Are there any waiting periods with Guardian I need to be aware of?

Yes, there are two specific waiting periods that you need to be aware of: 30 day waiting period for conditions relating to some illnesses and tick paralysis. 6 month waiting period for cruciate ligament conditions (although it may be waived on application).

Do I need to pay an excess with Guardian?

No, you will not need to pay an excess with Guardian pet insurance and there are no joining fees either.

Are there any age requirements to be eligible for cover?

Yes, your pet needs to be 8 weeks or older to be eligible. They also have to be younger than 9 years old for Platinum and Gold Accident and Illness Cover options and younger than 16 years old for Bronze Accident and Illness Cover.

Guardian Pet Insurance Review

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Guardian offers a wide range of pet insurance cover types.
It's annual benefit limit is lower than typical benefits.

Pros

Guardian pet insurance is underwritten by The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd - one of the world's leading pet insurers.
It has lots of options - unlike many pet insurers who only offer 2, so could be good if you want more choice.
You can claim up to $2,000 for paralysis tick treatment - that's higher than many other insurers.

Cons

Guardian's $12,000 annual benefit limit is on the lower side of things.
Its 80% reimbursement rate is standard among most insurers but Coles, Knose and Petsy offer more.

Compare policies for Guardian pet insurance

Finder Score	Maximum Yearly Benefit	Paralysis Tick Yearly Sub-Limit	Reimbursement rate	Accidental Injury
7.8 Great Guardian Platinum Accident & Illness Cover	7.8 Great	$12,000	$1,200	80%	Get quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
8.6 Great Guardian Bronze Accident & Illness Cover	8.6 Great	$12,000	$2,000	60%	Get quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
7.6 Great Guardian Gold Accident & Illness Cover	7.6 Great	$12,000	$1,000	75%	Get quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading

Finder Score for pet insurance

We designed Finder Score to make comparing pet insurance easier, assessing more than 20 products for their price and features. Finder Score assigns each product a score out of 10.

Read the full methodology

Guardian scored in the Finder Awards

The Guardian Bronze Accident & Illness Cover was highly commended for Best Value Pet Insurance in the 2026 Finder Awards.

Full list of 2026 winners

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Why choose Guardian pet insurance

Guardian provides a more traditional tiered structure with a focus on accessibility for older animals. Key objective features include:

Zero excess structure: All Guardian plans are structured with no fixed excess. This means the policyholder does not have to pay an initial $100–$200 fee before the reimbursement percentage is applied to a claim.
Extended entry age for seniors: The Bronze plan permits new enrollments for pets up to 15 years of age. Most Australian pet insurers cap new policy applications at 9 years of age.
GapOnly integration: The policy is compatible with the GapOnly service at participating clinics, allowing for on-the-spot claim processing so only the remaining gap is paid at the time of treatment.
Fixed benefit tiers: The policy uses fixed reimbursement tiers (60%, 75%, or 80%). While these are lower than some premium 90% or 100% plans, they are tied to a $12,000 annual limit which stays consistent across all three levels.

What isn't covered by a Guardian policy?

Policyholders should consult the PDS to confirm specific exclusions. General exclusions for Guardian include:

Pre-existing conditions
Dental diseases
Alternative and supportive therapies
Dietary and grooming costs
Behavioral issues
Elective and cosmetic surgery
Breeding and obstetrics
Intentional harm

Guardian does not include routine care benefits in its standard Bronze, Gold, or Platinum plans. This cover is only available if an additional "Routine Care" rider is purchased for an extra premium, which provides capped contributions toward specific preventative tasks like vaccinations.

How to submit a Guardian Pet Insurance claim

Claims can be submitted online through the Guardian Pet Insurance member portal. The following steps describe the standard submission process:

Log in. Access the Guardian Pet Insurance member portal via the website. If managing multiple policies, select the specific pet for which the claim is being made.
Start claim. Navigate to the claims section and initiate a new claim request.
Upload documentation. Provide a digital copy of the itemized tax invoice and the consultation notes from the veterinary visit. For a first-time claim, the insurer requires a full medical history from all previous veterinarians or adoption paperwork if the pet was acquired as an adult.
Provide details. Input the required information regarding the veterinary visit, including the reason for treatment and the costs incurred.
Submit. Review the entered information and documentation for accuracy before final submission for assessment.

Guardian pet insurance costs

To help give you an idea about costs for Guardian pet insurance, we gathered annual quotes for a few of Australia's favourite dog breeds. Just remember, prices are going to change based on things like your own dog's breed, age and your address, so it's always worth comparing policies and getting a few quotes.

3 of 3 results

Sample quote	Sample quote	Sample quote	Sample quote
7.8 Great Guardian Platinum Accident & Illness Cover	Sample quote $1,763.02	Sample quote $1,763.02	Sample quote $2,080.43	Sample quote $1,763.02	Get quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
8.6 Great Guardian Bronze Accident & Illness Cover	Sample quote $886.54	Sample quote $886.54	Sample quote $988.70	Sample quote $886.54	Get quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
7.6 Great Guardian Gold Accident & Illness Cover	Sample quote $1,624.38	Sample quote $1,624.38	Sample quote $1,922.97	Sample quote $1,624.38	Get quote View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading

Showing 3 of 3 results

Pet: 5-year-old dog
Breed: Dachshund, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, Greyhound
DOB: 1 June 2020
Sex: Male
Policy: Platinum, Bronze & Gold Accident & Illness Cover
Quotes updated in March 2026
Desexed: Yes
Excess: $100
Owner's DOB: 1 May 1985
Address: New South Wales, 2011

Prices will differ based on a few criteria, including:

The gender, breed and age of your pet
The level of cover you choose
Your excess
Your location
If your pet is desexed.

Guardian pet insurance FAQs

Yes, there are two specific waiting periods that you need to be aware of:
- 30 day waiting period for conditions relating to some illnesses and tick paralysis.
- 6 month waiting period for cruciate ligament conditions (although it may be waived on application).

Finder writers are subject matter experts and use primary sources, in-depth research and interviews with other experts to ensure you're getting accurate, up-to-date information. Articles are fact checked in line with our editorial guidelines.

Thank you for your feedback!

Written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Journalist

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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. See full bio

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Gary Ross has written 520 Finder guides across topics including:

Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
Managing the cost of living

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How does Guardian stack up?

Key takeaways

Pros

Cons