You pay the same price as buying directly from the pet insurer.
We're not owned by an insurer (unlike other comparison sites).
We don't ask for your phone or email.
We've reviewed over 60 policies on the market, so you don't have to.
Pet insurance helps with the cost of diagnosing and treating illnesses and injuries to your furry pal.
Comprehensive plans typically cover surgery, hospital visits and medicines – up to as much as $30,000 per year.
It can also help out with routine visits to the vet but this is usually only available as an add-on. Pet insurance is primarily designed to protect against expensive and unexpected events.
Since there's no Medicare for our dogs and cats, having insurance can help you make decisions based on your pet's health, not your bank account.
It works like this: You pay a certain amount (a "premium") to your insurer each month. In return, it pays a percentage (usually between 80% and 100%) of your cat's or dog's vet bills if they get sick or injured.
You pay your pet insurance premium monthly or annually. Policies typically cost around $40 to $80 a month.
You can visit any licensed vet in Australia if your pet gets sick (as long as it's not due to a pre-existing condition) or injured. You usually pay the vet bill directly.
You get between 60% and 100% of vet costs reimbursed. You can usually claim between $12,000 and $30,000 per year, depending on the policy you choose, which is why it's worth shopping around.
Paige and Billy the pup
Luckily, we bought pet insurance for Billy (our lab retriever) when he was young. Within the first couple of months, he had stomach problems and we had to take him to the vet several times. In the end, the bill came to $2,900. Our policy reimbursed us for 100% of the costs. It's already saving us money.— Paige Green, Sydney-based dog owner
I have access to VetAssist, a free vet helpline, through my Everyday insurance policy with Woolies. It recently saved me a trip to the emergency vet (and likely hundreds of dollars) after my dog bit into a plant and reacted badly. Her behaviour became erratic, she was rubbing her face, and drooling excessively, clearly irritated. I contacted the helpline, they checked that the plant wasn't poisonous and gave me tips on making her more comfortable. In the end, washing her mouth out with a wet cloth did the trick.— Nicola Middlemiss, insurance specialist and dog owner
Getting a pet is exciting. Shopping for insurance isn't – so our experts curated these guides. Now it's easy to find cover.
Best pet insurance
3+ top policies narrowed down (from over 60 options) by our expert authors.
Cheap pet insurance
Get accident and illness cover with slightly lower limits from $23 a month.
Accident only pet insurance
If you only want cover for accidental injuries such as broken bones.
Routine care cover
If you want cover for routine treatments such as vaccines and desexing.
We got quotes for a greyhound from 9 partner brands. Here's what we found:
RSPCA had the cheapest policy.
There's a $138 monthly difference between the cheapest and most expensive policy – an annual difference of $1,654.
| Pet insurance plan | Monthly premium | Vet bills covered | Excess amount | Annual benefit limit | Waiting period for illness | Compare quotes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $192.64 | 90% | $0 | $30,000 | 30 days | Get quote |
 | $148.71 | 80% | $0 | $30,000 | 30 days | Get quote |
 | $151.23 | 80% | $0 | $15,000 | 30 days | More info |
 | $205.10 | 90% | $0 | $25,000 | 14 days | Get quote |
 | $213.14 | 90% | $0 | $30,000 | 14 days | Get quote |
 | $76.39 | 80% | $0 | $12,000 | 30 days | Get quote |
 | $153.70 | 80% | $0 | $30,000 | 30 days | Get quote |
 | $77.97 | 80% | $0 | $12,000 | 30 days | Get quote |
 | $75.30 | 80% | $0 | $20,000 | 30 days | Get quote |
No? Maybe our customer satisfaction awards can help. We teamed up with research firm Dynata and asked Australians for their opinion about their pet insurance.
Winner: RAC pet insurance (WA only)
Finalist: RAC pet insurance (Aus wide)
Finalist: RACQ pet insurance (QLD only)
This is the amount you can claim every year. It varies from around $12,000 to $30,000 (but some policies now offer unlimited cover). Good to know – a lower limit usually means a cheaper policy, but surgeries can exceed $20,000.
Some pet insurance policies have a cap on how much you can claim for certain injuries, such as paralysis tick treatment. A common sub-limit for this is $1,500 but treatment often costs $2,000+ (so maybe look for a higher limit).
This is how much you get back when you claim. Some will pay you 60% of the vet bill while others pay the whole lot. In a few cases, you'll also have to pay a small fee when you claim, called the excess.
Collectively, our expert authors have over 15 years experience helping people with pet insurance.
We've written 100+ guides and regularly chat to vets. We've covered everything from the best pet insurance policies to dogs travelling in the cabin on flights (we're biased – we think it's a good idea too).
We compare nearly all pet insurers in Australia. If there's a brand that's offering something we think is useful, we let you know about it even if we don't work with them.
Pet insurance saves lives. Without it, as a veterinarian, it can sometimes feel like bargaining over life and death with a family who want to do what they can within their means to help their animal friend. Pet insurance allows me and my team to do what we know we need to do to make sick pets better and to make healthy pets live longer. It makes animal health more in line with human health and that means better outcomes for patients.
We chat to a lot of vets. Treatments have improved substantially but it's not cheap. In my opinion, pet insurance is a small price to pay knowing you don't need to make tough decisions based on your bank account. Some policies will cover you for up to $30,000 per year now – there's even one that has no cap on how much you can claim (Trupanion).
Gary Ross Hunter
Insurance and innovations editor
If you don't want to have to choose between your bank account and your pet, it's worth having pet insurance.
Taylor Blackburn
Personal finance and insurance specialist
Want to find out more?
We've broken down the basics of pet insurance to help you decide if it's what you and your pet need.
Find out more about the pros and cons here.
We regularly have exclusive deals you won't find on other sites to lower your costs further.
Everyday Pet Insurance Deals
Get 10% off your groceries at Woolworths
Everyday Insurance customers who scan their Everyday Rewards card can receive 10% off their Woolworths shop once per month. T&Cs apply.
Petsy Pet Insurance Deals
30% off your first month of pet insurance
Includes a custom pet tag. T&Cs apply.
Budget Direct Pet Insurance Deals
Save up to 15% when you buy Budget Direct Pet Insurance online
Get 15% off on your first year’s premium when you buy online. T&Cs apply.
PD Pet Insurance Deals
Get your first month free
Apply for a PD pet insurance policy online for your dog or cat and get your first month free. T&Cs apply.
The research behind our pet insurance awards.
How do Aussies really feel about their pets? Check out the latest survey results.
Exotic pets such as reptiles, birds and small mammals get sick and injured too. Learn what's covered by exotic pet insurance.
Unlike pet insurance, Greencross Vets Healthy Pet Plus offers a wellness program designed to help keep your pet healthy.
Compare Coles pet insurance and find a policy for your furry friend.
We've rounded up the cost of surgeries for pets as well as pet insurance options to save you money if your pet needs surgery.
Complete guide to pet insurance exclusions you should know.
Receive quotes for policies from Pet Insurance Australia and apply securely online. Choose from 3 levels of cover and pay nothing for the first 2 months.
Bow Wow Meow has a higher annual limit and paralysis tick benefit than most insurers. Find out how it did in our awards, average costs and more.
Complete guide to finding the right pet insurance with a side-by-side comparison of major brands.
