Why is pet insurance important?
Learn about the importance of having pet insurance. And what your options are with Tesco Pet Insurance.
Published: 2 February 2026
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Do you have pet insurance?
We love our pets at Tesco. And we know you do too. We’d do anything for our four-legged friends.
Yet, in our survey:
- a third of UK pet owners said they don’t have pet insurance*a third of UK pet owners said they don’t have pet insurance*
They also said they couldn’t afford to pay more than £150 towards vet bills out of their own pocket. And yet, our research also shows that:
- 55% of pet owners without insurance have had to pay an average of £169 for a one-off treatment*55% of pet owners without insurance have had to pay an average of £169 for a one-off treatment*
Why are pet owners reluctant to get insurance?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, price was one of the biggest reasons pet owners told us they don’t have insurance.
According to our research:
- 46% of owners believe pet insurance is too expensive*46% of owners believe pet insurance is too expensive*
- 29% of owners say they can’t afford it*29% of owners say they can’t afford it*
However, we can see that many pet owners wouldn’t be able to get essential treatment for their cat or dog without it.
What’s more, if you’re on a tight budget, there are ways we can help you to make your money go further.
How Tesco Pet Insurance can help
- Pay monthly at no extra cost. Spread the cost of your cover by monthly Direct Debit. The price is the same as paying yearly.Pay monthly at no extra cost
Spread the cost of your cover by monthly Direct Debit. The price is the same as paying yearly. - Multi pet discount. Take out cover for more than one cat or dog and get a £12 discount on each pet insurance policy you buy. Terms and conditions apply.Multi pet discount
Take out cover for more than one cat or dog and get a £12 discount on each pet insurance policy you buy. Terms and conditions apply. - Clubcard Prices. Save money on all Tesco Pet Insurance policies with your Clubcard.Clubcard Prices
Save money on all Tesco Pet Insurance policies with your Clubcard.
Refer a friend for pet insurance rewards
If you’re a Tesco Pet Insurance customer, you can also refer a friend. And you’ll both get a £30 Tesco Gift Card as part of our pet insurance rewards. T&Cs apply.
Trust us for Pet Insurance claims
97% of Tesco Pet Insurance claims are paid within 5 working days**.
Get a Tesco Pet Insurance quote today and save with your Clubcard.
What could not having pet insurance cost you?
Having pet insurance means you won’t be caught out by expensive vet bills if your cat or dog needs treatment.
In our survey:
- 20% of pet owners without insurance said they’d need to dip into their savings to cover unexpected vet bills*20% of pet owners without insurance said they’d need to dip into their savings to cover unexpected vet bills*
- 25% said they would need to rely on their credit card*25% said they would need to rely on their credit card*
The average cost of pet insurance claims
If you’re still wondering whether pet insurance is worth it, take a look at our claims data for Tesco Pet Insurance. This shows the average cost of the most common treatments for cats and dogs.
|
Claim |
Cost of treatment for dogs |
Cost of treatment for cats |
|---|---|---|
|
Animal attack wound |
£883 |
£575 |
|
Arthritis |
£190 |
£165 |
|
Bite wound |
£483 |
£394 |
|
Cat bite abscess |
£313 |
£255 |
|
Cruciate rupture |
£1,350 |
|
|
Cushing’s disease |
£305 |
|
|
Dentistry |
£460 |
Tesco Pet Insurance claims data 2024.
What are the benefits of having pet insurance?
Pet insurance can help with unexpected vet bills, so you can focus on caring for your cat or dog, not on the cost.
And, if your pet needs to see a vet, the costs can quickly add up.
Having pet insurance means you’ll have help to pay for your pet’s treatment. It can also give you peace of mind, knowing your pet will be well looked-after if something happens to them.
You can learn more about the benefits of pet insurance in our guide - Why should I get pet insurance?
What does pet insurance cover?
We know how important it is to find the right pet insurance to meet your needs and budget. That’s why you can choose from 3 different types of cover with Tesco Pet Insurance.
- Time Limited Pet Insurance - cover that helps you to get short-term treatment for your cat or dog, if they get sick or have an accident. This is our entry-level Pet Insurance policy.Time Limited Pet Insurance - cover that helps you to get short-term treatment for your cat or dog, if they get sick or have an accident. This is our entry-level Pet Insurance policy.
- Maximum Benefit Pet Insurance - covers vet fees for new illnesses and accidental injuries up to the vet fees limit on your policy. This is our mid-level Pet Insurance policy.Maximum Benefit Pet Insurance - covers vet fees for new illnesses and accidental injuries up to the vet fees limit on your policy. This is our mid-level Pet Insurance policy.
