What’s the Best Dog Insurance in NZ?
Accident-only plans cover only accidental injuries whereas accident and illness plans also cover illnesses. Often they also cover additional conditions or treatments like dental, routine care, vaccinations, third party liability, vet consultations and emergency boarding as well. Sometimes these extra coverage options are included in your plan, other times they available to choose as add-ons.
The price of dog insurance depends on a range of factors including your dog's age and breed, the conditions/treatments covered, your monthly or annual premiums (what you pay to have dog insurance cover), the excess, deductible or co-payment (what you pay when making a claim), and the policy limit (the maximum amount the insurance company will pay per year). Some providers also offer multi-pet discounts and sign-up offers.
It is always recommended to read the policy documents of any dog insurance plan before buying it. These are, however, notoriously confusing and hard to compare given that they are all structured differently and may even use different definitions.
We've read the policy documents, requested quotes, and applied online so that we can comprehensively compare the costs and coverage of all the best (and worst) dog insurance policies in New Zealand. You'll find our recommendations below or on our best pet insurance NZ article if you have a pet that's not a dog.
The Best Dog Insurance Plans in NZ
- The best overall dog insurance policy in New Zealand (considering costs, cover and value for money) is PD Insurance's Deluxe Plan. It covers nearly all ailments (injuries, illnesses, dental, vet consultations, hereditary conditions and third party liability), has one of the highest policy limits in New Zealand ($20,000), and is one of the only plans in New Zealand without a co-payment.
- The best accident-only dog insurance plan is also PD Insurance's Accident Plan because it has no co-pay, is the only accident-only dog insurance to cover third party liability and only costs a couple of dollars more than similar plans with less cover and an excess/co-pay.
- The most comprehensive dog insurance plan in New Zealand is AA Pet Insurance's only dog insurance plan. By default it covers injuries, illnesses, dental, vet consultations, hereditary conditions, parasite treatments, emergency boarding and overseas treatments. It also has an optional add-on for routine care cover and unlike almost all other insurers, AA will waive pre-existing conditions after 18 months with no symptoms. And it's cheaper than other plans with less cover and similar excesses/co-payments.
- The cheapest dog insurance plan in New Zealand is Southern Cross's AcciPet Plan ($13.85 a month for our fictional dog Quoty). This price is affected a lot by the high excess, co-payment and the fact that the policy only covers accidents. We've found PD Insurance to be the most affordable dog insurance provider when you account for the fact that none of their policies have a co-payment and they each only have a maximum $200 excess which means that even if your premiums aren't cheap you'll likely never have a particularly large vet bill.
- The most flexible dog insurance plan is Southern Cross's PetCare Plan. With this plan you can control your monthly premiums by choosing between a $100, $250 or $500 excess and $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 policy limit. You can also elect to cover vet consultations, routine care/vaccinations and dental if you want to.
We also compare the best dog insurances for puppies and the best older dog insurances in separate articles.
All 20+ NZ Dog Insurance Policies Compared
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Alternative treatments
- Pre-existing conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Parasite treatments
- Occupational treatments
- Emergency boarding
- Overseas treatments
- 21 days for accidental ingestion
- 21 days for poisoning
- 21 days for illness
- 180 days for third party liability
- 180 days for cruciate ligament injury
- 180 days for patella luxation
- 180 days for dental illnesses
- $200 per visit for vet consultations
- $3,800 for hereditary conditions
- $7,500 for cruciate ligament
- $7,500 for patella luxation
- $7,500 for accidental ingestion
- $7,500 per claim limit
- $10,000 for third party liability
- Covers dental
- Covers illness, injury, liability
- High $20,000 policy limit
- Excess payable for every bill
-
Doesn't cover routine care
-
Long stand down periods
Another key factor was the high $20,000 policy limit although the $7,500 per claim limit was certainly the most off-putting thing about this policy. As were the condition limits for accidental ingestion, cruciate, patella and hereditary conditions - even if these are relatively high. PD insurance also boasts one free month of insurance as a sign up offer, faster than average 2 day claims processing and a competitive 5% multi pet discount.
The other thing to watch out for with this plan is the long stand down periods - you can't claim for accidental ingestion, poisoning and illness in the first 21 days, or third party liability, cruciate ligament, patella luxation and dental illnesses in the first 180 days. So effectively you pay for 3 weeks or 6 months without cover for these conditions (ignoring the sign up bonus).
And even though it is comprehensive, this plan also doesn't cover emergency boarding, overseas treatments or routine care and vaccinations. An alternative plan that covers these conditions is AA Pet Insurance's only pet insurance plan although this plan does have more restrictive conditions limits for certain claims.
Another similar plan is Southern Cross's Pet Care Plan which allows you to add dental cover. This plan has a lower policy limit of $15,000 and a co-payment of at least 10%, but has shorter stand down periods and has optional cover for routine care and vaccinations. It also has very few condition limits.
- Illness
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Alternative treatments
- Pre-existing conditions
- Hereditary conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Parasite treatments
- Occupational treatments
- Emergency boarding
- Overseas treatments
- 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
- $200 per visit for vet consultations
- $2,000 for accidental ingestion
- $10,000 for third party liability
- 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
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.
- Third party liability
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Pre-existing conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Parasite treatments
- Occupational treatments
- Emergency boarding
- Overseas treatments
- 7 days for accidental injury
- 21 days for medical treatments
- None
- $300 co-payment only
- No condition limits
- Injury, illness and hereditary cover
- Short stand down periods
-
Relatively low policy limit
-
Not for pets over 8 years old
Better yet, there are no condition limits with this plan, so the full $6,000 can go towards one or many different claims throughout a given policy year. The other major highlights of this plan are that hereditary conditions will be covered so long as they aren't present in the pet's first 3 years of life and that there are relatively short stand down periods for this plan - 7 days for accidental injury and 21 days for medical treatments.
And it's worth mentioning the very competitive sign up offer too - six weeks of no obligation free insurance with cover for up to $2,000 is worth nabbing even if you decide that you don't need pet insurance.
If we have to criticize the Rhodium Plan a bit we could say that the policy limit is pretty low and that it doesn't offer much extra cover e.g. third party liability or emergency boarding, but to be fair it's not really built for this with a lower level of cover than the policies like Cove's Major Plan or SPCA's Big Stuff Cover.
- Third party liability
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Alternative treatments
- Pre-existing conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Occupational treatments
- Overseas treatments
- 21 days for illness
- 6 months for cruciate ligament injury
- 6 months for intervertebral disc disease
- $1,500 for emergency boarding
- 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
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.
