All the pet insurance policies below will cover your pet for accidents and illnesses. They all have an annual limit (how much you can claim back each year) and a benefit percentage (how much of the vet bill it will cover you for, e.g. 90%).
To select our top picks, we compared products from 30+ providers, assessing products for 20+ features, including annual limit, benefit percentage, discounts and excess. Remember, there's no single best pet insurance policy that suits each one of our furry friends, since we all have different budgets and priorities.
How much are Australians spending on pet insurance?
Every month, we ask a bunch of Aussies what they're paying for their pet insurance. Here's what their bill looked like in January 2026.
$126
Price based on 400+ responses about their monthly premium in January 2026.
Tips to find the best pet insurance policy
Keep these 3 tips top of mind and it'll be much easier for you to find a good pet insurance policy:
Don't settle for a low annual limit
Pet insurance policies typically let you claim up to $15,000 a year. This may seem like a lot but surgery can exceed $20,000 in some cases. Always check the annual benefit limit before you buy. Petsy ($25,000) and RSPCA ($20,000) all offer more than average.
Look for a reimbursement rate of 80% or higher
The reimbursement rate, or benefit percentage, is the amount of the vet bill the pet insurer will cover you for. Most comprehensive pet insurance policies will pay 80% of all eligible vet bills. Some, such as Coles (100%) and Petsy (80% or 90%) offer more. A high benefit percentage is best for those who don't want to risk facing big out-of-pocket expenses.
Don't hold off on pet insurance until your pet is older
If they develop any health conditions before you've taken out pet insurance, they will be considered pre-existing conditions by the insurer and you won't usually be covered for any treatment related to that condition. Some insurers won't cover your pet at all once they are 9 or older.
Once you have narrowed down your options, get some quotes from each insurer. This will help you see who offers the best-priced pet insurance policy for you.
Pet or pay?
Aussies would fork out more than $6k to save their furry friend, according to a survey by Finder. With pet insurance, you don't need to worry about spending this eye watering amount.
Top 5 pet insurance brands for customer satisfaction in 2024
To help you figure out what pet insurance company is the best in 2024, we asked over 400 Australians for their opinion and got our insurance experts to rate some of Australia's well-known brands.
Brand
Overall satisfaction
Trustworthy / reliable
RSPCA
★★★★★ 4.39
97%
Bow Wow Meow
★★★★★ 4.34
94%
Bupa Pet Insurance
★★★★★ 4.27
97%
Petbarn
★★★★★ 4.24
94%
Finding the best pet insurance for cats
When looking for the best pet insurance policy for your cat, it can help to know a few details about your cat’s breed and any associated genetic disorders. Here’s a few things to keep in mind.
Pale-skinned cats. If your cat has white ears or a pink nose, it usually means they’ll need to be protected from the sun to avoid skin cancers. To ensure you’re covered for the worst, have a look at how your provider covers cancer and skin conditions.
Congenital heart defects. These can be standard among many cat breeds but are easily treated with the help of a vet. Read your PDS closely to know how you can be covered for this.
Flat-faced breeds. If you have a flat faced breed of cat, like a Persian or Exotic Shorthair then they may be predisposed to a range of respiratory related conditions. Additionally, the shape of their skull can lead to abnormalities with their teeth, resulting in dental issues. If you’ve got a flat-faced breed, it could be wise to check if and how your policy covers these conditions.
Finding the best pet insurance for dogs
To help find the best pet insurance for your dog, it can help to understand more about your dog’s breed and what you’re more likely to need to make a claim for. Here’s a few things to consider.
Larger dogs and joint health. Larger dog breeds like Great Danes, Mastiffs and Saint Bernards are more likely to struggle with hip dysplasia or arthritis due to their larger bone structure. To optimise your policy for this, be sure to check these conditions are covered and what the associated sub-limit is.
Smaller dogs and joint health. Smaller breeds like Dachshunds are known for their back issues due to their elongated spine and Shih Tzus are notorious for having knee cap issues. Be sure to understand how your policy can help in the event of these issues.
Skin health. Just like humans, dogs can have allergies too. This can show up by way of skin irritations and balding fur. While some breeds are more prone to these issues than others, it’s a fairly common concern across the board. See how your provider covers skin conditions to ensure you’ve got the right coverage.
FAQs about finding the best pet insurance
If you want to give your pet the highest protection money can buy, a comprehensive plan will typically cover your pet for:
Accidental injuries. Your insurer will pay a percentage (usually around 80%) of the vet expenses for accidental injuries to your pet. This can include car accidents, snake bites, allergic reactions, insect bites, injuries from falls, bone fractures and ligament and tendon injuries. You'll be able to claim up to a certain amount each year – for example, $15,000.
Illnesses. If your pet suffers a specified illness, your policy will cover up to 80% of the veterinary costs you incur as a result. Pet insurance policies typically cover most treatments related to your pet's illnesses including imaging services and cancer treatments. There's one main exception. If your pet contracts an illness which it could have been vaccinated for or if its illness is related to a pre-existing condition, you typically won't be covered.
Emergency boarding. If you are your pet's sole carer and you're hospitalised for more than 5 consecutive days, a comprehensive policy usually provides cover for the cost of finding emergency boarding for your pet.
Essential euthanasia. Nobody wants to think about this but in cases where euthanasia is deemed to be the most humane option, your pet insurer can cover the costs.
Paralysis tick benefit. If your pet requires treatment for tick paralysis, all policies will cover you. However, be careful, some policies only cover up to $1,200 of the costs. In some cases, the actual treatment can cost more than $2,000.
Routine care. This optional benefit is typically available as an add-on to comprehensive policies. It helps pay for preventative health care procedures, such as vet check-ups, microchipping and vaccinations. However, it typically doesn't cover all of the costs.
The cost of living crisis is pushing the price of everything up but it's still possible to get pet insurance that covers accidents and illnesses for around $30 a month. Budget Direct pet insurance offered the cheapest level of accident and illness cover.
Comprehensive pet insurance costs on average around $80 a month. However, costs differ a lot depending on the species, breed and age of your pet. For example, dogs tend to be more expensive than cats. Similarly, popular breeds such as cavoodles, Maltese crosses and Jack Russell terriers are likely to cost you much less to insure than bigger dogs – often around $60 a month.
Most pet insurance policies don't cover pre-existing medical conditions (an ailment that your pet already had before they were insured), so it's a good idea to take out pet insurance before this occurs. You can take out pet insurance as early as 6–8 weeks old. If they develop any illnesses after you've taken out a policy, you'll be covered.
All of the pet insurance policies we've selected cover your cat or dog in Queensland. They cover accidents and illnesses, including snake bites, tick paralysis and heat stroke.
All of the pet insurance policies we've selected cover your dog or cat in Melbourne. They cover accidents and illnesses, including snake bites, tick paralysis and heat stroke.
Yes, desexing is typically included in policies with routine care cover.
Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards.
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RSPCA
Bow Wow Meow
Bupa Pet Insurance
Petbarn