Compare the best-rated dog insurance in Australia

What is dog insurance?

Dog insurance is pet insurance for your pup, which can cover a portion of vet bills in the event of an accident or illness. 

There are various levels of pet insurance depending on your and your dogs' needs, ranging from basic to comprehensive coverage.

What does dog insurance cover?

There are three standard levels of pet insurance across Australia (as well as optional extras). Each one typically covers the following:  

Note: If you’re looking to compare dog insurance, it’s important to know what you’ll actually be covered for by reading the policy documentation and accompanying product disclosure statement (PDS). 

Accident-only cover

This is a basic pet insurance policy covering only accidental injuries. For example, if your dog is hit by a vehicle, this could provide coverage for expenses for surgery

Accident and illness cover

In addition to accidents and injuries, this kind of insurance also covers expenses if your dog contracts an illness like a skin, eye or ear condition. The exact illnesses covered may vary by provider.

Comprehensive cover

This is the highest level of insurance you can typically purchase for your dog. It will generally have higher annual benefit limits for treatments and cover a broader range of treatments than more basic policies.

Routine care

This is an optional extra that can be added to a pet insurance policy and covers a range of routine procedures, from desexing and microchipping to vaccinations, teeth cleaning, and even training, depending on the policy.

What does dog insurance not cover?

Here are some common pet insurance exclusions when it comes to dogs:

• Pre-existing conditions: A health issue your dog already has or has shown symptoms of before taking out a policy. 
• Elective surgeries and treatments: Procedures that aren’t medically necessary to save your dog’s life. 
• Diseases with a known vaccine: Preventable diseases with early vaccinations. 
• Dental illnesses (some of which can be covered as an optional extra): Treatment of gum diseases, tooth decay and extractions. 
• Pregnancy and birth-related expenses. 
• Procedures (e.g., transplants).

While taking out pet insurance for your dog, your provider will likely undertake a check for pre-existing symptoms and conditions. 

For this reason, some providers say that it is worth taking out insurance early to avoid exclusions for pre-existing conditions later in life.

How does pet insurance for dogs work?

Generally, pet insurance for dogs will cover your vet bills up to an agreed percentage and you will need to pay the remainder. The percentage covered typically ranges from 70% to 90%, depending on the provider, policy and the type of treatment. 

The types of treatment being financially covered will depend on your level of cover and whether the conditions have been met to be eligible. 

However, most policies may have an ‘excess’ — an amount you’ll need to pay upfront to access those benefits. Generally speaking, the higher the excess, the lower your monthly premiums might be and vice versa. 

It’s also important to know that pet insurance policies may have limits and even sub-limits: 

• Limits: Limits restrict the maximum amount an insurer will pay for your pet’s vet bills annually. 
• Sub-limits: Sub-limits cap the maximum amount an insurer will pay for a specific treatment, even if your policy’s limit is higher. 

When comparing dog insurance, it’s important to consider the limits and sub-limits of each policy. Some pet insurance providers offer coverage with no sub-limits, the trade-off typically being a higher monthly premium.

How much does pet insurance for dogs cost?

Canstar 2025 data shows that on average, insuring a dog can cost:

• $1,316 per year for small dogs (excludes quotes for French Bulldogs)
• $1,323 per year for medium dogs
• $1,423 per year for large dogs

In reality, the answer largely depends on: 

• Your dog’s breed: Different dog breeds have different health risks due to hereditary or breed-specific traits, leading to higher premiums for some breeds. For instance, Canstar Research found that a Cavoodle might cost $1,152 to insure annually on an accident, illness and routine care policy, whereas a French Bulldog could cost an average of $2,748.
• Your dog’s age and health: Premiums generally increase as your pet gets older, as the likelihood of chronic health issues tends to rise with age.
• Your policy’s level of coverage: The level of coverage and excess you choose affects your costs.
• Advances in veterinary care: New and more expensive treatments and diagnostics can increase the average cost of claims and drive up premiums over time.

If you’re thinking about pet insurance or exploring your options, Canstar’s 2025 Pet Insurance Awards can be a helpful starting point. Or you could answer a few questions to receive personalised insurance quotes on Canstar.

Is dog insurance worth it?

Whether dog insurance is worth the cost is up to you, but it’s worth keeping in mind that vet bills can be very expensive. 

While pet insurance premiums seem high, they pale in comparison to many real-life vet bills. Each year, PetSure sees thousands of cases where treatment costs are more than $10,000, with some even larger still, like a $104,179 claim for a diabetic Cavoodle, and $89,079 for a Boxer with lymphoma.

Pet insurance can help defray the cost of these treatments, and save you from a big expense down the line.

Do keep in mind that pet insurance policies have limits and sub-limits, meaning you can only claim up to a certain amount annually, and the amount you can claim for individual procedures may be capped. 

Before taking out a policy, it’s worth checking these limits carefully in their PDS, making sure the amount paid in premiums does not exceed the amount you’re permitted to claim.