- Third party liability
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Alternative treatments
- Pre-existing conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Occupational treatments
- Overseas treatments
- 21 days for illness
- 6 months for cruciate ligament injury
- 6 months for intervertebral disc disease
- $1,500 for emergency boarding
- Very high policy limit ($25,000)
- Options to add Dental/Everyday Cover
- Wide coverage including parasite and hereditary conditions
- Reasonable stand-down periods
-
Cover may change as pet ages
-
Low maximum age for new policies (5 years)
-
Low limits on add-ons
That's because the Major + Minor Plan covers all the same claims (Accidental injury, illness, hereditary conditions, parasite treatments, emergency boarding) as the Major Plan with the same stand down periods (21 days for illness, 6 months for cruciate ligament and intervertebral disc disease) and condition limits ($1,500 for emergency boarding).
The only real differences between this plan and the Major plan are the potentially higher costs at the vet (a variable excess and 20% co-payment instead of a fixed $1,000 excess and 10% co-payment) and the fact that you can add Dental and Everyday Stuff Cover. Although these have yearly limits of $500 and and $100 per condition respectively as well as a 6 month waiting period for both.
The other major thing is that the policy wording on Cove's insurances states that they may reduce cover for your pet as it gets older, which is certainly a bit worrying even if you can easily switch to a more comprehensive insurance like PD Insurance's Deluxe Plan at any time before your pet turns 9.
All of these extra conditions put Cove's Major + Minor Plan firmly in the top half of our ranking of NZ pet insurances.
- Third party liability
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Vet consultations
- Alternative treatments
- Pre-existing conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Parasite treatments
- Occupational treatments
- Emergency boarding
- Overseas treatments
- 21 days for illness cover
- 90 days for cruciate ligament injury
- 90 days for patella luxation
- 90 days for extra dental care
- $2,500 or $5,000 for cruciate ligament
- Flexible cover (add dental, routine care and consultation fees)
- Flexible policy limits (only pay for the cover you want)
- Up to 10% in discounts for eligible customers
- Flexible excess and co-payment options
-
Doesn't cover third party liability
-
Somewhat low $15,000 maximum policy limit
This may seem less desirable than having a full coverage plan but ultimately it gives you the flexibility to choose the cover that you want. Additionally, you can set your own policy limit of either $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 - which is pretty unique and much appreciated if you want to save on monthly premiums by covering only smaller vet bills.
Like Southern Cross's accident-only AcciPet Plan, their PetCare Plan also has a flexible excesses of $100, $250 or $500 and 10%, 20% or 30% co-payment options. This policy also excels because it has no condition limits (except for cruciate ligament injuries).
Overall, our experts agree that Southern Cross's PetCare plan is one of the best pet insurances in New Zealand because it is a flexible insurance policy covering both accidents, illness and even more if you choose the add-ons.
You may want to pick another pet insurance if you want a higher policy limit - like PD Insurance's Deluxe Plan ($20,000 policy limit) or SPCA's Big Stuff Cover ($25,000 policy limit). PD insurance also covers third party liability (when your pet injures someone or damages something) while Southern Cross's PetCare plan doesn't.
It is also important to note that this policy can only be taken out if your pet is between 8 weeks and 6 years old. PD Pet Insurance offers a similar policy for pets up to 9 years old.
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Alternative treatments
- Pre-existing conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Parasite treatments
- Occupational treatments
- Emergency boarding
- Overseas treatments
- 21 days for accidental ingestion
- 21 days for poisoning
- 21 days for illness
- 180 days for third party liability
- 180 days cruciate ligament injury
- 180 days for patella luxation
- $200 per visit for vet consultations
- $2,000 for cruciate ligament
- $2,000 for patella luxation
- $2,000 for accidental ingestion
- $2,300 for hereditary conditions
- $5,000 per claim limit
- $10,000 for third party liability
- Covers illness, accident & liability
- Flexibility to chose premiums and excess amount
- Fast claims processing
- Mid-level plan that won't break the bank
-
No routine or dental care covered
-
At least $100 excess for every claim
Notably the Classic Plan doesn't cover dental illness and falls short of competitors like Southern Cross in that it provides no optional cover for routine care and day-to-day treatments like vaccinations. It also has some restrictive but not obscene claim/condition limits for certain conditions.
It does however only have an excess of between $100 and $200 (decided by you) while Southern Cross's PetCare Plan also has a co-payment. Other things to note are that you get $150 towards fees when switching to any PD Insurance plan as well as one free month of insurance when buying online. The industry standard 5% multi pet discount is also available on all PD plans.
And finally because PD insurance has a longer than average stand down period you'll have to be insured for 21 days before making claims for illness and accidental ingestion and 180 days for third party liability and patella/cruciate ligament injuries. Southern Cross, on the other hand, has no stand down period on accidents and only 90 days for patella/cruciate ligament injuries with their PetCare Plan.
- 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
- 90 days for cruciate ligament injury
- 90 days for patella luxation
- $2,500 for cruciate ligament
- 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
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.
- Third party liability
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Alternative treatments
- Breeding conditions
- Occupational treatments
- 14 days for illness
- 6 months for cruciate ligament injury
- 6 months for dental
- $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
- 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
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.
- Third party liability
- Dental
- Routine care
- Vaccinations
- Alternative treatments
- Hereditary conditions
- Breeding conditions
- Occupational treatments
- 21 days for illness
- 6 months for cruciate ligament injury (waived with a vet's note)
- $1,500 for emergency boarding
- Very high policy limit ($25,000)
- Pre-existing conditions waived with vet's note
- No condition limits (except for emergency boarding)
- Policy holders support work of SPCA
-
$1,000 deductible AND 20% co-payment
-
Not suitable for smaller bills
The most notable is the removal of all condition limits (except the $1,500 limit for emergency boarding claims). The other big one is that as well as a 20% co-payment, this plan now includes a $1,000 excess per claim. That means that you have to pay for the first $1,000 of each vet bill yourself, essentially making this plan only suitable for mid-size and major vet bills. Your monthly premiums are also reduced to reflect this cost which also makes the plan somewhat more affordable (average $57.56 vs $95.00 for The Works Cover)
Still, with a $25,000 policy limit for all injury, illness, parasite, overseas treatments (in Australia and Norfolk Island) and even pre-existing conditions (when waived with a vet's note) this policy is suitable for owners who want to ensure a comprehensive and high level of cover should any bigger vet bills arise.
