To cancel your pet insurance policy, you'll need to get in touch with your pet insurance by calling, emailing or writing to them. We've listed the details for each provider here.
The good news
You're free to cancel your pet insurance policy at any time. The process and cost involved depend on when you cancel, but it's fairly straightforward either way.
The bad news
You'll be out of pocket for any illness or injuries that befall your pet once it's no longer insured, and the costs can quickly add up.
If you're not happy with the price you're paying for pet insurance, you can try 2 things. Firstly, shop around for a better policy. We have some offers only available on Finder to help you save money on your new policy. You can also speak to your current insurer about wanting to cancel. If your policy is up for renewal and you've noticed around a 20% premium increase, simply write them an email letting them know that it's expensive at this point in time with high cost of living, and that you'd like to cancel. My colleague recently did this and scored 3 months of pet insurance free! Don't hesitate to be transparent with your provider.
You pay the same price as buying directly from the pet insurer.
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What should I consider when cancelling my policy?
Keep the following questions in mind if you're thinking of cancelling pet insurance:
Are you within the cooling-off period? Most policies have a cooling-off period of 30 days. If you cancel during this time and haven't made any claims, you'll receive a full refund.
Are there cancellation fees? It's uncommon but some insurers charge a cancellation fee for any reason other than the death of your pet.
Is your pet over 9? Many insurers will only offer cover to pets that are under nine years of age when you first take out cover. Your pet will then be covered for life once you have a policy in place – but if you choose to cancel cover, you might not be able to re-insure your pet at a later date.
Do you need to cancel in writing? Some pet insurance policies can only able to be cancelled in writing. If you don’t submit a cancellation request via your insurer's preferred communication channel, you might still be charged premiums.
Will you lose money? Depending on circumstances you may not be eligible for a refund, and you may need to keep paying premiums for the remaining period of insurance. It might be better off cancelling cover near the end of the insurance period rather than while you still have several months of cover that are already paid for.
Can I cancel my pet’s policy at any time?
Yes, there are no restrictions on when you can cancel your pet insurance policy; you are free to do so at any time. However, whether or not you are eligible for a refund will depend on your circumstances and pet insurer. Here's what generally happens:
Full refund This will only happen if you cancel during your policy's cooling-off period and you have not made any claims. Cooling off periods usually last between 14 and 21 days from the date you took out a policy.
Partial refund If you have paid your annual premium in full and have not made any claims, the portion of the premium that covers the remaining period of insurance will be returned to you.
No refund If you're paying in monthly instalments, or you cancel your policy having already made a claim, you'll need to continue paying premiums for the remaining period of insurance and won't receive any refunds.
Watch this before you cancel your policy
What can I do instead of cancelling my pet insurance?
Instead of cancelling pet insurance, you may want to consider the following options:
Choose a lower level of cover. This will ensure that you still have a certain level of protection in place to help you cover unexpected vet bills, but your premiums will be more affordable.
Switch insurers. If you’re not happy with the level or cost of cover provided by your current insurer, switching to a new provider may be the perfect solution. However, this may mean that you’re not eligible for any premium refund from your current insurer. Compare a range of policies to find the right cover for your dog or cat.
Choose a higher excess. If you’re willing to pay a higher excess, you may be able to access cheaper premiums.
Choosing one of the above alternatives could help you maintain the cover your dog or cat needs, but make sure to consider all options carefully before deciding on the best way to cover your pet.
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:
Francesca Guerrera was a Publisher at Finder, helping Aussies find the best deals when it comes to getting pet insurance for their fur babies or taking out life insurance. She has a Bachelor of Communications in Journalism from the University of New South Wales. See full bio
I recently changed providers a month ago as I was trying to get the best deal on pet insurance. I’ve had insurance now for the past 6 years. I wanted to get the cruciate ligament time period waived so I took my dog to the vet, to which she did a quick work up on her anyway. All looked to be ok. 2 weeks later we have now noticed a lump on her chest on her right hand side. I’m curious to know as I’ve read that if it is deemed to have been there prior to the policy starting that the new insurer may not cover it, but as mentioned I’ve been insured for 6 years so if it’s deemed the new insurer won’t cover it, surely my old insurer would have to?
Finder
JamesJune 6, 2023Finder
Hi Ren,
Thanks for your message. For illnesses, you’ll generally have to serve a waiting period of between 14 to 30 days before you can claim – and 6 months for long-term conditions. It’s best to speak directly to your insurer for help with your specific situation and to find out what you can claim for.
Best,
James
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I recently changed providers a month ago as I was trying to get the best deal on pet insurance. I’ve had insurance now for the past 6 years. I wanted to get the cruciate ligament time period waived so I took my dog to the vet, to which she did a quick work up on her anyway. All looked to be ok. 2 weeks later we have now noticed a lump on her chest on her right hand side. I’m curious to know as I’ve read that if it is deemed to have been there prior to the policy starting that the new insurer may not cover it, but as mentioned I’ve been insured for 6 years so if it’s deemed the new insurer won’t cover it, surely my old insurer would have to?
Hi Ren,
Thanks for your message. For illnesses, you’ll generally have to serve a waiting period of between 14 to 30 days before you can claim – and 6 months for long-term conditions. It’s best to speak directly to your insurer for help with your specific situation and to find out what you can claim for.
Best,
James