However, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) found the average pet insurance premium in the UK is now £271, down from £279 in 2019. Pet insurance is a great way to make sure your pet is covered for things like vet fees, overseas travel cover, cattery and kennel fees, and dental costs.
Here, Which? reveals the most expensive dog and cat breeds to insure, and offers tips on how to cut the cost of pet insurance.
What are the most expensive pet breeds to insure?
Around 97% of all animals that were insured in 2021 were cats or dogs, according to Confused.com. Some breeds are more expensive to insure than others – for example, pedigree pets are considered to be a greater risk as they have a higher value and can suffer from illnesses and injuries directly associated with their breed. Pet insurers charge a higher premium for pedigree pets as a result.
Using Confused.com figures, here are the most expensive breeds to insure, with an average price of what you could expect to pay in 2022.
Most expensive dogs to insure
Most expensive cats to insure
The figures are UK averages for pets with no existing medical conditions, and are for the quotes generated in 2022 only. Based on all quotes for 2022, the average UK insurance costs for a dog came to £199, and £114 for a cat.
Find out more:Do I need pet insurance?
There are three main types of insurance available for your pet – lifetime, non-lifetime and accident-only.
As the name suggests, lifetime pet insurance offers cover for the duration of your pet's lifetime, subject to annual limits. It's the most comprehensive – and therefore most expensive – type of pet insurance, and can work either as an annual policy, or per-condition per-year cover.
Non-lifetime pet insurance is more limited, and can be restricted to a certain time period or per condition, for example, to cover up to a certain amount for an eye condition your pet has developed.
You can also get accident-only insurance, which is the cheapest and most basic policy. It only covers injuries (not illnesses).
However, there are alternative ways to make sure your pet is covered. You can self-insure by putting aside money each month to pay for potential vet bills. This means you don't have to pay for a policy, but there is the risk that any veterinary costs you incur could be higher than what you have saved. In 2021, the average pet insurance claim was worth £848, according to the ABI. But vet fees can easily be much higher – a broken bone can cost thousands to fix, while epilepsy treatment can cost more than £3,000.
Alternatively, there are charities such as The Blue Cross and RSPCA that provide means-tested support for pet owners – however, you'll likely need to be on a low income, retired or in receipt of certain state benefits to qualify for help for vet fees.
Find out more:How can I find cheaper pet insurance?
If you'd like to take out pet insurance for your furry friend, there are few ways to keep the price down:
Take out insurance while your pet is healthy Use a comparison site to compare dealsPay annually to reduce the overall cost Keep up-to-date on jabsWhich? Limited is registered in England and Wales to 2 Marylebone Road, London NW1 4DF, company number 00677665 and is an Introducer Appointed Representative of the following: 1. Inspop.com Ltd for the introduction of non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance products (FRN 610689). Inspop.com Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide advice and arrange non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance products (FRN310635) and is registered in England and Wales to Greyfriars House, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff, South Wales, CF10 3AL, company number 03857130. Confused.com is a trading name of Inspop.com Ltd. 2. LifeSearch Partners Limited (FRN 656479), for the introduction of Pure Protection Contracts, who are authorised and regulated by the FCA to provide advice and arrange Pure Protection Contracts. LifeSearch Partners Ltd is registered in England and Wales to 3000a Parkway, Whiteley, Hampshire, PO15 7FX, company number 03412386. We do not make, nor do we seek to make, any recommendations on financial products or services that are regulated by the FCA, as we’re not regulated or authorised by the FCA to advise you in this way. In some cases, however, we have included links to regulated brands or providers with whom we have a commercial relationship and, if you choose to, you can buy a product from our commercial partners. If you go ahead and buy a product using our link, we will receive a commission to help fund our not-for-profit mission and our campaigns work as a champion for the UK consumer.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/most-expensive-cats-and-dogs-to-insure-adtsd7e6kzF9