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Dog insurance

If your fur baby gets sick or injured, dog insurance can help you foot the bill. Compare 14+ policies in Australia.

Name Product Accidental Injury Illness Maximum Yearly Benefit Paralysis Tick Yearly Sub-Limit Reimbursement rate Reimbursement Rate Bonuses
Medibank Pet Max Cover with Extra Care
$30,000
$30,000
90%
90%
Medibank and ahm health members save 10% on premiums.
⭐Finder Exclusive: Get your 1st month’s premium free when you choose Medibank Pet Insurance. Sign up using promo code FINDERONE. Offer ends 12 December. T&Cs apply.
Everyday Comprehensive Plus Cover
$30,000
$3,000
80%
80%
10% off your monthly grocery shop. T&Cs apply.
Everyday Pet Insurance customers get 10% off their monthly Woolworths shop. T&Cs apply.
Budget Direct Pet Insurance
$12,000
$1,500
80%
80%
15% off first year’s premium online
Current Offer: Apply online and get 15% off your first year's premium PLUS go in the draw for your chance to win 1 of 3 $10,000 cash prizes. T&Cs apply.
Kogan Pet Luxury Cover
$15,000
$2,000
80% up to age 8 & 65% over age 8
80% up to age 8 & 65% over age 8
First month free + $10 credit
Sign up and get your first month FREE plus $10 ongoing monthly credit. T&Cs apply.
Coles Premium Cover
$15,000
$2,500
80% or 100%
80% or 100%
5% multi pet discount
Earn 10x Flybuys points per $1 spent on pet food at Coles Supermarkets. T&Cs apply.
PD Deluxe Plan
$20,000
$15,000
100%
100%
First month free
Apply online and get your first 1 month free. T&Cs apply.
Pet Circle Dog Cover
$10K or $17.5K or $30K
$10K or $17.5K or $30K
70% or 80% or 90%
70% or 80% or 90%
No offers currently
Vets Choice Elite Cover
$15,000
$2,500
80% or 100%
80% or 100%
5% multi pet discount
Get a 5% discount when you insure more than one pet.
Guardian Platinum Accident & Illness Cover
$12,000
$1,200
80%
80%
No offers currently
Lifetime cover for cats and dogs, up to 80% covered.
PIA Major Medical Cover
$30,145
$3,000
80%
80%
First 2 months free
Covers specified accidents and illnesses, with Routine Care Cover included. Get 2 months free when you sign up using the code PIA241. T&Cs apply.
Petsy Custom Cover
$25,000 or $10,000
$5000 or $10,000 or $25,000
80% or 90%
80% or 90%
5% multi pet discount
⭐ Finder Exclusive: Enjoy 30% off your first month of pet insurance, plus receive a custom pet tag. Sign up using the code FINDER. T&Cs apply.
Real Premium Accident & Illness Cover
$12,000
$1,200
80%
80%
Get 10% of your premiums back after 12 months
Claim up to a maximum of $12k per year, with no excess to pay.
RSPCA Ultimate Plus Accident and Illness Cover
$20,000
$20,000
80%
80%
First month free
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.
Australian Seniors Top Accident & Illness Cover
$12,000
$1,200
80%
80%
10% off if you're over 50
Benefits include overseas cover when in NZ or Norfolk Island for your pet, plus an optional routine care add-on.
Knose Pet Insurance
Finder AwardExclusive
Knose Pet Insurance
$25,000
$25,000
90%
90%
10% off your first year
⭐Finder Exclusive: Get 10% off your first year. Sign up using promo code FINDER10. T&C's apply.
Kogan Pet Primary Cover
$8,000
$1,200
80%
80%
First month free + $10 credit
Sign up and get your first month FREE plus $10 ongoing monthly credit. T&Cs apply.
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Why compare pet insurance with Finder?

  • You pay the same price as buying directly from the pet insurer.

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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 with pet paw

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

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.

veterinary

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 accident and illness 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 $1,131 a year to insure a poodle, whereas a French bulldog is likely to be almost double that at approximately $2,309. You can find out more about average dog insurance costs by breed here.

Pet daycare

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 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

Why you can trust Finder's pet insurance experts

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Since 2016, we've helped 110,000+ people find pet insurance by explaining your cover options, simply and clearly. We'll never ask for your number or email. We're here to help you make a decision.

Your questions about dog insurance answered

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2 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    Joe1985June 7, 2023

    Are scans such as a PET/CT exanimation for cancer diagnosis covered in pet insurance

      AvatarFinder
      JamesJune 9, 2023Finder

      Hi Joe,

      Policies vary – some do include cover for imaging tests and X-rays (up to any stated benefit limit percentage). Terms and conditions will apply, so it’s a good idea to contact a provider directly if you’ve any further questions on how this type of coverage works.

      I hope this helps.

      Best,

      James

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