The Big Stuff Cover Plan doesn't get a higher rating from us because it excludes dental, third party liability and routine care among other things. And because of the deductible and co-payment this policy won't help that much with your smaller vet bills. A better option is Cove's Major Plan which covers the same conditions (except overseas treatments) but only has a 10% co-payment and $1,000 excess plus up to 20% in discounts when you take out multiple policies and pay annually.
How We Evaluated the Best Dog Insurance Plans
Every policy is slightly different so here are the top factors we paid attention to when comparing NZ's best dog insurance plans.
Most pet insurance plans cover accidental injury and/or illness but some have hidden exclusions like accidental poisoning or ingestion.
On the other hand, there are common exclusions that certain dog insurance plans in NZ do in fact cover like third party liability (damage to other people or property), dental, routine care (like vet check ups and vaccinations), pre-existing conditions, hereditary conditions, parasite treatments, emergency boarding (if you need your dog to stay in a kennel) and overseas treatments.
If you’re looking for the most comprehensive dog insurance plan then we recommend PD Insurance's Deluxe Plan which covers dental, third party liability, vet consultations and hereditary conditions or AA Pet Insurance's only plan which covers dental, vet consultations, hereditary conditions, parasite treatments, emergency boarding and overseas treatments.
Here we look at the excess (the amount you have to pay before your insurance kicks in), deductible (the portion of your policy limit that you have to pay) and/or co-payment (the percentage of each vet bill you need to pay) associated with each policy. Some NZ dog insurance policies have no such costs, while others, for example, have both an excess and a co-payment.
It is generally true however that if you bear more of the costs (by having a higher co-pay or excess) then your monthly premiums are also likely to be lower.
All of PD Insurance's plans have no co-payment and flexible excess.
However, some dog insurance providers also cap the amount that they will pay per condition or claim. For example, they may pay only $1,000 towards emergency boarding with a $10,000 policy. We prefer policies without condition limits although they tend to be (but are not always) tied to extra cover not offered by other providers.
Petnsur’s Rhodium Plan doesn’t have condition limits. Cove and Southern Cross also have minimal condition limits in their plans.
For puppies, Petnsur has no minimum age for new policies. For older dogs, PD insurance’s Accident Plan can be taken out up 12 years old and their Classic and Deluxe Plans up to 9 years old (all of PD Insurance’s plans start at 6 weeks old).
Other policies have optional add-ons with their own excesses, co-payments, limits and conditions for things like dental care, third party liability and routine care. This flexibility is always welcome as it lets you personalize your cover.
PetCover’s Superior Plans cover death, funeral costs, advertising and rewards for lost pets, emergency respiration etc. which are not included in most other dog insurances in NZ. Otherwise, Southern Cross’s PetCare plan is worth mentioning for the Routine and Dental care add-ons that are also quite unique.
Also typical is a multi pet discount if you insure 2 to 3 pets with the same company, or multi policy discounts i.e. if you buy car insurance through Cove then they will discount your dog insurance.
Cove has the best options for those looking to reduce their premiums with up to $100 off for the first 3 months if your dog is less than 6 months old along with a 10% multi-policy discount, 10% discount when paying annually and up to $100 per friend you refer.
While these things are harder to compare than policy limits or excesses they do play into our overall ratings of different NZ dog insurance providers and their plans.
PD Insurance has one of the best online reputations of any dog insurance provider in New Zealand with a 4.3 star rating on Google, Reader’s Digest’s Quality Silver Service Award, and Moneyhub’s Favourite Pet Insurer 2023 (although Moneyhub only lists pet insurance providers that pay them). They also have the fastest claims processing (2 days for most claims).
How Much Does Dog Insurance Cost in New Zealand?
The price of your monthly dog insurance premiums depend your dog's age and breed, your level of cover, you claim limits, and most of all your excess or co-payment.
In fact, depending on your plan, your monthly costs can double or even triple if you choose a $500 excess and 30% co-payment compared to a $0 excess and 0% co-payment.
Not only do these things impact the costs of your premiums but they also affect the cost of your vet bills when making a claim. The higher your policy limits and the smaller your excess and co-payments are then the less you will have to contribute to your vet bills when making a claim. Similarly, the more conditions and treatments that you cover the more likely it is that your dog insurance will cover more of your vet bills.
So essentially, you either pay more per month but less when claiming, or vice versa.
Without having your specific policy and future vet bills at hand the potential cost of not having dog insurance is impossible to outline but can be in the thousands or tens of thousands. In other words, the cost of not having dog insurance can, for a lot of owners, be much greater than the monetary value of a policy.
Below you can see how much some common treatments cost on average and at their most expensive.
![Average treatment costs for a dog](https://comparesies-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/img/average-treatment-costs-for-a-dog-NZ.png?w=1200&h=600&auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=clip&dm=1715589951&s=fec4fc6755ce3ffaf124a91890b3f4d5)
In order to find out exactly what dog insurance may cost you you will need to select one of the 'get a quote' buttons at the top of this page and fill in some basic information about your pet. After receiving your quotes instantly you can apply directly online and you should have your policy within one to two working days.
We compare the average cost of every dog insurance policy in New Zealand below along with giving some tips for getting cheaper dog insurance.
