Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own.

Cheap pet insurance

Cheap pet insurance does exist! We gathered 700+ pet insurance quotes to see who came out on top for price and value for money.

Pet Insurance
1 - 15 of 15
Name Product Accidental Injury Illness Paralysis Tick Yearly Sub-Limit Maximum yearly benefit Reimbursement rate Reimbursement Rate
Everyday Comprehensive Plus Cover
tick
tick
$3,000
$30,000
80%
80%
Everyday Pet Insurance customers get 10% off their monthly Woolworths shop. T&Cs apply.
Medibank Pet Max Cover with Extra Care
tick
tick
$30,000
$30,000
90%
90%
Get your first month free if you sign-up by 19 August 2024. Use promocode 1FREE. T&Cs Apply.
PIA Major Medical Cover
tick
tick
$3,000
$30,145
80%
80%
Covers specified accidents and illnesses, with Routine Care Cover included. Get 2 months free when you sign up using the code PIA202. T&Cs apply.
Knose Pet Insurance
Finder AwardExclusive
Knose Pet Insurance
tick
tick
$25,000
$25,000
90%
90%
⭐Finder Exclusive: Get 10% off your first year. Sign up using promo code FINDER10. T&C's apply.
Budget Direct Plus Cover
tick
tick
$3,000
$25,000
80%
80%
Apply online and get 15% off your first year's premium. T&Cs apply.
Coles Premium Cover
tick
tick
$2,500
$15,000
80% or 100%
80% or 100%
Earn 10x Flybuys points per $1 spent on pet food at Coles Supermarkets. T&Cs apply.
PD Deluxe Plan
tick
tick
$15,000
$20,000
100%
100%
Apply online and get your first 1 month free. T&Cs apply.
Fetch Pet Insurance
tick
tick
$30,000
$30,000
80% or 90% or 100%
80% or 90% or 100%
Get dental, physio and behaviour cover included and skip wait periods by following our in-app journey.
Pet Circle Dog Cover
tick
tick
$10K or $17.5K or $30K
$0
70% or 80% or 90%
70% or 80% or 90%
Get 2 months free when you sign up using the code PCI2FREE. T&Cs apply.
Vets Choice Elite Cover
tick
tick
$2,500
$15,000
80% or 100%
80% or 100%
Get a 5% discount when you insure more than one pet.
Guardian Platinum Accident & Illness Cover
tick
tick
$1,200
$12,000
80%
80%
Lifetime cover for cats and dogs, up to 80% covered.
Petsy Custom Cover
tick
tick
$5000 or $10,000 or $25,000
$0
80% or 90%
80% or 90%
⭐ 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
tick
tick
$1,200
$12,000
80%
80%
Claim up to a maximum of $12k per year, with no excess to pay.
RSPCA Ultimate Plus Accident and Illness Cover
tick
tick
$20,000
$20,000
80%
80%
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
tick
tick
$1,200
$12,000
80%
80%
Benefits include overseas cover when in NZ or Norfolk Island for your pet, plus an optional routine care add-on.
loading

Finding the cheapest pet insurance

The cost of living crisis is hitting our wallets. To help you find cheap pet insurance without compromising on cover, our insurance team have gathered hundreds of quotes as part of the Finder Awards and trawled through over 20 pet insurance policies.

Both of our picks cover your pet for accidents and illnesses. Keep in mind, these are the insurers that typically offer the cheapest options according to our research – but your costs will differ depending on your pet's age, breed and pre-existing conditions.

We've also calculated costs for dogs and cats from over 20 insurers, and put together a list of discounts – to help you save as much as possible.

Finder's pet insurance methodology

Top pick for value: Knose pet insurance

Knose pet insuance

Finder Pet Insurance Award Winner

What we like about Knose:

  • Knose won the 2023 Finder Award for best value policy because it covers lots but is still competitively priced. It will likely cost you more than a policy with Budget Direct but you get more in return.
  • It covers 90% of vet bills for accidents and illnesses and you can claim up to $25,000 in a year. That's more than the majority of insurers. Most cover 80% of vet bills and let you claim $15,000 a year.
  • Finder has an exclusive offer that lets you get 10% off your first year. (Sign up using the promo code FINDER10. T&Cs apply.)
    • Knose covers 90% of vet bills but some policies, such as Coles and PD, cover 100% of vet bills.
    • Knose isn't the cheapest policy but if you're looking for value, it's a good option.
    Get quote

Cheap pet insurance policies for dogs

We calculated the average monthly cost of 20+ accident and illness pet insurance policies to help you find cheap dog insurance. These are prices for a 1-year old Cavoodle. Your prices will differ depending on your dog's breed, age, health and the type of policy you buy.

