Lifetime pet insurance cover
When our dogs and cats get ill, it can be really scary, and the last thing we want is to worry about a sky-high vet bill. Our lifetime pet insurance cover covers vet fees of up to £10,000.
Tesco Pet Insurance is arranged, administered and underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Ltd.
Premier cover is 5 Star rated by Defaqto for policies with £4,000 or more vet fees
Insure your cat or dog from 8 weeks old and cover vet fees of up to £2,000, £4,000, £7,500 or £10,000, depending on the limit you choose.
Your limit will be reinstated each year, as long as you renew your policy and there’s no break in cover. We may choose not to renew a policy, if we do, we will let you know in advance of your renewal date.
Flexible policy benefits
- Spread the cost of your policy by paying monthly by Direct Debit – and the great news is, it doesn't cost you more.Spread the cost of your policy by paying monthly by Direct Debit – and the great news is, it doesn't cost you more.
- Up to £2,000,000 on third-party liability costs such as injury or property damage (dogs only).Up to £2,000,000 on third-party liability costs such as injury or property damage (dogs only)Up to £2,000,000 on third-party liability costs such as injury or property damage (dogs only).
- Cover when travelling with your pet for repeat worming treatments or emergency vet fees abroad with the PETS scheme, included with Standard, Extra and Premier cover. View more on the PETS schemeCover when travelling with your pet for repeat worming treatments or emergency vet fees abroad with the PETS scheme, included with Standard, Extra and Premier cover. View more on the PETS scheme.
Monetary limits, excesses and exclusions apply.
Get your pet insurance quote
Guaranteed discount for Clubcard members
Over 1 million Clubcard members trust Tesco Insurance with their Pet, Home, or Car Insurance. And whether you’re a new customer or renewing your cover this year, you’re guaranteed a Clubcard discount.
About your data
Information on how we collect and use your personal data (including profiling and automated decisions) and your rights under data protection laws are in our privacy notice. Data may be obtained from and shared with the wider Tesco Group and fraud prevention agencies.
Compare our levels of pet insurance cover
Standard
Vet fees limit
£3,000
Vet fees time limit
12 months from the first treatment date or until you reach the vet fees limit, whichever is sooner, if your policy is renewed and there is no break in cover and your premiums are paid.
Dental cover
Accidents only.
Extra
Vet fees limit
£4,000, or £7,500
Vet fees time limit
Until you reach the vet fees limit for each accident or illness, if your policy is renewed and there is no break in cover and your premiums are paid.
Dental cover
Accidents only.
Premier
Vet fees limit
£2,000, £4,000, £7,500 or £10,000
Vet fees time limit
The limit will be reinstated each year providing cover is made available to you and you renew with no break in cover and your premiums are paid.
Dental cover
Accidents, illness and injury, if yearly check-up and any recommended treatment undertaken.
Our Standard, Extra and Premier cover include:
Cover for illness, accidents and injuries
Lost pet cover up to £1,000 including a £200 reward
Discount available for each additional pet added to a policy
24hr access to the vetfone™ helpline - unlimited telephone and video calls at no extra cost. 0800 197 4949
Saying goodbye cover up to £200 for putting your pet to sleep or for burials
Up to £1,000 towards pet care for unplanned visits to hospital of more than 4 days
Pet travel cover up to your vet fees limit
Refunds up to £1,500 for death from an accident or illness*
Complementary treatments such as physiotherapy and hydrotherapy are included within vet fees limit, up to £500 on Standard and £1000 on Extra and Premier.
*Excluding pets over 9 from illness.
Excesses will apply to your policy, which will affect the amount of premium you pay, and the amount you pay towards any vet treatment. When your pet turns 8, your excess may increase. View more on excesses.
Dog and Puppy Insurance
Standard cover from £86.40 a year or £7.20 a month.
That’s what 10% of new customers paid in March 2024, based on policies sold. The amount you could pay depends on individual circumstances.
Multi pet discount
Insure more than one pet and get a discount on each additional one when you buy Standard, Extra or Premier cover.