NZ Dog Insurance Quotes Compared for Every Plan
Plan | Average Monthly Cost | Excess | Co-Payment | Policy Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | $43.94 | $500 | 20% | $15,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | $15.93 | $500 | 10% | $5,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major Plan | $39.33 | $1,000 | 10% | $25,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major + Minor Plan | $47.78 | $500 | 20% | $25,000 |
PD Insurance Accident Plan | $18.97 | $200 | None | $5,000 |
PD Insurance Classic Plan | $62.41 | $200 | None | $10,000 |
PD Insurance Deluxe Plan | $83.27 | $200 | None | $20,000 |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Economy) | $51.45 | $150 | 20% | $7,000 for some accidental injuries |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Catastrophe 1 / Catastrophe 2) | $45.45 / $54.08 | $900 | 20% | $5,000 / $10,000 |
Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core / Vital / Key) | $34.15 / $38.52 / $53.34 | $200 | 30% | $5,000 / $10,000 / $15,000 |
Petcover Superior Plans (Entry / Mid-Point / Superior) | $67.73 / $75.88 / $90.53 | $150 | 20% | $10,000 / $15,000 / $20,000 |
Petnsur Surgery / Surgery Plus Plans | $23.91 / $37.46 | None | 10% | $1,500 / $3,000 for surgical treatments |
Petnsur Rhodium Plan | $79.92 | None | $300 | $6,000 |
Petnsur Silver / Gold / Platinum Plans | $55.73 / $72.64 / $101.01 | None | 30% / 25% / 20% | $4,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 |
Petnsur Titanium Plan | $159.01 | None | 20% | $18,000 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance AcciPet Plan | $13.85 | $500 | 30% | $5,000 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance PetCare Plan | $57.97 | $500 | 30% | $15,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Everyday Cover | $78.19 | None | 30% | $11,000, $2,000 per condition |
SPCA Pet Insurance The Works Cover | $95.00 | None | 20% | $20,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Big Stuff Cover | $57.56 | $1,000 | 20% | $25,000 |
Tower Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | $23.53 | None | 20% | $5,000, $2,000 for non-life threatening injuries |
Tower Pet Insurance Essential Plan | $56.49 | None | 20% | $7,000, $2,000 for non-life threatening injuries |
Tower Pet Insurance Comprehensive Plan | $67.23 | None | 20% | $15,000, $4,000 for non-life threatening injuries |
The average costs listed for the dog insurance plans above are for a dog whose breed and age might be quite unlike your own. We have also selected the maximum excess and co-payment option for each plan - which can sometimes be quite different between plans and impact the cost significantly.
Therefore we don't recommend using these prices to do 1 to 1 comparisons of different dog insurance plans but rather as indicative of what you may pay for a similar level of cover.
Plans with no co-payment compared to say a 30% co-payment will always have higher premiums but can cost you thousands of dollars less if you need to make a large claim because these plans give the insurance companies more liability.
Instead, this table should only be used as a guide for the price of each policy for the level of cover offered and then we recommend getting quotes for several plans and comparing their costs and coverage for your specific situation.
Cheap Dog Insurance Plans in NZ
We compared all dog insurance policies in NZ by obtaining quotes for a 6 month old female Labrador Retriever named Quoty and selected the maximum excess and co-payment options where possible and Southern Cross's AcciPet Plan cost $13.85 per month compared to Cove's Accident Only Plan which was $15.93 and PD Insurance's Accident Plan which was $18.97.
Note that the excess/co-payment on your policy can greatly affect your monthly premiums i.e. because we could choose a $500 excess and 30% co-payment with Southern Cross compared to a $500 excess and 10% co-payment with Cove and a $200 excess and no co-payment with PD Insurance, Sothern Cross's plan was slightly cheaper.
However, this also shows the value of choosing a policy with a low excess and co-payment. With Quoty we could pay around $5 more per month for PD's plan compared to Southern Cross's but if we had to make a $5,000 accidental injury claim then we would only pay $200 with PD Insurance compared to $1,850 with Southern Cross.
The most affordable pet insurance policy for dogs therefore is often not the cheapest one but rather the one that won't break the bank for you personally - that's why we recommend paying more upfront costs by selecting a low excess and co-payment where you have the choice because the extra $5 to $50 you spend each month can mean savings in the thousands or even tens of thousands when you need to make a large claim on your insurance.
For many, this piece of mind is priceless and is why we love that PD Insurance has a maximum excess of $200 and no co-payment making it often the most affordable dog insurance option in New Zealand.
Tips to Make Your Dog Insurance Cheaper
In saying that, here's our 6 tips to get cheaper dog insurance:
- Use the same insurer - Most NZ dog insurance companies offer multi-pet discounts. Cove even offers multi policy discounts (not limited to pet insurance). Other companies like Southern Cross and AA also have discounts for their members.
- Take advantage of sign up offers - Dog insurance companies know the value of getting you signed up to a plan because people often don't (and often shouldn't) switch policies. Therefore taking advantage of the more generous sign up offers from the likes of Petnsur, Southern Cross Pet Insurance and PD Insurance is always wise.
- Cover the most necessary conditions and not others - The more you cover the more your dog insurance will cost. Without knowing your dog it's hard to say whether their breed or lifestyle warrants this cover or that cover so do a bit of research, talk to your vet or breeder and consider choosing a policy that doesn't necessarily cover every condition but only those conditions that you are most likely to impact your dog in the future.
- Consider opting for higher monthly premiums - The biggest things that impact your costs when making a claim are your excess, co-payment and policy limit. That means that if you opt for high policy limits and a low excess/co-payment you will pay less when you need to use your insurance. The money has to come from somewhere though so having smaller costs at claim time means higher monthly premiums but it can be a lot easier to pay $25 to $50 more each month but pay thousands of dollars less when you're facing a large vet bill.
- Compare quotes and potential costs - Once you have narrowed down your options, request a no-obligation quote for the dog insurance policies you like the look of. Then sit down and compare your monthly premiums, as well as your claim limits, excess and co-payment. This kind of comparison is not always straightforward but you can also try to estimate your costs by assuming that you will claim an average of $1,000 per year or $5,000 once every 5 years.
- Pay annually for your policy - Cove has a whopping 10% discount when you pay annually while Southern Cross offers 2.5% off as well. If a discount is available and you have the means then paying for your full policy annually can impact your bills significantly.
Which Dog Insurance Plans Cover What?
Scroll to see which dog insurance policies cover which conditions/treatments and which policies impose claim limits and stand-down periods on each treatment/condition that they cover.
NZ Dog Insurance Coverage Options Compared
The following conditions/treatments are the most common and important for owners when choosing a dog insurance plan. Click one to see all of the policies with this level of cover and their corresponding annual limits.
