UK pet insurance
Admiral pet insurance review: what it covers
Thinking about Admiral pet insurance? Here’s what Admiral’s policy really covers, explained in plain English and taken straight from Admiral’s own documents. We’ve focused on the parts that decide whether a claim gets paid, such as waiting periods, pre-existing conditions and how much you pay yourself. Nothing here is a recommendation.
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Admiral at a glance
- Most it pays for vet fees
- Lifetime: £2,000, £3,000, £4,000, £5,000 or £10,000 a year (Platinum)
- Excess you pay on each claim
- Per condition, per year (Lifetime)
- Wait before illness is covered
- 14 days
- What changes as your dog gets older
- No percentage co-payment found
Common questions about Admiral pet insurance
How long is the Admiral waiting period?
14 days
Does Admiral cover pre-existing conditions?
Not covered: anything a vet looked at, or that you knew about, before the policy started.
Does Admiral cover behavioural training or a behaviourist?
Only on Lifetime Platinum (£10,000), up to £2,000, and only if an injury or illness caused the change in behaviour.
Does Admiral pet insurance cover dental?
Accident damage on all levels; dental illness only on Lifetime Platinum, after a check-up and any recommended work.
Does Admiral cover cruciate ligament surgery?
The standard 14-day illness waiting period. Conditions on both sides count as one, with one limit and one excess.
How does Admiral treat a condition on both sides, like both knees?
Illnesses affecting both sides (eyes, ears, legs) are treated as one illness: one vet fee limit and one excess
Does Admiral cost more to claim on as my dog gets older?
No percentage co-payment found. From the renewal after the pet turns 6, the higher £199 excess always applies
Is there an age limit to join Admiral?
No maximum starting age in the IPID; pets must be at least 8 weeks old
How old does my puppy need to be for Admiral?
8 weeks
Does Admiral pet insurance include third party liability?
£1,000,000 on Blue, Bronze and Silver; £2,000,000 on Gold and Platinum; £250 excess.
Does Admiral offer a multi-pet discount?
15% for each pet in the same household that you insure on the same policy.
Working on reactivity or another behaviour problem? Read how to choose a reactive dog trainer, or find a trainer near you.
How does Admiral compare with other UK insurers?
The same five points for every UK insurer we compare, so you can see how Admiral stacks up. Click any insurer to read its full page.
| Insurer | Most it pays for vet fees | What changes as your dog gets older | Wait before illness is covered | Behavioural treatment | Dental cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petplan | Shown on the Certificate of Insurance, not in the booklet | A 20% excess is added at the renewal after the 10th birthday, or the 7th birthday for "select breeds" (named on the Certificate) | 14 days | Covered under Vet Bills for a "behavioural illness" (caused by a mental or emotional disorder), by a vet or a behaviourist with named qualifications (CCAB, APBC, CFBA, ABTC) | Dental injury and illness covered if teeth were checked by a vet in the 12 months before symptoms, and recommended treatment was done within 6 months |
| Admiral | Lifetime: £2,000, £3,000, £4,000, £5,000 or £10,000 a year (Platinum) | No percentage co-payment found. From the renewal after the pet turns 6, the higher £199 excess always applies | 14 days | Only on Lifetime Platinum (£10,000): up to £2,000, and only for behaviour changes caused by a previous injury or illness | Accidental dental damage on all levels, within the vet fee limit |
| Animal Friends | £1,000, £2,000, £3,000, £4,000 or £5,000 a year (separate booklet for £10,000 and £18,000) | A 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 | 14 days | Not covered on Lifetime £1,000 to £5,000 (training, treatment or therapy for behavioural issues) | None on £1,000; dental accidents up to £750 on £2,000 and £3,000; dental illness and accidents up to £1,000 on £4,000 and £5,000, if the pet had a dental exam in the year before and recommended treatment was done within 7 months |
| Direct Line | Essential £4,000 per condition (12 months); Advanced £8,000 per condition, including dental illness up to £1,000 | Not found yet | 14 days | Not covered on Essential or Advanced (treatment, training or therapy for behaviour problems) | Dental illness not covered on Essential; up to £1,000 on Advanced (within the vet fee limit), if your dog has a dental check every year and recommended treatment is done within three months |
