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 used our Finder Awards data and researched 69 pet insurance policies (that's nearly all pet insurance policies available in Australia), looking at 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.
Expert picks selected by Gary Ross Hunter – tier 1 certified insurance expert
Top pick for features: Medibank Max Pet Insurance
Our verdict:
$30,000 annual limit – one of the highest limits on the market.
Covers 90% of eligible vet bills. The average is 80%.
GapOnly cover lets you claim on the spot and 24/7 VetChat subscription lets you chat to a vet.
Up to $2,000 towards dental conditions – most insurers don't offer this.
90% back is higher than average but Coles and PD can cover 100%.
There's a 10% discount but it's only available to Medibank and ahm health members.
Its other plans are not as comprehensive.
Accidents:
Illnesses:
Routine care:
Reimbursement rate: 90% Annual limit: $30,000 Cruciate ligament sub-limit: No
We researched over 60 accident and illness pet insurance policies and selected our Medibank because its top plan has one of the highest annual limits ($30,000) and reimbursement rates (90%) on the market. For example, Everyday also comes with a $30,000 limit. However, it has an 80% reimbursement rate. It also comes with GapOnly cover, VetChat, no sub-limits and covers certain dental conditions such as gingivitis and teeth removal.
Top pick for perks: Everyday Comprehensive Plus Pet Insurance
Our verdict:
10% off your Woolies shop every single month.
Free access to VetAssist with every policy, valued at $199 per year.
GapOnly cover lets you claim on the spot, as opposed to pay for the full vet bill and wait to be reimbursed.
$30,000 annual limit – one of the largest on the market.
80% back on vet bills. Coles, Medibank and Knose can cover 90% or 100%.
The discount is no good if you don't shop at Woolies.
No multi-pet discount.
Accidents:
Illnesses:
Routine care:
Reimbursement rate: 80% Annual limit: $30,000 Cruciate ligament sub-limit: $5,000 per leg, per policy period
We researched 60+ accident and illness pet insurance policies and selected Everyday because it has one of the most valuable discounts on the the market. It also comes with Vet Assist and GapOnly cover. No other insurer offered all of these features and benefits.
It won 2 Finder Awards for best comprehensive policy and best value policy. Knose covers 90% of eligible vet bills and you can claim up to $25,000 per year. The majority of insurers in Australia don't do this – most cover 80% of vet bills and let you claim around $15,000 a year.
Finder currently has an exclusive offer that lets you get 10% off your first year. (Sign up using the promo code FINDER10. T&Cs apply.)
There are also no sub-limits on specific conditions. For example, some insurers only let you claim up to $1,500 for certain conditions such as paralysis ticks. Knose doesn't do this.
There are a small number of policies that cover 100% of vet bills. There are also some that let you claim more in a year (such as PIA and Trupanion).
It doesn't do GapOnly payments. You need to pay the full vet bill and wait to be reimbursed.
It's no good for pets aged over 9. They aren't eligible.
We researched 25+ pet insurance policies as part of our Finder Awards. We gathered over 700 quotes and analysed 190+ features. Knose pet insurance came out on top for both the comprehensive and best value policy.
We got over 30 quotes each from 23 accident and illness pet insurance policies and selected our top pick based on who offered the cheapest policy on average. Budget Direct was the cheapest by $279.
While prices differ depending on the type of pet you have, Budget Direct is comparitevly cheap. On average, it cost $642 per year in our 2023 Finder Awards research. That's $279 less than the second cheapest policy, offered by Real pet insurance.
Keep in mind though it's cheap because it's a pretty basic policy. For example, it comes with sub-limits on a few treatments. There's a $4,000 cap on orthopaedic conditions, a $2,600 cap on cruciate ligament conditions, a $1,500 cap on tick paralysis and a $1,200 cap on snake attacks.
Petsy was a highly commended brand for value and comprehensiveness in the 2023 Finder Awards. It covers 90% of eligible vet bills and you can claim up to $25,000 per year. The average is 80% and around $15,000 a year.