Plan | Annual Cover Limit |
---|---|
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | $5,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major Plan | $25,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major + Minor Plan | $25,000 |
PD Insurance Accident Plan | $5,000 |
PD Insurance Classic Plan | $10,000 |
PD Insurance Deluxe Plan | $20,000 |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Economy) | $7,000 for some accidental injuries |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Catastrophe 1 / Catastrophe 2) | $5,000 / $10,000 |
Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core / Vital / Key) | $5,000 / $10,000 / $15,000 |
Petcover Superior Plan (Entry / Mid-point / Superior) | $10,000 / $15,000 / $20,000 |
Petnsur Surgery / Surgery Plus Plans | $1,500 / $3,000 for surgical treatments |
Petnsur Rhodium Plan | $6,000 |
Petnsur Silver / Gold / Platinum Plans | $4,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 |
Petnsur Titanium Plan | $18,000 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance AcciPet Plan | $5,000 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance PetCare Plan | $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Everyday Cover | $11,000, $2,000 per condition |
SPCA Pet Insurance The Works Cover | $20,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Big Stuff Cover | $25,000 |
Tower Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | $5,000, $2,000 for non-life threatening injuries |
Tower Pet Insurance Essential Plan | $7,000, $2,000 for non-life threatening injuries |
Tower Pet Insurance Comprehensive Plan | $15,000, $4,000 for non-life threatening injuries |
Plan | Annual Cover Limit |
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major Plan | $25,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major + Minor Plan | $25,000 |
PD Insurance Classic Plan | $10,000 |
PD Insurance Deluxe Plan | $20,000 |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Economy) | $7,000 for some accidental injuries |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Catastrophe 1 / Catastrophe 2) | $5,000 / $10,000 |
Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core / Vital / Key) | $5,000 / $10,000 / $15,000 |
Petcover Superior Plan (Entry / Mid-point / Superior) | $10,000 / $15,000 / $20,000 |
Petnsur Surgery / Surgery Plus Plans | $1,500 / $3,000 for surgical treatments |
Petnsur Rhodium Plan | $6,000 |
Petnsur Silver / Gold / Platinum Plans | $4,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 |
Petnsur Titanium Plan | $18,000 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance PetCare Plan | $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Everyday Cover | $11,000, $2,000 per condition |
SPCA Pet Insurance The Works Cover | $20,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Big Stuff Cover | $25,000 |
Tower Pet Insurance Essential Plan | $7,000, $2,000 for non-life threatening illnesses |
Tower Pet Insurance Comprehensive Plan | $15,000, $4,000 for non-life threatening illnesses |
Plan | Annual Cover Limit |
PD Insurance Accident Plan | $10,000 |
PD Insurance Classic Plan | $10,000 |
PD Insurance Deluxe Plan | $10,000 |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Economy) | $1,000,000 |
Petcover Safety-net Plans (Catastrophe 1 / Catastrophe 2) *Optional Add-On | $1,000,000 |
Petcover Mid-range Plans (Core / Vital / Key) | $1,000,000 |
Petcover Superior Plans (Entry / Mid-point / Superior) | $3,000,000 / $3,000,000 / $5,000,000 |
Petnsur Titanium Plan | $13,000 |
Plan | Annual Cover Limit |
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | $600 |
PD Insurance Deluxe Plan | $500 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major + Minor Plan *Optional Add-On | $500 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance PetCare Plan *Optional Add-On | $300 |
Tower Pet Insurance Essential Plan *Optional Add-On | $350 |
Tower Pet Insurance Comprehensive Plan *Optional Add-On | $350 |
Plan | Annual Cover Limit |
Southern Cross PetCare Plan *Optional Add On | $300, $75 per visit |
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness Plan *Optional Add On | $100 |
Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core / Vital / Key) *Optional Add On | $145 total across different procedures |
Plan | Annual Cover Limit |
Southern Cross PetCare Plan *Optional Add On | $75 |
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness * Optional Add On | $100 |
Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core / Vital / Key) * Optional Add On | $30 |
Plan | Annual Cover Limit |
---|---|
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | $300 |
Cove Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | $5,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major Plan | $25,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major + Minor Plan | $25,000 |
PD Insurance Accident Plan | $200 per visit |
PD Insurance Classic Plan | $200 per visit |
PD Insurance Deluxe Plan | $200 per visit |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Catastrophe 1 / Catastrophe 2) | $400 |
Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core / Vital / Key) | $400 |
Petcover Superior Plan (Entry / Mid-point / Superior) | $10,000 / $15,000 / $20,000 |
Petnsur Rhodium Plan | $6,000 |
Petnsur Silver / Gold / Platinum Plans | $4,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 |
Petnsur Titanium Plan | $5,000 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance AcciPet Plan * Optional Add On | $1,000 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance PetCare Plan * Optional Add On | $1,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Everyday Cover | $300 |
SPCA Pet Insurance The Works Cover | $500 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Big Stuff Cover | $25,000 |
Tower Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | $5,000 |
Tower Pet Insurance Essential Plan | $7,000 |
Tower Pet Insurance Comprehensive Plan | $15,000 |
Plan | Annual Cover Limit |
---|---|
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Economy) | $1,000 |
Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core / Vital / Key) * Optional Add On | $50 |
Petcover Superior Plan (Entry / Mid-point / Superior) | $2,000 / $2,000 / $4,000 |
Petnsur Rhodium Plan | $6,000 |
Petnsur Silver / Gold / Platinum Plans | $150 / $250 / $350 |
Petnsur Titanium Plan | $5,000 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance PetCare Plan * Optional Add On | $300 |
Tower Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | $350 |
Tower Pet Insurance Essential Plan | $500 |
Tower Pet Insurance Comprehensive Plan | $1,000 |
Plan | Annual Cover Limit |
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness Plan | $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Everyday Cover Plan | $11,000, $2,000 per condition |
SPCA Pet Insurance The Works Cover Plan | $20,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Big Stuff Cover Plan | $25,000 |
Plan | Annual Cover Limit |
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major Plan | $25,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major + Minor Plan | $25,000 |
PD Insurance Classic Plan | $10,000 |
PD Insurance Deluxe Plan | $20,000 |
Petnsur Surgery / Surgery Plus Plans | $1,500 / $3,000 for surgical treatments |
Petnsur Rhodium Plan | $6,000 |
Petnsur Silver / Gold / Platinum Plans | $4,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 |
Petnsur Titanium Plan | $5,000 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance PetCare Plan | $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 |
Plan | Annual Cover Limit |
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major Plan | $25,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major + Minor Plan | $25,000 |
Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core / Vital / Key) | $2,000 and then $1,000 for paralysis tick |
SPCA Pet Insurance Everyday Cover | $11,000, $2,000 per condition |
SPCA Pet Insurance The Works Cover | $20,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Big Stuff Cover | $25,000 |
Plan | Annual Cover Limit |
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | $1,500 |
Cove Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | $1,500 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major Plan | $1,500 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major + Minor Plan | $1,500 |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Catastrophe 1 / Catastrophe 2) | $1,000 |
Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core / Vital / Key) | $500 |
Petcover Superior Plan (Entry / Mid-point / Superior) | $1,000 / $1,000 / $2,000 |
Petnsur Silver / Gold / Platinum Plans | $60 / $100 / $150 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Everyday Cover | $1,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance The Works Cover | $1,500 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Big Stuff Cover | $1,500 |
Tower Pet Insurance Essential Plan | $350 |
Tower Pet Insurance Comprehensive Plan | $700 |
Plan | Annual Cover Limit |
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Everyday Cover | $11,000, $2,000 per condition |
SPCA Pet Insurance The Works Cover | $20,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Big Stuff Cover | $25,000 |
What About Specific Condition Limits?