- Lifetime Pet Insurance - cover for vet fees of up to £3,000, £5,000, £7,500 or £11,000, depending on the limit you choose. Your vet fees limit will be reinstated each year, as long as you renew your policy and there’s no break in cover.Lifetime Pet Insurance - cover for vet fees of up to £3,000, £5,000, £7,500 or £11,000, depending on the limit you choose. Your vet fees limit will be reinstated each year, as long as you renew your policy and there’s no break in cover.
Remember, it's important to choose the right type of cover for both you and your pet.
How to choose the right pet insurance for you
If you’re looking for pet insurance, here are 3 key questions to help you find the right cover for your pet.
1. How old is your pet?
Your pet’s age matters when choosing an insurance policy. Much like humans, insurance premiums tend to increase as your pet gets older. Some insurers might not offer new policies for pets above a certain age. That’s why it helps to get insurance in place as early as possible.
With Tesco Pet Insurance, you can insure your pet from 8 weeks old. And there’s no upper age limit. However, there a couple of things we don’t cover for older pets. Including:
- saying goodbye coversaying goodbye cover
- refunds up to £1,500 for death from an accident or illnessrefunds up to £1,500 for death from an accident or illness
We’ll also apply an Overage Excess to your policy when your pet turns a certain age. That’s 5 or 8 years old for a dog, depending on the breed, and 10 for a cat.
You can learn more about taking care of older cats and dogs in our guide - Caring for older pets.
We also have a detailed guide on pet insurance for older dogs.
2. What breed is your pet?
Your cat or dog’s breed also matters when choosing pet insurance. Be aware, you might have to pay more to cover some pedigree breeds. That’s because some breeds are more likely to have genetic medical conditions.
You can find out about the most common health problems for certain breeds in our breed guides.
It’s also worth noting that some insurers might not cover certain breeds. Including:
- crossbreedscrossbreeds
- dogs that must be registered under the Dangerous Dogs Actdogs that must be registered under the Dangerous Dogs Act
You can learn more about the breeds we don’t cover in our Pet Insurance FAQs.
3. What level of cover are you looking for?
Most pet insurance providers offer different levels of cover. But bear in mind, cheaper policies usually have limits on how much they’ll pay for vet fees.
Tesco Pet Insurance offers 3 types of cover for both dogs and cats:
- Lifetime Pet InsuranceLifetime Pet Insurance
- Maximum Benefit Pet InsuranceMaximum Benefit Pet Insurance
- Time Limited Pet InsuranceTime Limited Pet Insurance
The type and level of cover you choose should be based on the needs of you and your pet. To figure out what that is, learn about Tesco Pet Insurance and then get a quote.
We'll run you through some questions to help you work out:
- the best type of pet insurance for you based on the information you give usthe best type of pet insurance for you based on the information you give us
- how long you'll need help paying vet bills forhow long you'll need help paying vet bills for
- and how much vet fees you would like to cover for each illness, accident and injuryand how much vet fees you would like to cover for each illness, accident and injury
The benefits of Tesco Pet Insurance
These are just some of the benefits with Tesco Pet Insurance.
- Cover for any age of cat or dog. We provide pet insurance from 8 weeks old to very old. There’s no upper age limit.Cover for any age of cat or dog
We provide pet insurance from 8 weeks old to very old. There’s no upper age limit. - 24/7 vetfone helpline. Get advice for your pet by phone or video call, whenever you need it. From behavioural and nutritional issues to age-related medical problems.24/7 vetfone helpline
Get advice for your pet by phone or video call, whenever you need it. From behavioural and nutritional issues to age-related medical problems. - Direct payments to your vet. We can pay claims direct to your vet, if they accept direct payments. Excesses will apply.Direct payments to your vet
We can pay claims direct to your vet, if they accept direct payments. Excesses will apply.
Win a dog training session with The Dogfather
Enter our prize draw for the chance to win an online training session with Graeme Hall and your dog.
The prize draw is open to all UK residents aged 21 or over. It will run from 00.01am on 9 January 2026 until 23.59pm on 28 February 2026.
Help for Pet Insurance customers
Find out how to manage your policy or make a claim if you have Tesco Pet Insurance.
Important information
Tesco Pet Insurance is arranged, administered and underwritten by Pinnacle Insurance Ltd.
vetfone is provided by Vetsdirect Ltd.
You'll find complete details of the cover, monetary limits, exclusions, excesses and terms in our policy documents.
About our research
*An online survey was conducted by WALR among cat and dog owners. Fieldwork took place from 8-13 October 2025. Data was collected in line with MRS (Market Research Society) and ESOMAR guidelines, to make sure it was done ethically and accurately.
**Tesco Pet Insurance claims data, 2024.
Learn more about the benefits of Pet Insurance
Find cover for your four-legged friend and save money with your Clubcard. Choose Lifetime Pet Insurance, Maximum Benefit or Time Limited.