Why protect your pet with Direct Line?
We understand that your pet is part of the family and it can be very stressful if something happens to them. We’ll help you look after them if they get sick or hurt, because an emergency trip to the vet can cost thousands of pounds. Not everyone has this money to hand.
Pet insurance from Direct Line can help with any unexpected vet bills. We offer Dog insurance as well as Cat insurance, which are designed to give you peace of mind and help keep your pet healthy and happy.
Cover levels to suit your pet
We have a choice of cover levels to give your pet the protection that best suits your needs and theirs.
Essential Cover
From £6.50 per month
Advanced cover
From £10.77 per month
10% of new business single pet customers achieved these prices online for pet cover between 01/07/2026 – 28/02/2026. Excludes optional extras. Cover is only available providing the policy remains in force.
Multi-pet discount
Save 12.5% if you have more than one pet to insure on the same policy
Many people have more than one pet in their family. If you have multiple four-legged friends, our policy lets you insure them all together on one policy with a combined monthly premium and one renewal date.
If you’re an existing customer, add new pets at any time by giving us a call on 0345 246 8705, and they’ll be covered straight away.
Multi-pet discount is introductory and applies for the first 12 months of the policy.
Protect your pet round the clock with 24/7 online access to a qualified vet
Free access to PawSquad, offering live chat and video calls with UK vets who can answer you questions.
- 24/7 advice from a UK qualified vet wherever you are
- Video calls enabling vets to see your pet face-to-face
- Text chat with the option to upload images
Direct Line has partnered with Pet Drugs Online, so you can get more out of your pet insurance.
Save on your pets medication Direct Line has partnered with Pet Drugs Online, so you can get more out of your pet insurance.
- Discounted medication so your claim limit can go further, which is especially helpful for ongoing treatments
- Prescription fees covered up to £15
- Discounted pet food, toys and general health products
Claims won’t be covered when
- Connected with, or a recurrence of, a pre‐existing condition, symptom or event unless fully declared and accepted as covered in writing.
- The condition’s time or monetary limit has been reached.
- Relating to any illness or disease arising during the first 14 days of cover.
- Connected to behavioural problems or traits
- The cost of preventative, non‐essential or routine treatment.
- Your pet is being used for, or claims arising from the use of your pet for commercial, guard, breeding, gun dog use, security or working purposes or for racing, unless agreed by us.
The above is only a summary of some of the exclusions. Please refer to the policy wording for the full policy terms and conditions.
Common confusions
- Any ongoing claims will be covered up to the limit on your current pet insurance plan.
- Your pet is only covered if your policy remains in force. Vet bills for ongoing conditions are only covered if the treatment arises during a period of insurance where the premium has been paid.
- A pre-existing condition is any condition or symptoms, or signs of injury or illness, that happen or exist in any form before the pet was covered by this insurance.
- Before taking out insurance, make sure pre-existing conditions are covered. Remember, once a pet starts having treatment for an ongoing condition it will be classified as a pre‐existing condition if you take out a new policy or change insurer.
Important information
Things you need to know
- Age. The older your pet gets, the more expensive your cover is likely to be. This is because your pet is more prone to chronic medical conditions in its later years.
- Rising vet fees. Fees are increasing throughout the UK because vets can now provide more advanced treatments.
- Breed. Some breeds are more expensive to insure as they’re more susceptible to certain medical conditions.
- IPT. If Insurance Premium Tax either increases or decreases, insurance premiums are impacted.
- Introductory discounts. If the price you’ve paid today includes an introductory or renewal discount, you might find your insurance is higher in following years once the offer ends. Other factors including, but not limited to, the age and breed of your pet or claims history could also have an impact on your premium at renewal.
How do pet insurance claims work?
You can make a pet insurance claim online, over the phone or by posting us a form.
Depending on the vet and your needs, valid claims will work in one of two ways:
We pay you. You pay the vet bill and then make your claim. We’ll then refund you this cost minus the excess.
We pay the vet. After you make a claim, we’ll pay the vet directly, minus any excess, which you must pay to the vet.
The excess is the amount of money you agreed in policy to contribute towards each of your pet’s conditions you claim for.
The excess is the amount of money you must pay towards each of your pet’s conditions you claim for. This was agreed when you took out the policy.