| Waggel | Annual limit shown in each customer's policy; within it, up to £1,000 each for dental, complementary and behavioural treatment | Optional co-payment chosen by the owner, which can be dropped in the first 7 days or before renewal. No age-based co-payment found | 14 days | Up to £1,000 if diagnosed by a vet and treated by a qualified practitioner; not if caused by not neutering or training | Up to £1,000, if not pre-existing and the pet had a dental exam in the last 12 months |
| More Than | £1,000, £2,000, £4,000 or £6,000 per condition (Premier Lifetime) | Pets under 9: choice of 0%, 10% or 20% co-insurance. Pets over 9: 20% | 14 days | Behavioural problems are excluded except on Premier, up to the limit on your schedule (up to £1,000 on the top level); covered for behaviour changes caused by a medical, mental or emotional condition | Teeth and gums damaged in an accident on every level; dental illness on Premier, up to £1,000 or £2,000 within the vet fee limit |
| ManyPets | Not found yet | Co-payment is shown on the Membership Certificate; the handbook doesn't tie it to an age | Not found yet | Behaviour treatment covered for a change in behaviour; not if general training or neutering could have prevented it | Dental illness and accident cover, limits by plan (for example £1,000 on Standard Care) |
| Agria | £3,000 (Lifetime Lite), £6,500 (Lifetime), £12,500 (Lifetime Plus) or £20,000 (Lifetime Premium) | Not found yet | 10 days, when you first buy the policy (not at renewal) | Up to £750 for behavioural disorders | Dental and gum illness only if your dog had a dental check in the 15 months before it was noted, and any treatment the vet recommended was done within 12 months |
| Sainsbury's | Not found yet | Not found yet | 14 days | Not found yet | Dental illness not covered unless your dog has a history of annual check-ups and any advice was followed within 6 months |
| John Lewis | Not found yet | Not found yet | 14 days | Not found yet | Dental illness not covered unless your dog has a history of annual check-ups and any advice was followed within 6 months, and the treatment is to relieve suffering due to illness |
| Tesco | Not found yet | Not found yet | 14 days | Not found yet | Dental illness not covered unless your dog has a history of annual check-ups and any advice was followed within 6 months |
| PDSA | Not found yet | Not found yet | 14 days | Not found yet | Dental illness not covered unless your dog has a history of annual check-ups and any advice was followed within 6 months |
| Marks and Spencer | Not found yet | Not found yet | 14 days | Not found yet | Dental illness not covered unless your dog has a history of annual check-ups and any advice was followed within 6 months, and the treatment is to relieve suffering due to illness |
| RSPCA | Not found yet | Not found yet | 14 days | Not found yet | Dental illness not covered unless your dog has a history of annual check-ups and any advice was followed within 6 months |
| Argos | Not found yet | Not found yet | 14 days | Not found yet | Dental illness not covered unless your dog has a history of annual check-ups and any advice was followed within 6 months |
| Post Office | Not found yet | Not found yet | 14 days | Not found yet | Dental illness not covered unless your dog has a history of annual check-ups and any advice was followed within 6 months |
| Churchill | £3,000 per condition (12 months), including up to £1,000 for complementary treatment, £75 a visit towards consultation fees, £200 for out-of-hours visits and £40 a session for hydrotherapy and physiotherapy | From age 7 you pay 20% of every claim, after the excess | 10 days | Not covered: treatment for behavioural problems, training or therapy, and medication or pheromones to manage behaviour | Tooth or gum disease isn't covered, nor scale and polish, root canals or crowns |
| LV= | £1,000 to £12,000 a year (Lifetime plans) | 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 | 14 days | Covered for a change in normal behaviour caused by a mental or emotional disorder, treated by a vet or a behaviourist your vet refers you to (CCAB, APBC, CFBA or ABTC members); not if training or neutering could have prevented it | Dental injury and illness covered if a vet or vet nurse checked your dog's teeth in the 12 months before symptoms, and recommended treatment was done within 6 months |
Everything we checked in Admiral’s policy
Each point shows where we found it in Admiral’s own document, so you can check it yourself. Where an insurance term needs explaining, we’ve added a short note.