ProviderAverage monthly price (dog)
Budget Direct pet insurance$41.93Get quote
Medibank pet insurance$61.20Get quote
Guardian Pet Insurance Logo$55.83Get quote
Real pet insurance$56.98Get quote
Potiki pet insurance$59.45More info
Everyday pet insurance$60.44Get quote
Pet insurance Australia pet insurance$61.17Get quote
Guide dogs pet insurance$65.51Get quote
RSPCA pet insurance$66.93Get quote
Bupa pet insurance$67.69More info
Seniors pet insurance$68.86Get quote
Coles pet insurance$69.00Get quote
Vets Choice pet insurance$70.28Get quote
Bow wow meow pet insurance$70.57More info
Kogan pet insurance$72.65More info
Prime pet insurance$74.80More info
HCF pet insurance$76.01More info
Petcover pet insurance$88.98More info
Petbarn pet insurance$96.13More info
Knose pet insurance$104.18Get quote
Petsy pet insurance$105.36Get quote
Pounce pet insurance$129.78More info

Cheap pet insurance policies for cats

To help you find a cheap pet insurance policy, we calculated the monthly cost of 20+ accident and illness pet insurance policies for cats. These are prices for a 1-year-old Persian cat. Your prices will differ depending on your cats's breed, age, health and the type of policy you buy.

ProviderAverage monthly price (cat)
Medibank pet insurance49.34Get quote
Everyday pet insurance$44.69Get quote
Bow wow meow pet insurance$44.93More info
Potiki pet insurance$45.07More info
Budget Direct pet insurance$46.09Get quote
Pet insurance Australia pet insurance$49.19Get quote
Trupanion pet insurance$49.58More info
Bupa pet insurance$53.30More info
Real pet insurance$53.96Get quote
Coles pet insurance$55.61Get quote
Kogan pet insurance$56.32More info
RSPCA pet insurance$56.59Get quote
Guardian pet insurance$58.98Get quote
HCF pet insurance$59.15More info
Vets Choice pet insurance$63.34Get quote
Seniors pet insurance$65.06Get quote
Guide dogs pet insurance$66.03Get quote
Petbarn pet insurance$66.69More info
Prime pet insurance$66.91More info
Petcover pet insurance$67.54More info
Knose pet insurance$68.41Get quote
Petsy pet insurance$68.48Get quote
Pounce pet insurance$102.09More info

Remember these prices won't be the same for you. Pet insurance costs differ depending on your pet's breed, age, health and the type of policy you buy. To get a precise quote, you'll need to click "get quote" from one or more of the pet insurers above where you'll be asked a few questions about your pet.

What does cheap pet insurance cover?

Some really cheap pet insurance policies only cover you for accidents but they're becoming less common because most pet owners want cover for illnesses as well. Fortunately, there are a few cheap accident and illness pet insurance policies. They typically have an annual claim limit of between $3,000 and $12,000 and will cover your pet for the following:

  • Injuries from car accidents
  • Burns and electrocution
  • Snake bites
  • Allergic reactions to insect bites, excluding ticks and fleas
  • Injuries such as bite wounds caused by other animals
  • Illnesses including cancer, cruciate ligament conditions and orthopaedic conditions
  • Some pet insurance policies cover you for specified illnesses. This means you need to read the product disclosure statement (PDS) to see which illnesses your furry pal will be covered for. In most cases, it should include the most common types of illnesses.

    How to find cheap pet insurance

    These 3 quick and easy steps can help you find a cheap pet insurance policy in just a few minutes.

    One

    Select a higher excess

    The higher the excess you choose, the cheaper your premiums will be. Our filters let you choose between a $0 and $500 excess to help lower costs. Just remember that you'll need to pay this excess whenever you make a claim.

