Cheap Pet Insurance NZ: The Most Affordable Plans Compared
We compare all NZ pet insurance plans by cost to recommend the most affordable options for you and your family.
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Mason
Author
Louis
Editor
Updated
Jul 21 2024
What's the Cheapest Pet Insurance in NZ?
The cheapest pet insurance plan in New Zealand is Southern Cross's AcciPet Plan averaging just $13.85 per month for dogs and $6.76 per month for cats.
Cheap pet insurance plans in New Zealand include:
Also, the larger your policy limit, the more your insurance premiums will cost. On the other hand, the larger your excess and co-payment, the less expensive your insurance premiums will be. This is because a high policy limit and low excess/co-payment mean you have more cover so the insurance company will be eligible to pay more of your vet bills.
Know that your actual pet insurance costs will also depend on factors outside of your control like your pet's breed, age and medical history. Despite this, there are still a number of things that you can do to make your pet insurance cheaper.
Unless otherwise stated, all of the quotes on this page are obtained for a six month old female Labrador Retriever (dog) or Domestic Shorthair (cat). She's desexed and we've picked the maximum possible excess and co-payment (the cheapest option) but also the highest possible policy limit (the most expensive option).
Cheap pet insurance plans in New Zealand include:
- Southern Cross AcciPet Plan - $13.85 for dogs or $6.76 for cats
- Cove Accident Only Plan - $15.94 for dogs or $10.35 for cats
- PD Insurance Accident Plan - $18.97 for dogs or $10.85 for cats
- Tower Accident Only Plan - $23.53 for dogs or $13.85 for cats
- Petnsur Surgery Plan - $23.91 for dogs or $14.36 for cats
- Petcover Mid-range Plan Core - $34.15 for dogs or $19.24 for cats
- Cove Major Plan - $39.33 for dogs or $16.55 for cats
- AA Accidental Injuries + Illness Plan - $43.94 for dogs or $23.29 for cats
Also, the larger your policy limit, the more your insurance premiums will cost. On the other hand, the larger your excess and co-payment, the less expensive your insurance premiums will be. This is because a high policy limit and low excess/co-payment mean you have more cover so the insurance company will be eligible to pay more of your vet bills.
Know that your actual pet insurance costs will also depend on factors outside of your control like your pet's breed, age and medical history. Despite this, there are still a number of things that you can do to make your pet insurance cheaper.
Unless otherwise stated, all of the quotes on this page are obtained for a six month old female Labrador Retriever (dog) or Domestic Shorthair (cat). She's desexed and we've picked the maximum possible excess and co-payment (the cheapest option) but also the highest possible policy limit (the most expensive option).
Cheap Pet Insurance Plans in NZ Compared
What's Covered
Sign-up Bonus
Puppies & Kittens Get 6 Weeks of Free Insurance Worth $2,000
Eligibility
8 weeks old
Average Monthly Cost
$13.85 (Dog), $6.76 (Cat)
Excess or Co-Payment
$100, $200 or $500 excess and 10%, 20% or 30% co-payment
Annual Policy Limit
$5,000
What's Not Covered
- Illness
- Third party liability
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Vet consultations
- Alternative treatments
- Pre-existing conditions
- Hereditary conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Parasite treatments
- Occupational treatments
- Emergency boarding
- Overseas treatments
Stand Down Period
- 90 days for cruciate ligament injury
- 90 days for patella luxation
Condition Limits
- $2,500 for cruciate ligament
Extras
None
Add-Ons
Consult Care Extra ($1,000 per year for consultation fees and 20% co-payment)
Ways to Save
5% multi-pet discount + 2.5% Southern Cross Health Society member discount + 2.5% direct debit discount when paying annually
- No upper age limit
- Flexible excess and co-payment
- No claim limit (except cruciate ligament injuries)
- Up to 10% in discounts for eligible customers
-
Doesn't cover third party liability
-
Doesn't cover illness, dental or routine care
Southern Cross Pet Insurance's AcciPet Plan is one of the best options for families looking for full accident coverage only. With an accident-only plan you won't get help for the smaller stuff like vaccinations and check ups, or for illnesses like cancer or skin conditions, but if you're facing one or more vet bills after an accidental injury you will be covered.
This policy has a flexible excess ($100 to $500) and co-payment (10% to 30%) and it covers up to $5,000 of vet bills per year. A $5,000 policy limit is standard for an accident-only pet insurance plan in New Zealand but this plan stands out as most other plans have a fixed excess and/or co-payment meaning you can't chose how much you want to pay in monthly premiums or when you have to make a claim. When you select the maximum excess and co-payment, this plan is also the cheapest pet insurance in New Zealand.
We've also picked Southern Cross's AcciPet Plan as one of the best accident only pet insurance options because puppies and kittens get a generous 6 weeks of free insurance when signing up and because it has an optional Consult Care Extra option giving you up to $1,000 with a 20% co-pay for regular, emergency and specialist vet consultation fees and alternative treatments.
Alternative plans to consider include Southern Cross Pet Insurance's PetCare Plan which is structured similarly but also covers illness, hereditary conditions, and has options for dental cover and routine care. Or PD Insurance's Accident Plan (our favourite accident-only pet insurance) which has a similar excess of $100 to $200, no co-payment but also covers third party liability (if your pet causes damage to property, or injury to other pets or people) and is cheaper when a similar co-payment/excess is selected.
This policy has a flexible excess ($100 to $500) and co-payment (10% to 30%) and it covers up to $5,000 of vet bills per year. A $5,000 policy limit is standard for an accident-only pet insurance plan in New Zealand but this plan stands out as most other plans have a fixed excess and/or co-payment meaning you can't chose how much you want to pay in monthly premiums or when you have to make a claim. When you select the maximum excess and co-payment, this plan is also the cheapest pet insurance in New Zealand.
We've also picked Southern Cross's AcciPet Plan as one of the best accident only pet insurance options because puppies and kittens get a generous 6 weeks of free insurance when signing up and because it has an optional Consult Care Extra option giving you up to $1,000 with a 20% co-pay for regular, emergency and specialist vet consultation fees and alternative treatments.
