Pet insurance excess
Your pet insurance excess is the part of each claim you pay yourself. Most UK dog policies charge a fixed excess once for each condition every policy year, and many also ask you to pay a percentage of every claim (often called a co-payment) as your dog gets older. It's worth understanding both before you choose a policy, because together they decide how much you get back.
What would you pay on a claim?
Put in a vet bill, your excess and any co-payment to see how a claim splits between you and your insurer. The excess comes off first, then the co-payment is taken from what's left, which is how Churchill's policy describes it.
We've started with an example: a £1,000 vet bill with Admiral's £99 excess and no co-payment. Change the numbers to match your own policy.
Is there dog insurance with no excess?
Not among the UK policies below: every one of them charges an excess. What really differs is how often you pay it, and whether a percentage is added on top as your dog gets older.
- PetplanFixed excess for Vet Bills and Pet Therapies, amount on the Certificate of Insurance; can change at renewal
- AdmiralPer condition, per year (Lifetime). £99 or £199 up to age 6, chosen by the owner
- Animal FriendsOne vet fee excess per policy year for each condition claimed; amounts are on Your Schedule
- WaggelPer condition, per policy year; amount in each customer's policy
- More ThanFixed excess chosen by the owner (the table shows £100)
- ManyPetsOnce per plan year per pet, plus any co-payment on every claim
- AgriaA fixed excess per illness or injury each policy year, paid again if treatment carries into the next year, plus a percentage excess on all claims; amounts on the schedule
- Sainsbury'sA vet fees excess, amount on your certificate
- John LewisA vet fees excess, amount on your certificate
- TescoA vet fees excess, amount on your certificate
- PDSAA vet fees excess, amount on your certificate
- Marks and SpencerA vet fees excess, amount on your certificate
- RSPCAA vet fees excess, amount on your certificate
- ArgosA vet fees excess, amount on your certificate
- Post OfficeA vet fees excess, amount on your certificate
- ChurchillPer condition, amount on your Pet Insurance Details
- LV=A fixed excess, amount on your Certificate of Insurance; can change at renewal
Does the excess go up as my dog gets older?
With several insurers, yes. Some switch you to a higher fixed excess from a set age, and others add a co-payment on every claim. Here's what each policy says.
- PetplanA 20% excess is added at the renewal after the 10th birthday, or the 7th birthday for "select breeds" (named on the Certificate)
- AdmiralNo percentage co-payment found. From the renewal after the pet turns 6, the higher £199 excess always applies
- Animal FriendsA co-payment (a set percentage of each vet fee claim, on top of the excess) is added from the first renewal after a dog turns 8 (cats 10) and can't be removed. The percentage is on Your Schedule, not in the booklet. Younger pets can choose a voluntary co-payment
- WaggelOptional co-payment chosen by the owner, which can be dropped in the first 7 days or before renewal. No age-based co-payment found
- More ThanPets under 9: choice of 0%, 10% or 20% co-insurance. Pets over 9: 20%
- ManyPetsCo-payment is shown on the Membership Certificate; the handbook doesn't tie it to an age
- ChurchillFrom age 7 you pay 20% of every claim, after the excess
- LV=A 20% excess is added at the renewal after your dog's 8th birthday, on top of the fixed excess, except on the £1,000 plan
From each insurer’s own policy documents, read in October 2026. Amounts you choose, or that depend on your dog, are on your own policy schedule. Check the policy before you buy.
More guides to dog insurance: Pet insurance for older dogs · Third party liability insurance for dogs · Dog insurance by breed · Multi dog insurance · Lifetime pet insurance · Pet insurance for pre-existing conditions · Does pet insurance cover dental? · What does dog insurance cover?