Why do you need dog insurance?
If your pooch gets poorly you won't be able to pop to the local NHS vets for free treatment. From a basic consultation to an overnight stay and surgery, vet bills can cost hundreds if not thousands of pounds. This is where dog insurance can step in, footing the bill instead of you.
Get a quoteWhy insure your dog with Direct Line?
- Tailor your cover
Add only the extras you need. Choose from Third Party Liability, Overseas Travel and our 5-in-1 Care Package. - Multi-pet discount
Save 12.5% on your first year when you insure more than one dog - or cat - on the same policy. Add a new pet at any time. Introductory discount. Find out more - Claim online
It's easy: use our online form and we'll contact your vet directly wherever possible. Make a claim
24/7 online access to a qualified vet
Get the advice you need, when you need it, with unlimited video appointments and text chat included in your policy.
Go to PawsquadMoney back on your pet's prescriptions
Claim back up to £15 from us each time you fill out a prescription using our partner, Pet Drugs Online.
What you get with Direct Line Essential cover
We understand that your pet is part of the family and it can be very stressful if something happens to them. We'll help you look after them if they get sick or hurt, because an emergency trip to the vet can cost thousands of pounds. Not everyone has this money to hand.
Pet insurance from Direct Line can help with any unexpected vet bills. All of our insurance (including our Cat insurance) is designed to give you peace of mind and help keep your pet healthy and happy.
Summary of cover
What our pet insurance cover has to offer and the upper limits you can claim.
| Cover | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vet fee limit | Up to £4,000 for each new, eligible condition (injury or illness) |
| Time limit | 12 months from the first date of treatment for each new, eligible condition (injury or illness) |
| Complementary treatment | Included in the overall vet fee limit, with additional limits for hydrotherapy and physiotherapy |
| Hydrotherapy and physiotherapy limits | Up to 15 sessions each of physiotherapy and hydrotherapy (max £40 per session) |
| Consultation fee limit | Up to £75 towards consultation fees for each separate visit |
| Out of hours consultation fee limit | Up to £200 towards additional out of hours fees for each separate visit |
Pet insurance tips and FAQs
What can impact my premium?
- Pet age. The older your pet gets, the more expensive your cover is likely to be. This is because your pet is more prone to chronic medical conditions in its later years.
- Rising vet fees. Various things can make fees go up or down, but some factors can lead to a constant increase (e.g. advances in the technology your vet uses).
- Breed. Some breeds are more expensive to insure as they’re more susceptible to certain medical conditions.
- Claims. If you make a claim it is likely to impact your premium the following year.
- IPT. If Insurance Premium Tax either increases or decreases, insurance premiums are impacted.
- Discounts. Our introductory online and multi-pet discounts only apply for the first year of your policy, so your premium may increase after renewal.
The excess is the part of the claim you have to pay, but only once per condition. For dogs, the standard excess is £95.
You have the option to increase the excess to £190, which will reduce your regular payments (your 'premium’).
Dog insurance excess is a flat fee, with the same two excess amounts available to every dog owner.
The quickest and easiest way to submit a claim is through our secure online portal. Simply complete the online form, and we'll contact your vet direct to deal with the claim. If they agree, we'll also pay them directly too.
Throughout your claim we'll keep you in the loop with regular updates on its progress.
Alternatively, you can download the pet insurance claim form and email it back to us at petclaimreturn@ukipartnerships.com or call us on 0345 246 8496 (lines open Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm).
We currently don't offer a no claims bonus on pet insurance. It's important to us that your dog gets the treatment it needs, so we don't want a no claims bonus affecting your decision on whether or not to visit a vet.
Pre-existing conditions include any illness or injury that started before your policy - anything your pet has already shown signs of, been diagnosed with or been treated for. Keep in mind that in some cases, the original condition may have gone unnoticed and untreated. Also, a 'new' health problem can sometimes be a new form of a past condition, even if it affects a different part of your pet's body.