Tesco Pet Insurance includes vetfone™
- Speak directly with vets and nurses from the Royal College of Veterinary SurgeonsSpeak directly with vets and nurses from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
- 24/7 access to phone and video calls24/7 access to phone and video calls
- Unlimited access, with no extra cost for using the serviceUnlimited access, with no extra cost for using the service
What to consider when getting pet insurance
Important terms for our cover
- Pets must be at least 8 weeks old when cover starts, and any pre-existing injuries and illnesses are not covered.Pets must be at least 8 weeks old when cover starts, and any pre-existing injuries and illnesses are not covered.
- Exclusion periods for injury and illness apply.Exclusion periods for injury and illness apply.
- Certain breeds of cat and dog are also not covered.Certain breeds of cat and dog are also not covered.
- Monetary limits, excesses and exclusions apply – see the policy documents for details.Monetary limits, excesses and exclusions apply – see the policy documents for details.
We may choose not to renew your policy and, if we do, we will let you know in advance of your renewal date.
Budgeting for increasing renewal prices
As pets get older, they’re unfortunately more likely to get ill. That’s why your renewal price increases each year and your excess may increase when your pet turns 8.
Making claims
A claim being paid increases the likelihood of future claims. In turn, this may cause your renewal price to increase. That increase will depend on your pet’s breed, age, and health. With this being the case, there is no limit to how much your renewal price can increase over time.
Why choose Tesco Pet Insurance?
vetfone™ included with all plans
Unlimited 24-hour phone and video support. Provided by Vetsdirect Ltd.
Direct payments to vets
We can pay claims direct to your vet, if they’re happy to receive direct payments. Excesses will apply.
9/10 claims settled
January to December 2023.
Got a question about our cover? Talk to us through Live Chat.
We're open Monday to Friday 8am-6pm and Saturday 9am-1pm.
Pet Insurance frequently asked questions
No, unless the problems are totally unrelated. For example, if your dog cut their leg before your policy start date and this healed, and then your dog was unfortunate enough to cut their leg again, this would be classed as a new injury and would be covered under the terms of the policy (subject to the limits, excesses, and exclusions that apply). However, if the original cut did not heal properly and your pet needed further treatment, this would not be covered. Symptoms exhibited before the policy start date that are subsequently diagnosed are not covered either.
Tesco Pet Insurance claims consultants are fully trained and have an excellent knowledge of the cover you have arranged. Wherever possible, they'll confirm during your first call whether your claim is covered. For claims involving illness or disease they’ll probably need more detailed information from your vet before assessing your claim.
It may help you to read through your policy documents before ringing us to report your claim.
If you have any queries, please visit our claims page on our website or call us on 0345 078 3860*.
Calls may be recorded. *This number may be included as part of any inclusive call minutes provided by your phone operator.
Payments can be made directly to your vet, as long as the vet agrees. If you'd like to do this you just need to tick the box on the claim form. You'll need to pay the relevant excesses to your vet.
You will find step-by-step instructions on how to make a claim on our website.
Claims for ongoing conditions can be made online. For new claims, the claim form can be downloaded and emailed back to us at tesco.petclaims@uk.rsagroup.com.
Or you can call on 0345 078 3860* and give the details by phone or get a paper for posted to you.
Calls may be recorded. *This number may be included as part of any inclusive call minutes provided by your phone operator.
An excess is the amount you have to pay if you make a claim on your insurance. The excesses you pay will be detailed on your policy documents.
When you get a quote you can choose to increase the excess, which will help to reduce your monthly payments. You are responsible for paying the excess as detailed within your policy document. You also have to pay the first £250 of a claim for damage to property under the Third Party Liability section in respect of dogs only.
Repeat medication claims and claims for ongoing conditions can be made online, and this is the fastest way to get a claim paid. For new claims, ensuring that all the requested information is included will help speed up settlement of your claim, as will selecting payment by bank transfer.
These can include but are not limited to:
- The breed of your pet because some breeds are more susceptible to certain medical conditions than others. For example, breeds which tend to be large are generally more prone to bone and joint problems.The breed of your pet because some breeds are more susceptible to certain medical conditions than others. For example, breeds which tend to be large are generally more prone to bone and joint problems.