There are also several common conditions that often have a limit imposed on their cover. If your dog's breed or lifestyle makes them more susceptible to any of these conditions then they're especially important to be covered for.
Plan | Annual Condition Limit |
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | $3,200 |
Cove Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | None - $5,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major Plan | None - $25,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major + Minor Plan | None - $25,000 |
PD Insurance Classic Plan | $2,000 |
PD Insurance Deluxe Plan | $7,500 |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Catastrophe 1 / Catastrophe 2) | $1,500 / $3,000 |
Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core / Vital / Key) | $1,500 / $2,500 / $3,000 |
Petcover Superior Plan (Entry / Mid-point / Superior) | None - $10,000 / $15,000 / $20,000 |
Petnsur Surgery / Surgery Plus Plans | $700 / $1,100 for surgical treatments |
Petnsur Rhodium Plan | None - $6,000 |
Petnsur Silver / Gold / Platinum Plans | $600 / $700 / $800 |
Petnsur Titanium Plan | None - $18,000 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance AcciPet Plan | $2,500 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance PetCare Plan | $2,500 or $5,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Everyday Cover | $2,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance The Works Cover | $4,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Big Stuff Cover | None - $25,000 |
Tower Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | $800 |
Tower Pet Insurance Essential Plan | $800 |
Tower Pet Insurance Comprehensive Plan | $1,500 |
Plan | Annual Condition Limit |
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | None - $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | None - $5,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major Plan | None - $25,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major + Minor Plan | None - $25,000 |
PD Insurance Classic Plan | None - $2,000 |
PD Insurance Deluxe Plan | None - $7,500 |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Catastrophe 1 / Catastrophe 2) | $1,500 / $3,000 |
Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core / Vital / Key) | None - $5,000 / $10,000 / $15,000 |
Petcover Superior Plan (Entry / Mid-point / Superior) | None - $10,000 / $15,000 / $20,000 |
Petnsur Surgery / Surgery Plus Plans | $700 / $1,100 for surgical treatments |
Petnsur Rhodium Plan | None - $6,000 |
Petnsur Silver / Gold / Platinum Plans | $600 / $700 / $800 |
Petnsur Titanium Plan | None - $18,000 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance AcciPet Plan | None - $5,000 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance PetCare Plan | None - $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Everyday Cover | $2,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance The Works Cover | None - $20,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Big Stuff Cover | None - $25,000 |
Tower Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | $800 |
Tower Pet Insurance Essential Plan | $800 |
Tower Pet Insurance Comprehensive Plan | $1,500 |
Plan | Annual Condition Limit |
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | None - $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | None - $5,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major Plan | None - $25,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major + Minor Plan | None - $25,000 |
PD Insurance Accident Plan | None - $5,000 |
PD Insurance Classic Plan | None - $10,000 |
PD Insurance Deluxe Plan | None - $20,000 |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Catastrophe 1 / Catastrophe 2) | $1,500 / $3,000 |
Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core / Vital / Key) | $4,000 |
Petcover Superior Plan (Entry / Mid-point / Superior) | None - $10,000 / $15,000 / $20,000 |
Petnsur Surgery / Surgery Plus Plans | None - $1,500 / $3,000 for surgical treatments |
Petnsur Rhodium Plan | None - $6,000 |
Petnsur Silver / Gold / Platinum Plans | None - $4,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 |
Petnsur Titanium Plan | None - $18,000 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance AcciPet Plan | None - $5,000 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance PetCare Plan | None - $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Everyday Cover | $2,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance The Works Cover | None - $20,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Big Stuff Cover | None - $25,000 |
Tower Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | None - $5,000 |
Tower Pet Insurance Essential Plan | None - $7,000 |
Tower Pet Insurance Comprehensive Plan | None - $15,000 |
Plan | Annual Condition Limit |
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | $4,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | None - $5,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major Plan | None - $25,000 |
Cove Pet Insurance Major + Minor Plan | None - $25,000 |
PD Insurance Accident Plan | None - $5,000 |
PD Insurance Classic Plan | None - $10,000 |
PD Insurance Deluxe Plan | None - $20,000 |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Economy) | None - $7,000 |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Catastrophe 1 / Catastrophe 2) | None - $5,000 / $10,000 |
Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core / Vital / Key) | None - $5,000 / $10,000 / $15,000 |
Petcover Superior Plan (Entry / Mid-point / Superior) | None - $10,000 / $15,000 / $20,000 |
Petnsur Surgery / Surgery Plus Plans | None - $1,500 / $3,000 for surgical treatments |
Petnsur Rhodium Plan | None - $6,000 |
Petnsur Silver / Gold / Platinum Plans | None - $4,000 / $6,000 / $9,000 |
Petnsur Titanium Plan | None - $18,000 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance AcciPet Plan | None - $5,000 |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance PetCare Plan | None - $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Everyday Cover | $2,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance The Works Cover | $4,000 |
SPCA Pet Insurance Big Stuff Cover | None - $25,000 |
Tower Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | None - $5,000 |
Tower Pet Insurance Essential Plan | None - $7,000 |
Tower Pet Insurance Comprehensive Plan | None - $15,000 |
What About Stand Down Periods?
This is done to avoid insurance fraud whereby you take out a policy only to make a claim on that policy right away. However, it does mean that several plans will require you to pay monthly premiums but not give you any support if you are unfortunate enough to need to claim on one of the specified conditions with a waiting period.
Therefore the plans without stand down periods and shorter stand down periods are the most valuable - everything else being equal. Interestingly, our experts' best dog insurance provider, PD Insurance, has the longest/most stand down periods. You may also notice that Petnsur is the only dog insurance company with a stand down period on accidents while all providers have a waiting period for illness claims.
The "-" represents the fact that these policies do not cover the corresponding conditions.