There are no sneaky sub-limits. This means you're covered for up to $25,000 for any accident or illness. This is a really helpful benefit because, as any owner who's had to pay for surgery will tell you, it can be extremely expensive in Australia.
It can cover illnesses after you've held a policy for 14 days. The average is between 21 and 30 days.
If you're looking for a basic policy, look elsewhere. Providers including Budget Direct, Medibank and Coles are all typically cheaper but don't come with the high limits Petsy offers.
It doesn't do GapOnly payments. You need to pay the full vet bill and wait to be reimbursed.
Pets 9 and over aren't able to take out a new policy.
Accidents:
Illnesses:
Routine care:
Reimbursement rate: 80% or 90% Annual limit: $0 Cruciate ligament sub-limit: $5000 or $10,000 or $25,000
We researched 25+ accident and illness pet insurance policies as part of our Finder Awards. We gathered over 700 quotes and analysed 190+ features. Petsy pet insurance came in second-place for both the comprehensive and best value policy. It was behind Knose only because it was marginally more expensive on average. However, costs may differ for your pet.
Top pick for routine care: PIA Major Medical Cover
Our verdict:
It's the only policy out of 60+ policies to automatically covers routine care. It gives you up to $145 a year towards costs such as desexing, microchipping, council registration fees and vaccinations. All other insurers make you pay extra for this or don't include it at all.
It has the highest annual limit out of all Australian pet insurers. You can claim up to $30,145 per year towards vet bills if your dog or cat gets sick or injured.
You get the first 2 months free. Based on average pet insurance costs, that could work out as a saving of around $160.
You can get 80% back on vet bills. Insurers including PD, Coles and Vets Choice all offer up to 100% back.
It has some sub-limits, a $3,000 cap on tick paralysis and $1,200 for emergency boarding.
The $145 routine care benefit might not be enough for everyone.
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. Everyday ($30,000), 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%), Vets Choice (100%), PD (100%) and Petsy (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.
Read our pet insurance reviews
If you're still not sure which pet insurer is right for you, you can check out our pet insurance review page which outlines the main pros and cons of each provider. We also have individual pet insurance reviews to help you make a decision.
A Finder survey has found nearly half of Australian pet owners (45%) have cut back spending on their pets to save money. An easy way to save on your pet insurance is to compare deals. There’s a difference of more than $1,000 a year between the cheapest and most expensive policy, according to 2023 Finder Awards research.
Why you can trust Finder's pet insurance experts
We're free
You pay the same as buying directly from the pet insurer. Better still, we regularly run exclusive deals that you won't find on any other site – plus, our tables make it easy to compare policies.
We're experts
Our team of pet insurance experts have researched and rated 25+ policies as part of the Finder Awards. We've produced guides on everything from the best policies to jargon-free explainers.
We're independent
Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by an insurer. That means our opinions are our own and we work with lots of pet insurance brands, making it easier for you to find a good deal.
We're here to help
Since 2016, we've helped 110,000+ people find pet insurance by explaining your cover options, simply and clearly. We'll never ask for your number or email. We're here to help you make a decision.
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.
For example, Coles comprehensive pet insurance (which covers specified accidents and illnesses) can cost just under $30 a month, according to Finder research. It's also worth calling up your insurer and letting it know you are thinking about leaving if it plans to increase your prices. There's a good chance it'll lower costs.
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.
The cheapest policy is by PD pet insurance and costs around $20 a month, according to our research. However, this only covers you for accidents. If you want cover for illnesses as well, you can expect to pay more. Remember these prices won't be exactly the same for you. Pet insurance costs differ depending on your pet's breed, age, health and where you live.
The best-value pet insurance policy will differ slightly depending on what you are looking for. However, a typical comprehensive policy will cover 80% of your vet bills and have an annual limit of $15,000. Looking for a policy that offers similar cover to this, or more, is a good place to start.
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.
Gary Ross Hunter is an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, news.com.au, The Telegraph, Explore Travel and Escape. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Kaplan Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146).
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