Alternative plans to consider include Southern Cross Pet Insurance's PetCare Plan which is structured similarly but also covers illness, hereditary conditions, and has options for dental cover and routine care. Or PD Insurance's Accident Plan (our favourite accident-only pet insurance) which has a similar excess of $100 to $200, no co-payment but also covers third party liability (if your pet causes damage to property, or injury to other pets or people) and is cheaper when a similar co-payment/excess is selected.
What's Covered
Sign-up Bonus
Puppies & Kittens Get Up to $100 off for 3 Months
Eligibility
8 weeks to 5 years old
Average Monthly Cost
$15.93 (Dog), $10.35 (Cat)
Excess or Co-Payment
$500 excess and 10% co-payment
Annual Policy Limit
$5,000
What's Not Covered
- Illness
- Third party liability
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Alternative treatments
- Pre-existing conditions
- Hereditary conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Parasite treatments
- Occupational treatments
- Overseas treatments
Stand Down Period
- 6 months for cruciate ligament injury
- 6 months for intervertebral disc disease
Condition Limits
- $1,500 for emergency boarding
Extras
None
Add-Ons
None
Ways to Save
10% multi-policy discount + 10% discount when paying annually + up to $100 when you refer a friend
- 20% in discounts available
- Covers emergency boarding
- Refer a friend for up to $100
-
High excess AND a co-pay
-
Maximum age limit of 5 years old
-
Long stand-down period for some conditions
Unfortunately Cove's Accident Only Plan is their worst pet insurance policy. It's hard to mess up such a simple accident-only plan but Cove manages to do a pretty average job compared to the other options available.
So what's wrong with this pet insurance plan.
To start with, a fixed $500 excess is higher than any other accident only plan in New Zealand. On top of that, there's a 10% co-payment (i.e. a $3,000 vet bill would cost you $750). And on top of that, this plan can only be taken out if your pet is between 8 weeks and 5 years old. Most other accident only plans have a maximum age limit of 9 years (some have no maximum).
And then there's the 6 months stand down period for two of the most expensive conditions you'd want covered - cruciate ligament and intervertebral disc disease.
Cove seems to save things a little by also offering an emergency boarding benefit but this has a $1,500 condition limit which feels a bit unnecessary given the low policy limit, the excess and the co-pay.
The only real saving grace are the discounts you can get - a 10% multi-policy discount, a 10% discount when paying annually, and up to $100 when you refer a friend. We recommend most other accident-only pet insurances over this one but our favourite is PD's Accident Only Plan which has no important condition limits, no co-pay, has a maximum excess of $200, covers new pets up to 12 years old and third party liability claims.
So what's wrong with this pet insurance plan.
To start with, a fixed $500 excess is higher than any other accident only plan in New Zealand. On top of that, there's a 10% co-payment (i.e. a $3,000 vet bill would cost you $750). And on top of that, this plan can only be taken out if your pet is between 8 weeks and 5 years old. Most other accident only plans have a maximum age limit of 9 years (some have no maximum).
And then there's the 6 months stand down period for two of the most expensive conditions you'd want covered - cruciate ligament and intervertebral disc disease.
Cove seems to save things a little by also offering an emergency boarding benefit but this has a $1,500 condition limit which feels a bit unnecessary given the low policy limit, the excess and the co-pay.
The only real saving grace are the discounts you can get - a 10% multi-policy discount, a 10% discount when paying annually, and up to $100 when you refer a friend. We recommend most other accident-only pet insurances over this one but our favourite is PD's Accident Only Plan which has no important condition limits, no co-pay, has a maximum excess of $200, covers new pets up to 12 years old and third party liability claims.
What's Covered
Sign-up Bonus
Buy Online, Get 1 Month Free
Eligibility
6 weeks to 12 years old
Average Monthly Cost
$18.97 (Dog), $10.85 (Cat)
Excess or Co-Payment
$100, $150 or $200 excess
Annual Policy Limit
$5,000
What's Not Covered
- Illness
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Alternative treatments
- Pre-existing conditions
- Hereditary conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Parasite treatments
- Occupational treatments
- Emergency boarding
- Overseas treatments
Stand Down Period
- 21 days for poisoning
- 21 days for ingestion
- 180 days for third party liability
- 180 days for cruciate ligament injury
- 180 days for patella luxation
Condition Limits
- $200 per visit for vet consultations
- $2,000 for accidental ingestion
- $10,000 for third party liability
Extras
None
Add-Ons
None
Ways to Save
5% multi-pet discount + $150 per pet when switching to PD Insurance
- Covers third party liability
- Flexibility to chose excess amount
- Eligibility from 6 weeks to 12 years
- Fast 2-day claims processing
-
Long stand down periods
-
Excess on every claim
Our experts agree that PD insurance's Accident Plan is New Zealand's best accident-only pet insurance plans. PD's accident only plan has one of the longest eligibility periods of any pet insurance plan in NZ covering dogs and cats anywhere from 6 weeks to 12 years old (the coverage lasts for the pets lifetime but your pet must be at most 12 years old) and is one of the few pet insurance plans to cover third party liability (when your pet injures someone or damages another's property).
PD Insurance also boasts 2 day claims processing, which is a day or two faster than the industry standard. Like most other accident-only pet insurance plans in NZ, PD insurance's Accident Plan covers yearly claims up to $5,000. In terms of costs, there's a variable excess of $100, $150 or $200, which is decided by you when signing up (the bigger your excess the smaller your monthly premiums), and no co-payment. This makes it ideal for bigger vet bills as the most you'll ever pay is determined by your excess. Otherwise, this policy only covers accidental injury and third party liability, so no illness, dental or routine care.
Like other accident-only pet insurances, this plan covers vet bills arising from a single event causing unforeseen (not gradual) physical injury. This cover includes the costs for things like prescribed medication, radiology, pathology, operating theatre costs, hospitalisation and non-elective euthanasia.