Stand Down Periods for All NZ Dog Insurance Policies
Plan | Accidental Injury | Illness | Dental | Third Party Liability | Cruciate Ligament | Patella Luxation | IVD | BOAS | Ingestion / Poisoning |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness | None | 14 Days | 6 Months | - | 6 Months | None | None | None | None |
Cove Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | None | - | - | - | 6 Months | None | 6 Months | None | None |
Cove Pet Insurance Major Plan | None | 21 Days | - | - | 6 Months | None | 6 Months | None | None |
Cove Pet Insurance Major + Minor Plan | None | 21 Days | None | - | 6 Months | None | 6 Months | None | None |
PD Insurance Accident Plan | None | - | - | 180 Days | 180 Days | 180 Days | None | None | None |
PD Insurance Classic Plan | None | 21 Days | - | 180 Days | 180 Days | 180 Days | None | None | 21 Days |
PD Insurance Deluxe Plan | None | 21 Days | 180 Days | 180 Days | 180 Days | 180 Days | None | None | 21 Days |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Economy) | None | 21 Days | - | None | - | - | - | None | 21 Days |
Petcover Safety-net Plan (Catastrophe 1 / Catastrophe 2) | None | 30 Days | - | None | 6 Months | None | None | 365 Days | None |
Petcover Mid-range Plan (Core / Vital / Key) | None | 28 Days | - | None | 365 Days | None | None | 28 Days | None |
Petcover Superior Plan (Entry / Mid-point / Superior) | None | 21 Days | - | None | None | None | None | 28 Days | None |
Petnsur Surgery / Surgery Plus Plans | 7 Days | 21 Days | - | - | None | None | None | None | None |
Petnsur Rhodium Plan | 7 Days | 21 Days | - | - | None | None | None | None | None |
Petnsu Silver / Gold / Platinum Plans | 7 Days | 21 Days | - | - | None | None | None | None | None |
Petnsur Titanium Plan | 7 Days | 21 Days | - | None | None | None | None | None | None |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance AcciPet Plan | None | - | - | - | 90 Days | 90 Days | None | None | None |
Southern Cross Pet Insurance PetCare Plan | None | 21 Days | 90 Days | - | 90 Days | 90 Days | None | None | None |
SPCA Pet Insurance Everyday Cover | None | 21 Days | - | - | 6 Months* | None | None | None | None |
SPCA Pet Insurance The Works Cover | None | 21 Days | - | - | 6 Months* | None | None | None | None |
SPCA Pet Insurance Big Stuff Cover | None | 21 Days | - | - | 6 Months* | None | None | None | None |
Tower Pet Insurance Accident Only Plan | None | - | - | - | None | None | None | None | None |
Tower Pet Insurance Essential Plan | None | 14 Days | 90 Days | - | None | None | None | None | None |
Tower Pet Insurance Comprehensive Plan | None | 14 Days | 90 Days | - | None | None | None | None | None |
What's the Most Comprehensive Dog Insurance Plan?
AA Pet Insurance's policy covers both accidental injuries and illnesses as well as seven of the most important additional treatments/conditions - dental, vet consultations, pre-existing conditions, hereditary conditions, parasite treatments, emergency boarding, and overseas treatments. There's also a routine care add-on available.
The next most comprehensive plans are available with SPCA Pet Insurance - their plans cover all of the above conditions except dental, hereditary conditions and have no routine care add-on. Unfortunately both SPCA and AA have condition limits and stand down periods for several of the conditions/treatments that they cover.
That's why we still recommend PD Insurance's Deluxe Plan above all other dog insurance plans in New Zealand as covers accidental injury, illness, third party liability, dental, vet consultations and hereditary conditions but with fewer large condition limits.
What Should My Dog Insurance Cover?
Only you can answer that question but unless you are on a tight budget then we recommend a policy that at least covers both accidental injury and illness. This way almost all of your potential vet bills will be covered to some extent, as opposed to only those resulting from accidental injury.
If you are on a tight budget then accident-only plans are still worth it given that their costs can be several times lower than a comprehensive accident & illness policy.
It's also nice to understand what is 'normal' for a pet insurance policy in NZ to cover, that way you can better understand which plans are better than others.
All dog insurance plans in NZ cover the costs associated with:
- Accidental Injury
- Illness
- Third party liability (damage to a third party or their property)
- Dental care (often excluded preventable diseases)
- Routine care (cover for de-sexing, microchipping or other periodic treatments)
- Vaccinations
- Vet consultations
- Alternative treatments (including acupuncture, chiropractic care, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, manipulation, massage therapy, physiotherapy, and osteopathy)
- Pre-existing conditions (when symptom-free or with a vet's note)
- Hereditary conditions (when symptom free by a certain age)
- Parasite treatments
- Emergency boarding (if your dog needs to stay in a kennel after an emergency)
- Overseas treatments
- Accidental ingestion
- Alternative therapies
- Loss, replacement or death
- Prescriptions medication
- Ongoing vet care
- Breeding or obstetric conditions
- Commercial/occupational treatments
- Congenital conditions
- Cosmetic treatments
- Preventable disease
- Behavioral or psychological conditions
- Equipment, transport and grooming
- Voluntary euthanasia
Another thing to look out for is any condition limits. These apply to certain conditions and limit the amount claimable per condition or year. For example, SPCA imposes condition limits of $2,000 or $4,000 per condition on Everyday Cover and The Works Cover plans.
Also, remember that if your dog needs a treatment that you have opted not to cover then you'll have to foot the bill all by yourself. Inversely, keep in mind that the more you cover, the more you pay for your monthly premiums.
Overall though, there's really no need to choose one of our lower rated plans that imposes strict condition limits and doesn't cover at least some extras outside of accidental injury and illness given that better plans do exist.
The Best NZ Dog Insurances by Coverage Type
Sometimes you're looking for something specific with your dog insurance plan. Below we recommend the best dog insurances New Zealand has by specific coverage types.
But Cove's not your only option if you have more than one dog (or pet) to insure. The following NZ dog insurance providers offer multi-dog discounts:
- Cove - 10% multi-policy discount
- PD Insurance - 5% multi-pet discount
- Petcover - 10% multi-pet discount (3+ pets)
- Southern Cross Pet Insurance - 5% multi-pet discount
- SPCA Pet Insurance - 10% multi-pet discount
That's primarily because you want to get insurance early in your dog's life so that they do not have any pre-existing conditions that are excluded. So, even if you think that cancer or illness cover isn't necessary for your puppy right now, you'll want it before your dog does get sick otherwise all treatments relating to their illness will never be covered.
In saying all this, many dog insurance providers offer discounts for puppies which are hard to ignore when choosing an insurance for your puppy. Especially when they're as good as Petnsur's Six Weeks of Free No Obligation Cover worth up to $2,000.