- The age of your pet because, just like people, older animals are more likely to suffer from medical problems such as heart and kidney diseases and arthritis.The age of your pet because, just like people, older animals are more likely to suffer from medical problems such as heart and kidney diseases and arthritis.
- The area you live in, this can influence the cost of vet fees - one of the main reasons people claim on their pet insurance.The area you live in, this can influence the cost of vet fees - one of the main reasons people claim on their pet insurance.
- Whether you have made any previous claims on your Tesco Pet Insurance.Whether you have made any previous claims on your Tesco Pet Insurance.
You can contact us by phone and live chat to cancel your policy.
You can cancel the policy within 14 days of the cover starting. This is called the 'cooling off period'. If you cancel in the cooling off period, you will receive a full refund for any payments you've already made, provided you haven't made a claim.
After the cooling off period, you can still cancel your policy at any time, you'll only pay for the period you were covered and there are no cancellation fees.
It can take up to 90 days from your policy start date for points to be added to your Clubcard account. If the 90 days has passed and you still haven’t received your points, please contact us.
If your bank details change, please call 0345 072 2112* to provide the new details.
Calls may be recorded. *This number may be included as part of any inclusive call minutes provided by your phone operator.
Tesco Pet Insurance can insure most cats and dogs provided they're fit and healthy, and over 8 weeks old. There is no upper age limit but your policy does not cover any pre-existing illness or injury that your pet(s) may have at the time of taking out the insurance, or the costs of treating an illness that shows clinical signs within the first 14 days of taking out the policy.
If your pet is referred to a specialist, and it is not for emergency treatment, please choose a vet from the RSA Group Preferred Referral Network. If for any reason you wish to choose a referral vet from outside this network, please call 0330 100 6460*, otherwise you will need to pay £200 of the referral vet bill yourself. This amount is in addition to your policy excess.
If your pet needs emergency treatment for a situation that, if not resolved immediately, will lead to a loss of life or cause a serious threat to the present or ongoing health of your pet, you will not have to pay the additional £200 excess regardless of which referral vet you visit.
Calls may be recorded. *This number may be included as part of any inclusive call minutes provided by your phone operator.
Contact us - we’re here to help
Got a question about your cover? Our UK-based contact centre is here to help. We are open Monday-Friday 8am-6pm and Saturdays 9am-1pm.
Important information
Check that Tesco Pet Insurance is right for you
Please read the policy documents to make sure that the cover level you've selected meets your needs.
The policy booklet also contains information on cancellation rights.
Renewal costs
It's important you budget for renewal prices to increase as your pet gets older.
Like us, as pets get older, sadly they're more likely to get ill. In fact, our claims data shows that the cost of looking after your pet's health doubles every four to five years. That's why your renewal price increases each year, and your excess may increase when your pet turns 8.
A claim being paid also increases the chance that a future claim will be made and can therefore also cause your renewal price next year to double.
How much they go up is different for everyone and depends on things like your pet's breed, their age and health, and there is no limit to how much your renewal price can increase over time.
All claims are subject to excesses
Various excesses apply to your policy. Read our page on excesses for more information.
We'll search our records for your Tesco Clubcard number, and we may access and use information (including transactional information, name and address) from your Clubcard. This will help us and your insurer to assess your premium and will only be used to make a positive impact on your premium.
How we collect and use your personal data
Tesco Personal Finance plc takes the security of your data seriously. Detailed information on how we handle your data and your rights under data protection is available in our Privacy Notice.
We collect data when you browse our website (e.g. your IP address), request a quotation, partially complete a quotation, do not purchase or provide data indirectly via price comparison sites. We keep quote data for up to 7 years and we may use this information if you apply for a product again in the future.
We will use your data to give you quotes, provide our services to you, perform eligibility checks, work out insurance risk, manage debt, protect you and us against fraud and financial crime and manage and develop our business. Automated decisions may be taken to detect crime.
