At a glance, pet insurance providers seem similar, but there are actually lots of differences between policies. To make your decision easier, we've reviewed the standout features from each pet insurance provider available on Finder, looking closely at the key pros and cons.
 Budget Direct | - Keep things simple with the choice of one level of cover with all the essentials offered
- Cruciate ligament benefit of $2,600 is on par or higher than most of its competitors
- Covers all orthopaedic conditions – including some not covered by other insurers
- Choice of any registered vet in Australia
| - Its $12,000 annual benefit limit is not market-leading
- No routine care cover available, not even as an optional add-on
| Get quote |
PD | - Covers 100% of vet bills
- Comprehensive dental cover is included in the Deluxe Plan - one of the few that offer it
- The $15,000 paralysis tick benefit is higher than many competitors
- Flexible excess options - choose from $50, $100 and $150
| - Its $15,000 annual limit can be beaten by other providers
- Routine care is only available as an add-on
| Get quote |
Vets Choice | - It's the only insurer endorsed by the Australian Veterinary Association
- The included $2,500 paralysis tick benefit is higher than 6 of the 10 insurers we looked at
- Its $15,000 annual limit is similar to many other pet insurers
- Choice of 80% or 100% back on claims so you can choose to save on premiums or on vet bills
| - No cover at all if your pet is 9 or over where other insurers often provide accident-only cover
- Outside of the optional dental cover, routine care cover is not offered
| Get quote |
Knose | - A flexible policy with a variety of excesses, limits and benefits percentages to choose from
- Its generous $25,000 annual limit is the highest we've seen
- Its 14-day waiting period for illnesses is half of most other brands
- No sub limits so you can claim up to $25,000 for paralysis tick benefit
| - With only comprehensive cover on offer, it won't suit those looking for a basic policy
- No routine care available as part of your policy
| Get quote |
Bow Wow Meow | - There's no excess, so it's worth claiming for even the smallest vet bills
- It's one of the few insurers to include dental illness cover
- It doesn't exclude cover for any hereditary breed conditions
- At $20,000, it offers one of the highest annual limits
| - Like many pet insurers, you can't purchase its top plans if your pet is 9 or over
| More info |
Guide Dogs | - A portion of your premium goes to Guide Dogs Australia
- Liability cover of up to $1 million for Registered Guide Dogs
- You can get cover for accidents and illnesses for pets over 9 years old
| - If you want routine care, it's only available as an add-on
| More info |
Prime | - 85% of vet bills covered – one of the highest reimbursement rates
- Cover for your pet while travelling overseas
- It's one of the few providers to offer dental illness benefits
| - It has a $14,000 annual benefits cap. There are some pet insurers in Australia that offer more, if you're worried that it's not enough
- It comes with a paralysis tick benefit cap of $1,200
| More info |
Petsy | - The only pet insurance provider on Finder that lets you claim 100% back on your vet bills
- $0 excess, always
- A generous $25,000 annual limit
| - To qualify for its top policy, your pet needs to be older than 8 weeks and younger than 8 years old
| Get quote |
Pet Insurance Australia | - You can lower your premiums if you like with Choice of $0, $100 and $200
- An incremental 5% discount for every additional pet you insure, up to a maximum of 15% off
- Emergency boarding fees if you're hospitalised or require accommodation due to family violence
| - Routine care is only automatically included with Major Medical Cover. If you want it with a comprehensive policy, you'll have to pay extra
| Get quote |
Kogan | - Flexible reimbursement rates of 65%, 70% and 80% mean you can tailor your policy
- Choice of $0, $50 or $100 excess
- A $2,000 paralysis tick benefit is more generous than most other insurers we've compared
- Bonus Kogan.com credit could be a plus for online shoppers
| - You'll need to pay more if you want routine care included
- Like many pet insurers, you can't purchase its top plans if your pet is older than 8
| More info |
Australian Seniors | - You get overseas cover and emergency boarding included at no extra cost
- There's no excess, so even the smallest vet bill is worth claiming for
- In-home vet visits are covered
- Save 10% on your policy if you're over 50
| - Only lets you claim up to $12,000 a year which is one of the lowest limits we've seen
- Routine care is only available as an optional add-on
| Get quote |
Guardian | - No excess and no joining fee
- Choose from any registered vet in Australia
- Get covered for life if you keep your policy
| - Only lets you claim up to $12,000 a year, which isn't as much as some other pet insurers
- You can't purchase its accident and illness cover if your pet is 9 or over
| Get quote |
RSPCA | - A portion of your premium supports the RSPCA
- No excess, meaning no out of pocket costs when you visit the vet
- A large annual benefit cap of $20,000
- No sneaky sub-limits for paralysis tick with its top policy – you get up to $20,000
| - If you want routine care, you'll need to pay extra for it
| Get quote |
Real | - 10% refund on your premium after a year
- Pay fortnightly, monthly or yearly at no extra cost
- You can visit any licensed vet in Australia
| - Annual benefits are capped at $12,000, which is less than some other insurers
- If you want routine care, you'll need to pay extra for it
| Get quote |
Everyday | - Members get 10% off their Woolies shop every month
- Price beat guarantee on comparable policies
- The $24,000 annual limit is higher than most of its competitors
- Donates $10 to Pet Rescue for every new policy
| - Routine care is automatically included with the comprehensive policy, but you might not want or need it (treatments are often not that expensive anyway)
| Get quote |
Compare pet insurance features and quotes from these Aussie brands
Now that you've weighed up the pros and cons of each, click through to receive a personalised quote.