It's also important to mention that all Pet Insurers in New Zealand only cover puppies that are at least 8 weeks old except PD Insurance and Petnsur where cover starts from 6 weeks, making them slightly better for puppies in this regard.
So, our recommendation for the best puppy insurance in New Zealand?
Sign up for six weeks of free cover at Petnsur and then the day that runs out switch to PD Insurance's Deluxe Plan (or favourite insurance) where you also get your first month free.
This plan does have a max age of 9 years though so if you have an even older dog then SPCA's Big Stuff Cover is a better option as it has no maximum age limit and also covers symptom free pre-existing conditions along with accidents, illnesses and more.
Factors to consider when picking a pet insurance policy for an older dog are the maximum age limit, the ability to waive exclusions on pre-existing conditions, cover for common conditions like illnesses and ligament surgeries as well as regular concerns like cost and cover more generally.
Here are several plans better suited to older dogs:
- PD Insurance Deluxe Plan (max 9 years, covers dental and hereditary conditions, long stand down periods and condition limits)
- Southern Cross AcciPet Plan (no max age, accident only)
- AA Pet Insurance (max 9 years, covers dental, pre-existing and hereditary conditions, long stand down periods and condition limits)
- SPCA Big Stuff Cover (no max age, covers pre-existing conditions, $1,000 excess)
- Petnsur Surgery Plans (max 12 years, covers hereditary conditions, surgical treatments only)
- SPCA The Works Cover (max 9 years, covers pre-existing conditions, several condition limits)
- Petnsur Silver / Gold / Platinum Plans (max 12 years, covers hereditary conditions, many condition limits)
- Petnsur Titanium Plan (max 12 years, covers hereditary conditions, many condition limits)
- Petcover Safety-Net Economy Plan (no max age, high co-payment)
- Tower Accident Only Plan (no max age, accident only)
- SPCA Everyday Cover (no max age, covers pre-existing conditions, $2,000 condition limit)
Dog Vet Insurances without limits include SPCA Pet Insurance's Big Stuff Cover, Petcover's Superior plans, Petnsur's Silver, Gold, Rhodium and Platinum Plans and all of Cove's plans.
Dog insurance companies want to encourage you to visit the vet so as to not exacerbate any condition that needs treatment but also because their excesses make you front the costs for consultations that don't require any further treatment.
Do note that pre-existing conditions must be waived first in order to be covered at both AA and SPCA, in the case of AA they can be waived after 18 months with no symptoms by sending in a note from your vet.
In total, there are two dog insurance plans in New Zealand that cover dental treatments with four more plans offering it as an add-on to existing plans.
Dental insurance for dogs can be found with:
- AA Pet Insurance Accidental Injuries + Illness Plan ($600 limit, 6 month stand down period)
- PD Insurance Deluxe Plan ($500 limit, 180 day stand down period)
- Cove Pet Insurance Major + Minor Plan ($500 limit, no stand down period)
- Southern Cross Pet Insurance PetCare Plan ($300 limit, 90 day stand down period)
- Tower Pet Insurance Essential Plan ($350 limit, 90 day stand down period)
- Tower Pet Insurance Comprehensive Plan ($350 limit, 90 day stand down period)
This means that ongoing claims (up to the annual policy and condition limits) will be covered for the life of your pet.
This does not however mean that your monthly premium, excess, co-payment and other costs will not increase over the lifetime of your dog. At least your monthly premiums, but in some cases your excess/co-payment too will increase as you dog gets older and is more likely to need treatment.
It is more expensive to insure an older dog, whether you are starting a new policy or renewing an existing one.
Dog Insurance for Businesses
Dog insurance isn't just for pet owners but a range of businesses including kennels, groomers, dog walkers and farmers either need to insure the dogs they care for or the dogs the use in their every day work. The dog insurance policies compared on this page all exclude occupational treatments and are not suitable for businesses.
Where Can You Get Dog Breeders Insurance?
This is a win-win-win offer because owners get free cover from the moment they leave your premises, the dog insurers have the opportunity to up-sell an insurance policy to your customers before their free cover runs out and you as a breeder can not only offer free insurance but in most cases will be compensated if your customers commit to buying a policy.
The four dog breeders insurances offered in New Zealand are:
- Cove - 90 days free cover
- PD Insurance - 3 weeks free cover, up to $1,000 for accident & illness
- Petcover - 6 weeks free cover, up to $3,000 for accident & illness
- Petnsur - 6 weeks free cover
Where Can You Buy Dog Grooming, Sitting & Walking Insurance?
None of the pet insurance companies on this page offer this type of business insurance but there are plenty of corporate/business insurers who do - reach out to one to find out more.
Where Can You Buy Working Dog Insurance?
Summary: How to Compare Dog Insurances (and Pick the Best One For You)
Here's our advice for picking the best dog insurance plan for you:
- Decide your level of cover. Do you want to be covered for both accidents and illnesses? How about dental? Does your dog's breed have certain hereditary conditions you'd like to be covered? etc.
- Narrow down your options. Based on what you want to cover you can already eliminate many dog insurance plans from your shortlist eg. all accident-only plans or none. Be sure to not include plans that cover too many things that you don't consider necessary as you'll still pay for this cover in your monthly premiums. Likewise, be prepared that the best dog insurance plan for you might not cover exactly, and only exactly, what you want.
- Estimate how much your willing to pay at the vet. If you don't want a big vet bill then you will need to pick a plan with a high policy limit and/or low excess or co-payment. This will likely mean higher monthly premiums but paying a few extra dollars a month is often a lot easier than coming up with several thousand dollars in an emergency.
- Narrow down your options, again. You can eliminate plans whose costs structure doesn't align with your needs. Eg. plans whose policy limits are very low will mean low monthly premiums but not that much support if you are facing a large vert bill. Conversely, plans whose policy limits are high will mean that you have peace of mind should anything significant happen to your dog.
- Pick the provider you resonate the most with. If you can't separate two (or more) similar dog insurance plans based on their policy conditions then consider the providers themselves. Do you recognize the brand or know someone who is insured by them? What is the claims processing like? What do others say about them online, or what do we say about them?
At the end of the day you will find yourself paying for what you get. In other words, dog insurance, like all other insurances, is designed to benefit dog owners who have to make claims at the expense of the dog owners who are fortunate enough not to have to visit the vet. This means that as long as you understand what your covering and what the costs will be to you, then whatever policy you chose you will always still have the benefit of financial support should you and your dog need it.
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