We use data such as your name and address, to find any Clubcard(s) that are linked to your address. That might be your Clubcard, the Clubcard of other family member(s), or the Clubcard of house or flat mates. We may use this information to tailor our communications and to try to bring you better terms, deals or offers, and this may include profiling on an on-going basis. We may also award Clubcard points.
Data may be obtained from and shared with the wider Tesco Group and fraud prevention agencies (FPAs). The FPAs will use it to prevent fraud and money-laundering and to verify your identity. If fraud is detected this may be shared with other organisations and you could be refused certain services, finance or employment.
By proceeding with your application you acknowledge we can use your data in this way.
All policies
- Pets must be at least eight weeks old when cover starts, any pre-existing injuries and illnesses are not covered.
- Monetary limits, excesses and exclusions apply.
- Certain breeds of cat and dog are not covered, including Pit Bull, Pit Bull type, Japanese Tosa, Fila Brazileiro, Dogo Argentino, American Bulldog, American XL Bully, Wolf or Wolf hybrid or any breed not on our breed list unless we have agreed to cover it.
We do not offer cover if:
- You have ever had an insurance policy declared void or cancelled by an insurer.
- Your pet is used for breeding (this means used for breeding more than two times in its lifetime).
- Your pet is used as a business or to make money or earn an income.
- Your dog is trained to attack, used for security or as a guard dog.
Standard, Extra and Premier
Cruciate* problems which you or your vet were aware of in the first 14 days of your policy first starting however caused, or any arthritis, illness or injury that develops from them.
Parvovirus, hepatitis, distemper, leptospirosis in dogs or feline leukaemia, cat flu or infectious enteritis in cats if you have not had your pet vaccinated against them and kept the vaccinations up to date.
Illnesses which you or your vet were aware of in the first 14 days of your policy first starting, or any illness that develops from them are not covered. By illness we mean, both diagnosed illness and signs or symptoms of illness (undiagnosed illness). These include:
- signs or symptoms of diagnosed or undiagnosed injuries or illnesses.
- existing illnesses or injuries.
- existing physical abnormalities.
- existing illnesses, injuries or physical abnormalities which lead to other health issues or injuries.
- illnesses or injuries which are medically linked to existing illnesses, injuries or physical abnormalities.
We consider the following to also be pre-existing conditions:
- treatment of cruciate ligaments* in the second leg if one leg has shown signs, been diagnosed or been treated for cruciate ligaments before you took out the policy.
- treatment of spinal disc† problems if any disc has shown signs, been diagnosed or been treated for spinal disc problems before you took out the policy.
* The cruciate ligaments are deep within the knee joint. There are two in each knee and they help keep the joint stable and make sure it only moves in a certain way.
† Discs are located between the bones of the spine. They are found along the entire length of the spine.
Cover for lost or missing pets
If your pet goes missing, the Standard, Extra and Premier cover levels of Tesco Pet Insurance will cover your advertising costs up to £1,000, including a reward of up to £200. If the worst happens and your dog isn't found within 45 days, we’ll also cover what you paid or donated when you bought them, up to a cost of £1,500.
Travelling with your pet
The United Kingdom Government Pet Travel Scheme (also known as PETS) allows you to take your pet temporarily to certain countries and return to the UK without the hassle of putting them into quarantine.
Tesco Pet Insurance offers Pet Travel Cover with the Standard, Extra or Premier cover levels, when you travel to any country covered by the PETS scheme. It will cover you for repeating a worming treatment or emergency vet fees abroad. We'll also pay if you lose your pet passport, or it is stolen or destroyed or if the microchip fails and you have to put them into quarantine. The Accident and Injury cover level doesn't include this cover.
Pet insurance guides
Have more than one pet?
If you have multiple pets, you could get a discount with multi pet insurance. Find out more with our guide and see which policy is right for you.
Why you need pet insurance
Don't get caught out with unexpected costs. From lost pet cover and help if you're unwell, check out the benefits of pet insurance to help you find a policy that suits.
Pet insurance glossary
Our glossary of pet insurance terms helps to explain everything we discuss in our policies, so you know where you stand. Read our A-Z guide to get you started.