- Type of policy
- Lifetime (Blue, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) or Time Limited (Essential, Extra: each condition covered for 12 months)Where: Product tables
- Most it pays for vet feesThe most the policy pays for vet treatment, per year or per condition depending on the policy.
- Lifetime: £2,000, £3,000, £4,000, £5,000 or £10,000 a year (Platinum)Where: Lifetime cover table
- Excess you pay on each claimThe fixed amount you pay towards each claim; the insurer pays the rest, up to your limit.
- Per condition, per year (Lifetime). £99 or £199 up to age 6, chosen by the ownerWhere: Definitions: Excess; table; "What is not covered: the fixed excess" 1–4
- What changes as your dog gets olderA co-payment is a percentage of every claim you pay yourself, on top of your excess. Many policies add one when your dog reaches a certain age.
- No percentage co-payment found. From the renewal after the pet turns 6, the higher £199 excess always appliesWhere: Fixed excess 5; table
- Wait before illness is coveredThe time after you buy a policy before you can claim for an illness.
- 14 daysWhere: Definitions: Waiting period
- Wait before injuries are covered
- 24 hoursWhere: Definitions: Waiting period
- Problems on both sides of the body, like both kneesIf your dog has problems on both sides (both knees, both hips), many policies treat them as one condition.
- Illnesses affecting both sides (eyes, ears, legs) are treated as one illness: one vet fee limit and one excessWhere: Definition of the same condition, b.
- Cover for pre-existing conditionsAnything your dog had, or showed signs of, before the policy started.
- Any illness, injury or complication identified or investigated by a vet, or otherwise known to the owner, before the insurance started. Recurrences of illnesses from before or within 14 days of the start are not coveredWhere: Definitions: Pre-existing condition; Vet fees, what is not covered 1–2
- Cover for behavioural treatment
- Only on Lifetime Platinum (£10,000): up to £2,000, and only for behaviour changes caused by a previous injury or illness. Time Limited Essential and Extra list behavioural treatment as includedWhere: "Behavioural treatment"; Time Limited table
- Dental cover
- Accidental dental damage on all levels, within the vet fee limit. Dental illness only on Lifetime Platinum, and only if a dental check-up and any recommended work were done at the owner's costWhere: Dental treatment
- Complementary therapies, like hydrotherapy
- Hydrotherapy up to £500Where: Vet fees, complementary treatment
- If your dog dies from an illness
- Does not apply to dogs and cats aged 6 and overWhere: Section 3
- Oldest age your dog can join
- No maximum starting age in the IPID; pets must be at least 8 weeks oldWhere: Blue IPID
- Third party liability (if your dog injures someone)Pays compensation and legal costs if your dog injures someone or damages their property.
- Up to £1,000,000 (Blue, Bronze, Silver) or £2,000,000 (Gold, Platinum), dogs only, £250 excessWhere: Lifetime cover table; Section 2
- Youngest age your dog can join
- 8 weeksWhere: General conditions 4
- Discount for insuring more than one pet
- 15% for each pet living in the same household that you insure on the same policyWhere: Multi-pet insurance page (Admiral’s website, read 5 October 2026)
Source: Your Pet Insurance Cover (policy booklet), PET-PB-007 (file name says PB-006); no date printed in the text. Read on 3 October 2026. Underwriter: Arranged by EUI Limited (Admiral is a trading name; FCA 309378). Underwriter named in the booklet: to confirm. Policies change, so always read the current policy wording before you buy or claim. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.