One thing to note however is that the stand down periods for this plan are 21 days for ingestion and poisoning, 180 days for third party liability and 180 days for cruciate ligament and patella luxation. There is no stand down period on other accident-only plans like Southern Cross's AcciPet Plan for accidental ingestion and only 90 days for cruciate ligament injuries. So, if this seems like a long time to you then pick a different plan. Southern Cross's AcciPet Plan also has a more flexible excess option, although it also includes a co-pay.
PD Insurance also boasts 2 day claims processing, which is a day or two faster than the industry standard. Like most other accident-only pet insurance plans in NZ, PD insurance's Accident Plan covers yearly claims up to $5,000. In terms of costs, there's a variable excess of $100, $150 or $200, which is decided by you when signing up (the bigger your excess the smaller your monthly premiums), and no co-payment. This makes it ideal for bigger vet bills as the most you'll ever pay is determined by your excess. Otherwise, this policy only covers accidental injury and third party liability, so no illness, dental or routine care.
Like other accident-only pet insurances, this plan covers vet bills arising from a single event causing unforeseen (not gradual) physical injury. This cover includes the costs for things like prescribed medication, radiology, pathology, operating theatre costs, hospitalisation and non-elective euthanasia.
One thing to note however is that the stand down periods for this plan are 21 days for ingestion and poisoning, 180 days for third party liability and 180 days for cruciate ligament and patella luxation. There is no stand down period on other accident-only plans like Southern Cross's AcciPet Plan for accidental ingestion and only 90 days for cruciate ligament injuries. So, if this seems like a long time to you then pick a different plan. Southern Cross's AcciPet Plan also has a more flexible excess option, although it also includes a co-pay.
What's Covered
Sign-up Bonus
5% Multi-Pet Discount
Eligibility
8 weeks old
Average Monthly Cost
$23.53 (Dog), $13.85 (Cat)
Excess or Co-Payment
20% co-payment
Annual Policy Limit
$5,000
What's Not Covered
- Illness
- Third party liability
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Pre-existing conditions
- Hereditary conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Parasite treatments
- Occupational treatments
- Emergency boarding
- Overseas treatments
Stand Down Period
- None
Condition Limits
- $350 for alternative treatments
- $800 for patella surgeries
- $800 for cruciate ligament surgeries
- $2,000 for non-life threatening injuries
Extras
$100 for funeral costs
Add-Ons
None
Ways to Save
5% multi-pet discount
- No maximum age limit
- $100 for funeral costs
- No stand down periods
-
High 20% co-payment
-
$2,000 max for non-life threatening injuries
-
Only covers accidental injury
Tower's Accident-only pet insurance plan has all the makings of a solid, albeit, no-so-special accident only plan but we actually think you should avoid this policy. That's primarily because there's a $2,000 condition limit on non-life threatening injuries, meaning that if your pet gets injured but is not going to die, you'll only get up to $2,000 to cover your vet bills. With a 20% co-payment as well, as morbid as it sounds, this policy is only really worth it if your pet would otherwise pass away.
While one would assume that having a 20% co-payment means that Tower's Accident Only Plan has slightly cheaper monthly premiums than a plan with a smaller, or no co-payment/excess, PD Insurance offers the same plan but without the $2,000 limit on non-life threatening injuries and only a $200 excess for a cheaper premium.
And even if this was not the case, we would always rather pay slightly more each month but know we're covered then pay a little less but not get the support we need when we have to make a claim. Tower also has no other ways to save on your premiums other than 5% multi pet discount. Oh, and they throw in a measly $100 for funeral costs.
The only real saving graces for this plan are the fact that there are no stand-down periods and no upper age limit for new policies, both of which are pretty unique for a pet insurance policy in New Zealand, and make this plan a better options for older dogs and cats.
For accident-only pet insurances, we much prefer PD Insurance's Accident Plan which has no co-payment, no significant condition limits and covers third party liability or Southern Cross's AcciPet Plan which has flexible excess and co-payment options, up to 10% off in savings and their only condition limit ($2,500 for cruciate ligament injuries) is triple that of Tower's ($800).
While one would assume that having a 20% co-payment means that Tower's Accident Only Plan has slightly cheaper monthly premiums than a plan with a smaller, or no co-payment/excess, PD Insurance offers the same plan but without the $2,000 limit on non-life threatening injuries and only a $200 excess for a cheaper premium.
And even if this was not the case, we would always rather pay slightly more each month but know we're covered then pay a little less but not get the support we need when we have to make a claim. Tower also has no other ways to save on your premiums other than 5% multi pet discount. Oh, and they throw in a measly $100 for funeral costs.
The only real saving graces for this plan are the fact that there are no stand-down periods and no upper age limit for new policies, both of which are pretty unique for a pet insurance policy in New Zealand, and make this plan a better options for older dogs and cats.
For accident-only pet insurances, we much prefer PD Insurance's Accident Plan which has no co-payment, no significant condition limits and covers third party liability or Southern Cross's AcciPet Plan which has flexible excess and co-payment options, up to 10% off in savings and their only condition limit ($2,500 for cruciate ligament injuries) is triple that of Tower's ($800).
What's Covered
Sign-up Bonus
Six Weeks of Free Insurance (No Obligation)
Eligibility
6 weeks to 12 years old (younger for select breeds)
Average Monthly Cost
$23.91 / $37.46 (Dog), $14.36 / $22.64 (Cat)
Excess or Co-Payment
10% co-payment
Annual Policy Limit
$1,500 / $3,000
What's Not Covered
- Non-surgical treatments for accidental injury
- Non-surgical treatments for illness
- Third party liability
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Vet consultations
- Alternative treatments
- Pre-existing conditions
- Non-surgical treatments for hereditary conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Parasite treatments
- Occupational treatments
- Emergency boarding
- Overseas treatments
Stand Down Period
- 7 days for accidental injury
- 21 days for medical treatments
Condition Limits
- $400 / $700 for scans & x-rays
- $700 / $1,100 for patella & cruciate
- $700 / $1,100 for cruciate
- $900 / $1,800 for cancer
Extras
None
Add-Ons
None
Ways to Save
None
- Low cost alternative plan
- Max age for new pets is 12 years old
- Symptom-free hereditary conditions are covered
- Relatively low 10% co-payment
-
Several condition limits
-
Only covers treatments surrounding surgeries
-
Noo extras or add-ons
The extra cheap and stripped back Petnsur Surgery and Surgery Plus Plans rank among our top NZ pet insurance plans if not for offering Kiwis something unique then for offering a product that provides good value for pet owners who want a lower level of cover.