    Two

    Opt for a lower annual limit and reimbursement rate

    An annual limit is the maximum amount you can claim per year. The reimbursement rate refers to the percentage of a vet bill the pet insurer will pay. Generally, the lower the annual limit and reimbursement rate, the cheaper your pet insurance policy is likely to cost.

    Three

    Get multiple quotes

    While we can't show you exactly how much you'll pay for a pet insurance policy, there's nothing stopping you from clicking through, answering some questions about your pet and getting a couple of different quotes. If price is your only concern, go with the insurer that gives you the cheapest quote.

    ➡️ Get quick quotes from leading pet insurers

    It's tempting to go for the cheapest accident-only pet insurance policy but it's probably not worth the risk. Most visits to the vet are due to illnesses, so you should consider getting an accident and illness policy. The younger your pet is, the cheaper the policy will be.

    What to watch out for when buying cheap pet insurance

    Before you go buying the cheapest policy out there, ask yourself these questions:

    • How much can you claim back? Policies will reimburse you a certain percentage of costs, typically from about 60–80%. Consider how low you're willing to go just for a cheap policy.
    • What's the excess? The excess is a fee you pay when you make a claim. A higher excess generally results in a lower premium. Some pet insurers don't charge them.
    • What are the limits? This is the maximum amount you can claim in a year. Some events will have sub-limits applied.
    • Does it cover illnesses? Accident-only cover is cheaper, but you might want to pay a little more for illnesses as well.
    • Can you add routine care cover? If it's available, routine care can pay for some common procedures such as vaccinations and desexing.
    • Does it have lifetime cover? Most policies offer lifetime cover for your pets. If you continue to renew an existing policy and keep paying your premiums, your pet will be covered for life.
    Elizabeth Barry

    I realised the value of pet insurance when one of my dogs got very sick as a young puppy. We have now had both dogs insured for years. I can't tell you how much we've saved being able to claim vet bills for injuries and some illnesses. If I could do it again, I would organise insurance before bringing the dogs home as puppies.
    — Elizabeth Barry, money expert & dog owner

    Deals and discounts to make your pet insurance cheaper

    Deal

    Get your first month free

    Expires 19 Aug 2024
    If you sign-up by 19 August 2024. Use promocode 1FREE. T&Cs Apply.
    Deal

    10% discount for Medibank members

    Save 10% off on pet insurance if you have health insurance through Medibank.
    Deal exclusive

    Get 10% off your pet insurance premiums

    Get 10% off of the first year. Lower prices for lower risk pets. T&Cs apply.
    Deal

    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.
    Code exclusive

    30% off your first month of pet insurance

    Includes a custom pet tag. T&Cs apply.
    Deal

    Save up to 15% when you buy Budget Direct Pet Insurance online

    Verified Yesterday
    Get 15% off on your first year’s premium when you buy online. T&Cs apply.
    Deal

    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.
    Deal

    First month free

    Get 1 month free for the first year of new policies, applied across the year.
    Code

    Get free pet insurance for the first 2 months

    Get 2 months' free pet insurance when you sign up for cover with Pet Insurance Australia.
    Deal

    Get 10% of premiums back in the first 12 months

    Receive 10% of premiums you’ve paid in the first 12 months with The Real Reward program.
    Deal

    10% off if you're over 50

    If you're over 50 years old, get 10% off your policy.
    Deal

    Get 2 months free

    When you sign up using the code PCI2FREE. T&Cs apply.

    Why you can trust Finder's pet insurance experts

    freeYou pay nothing. Finder is free to use. And you pay the same as going direct. No markups, no hidden fees.
    expert adviceYou save time. We spend 100s of hours researching pet insurance so you can sort the gold from the junk faster.
    independentYou can trust us. We say it like it is. We aren't owned by an insurer and our opinions are our own.

    Frequently asked questions

Jason Loewenthal's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Jason Loewenthal as part of our fact-checking process.
Gary Ross Hunter's headshot
Editor, Insurance & Innovations

Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio

Gary Ross's expertise
Gary Ross has written 725 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
  • Managing the cost of living

More guides on Finder

  • Cancelling Pet Insurance

    Find out how and when you can cancel a pet insurance policy in this comprehensive guide.

  • Multi-pet insurance

    Find out how multiple-pet insurance works and compare options from Australian brands.

Go to site