged as a one-off per condition - letting you claim on the same condition multiple times in a year, while only paying an excess once. They can alterntively be charged each time you claim for that condition. Sometimes an insurer will require a co-payment along with an excess fee.

Discounts

Some pet insurers offer discounts as incentives. For example, you may receive a discount if your pet is desexed and microchipped, if you have multiple pets insured with the same provider (a 'multi-pet policy,') or if you have other active policies with the insurer. For example, some companies offer pet insurance as an add-on to home and contents insurance - however coverage is usually limited.

Your chosen level of cover

There are usually three tiers of pet insurance you can opt for, discussed below. Accident-only coverage is the budget option, whereas a comprehensive policy equates to a higher premium.

Types of Pet Insurance

A dog and a cat resting and cuddling together at home

Accident-only coverage

This most basic policy type covers your pet for accidental injury, but excludes coverage if they become ill. Note that some insurers don’t offer this policy type. Instead, they skip straight up to the next level, which is the case with Seniors Pet Insurance.

Accident and Illness coverage

This provides coverage in the event of accidental injury or illness. This is the mid-tier level of coverage, and often the most popular policy with pet owners in Australia.

Comprehensive Pet Insurance

Comprehensive policies offer coverage for all manner of misfortunes that could befall your pet, including accidents and illnesses. This includes the costs of surgery, hospitalisation, and medication.

Routine care, also called preventative care, may be offered as a standard inclusion or an optional extra as part of a comprehensive policy. The benefit amount isn’t usually very high, and may or may not include treatments or procedures like dental care, vaccinations, flea, tick and worm control.

Note that a routine care benefit is often differentiated from vet’s consultation visits in a policy. Make sure to clarify the difference between them with your insurer before signing up.

Is there anything a pet insurance policy won't cover the cost of?

Yes - there are actually several types of conditions, treatments or circumstances that may exclude you from being reimbursed by a pet insurance provider.

Pet insurance policies can be tricky to navigate, because of the sheer number of exclusions and trying to understand the differences in wording. Make sure to scour a Product Disclosure Statement and know the terms and conditions before committing, to ensure you’re getting the optimum protection for your animal companion.

General Exclusions

While these will be covered in your specific policy, here are some examples of general exclusions commonly found in pet insurance policies:

  • Bilateral conditions: These refer to pre-existing conditions that affect two parts of the body. For example, if your pet had a condition in their left eye, they won't be covered if they later develop that same condition in their right eye.
  • Elective treatments: These may actually be included - but only in some comprehensive policies. They refer to any treatments that are 'not medically necessary,’ such as de-sexing, orthodontics and check-ups.
  • Diseases with a known vaccine: If the disease could have been preventied by a vaccinaton (such as kennel cough) it's excluded.
  • Dental treatments: While dental disease is one of the most common medical conditions in dogs over four years old, most pet insurance policies exclude it. This includes cleaning, orthodontics and treatment for gum disease.

Other Exclusions

Pre-existing conditions

This refers to any illnesses or injuries that your pet has, which you’re aware of. You’re required to disclose these to your insurer when applying for pet insurance. They will make the cost of your premium higher.

Pretty much all pet insurance companies will exclude pre-existing conditions from being covered. This is another reason why it’s important to get pet insurance as early as possible into the life of your pet, when they have few to no pre-existing conditions.

Waiting periods

Just like human health insurance, waiting periods also apply for pet insurance. In most cases, for routine treatments you can make a claim after serving a 30-day waiting period. However for more serious health conditions like tick paralysis and cruciate ligament problems, you might have to wait up to 6 months.

Sub-limits

While you'll have an annual benefit limit, which caps the costs you can claim, there are also sub-limits. For certain conditions, you can only claim up to a certain amount each year - even if you have 'spare' money in your overall benefit limit. These include conditions such as tick paralysis and cruciate ligament issues.

Age restrictions on illness cover

Many pet insurers exclude illness coverage for pets nine years and older (however accident cover is always available, regardless of age).

Switching insurance providers when your pet is a senior is often a headache. You'll have to list their medical history as pre-conditions, which makes coverage much more expensive than if you'd stayed on the same policy from the get-go.

Sometimes the only way to avoid this is to sign up to a lifetime pet insurance policy, as opposed to an annual policy, referred to as a time-limited policy. This means your pet will be comprehensively insured throughout their lifetime. Keep in mind though that lifetime policies are dearer than time-limited ones.

Alternatives to Pet Insurance

If the idea of being locked into a monthly pet insurance premium seems daunting, you're not alone. According to the RSPCA, only 30% of dog owners and 21% of cat owners had pet insurance in 2019.

So what are the alternatives?

Dedicated savings account

Some families set money aside into a special savings account for their pet. Whether you'll have enough saved up when the time comes can be hard to predict with this contingency plan. For some pet owners, a temporary savings accounts may be a good option while they sit through longer, 6-month waiting periods at the start of their policies.

Vet payment plans

Some vets offer these, but they exclude a number of the benefits afforded by insurance, such as expensive surgery costs.

Ultimately, while pet insurance can be expensive and confusing, the truth is that some accidents can throw you a real curve ball, like your dog ingesting a foreign object, or your cat falling from a height. It can be heartbreaking to watch your pet suffer without having a means of helping them.

Many pet insurance reviews on ProductReview noted that without pet insurance they might not have been able to ‘keep' their pet. Since around 10% of vet visits result in pets being put to sleep according to Pet Insurance Australia, paying a monthly premium seems like a small price to pay to safeguard the precious life of your fur baby.

The bottom line

Pet insurance can really help ease some of the burden associated with your pet becoming sick or injured unexpectedly. There are different levels of cover that can cater to your budget, however always make sure that the policy you choose is the right match for your pet's age, breed and any existing or foreseeable health conditions.

Know your non-negotiables when it comes to what you want to claim, and always read the PDS carefully to ensure that these benefits are not ruled out by any policy exclusions.

Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general information only. It should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the website owner - ProductReview.com.au. ProductReview.com.au is not a financial adviser. You should consider seeking independent legal, financial, taxation or other advice to check how the website information relates to your unique circumstances. ProductReview.com.au is not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by use of this website.