As the label says, these two plans have a small annual limit of $1,500 or $3,000 for surgical treatments (only) relating to accidental injury, illnesses and even hereditary conditions (that were absent for the first 3 years of life). The obvious win here is that you have low limits and therefore low premiums, but the downside is that big vet bills won't be well covered and that there are a range of conditions that are outside what's covered under the umbrella of 'surgical treatments' - namely anything that doesn't require surgery.
One more major upside is that the maximum age for new pets is 12 years old or younger - much older than most other plans.
Downsides include several condition limits - $400 / $700 for scans & x-rays, $700 / $1,100 for patella & cruciate injuries and $900 / $1,800 for cancer. Also, the 10% co-payment on all claims. Still though, the Petnsur Surgery and Surgery Plus Plans are two of your best options for cheap pet insurance in New Zealand.
An alternatives is Petnsur's Rhodium Plan which covers more than just surgical treatments and but has higher premiums and annual limits, without condition limits. Or even PD Insurance's Accident Plan which obviously only covers accidents but also only has an excess of up to $200 without a co-payment.
As the label says, these two plans have a small annual limit of $1,500 or $3,000 for surgical treatments (only) relating to accidental injury, illnesses and even hereditary conditions (that were absent for the first 3 years of life). The obvious win here is that you have low limits and therefore low premiums, but the downside is that big vet bills won't be well covered and that there are a range of conditions that are outside what's covered under the umbrella of 'surgical treatments' - namely anything that doesn't require surgery.
One more major upside is that the maximum age for new pets is 12 years old or younger - much older than most other plans.
Downsides include several condition limits - $400 / $700 for scans & x-rays, $700 / $1,100 for patella & cruciate injuries and $900 / $1,800 for cancer. Also, the 10% co-payment on all claims. Still though, the Petnsur Surgery and Surgery Plus Plans are two of your best options for cheap pet insurance in New Zealand.
An alternatives is Petnsur's Rhodium Plan which covers more than just surgical treatments and but has higher premiums and annual limits, without condition limits. Or even PD Insurance's Accident Plan which obviously only covers accidents but also only has an excess of up to $200 without a co-payment.
What's Covered
Sign-up Bonus
10% Multi-Pet Discount (3+ Pets)
Eligibility
8 weeks to 8 years old (5 years for select breeds)
Average Monthly Cost
$34.15 / $38.52 / $53.34 (Dog), $19.24 / $22.32 / $28.32 (Cat)
Excess or Co-Payment
$0, $100 or $200 excess and 10%, 20% or 30% co-payment
Annual Policy Limit
$5,000 / $10,000 / $15,000
What's Not Covered
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Alternative treatments
- Pre-existing conditions
- Hereditary conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Occupational treatments
- Overseas treatments
Stand Down Period
- 28 days for illness
- 28 days for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome
- 365 days for cruciate ligament
Condition Limits
- $400 for vet consultations
- $500 for emergency boarding
- $500 for skin conditions
- $2,000 and then $1,000 for paralysis tick
- $1,500 / $2,500 / $3,000 for cruciate ligament injury
- $4,000 for hip dysplasia
- $5,000 for cancer
- $1,000,000 for third party liability
Extras
$300 for death
Add-Ons
Routine care ($145 total limit across different procedures)
Ways to Save
10% multi-pet discount (3+ pets)
- One of the only plans covering tick paralysis
- Flexible excess and co-payment
- Also covers boarding and death
-
Lower-than-average policy limits
-
Many condition limits apply
-
Eligibility maximum depends on breed
Broad cover, flexible excesses and co-payments, a couple of add-ons and extras but low policy limits, and many specific claim limits - that's what you'll get with Petcover's Mid-Range Plans. So how do we rate them?
Middle of the range.
We're certainly fans of cover for conditions like tick paralysis, third party liability and emergency boarding which are often excluded but when you have limits of $500 for emergency boarding and $1,000 for tick paralysis you start to feel less inclined to pick from this set of Petcover plans.
Interestingly many of the condition limits for these policies don't change between Core, Vital and Key Plans meaning that if you pick the Core Plan with a $5,000 annual limit then condition limits like $4,000 for hip dysplasia and $5,000 for cancer don't matter so much and therefore the plan starts to become more interesting.
Still though, we prefer pet insurance plans like Petnsur's Rhodium Plan or PD Insurance's Deluxe Plan. The Rhodium Plan doen't have condition limits so it actually covers most of your vet bills when you need it most and while PD's plan has some less significant condition limits it has no co-payment so you will likely never have a large vet bill.
Middle of the range.
We're certainly fans of cover for conditions like tick paralysis, third party liability and emergency boarding which are often excluded but when you have limits of $500 for emergency boarding and $1,000 for tick paralysis you start to feel less inclined to pick from this set of Petcover plans.
Interestingly many of the condition limits for these policies don't change between Core, Vital and Key Plans meaning that if you pick the Core Plan with a $5,000 annual limit then condition limits like $4,000 for hip dysplasia and $5,000 for cancer don't matter so much and therefore the plan starts to become more interesting.
Still though, we prefer pet insurance plans like Petnsur's Rhodium Plan or PD Insurance's Deluxe Plan. The Rhodium Plan doen't have condition limits so it actually covers most of your vet bills when you need it most and while PD's plan has some less significant condition limits it has no co-payment so you will likely never have a large vet bill.