Why compare pet insurance with Finder?
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You pay the same price as buying directly from the pet insurer.
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We're not owned by an insurer (unlike other comparison sites).
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We don't ask for your phone or email.
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We've reviewed over 35 policies on the market, so you don't have to.
If you're reading multiple pet insurance reviews online, keep the following things in mind:
- Read more than one review. Don't make up your mind based on one review. Read a few reviews to get a more complete picture of the features of a policy and the strengths and weaknesses of an insurer.
- Be wary of reviews written by displeased customers. If a customer has had a bad experience with an insurer, fair enough – it's certainly information that could help you make a choice. However, make sure to check that the customer has a legitimate reason to be dissatisfied, as some customers complain about dodgy service from insurers when it is actually the customer who was in the wrong.
- Look at who wrote the review. Was the review written by a so-called industry expert? If so, what are their qualifications? Was it written by a former customer? Look for any vested interests a reviewer might have that could influence their review.
- Watch out for reviews on the insurer's website. No insurer is going to post negative product reviews on their own website, so don't take these types of reviews as a completely accurate portrayal of a policy.
- Watch out for fake reviews. Use your wits and don't be sucked in by any reviews that sound too good to be true.
Finder survey: How many times have Australians of different ages made a pet insurance claim?
| 0 | 92.31% | 91.36% | 83.12% | 78.49% | 75.42% | 78.72% | 82.35% |
| 1 | 3.85% | 3.09% | 7.79% | 8.14% | 8.94% | 7.45% | 5.88% |
| 15 | 1.92% | | | | | | |
| 2 | 1.92% | 1.23% | 3.25% | 5.23% | 5.59% | 6.38% | 4.9% |
| 10 | | 1.23% | | 1.16% | 1.12% | 0.53% | |
| 20 | | 1.23% | 0.65% | 1.74% | 1.12% | | |
| 3 | | 0.62% | 3.9% | 0.58% | 2.79% | 3.19% | 4.9% |
| 4 | | 0.62% | | | 0.56% | 1.06% | 0.98% |
| 6 | | 0.62% | | 1.16% | 2.79% | | |
| 5 | | | 1.3% | 1.74% | | 2.13% | 0.98% |
| 12 | | | | 0.58% | 0.56% | | |
| 14 | | | | 0.58% | | | |
| 9 | | | | 0.58% | | | |
| 11 | | | | | 0.56% | | |
| 8 | | | | | 0.56% | 0.53% | |
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1009 Australians, December 2023
While you can garner a great deal of useful information about pet insurance policies by reading pet insurance reviews, you need to know what's right for you, which means knowing what to look for.
What is covered?
The first piece of information to look for is exactly what a policy covers you for. Items to look for include:
- Are accidents and illnesses covered or is it an accident only policy?
- Can you add a benefit for routine care procedures (for example vaccinations)?
- What optional extras are available with your policy?
- What is the maximum amount you can claim against your policy each year and what percentage of your eligible vet bills will the insurer pay?
What is excluded?
Look for the section of the review that refers to a policy's exclusions. Common exclusions include:
- Pre-existing conditions; however, some insurers make it possible to take out coverage for certain pre-existing conditions once your pet has recovered from them
- Illnesses for which there is a known vaccine
- Breeding and pregnancy
- Failing to take proper care to look after your pet
When reading pet insurance reviews, always consider your own needs. There's no point in buying a policy simply because it comes with some added features that you're unlikely to ever use. To get one that's right for your pet, keep the following in mind:
- Know the cover you need. Look at the cost of accident cover compared to the increased cost attached to a combined accident and illness policy. Are you looking for basic or comprehensive cover, and how does the protection offered by each policy stack up against the competition?
- Know what is covered. Look for information on exactly which injuries and illnesses each policy covers. Does one policy cover a larger number of conditions than the rest of the competition? Or is there one particular policy that covers all the injuries you fear your pet is most likely to ever sustain?
- Check the maximum benefit. You also need to check the maximum benefit limit per year on each policy. Pet insurance will usually only cover a certain percentage of your eligible vet bills, usually ranging from 50% to 80%, so look for a policy that will let you claim as much back as possible.
Other features to look for in a review include exclusions, sub-limits, excess amounts, average premium costs and any waiting periods that may apply.
Easily compare policies side by side in our comparison table. Use the filters to compare each feature that matters to you.
It's a good idea to consider the exact level of cover you require before taking out a pet insurance policy. Cover options include:
- Accident only. If you're on a tighter budget and only want protection for some of the worst-case scenarios your pet might encounter, an accident only policy may be a good option. This offers protection for the medicine and treatment costs for a range of injuries, including those caused by car accidents, falls, burns, insect bites and snake bites.
- Accident and illness. If you want an increased level of cover, a combined accident and illness policy will offer cover for the treatment costs when your pet suffers one of a wide range of illnesses. These include cancer, skin conditions, hereditary problems and other infectious diseases.
- Comprehensive. A comprehensive policy offers an increased level of cover, typically featuring a higher benefit limit and the option to include cover for routine care procedures. However, in order to decide on which type of policy is right for you, you'll need to consider how important it is to you that your pet is covered and how much insurance you can afford.
Once you know what features you want in a policy, you can read pet insurance reviews to confirm the best policy option for you.
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