What's Covered
Sign-up Bonus
Puppies & Kittens Get Up to $100 off for 3 Months
Eligibility
8 weeks to 5 years old
Average Monthly Cost
$39.33 (Dog), $16.55 (Cat)
Excess or Co-Payment
$1,000 excess and 10% co-payment
Annual Policy Limit
$25,000
What's Not Covered
- Third party liability
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Alternative treatments
- Pre-existing conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Occupational treatments
- Overseas treatments
Stand Down Period
- 21 days for illness
- 6 months for cruciate ligament injury
- 6 months for intervertebral disc disease
Condition Limits
- $1,500 for emergency boarding
Extras
None
Add-Ons
None
Ways to Save
10% multi-policy discount + 10% discount when paying annually + Up to $100 when you refer a friend
- Covers parasite treatments
- High $25,000 policy limit
- 20%+ in discounts available
- Only a condition limit for emergency boarding
-
Pets cannot be older than 5 years
-
Excess AND co-payment
Cove's Major Plan is by far their best pet insurance plan, and is actually one of our favourite full-coverage pet insurances in New Zealand.
Why? Because it has the highest policy limit available in New Zealand, it covers all expected claims but also parasite treatments, hereditary conditions and emergency boarding and because there's plenty of discounts to take advantage of if you pay annually not monthly and if you buy multiple insurances (pet or car) through Cove.
It's not all good though. Perhaps the most limiting thing about the Major Plan is that you can only take it out if your pet is between 8 weeks and 5 years old. There's not many pet insurances in New Zealand that are so restrictive in this respect. Another, is that you will have to pay a $1,000 excess and 10% co-payment for every claim. Essentially, that makes this plan worthless for smaller vet bills under $1,000 (if there even were such a thing).
Still, with one of the cheapest monthly premiums this all comes out in the wash and is a very affordable option. Another thing to note is that there's a relatively standard 21 day waiting period on illnesses and 6 month waiting period for cruciate ligament and patella luxation injuries.
The reason we also rate other plans like Southern Cross's Pet Care Plan and PD Insurance's Deluxe Plan high are because Southern Cross has more flexibility with monthly premiums and cover because you can choose your excess, policy limit and add-ons and because PD Insurance is more generous with no co-payment for similar, albeit slightly lesser, levels of cover.
Why? Because it has the highest policy limit available in New Zealand, it covers all expected claims but also parasite treatments, hereditary conditions and emergency boarding and because there's plenty of discounts to take advantage of if you pay annually not monthly and if you buy multiple insurances (pet or car) through Cove.
It's not all good though. Perhaps the most limiting thing about the Major Plan is that you can only take it out if your pet is between 8 weeks and 5 years old. There's not many pet insurances in New Zealand that are so restrictive in this respect. Another, is that you will have to pay a $1,000 excess and 10% co-payment for every claim. Essentially, that makes this plan worthless for smaller vet bills under $1,000 (if there even were such a thing).
Still, with one of the cheapest monthly premiums this all comes out in the wash and is a very affordable option. Another thing to note is that there's a relatively standard 21 day waiting period on illnesses and 6 month waiting period for cruciate ligament and patella luxation injuries.
The reason we also rate other plans like Southern Cross's Pet Care Plan and PD Insurance's Deluxe Plan high are because Southern Cross has more flexibility with monthly premiums and cover because you can choose your excess, policy limit and add-ons and because PD Insurance is more generous with no co-payment for similar, albeit slightly lesser, levels of cover.
What's Covered
Sign-up Bonus
5% Discount for AA Members
Eligibility
8 weeks to 9 years old
Average Monthly Cost
$43.94 (Dog), $23.29 (Cat)
Excess or Co-Payment
$0, $100, $250, or $500 excess (per condition) and 20% co-payment
Annual Policy Limit
$5,000, $10,000 or $15,000
What's Not Covered
- Third party liability
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Alternative treatments
- Breeding conditions
- Occupational treatments
Stand Down Period
- 14 days for illness
- 6 months for cruciate ligament injury
- 6 months for dental
Condition Limits
- $300 for vet consultations
- $600 for dental illnesses
- $1,500 for emergency boarding
- $3,200 for cruciate ligament conditions
- $4,000 for intervertebral disc disease
Extras
Pre-existing conditions can be waived after 18 months with no symptoms, Free VetChat membership for online consultations
Add-Ons
Paw Care Package ($100 per year towards routine care, vaccinations, preventative care, and burial/cremation)
Ways to Save
5% discount for AA members
- Covers many claim types
- Flexible excess/policy limit
- Maximum age for new policies is 9 years
- Routine care add-on
-
Several condition limits
-
No multi-pet discount
The most comprehensive pet insurance plan in New Zealand is AA Pet Insurance's only pet insurance plan. It covers accidents and injuries but unlike most other pet insurance policies it also covers dental illnesses, hereditary conditions, parasite treatments, emergency boarding, and overseas treatments in Australia and Norfolk Island.
New policies can be taken out for puppies and kittens aged 8 weeks until your pet's 9th birthday and with flexible policy limits and excesses as well as a routine care add-on this plan is really designed for all types of pets/owners.
A smaller downside of the plan is that the maximum policy limit is only $15,000, which is not ideal if you're trying to cover yourself for one or more very sizable vet bills. A bigger downside is that AA also has a 20% co-payment which when combined with the excess you have to pay still means you'll be liable to pay a decent-sized portion of your pet's treatment costs. But the biggest downside is almost certainly the condition limits on this policy ranging from $300 for consultation fees and $600 for dental illnesses to $3,200 for cruciate ligament conditions and $4,000 for intervertebral disc disease.
Still, with wide ranging cover, a free VetChat membership for online consultations and even the ability to waive the pre-existing condition exclusion if your pet is 18 months symptom free, this is a plan many Kiwis chose. Especially considering the competitive pricing of their monthly premiums. For a higher policy limit consider Cove's Major Plan or SPCA's Big Stuff Cover otherwise PD Insurance's Deluxe Plan has decent condition limits and no co-payment.
New policies can be taken out for puppies and kittens aged 8 weeks until your pet's 9th birthday and with flexible policy limits and excesses as well as a routine care add-on this plan is really designed for all types of pets/owners.
A smaller downside of the plan is that the maximum policy limit is only $15,000, which is not ideal if you're trying to cover yourself for one or more very sizable vet bills. A bigger downside is that AA also has a 20% co-payment which when combined with the excess you have to pay still means you'll be liable to pay a decent-sized portion of your pet's treatment costs. But the biggest downside is almost certainly the condition limits on this policy ranging from $300 for consultation fees and $600 for dental illnesses to $3,200 for cruciate ligament conditions and $4,000 for intervertebral disc disease.
Still, with wide ranging cover, a free VetChat membership for online consultations and even the ability to waive the pre-existing condition exclusion if your pet is 18 months symptom free, this is a plan many Kiwis chose. Especially considering the competitive pricing of their monthly premiums. For a higher policy limit consider Cove's Major Plan or SPCA's Big Stuff Cover otherwise PD Insurance's Deluxe Plan has decent condition limits and no co-payment.
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Tips for How to Make Your Pet Insurance Cheaper
While it is generally true for pet insurance that you get what you pay for i.e. cheap pet insurance will mean less cover for your vet bills, there are several things that you can do to make sure you're not overpaying on your premiums while still getting enough cover to make sure having pet insurance is actually worth it.
Take Advantage of Discounts
Some pet insurers have sign up bonuses, others have multi pet or multi policy discounts, and others even have discounts when you pay annually instead of monthly for your plan.
All of the discounts offered by pet insurers in New Zealand are as follows:
Don't Over-cover Your Pet
When buying pet insurance it can be tempting to add dental cover and cover for check ups. It can also be tempting to pick the 'premium' plan that covers the most ailments and the highest policy limit (up to $25,000). But consider what you're likely to go to the vet for based on your pet's breed, personality and lifestyle and if you will need this much cover.
There is nothing worse than finding out you're not covered for something, and by covering everything from an early age, your pet will not have any exclusions on future policies but it is still true that the more cover you choose, the more you will have to pay.
Also be aware that some pet insurance policies have very unfriendly condition limits. For example it might cost you $75 a year to add dental cover to your Southern Cross PetCare Plan but then with a $300 limit, you are not getting much value for this additional cost.
Compare Quotes Before You Buy
It might seem obvious but selecting a few different companies instead of just one and taking the 5 extra minutes to request a quote can be the difference between hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars of savings over the lifetime of your pet.
Your pet is unique, as is the most suitable plan for you so don't let us tell you which insurance is the cheapest or the best without doing a little bit of research for your specific situation.
Another tip is to check what your insurance may cost in a few years time i.e. if you request a quote for your pet but say they are 3 or 5 years older than they actually are you will see how much the premiums with your chosen insurer are likely to cost. Some plans' premiums increase more than others over the lifetime of your pet so this is important to keep in mind.
Choose an Excess/Co-Payment That Makes Sense
If you have the option to chose your excess or co-payment then your choices are as follows:
Let's imagine that our cat gets gastrointestinal problems and our vet bills are are a relatively insignificant $400. We will pay $200 with PD Insurance and $500 with Southern Cross. Therefore the total cost of both plans is about the same if we have one small vet bill in a year.
However if our vet bills are closer to the maximum for this kind of ailment at $4,000 we will still pay $200 with PD Insurance but $1,200 with Southern Cross. Therefore the plan with the lower excess/co-payment is much less expensive if you have to make a bigger claim.
Because of this we always recommend a lower excess/co-payment as a small increase in your monthly bills is generally much easier to manage than a large one-off vet bill.
Consider Switching Pet Insurers
You can compare quotes before you buy but even if you already have pet insurance, you can switch insurers very easily. Some pet insurers like PD Insurance even cover your switching costs (with up to $150).
You might want to switch pet insurances because you find a cheaper or better plan, or even because you want to take advantage of a good sign up offer for one plan first but then actually prefer the cover of another plan. Regardless of the reason, there is generally no large cost to switching pet insurers and you will likely be able to arrange the switch so that your cover is continuous.
The only caveat here is that if you have made claims with one insurer for a particular condition for which you are covered, you will likely not keep this cover when switching pet insurance and in this case it is probably not worth making the change.
Take Advantage of Discounts
Some pet insurers have sign up bonuses, others have multi pet or multi policy discounts, and others even have discounts when you pay annually instead of monthly for your plan.All of the discounts offered by pet insurers in New Zealand are as follows:
- AA Pet Insurance: 5% discount for AA members
- Cove Pet Insurance: Puppies get up to $100 off for 3 months + 10% multi-policy discount + 10% discount when paying annually + up to $100 when you refer a friend
- PD Insurance: Buy online, get 1 month free + 5% multi-pet discount + $150 per pet when switching to PD Insurance
- Petcover: 10% multi-pet discount (3+ pets)
- Petnsur: Six weeks of free insurance (no obligation)
- Southern Cross Pet Insurance: Puppies get 6 weeks of free insurance worth $2,000 + 5% multi-pet discount + 2.5% Southern Cross Health Society member discount + 2.5% direct debit discount when paying annually
- SPCA Pet Insurance: 10% multi-pet discount
- Tower Pet Insurance: 5% multi-pet discount
Don't Over-cover Your Pet
When buying pet insurance it can be tempting to add dental cover and cover for check ups. It can also be tempting to pick the 'premium' plan that covers the most ailments and the highest policy limit (up to $25,000). But consider what you're likely to go to the vet for based on your pet's breed, personality and lifestyle and if you will need this much cover.There is nothing worse than finding out you're not covered for something, and by covering everything from an early age, your pet will not have any exclusions on future policies but it is still true that the more cover you choose, the more you will have to pay.
Also be aware that some pet insurance policies have very unfriendly condition limits. For example it might cost you $75 a year to add dental cover to your Southern Cross PetCare Plan but then with a $300 limit, you are not getting much value for this additional cost.
Compare Quotes Before You Buy
It might seem obvious but selecting a few different companies instead of just one and taking the 5 extra minutes to request a quote can be the difference between hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars of savings over the lifetime of your pet.Your pet is unique, as is the most suitable plan for you so don't let us tell you which insurance is the cheapest or the best without doing a little bit of research for your specific situation.
Another tip is to check what your insurance may cost in a few years time i.e. if you request a quote for your pet but say they are 3 or 5 years older than they actually are you will see how much the premiums with your chosen insurer are likely to cost. Some plans' premiums increase more than others over the lifetime of your pet so this is important to keep in mind.
Choose an Excess/Co-Payment That Makes Sense
If you have the option to chose your excess or co-payment then your choices are as follows:- High excess/co-payment: Your premiums will be less expensive but your vet costs will be much higher when making a claim
- Low excess/co-payment: Your premiums will be more expensive but your vet costs will be much lower when making a claim
Let's imagine that our cat gets gastrointestinal problems and our vet bills are are a relatively insignificant $400. We will pay $200 with PD Insurance and $500 with Southern Cross. Therefore the total cost of both plans is about the same if we have one small vet bill in a year.
However if our vet bills are closer to the maximum for this kind of ailment at $4,000 we will still pay $200 with PD Insurance but $1,200 with Southern Cross. Therefore the plan with the lower excess/co-payment is much less expensive if you have to make a bigger claim.
Because of this we always recommend a lower excess/co-payment as a small increase in your monthly bills is generally much easier to manage than a large one-off vet bill.
Consider Switching Pet Insurers
You can compare quotes before you buy but even if you already have pet insurance, you can switch insurers very easily. Some pet insurers like PD Insurance even cover your switching costs (with up to $150).You might want to switch pet insurances because you find a cheaper or better plan, or even because you want to take advantage of a good sign up offer for one plan first but then actually prefer the cover of another plan. Regardless of the reason, there is generally no large cost to switching pet insurers and you will likely be able to arrange the switch so that your cover is continuous.
The only caveat here is that if you have made claims with one insurer for a particular condition for which you are covered, you will likely not keep this cover when switching pet insurance and in this case it is probably not worth making the change.
Compare the Cheapest Pet Insurances by Category
Below we compare the cheapest pet insurances in New Zealand in different categories including by breed, age, and level of cover so you can get a better idea of the cheapest pet insurance plan for your needs.
The Cheapest Dog Insurances by Breed
The cheapest dog breeds to insure are those that are expected to have fewer health problems. This generally means that mid to larger-size breeds and breeds with no common hereditary conditions are the cheapest dogs to insure although the actual cost of dog insurance for specific breeds does still depend on the insurer and plan that you choose.
| Plan | Labrador Retriever | Border Collie | Jack Russel Terrier | Miniature Schnauzer | Shih Tzu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Cross Pet Insurance AcciPet Plan | $13.85 | $11.09 | $11.09 | $11.09 | $11.09 |
| Cove Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | $15.93 | $13.27 | $11.06 | $12.17 | $13.27 |
| PD Insurance Accident Plan | $18.97 | $15.18 | $15.18 | $15.18 | $15.18 |
| Tower Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | $23.53 | $19.87 | $15.47 | $22.95 | $17.88 |
| Petnsur Surgery Plan | $23.91 | $23.00 | $23.00 | $23.00 | $23.00 |
| Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core) | $34.15 | $28.89 | $25.97 | $28.31 | $32.40 |
| Cove Pet Insurance Major Plan | $39.33 | $32.78 | $27.31 | $30.04 | $32.78 |
| AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | $43.94 | $36.67 | $34.98 | $42.48 | $47.90 |
The Cheapest Cat Insurances by Breed
Like dog insurance, cat insurance is cheaper for breeds that have less health problems and cost less to treat. That means that breeds like Sphynx and Burmese are more expensive than breeds like Ragdoll and Domestic Shorthair.
Note that many accident only cat insurance are the same price no matter your cat's breed given that they don't include cover for illnesses which are more or less common for different breeds.
Note that many accident only cat insurance are the same price no matter your cat's breed given that they don't include cover for illnesses which are more or less common for different breeds.
| Plan | Domestic Shorthair | Burmese | Ragdoll | Persian | Sphynx |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Cross Pet Insurance AcciPet Plan | $6.76 | $6.76 | $6.76 | $6.76 | $6.76 |
| Cove Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | $10.35 | $10.35 | $10.35 | $10.35 | $10.35 |
| PD Insurance Accident Plan | $10.85 | $14.11 | $14.11 | $14.11 | $14.11 |
| Tower Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | $13.85 | $18.74 | $11.90 | $18.07 | $19.80 |
| Petnsur Surgery Plan | $14.36 | $14.36 | $14.36 | $14.36 | $14.36 |
| Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core) | $19.24 | $21.80 | $20.52 | $21.16 | $24.36 |
| Cove Pet Insurance Major Plan | $16.55 | $20.09 | $15.61 | $19.86 | $21.28 |
| AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | $23.29 | $27.59 | $25.75 | $27.59 | $29.38 |
The Cheapest Pet Insurance by Age
Pet insurance is generally cheaper the younger your pet is, although some plans don't change in price as your pet ages. Also be aware that some plans increase in price as your pet gets older much more rapidly than others do.
Note that some pet insurances can only be taken out before your pet reaches a certain age - that means that we can't request quotes and show you the cost of these plans at older ages.
Note that some pet insurances can only be taken out before your pet reaches a certain age - that means that we can't request quotes and show you the cost of these plans at older ages.
| Plan | 6 Months | 6 Years | 10 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Cross Pet Insurance AcciPet Plan | $13.85 | $13.85 | $13.85 |
| Cove Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | $15.93 | N/A | N/A |
| PD Insurance Accident Plan | $18.97 | $27.51 | $32.14 |
| Tower Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | $23.53 | $25.61 | $27.91 |
| Petnsur Surgery Plan | $23.91 | $26.30 | $31.09 |
| Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core) | $34.15 | $56.77 | N/A |
| Cove Pet Insurance Major Plan | $39.33 | N/A | N/A |
| AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | $43.94 | $72.08 | N/A |
The Cheapest Comprehensive Pet Insurances
The cheapest comprehensive pet insurance plans often have lower policy limits and higher excesses/co-payments. That's because you have less cover with a low policy limit and have to pay more of your vet bills with a higher excess and co-payment.
Despite this, the table below shows that some plans are less expensive even with higher policy limits or lower excesses/co-payments which is why it is always worth comparing policies before you settle on one - especially if you're after the best price.
Despite this, the table below shows that some plans are less expensive even with higher policy limits or lower excesses/co-payments which is why it is always worth comparing policies before you settle on one - especially if you're after the best price.
| Plan | Average Monthly Cost (Dog) | Average Monthly Cost (Cat) | Policy Limit | Excess | Co-Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core / Vital / Key) | $34.15 / $38.52 / $53.34 | $19.24 / $22.32 / $28.32 | $5,000 / $10,000 / $15,000 | $200 | 30% |
| Cove Pet Insurance Major Plan | $39.33 | $16.55 | $25,000 | $1,000 | 10% |
| AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | $43.94 | $23.29 | $15,000 | $500 | 20% |
| Petcover Safety-net Plan (Catastrophe 1 / Catastrophe 2) | $45.45 / $54.08 | $21.75 / $26.23 | $5,000 / $10,000 | $900 | 20% |
| Cove Pet Insurance Major + Minor Plan | $47.78 | $20.10 | $25,000 | $500 | 20% |
| Petcover Safety-net Plan (Economy) | $51.45 | $25.44 | $7,000 for some accidental injuries | $150 | 20% |
| Petnsur Silver / Gold / Platinum Plans | $55.73 / $72.64 / $101.01 | $38.00 / $47.19 / $74.64 | $4,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 | None | 30% / 25% / 20% |
| Tower Pet Insurance Essential Plan | $56.49 | $33.22 | $7,000, $2,000 for non-life threatening injuries | None | 20% |
| SPCA Pet Insurance Big Stuff Cover | $57.56 | $29.55 | $25,000 | $1,000 | 20% |
| Southern Cross Pet Insurance PetCare Plan | $57.97 | $26.53 | $15,000 | $500 | 30% |
| PD Insurance Classic Plan | $62.41 | $36.43 | $10,000 | $200 | None |
| Tower Pet Insurance Comprehensive Plan | $67.23 | $39.54 | $15,000, $4,000 for non-life threatening injuries | None | 20% |
| Petcover Superior Plans (Entry / Mid-Point / Superior) | $67.73 / $75.88 / $90.53 | $33.06 / $36.86 / $43.72 | $10,000 / $15,000 / $20,000 (Dog), $9,000 / $10,000 / $15,000 (Cat) | $150 | 20% |
| SPCA Pet Insurance Everyday Cover | $78.19 | $37.93 | $11,000, $2,000 per condition | None | 30% |
| Petnsur Rhodium Plan | $79.92 | $43.19 | $6,000 | None | $300 |
| PD Insurance Deluxe Plan | $83.27 | $51.48 | $20,000 | $200 | None |
| SPCA Pet Insurance The Works Cover | $95.00 | $46.23 | $20,000 | None | 20% |
| Petnsur Titanium Plan | $159.01 | $68.10 | $18,000 | None | 20% |
Is It Cheaper To Not Have Pet Insurance?
For some pet owners, having pet insurance will work out to be cheaper than not having it while for others not having pet insurance will be the cheapest option.
It all depends on how many eligible vet bills your pet has over its lifetime. Of course for a dog that never goes to the vet it would be cheaper to not have insurance and vice versa.
Our favorite pet insurance, PD Insurance's Deluxe Plan has a $200 excess and no co-payment and costs approximately $62.41 per month for our example dog, that's $748.92 per year. With the average trip to the vet in NZ costing around $500, it might not seem worth it to get insurance but that ignores two things.
Firstly, you may need to go to the vet twice or even three times in a year, in which case the costs start to balance or even tip in favor of pet insurance.
Second, and more importantly, the reason for getting pet insurance isn't really about paying slightly less than if you didn't have pet insurance, it's about bing covered so that you don't have to make tough decisions when you face larger than average vet bills.
Pet insurers make money because they make more from everyone's premiums than it costs them to pay out on their claims. Because some of these claims are worth thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars, this means that the average person with pet insurance will lose money from having pet insurance - but again, they will save a lot of money if they have to make a large claim.
It all depends on how many eligible vet bills your pet has over its lifetime. Of course for a dog that never goes to the vet it would be cheaper to not have insurance and vice versa.
Our favorite pet insurance, PD Insurance's Deluxe Plan has a $200 excess and no co-payment and costs approximately $62.41 per month for our example dog, that's $748.92 per year. With the average trip to the vet in NZ costing around $500, it might not seem worth it to get insurance but that ignores two things.
Firstly, you may need to go to the vet twice or even three times in a year, in which case the costs start to balance or even tip in favor of pet insurance.
Second, and more importantly, the reason for getting pet insurance isn't really about paying slightly less than if you didn't have pet insurance, it's about bing covered so that you don't have to make tough decisions when you face larger than average vet bills.
Pet insurers make money because they make more from everyone's premiums than it costs them to pay out on their claims. Because some of these claims are worth thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars, this means that the average person with pet insurance will lose money from having pet insurance - but again, they will save a lot of money if they have to make a large claim.
About the Authors
Mason
Editor
Mason was born and raised in New Zealand before moving to US and then Sweden. Despite looking so youthful, he worked as a senior website manager for 5 years before founding Comparesies. Mason's expertise in insurance is the most valuable asset for our users. Today he is the primary author/editor on Comparesies.
Louis
Author
Louis has worked in the comparison industry for 5 years in Sweden after founding another company in France. His industry experience, and strong communication skills have been invaluable in building the bridge between our community and our content. Louis is our ideas man and is responsible for sourcing user and specialist opinions.
Thibault
Editor
Thibault has an engineering background from both France and Sweden. Comparesies is his second company after successfully founding a tech scaleup. His experience is vast within insurances and customer satisfaction. Thibault is responsible for maintaining the website and sharing his knowledge through page editing.