We've compared the pet insurance companies in Italy for English-speaking expats who live there and for anyone moving to Italy with a dog or cat. Pet insurance in Italy (called assicurazione cane e gatto in Italian) can mean vet cover for illness and accidents, surgery-only cover or third-party liability (responsabilità civile in Italian, or RC) for damage your dog causes to someone else. Below we compare Barkibu, Assur O'Poil, Redion, SantéVet, Unipol, ConTe.it and Quixa on their reimbursement rates, annual limits, waiting periods and entry ages, using the policy documents each insurer published from July 2026 onwards.
Do be aware though that Italian policies are sold to people who live in Italy. Insurers ask for an Italian address and some want a residence certificate (certificato anagrafico) when you claim, so if you're only travelling to Italy with your pet, a policy from your home country or a travel policy that includes pets is the better route. None of the insurers we looked at had an English website or quote form for Italy.
As for the law, there's no general obligation to insure a dog in Italy. Liability insurance is only compulsory for dogs that the local health authority (ASL) has put on its register of dogs at higher risk, under the national dog ordinance that was renewed in 2026. We explain the rules further down the page with links to the official texts.
*We last checked the terms on this page on 4 November 2026. Quixa was the only insurer that published a price, so we haven't quoted prices for the others. Comparesies is published by Collatio Media AB and we may earn a commission from some insurer links at no extra cost to you, although that never changes which insurers we list or what we write about them.
Updated November 04, 2026
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17 min read
Our top 4 picks for vet cover in Italy:
Barkibu - Refunds 80% of vet bills with an unlimited annual limit available, and keeps your pet covered for life
Assur O'Poil - Lets you choose a refund rate of 60%, 80% or 100%, with cover that doesn't drop as your pet gets older
Redion Miglior Amico - Vet cover of up to €3,500 a year plus up to €1 million of liability cover that's valid worldwide
Unipol UNICA Cane e Gatto - Surgery and hospital cover that applies worldwide, with a lower excess at network vets
Pet Insurance Providers in Italy Compared
*Only Quixa showed us a price when we tried each quote form on 4 November 2026 for a 3-year-old mixed-breed dog in Milan, so for the others the price column says what the form asked for before it would show one. Every other figure comes from the insurer's own documents dated July 2026 or later.
Provider
Price*
Reimbursement
Annual limit
Waiting period
Max entry age
Stand-out feature
Barkibu
Sent by email only
80%
€3,000 or unlimited
5 days accident, 28 days illness
Under 11
Covered for life
Assur O'Poil
After name, email and phone
60%, 80% or 100%
Up to €2,500
45 days illness
Under 10
Cover doesn't drop with age
Redion Miglior Amico
No online quote found
Bill minus 10% excess (min. €100)
€2,000 or €3,500
30 days
Under 10
Liability up to €1 million
SantéVet
After name and address
Up to 90%
Not confirmed
Not confirmed
Not confirmed
Prevention package
Unipol UNICA
After email
Bill minus 10% excess (network) or 20%
Chosen at quote
Check at quote
Under 11
Vet cover worldwide
ConTe.it
After email and phone
Surgery minus €250 + 20%
€2,000 for surgery
15 days accident, 30 days illness
8 (10 on Silver)
Lost-pet and trip cancellation cover
Quixa
€2.90–€15.90/month
Fixed sums
€900 for surgery
Check at quote
Check at quote
Price shown without personal details
Barkibu (policy underwritten by Nordic Guarantee, Sweden)
Assur O'Poil (broker HD Assurances, insurer SwissLife Assurances de Biens)
ConTe.it (insurer Admiral Europe Compañía de Seguros)
Quixa (AXA group)
Genertel (pet cover inside a home policy)
Generali Immagina Adesso Cucciolo (sold through agencies)
Allianz Direct and Prima (liability cover only)
You'll need an address in Italy, as every insurer we looked at sells only to people who live there (Assur O'Poil also accepts San Marino, and ConTe.it San Marino and the Vatican). Barkibu's general conditions say you must be a permanent resident of Italy and it can ask for a residence certificate (certificato anagrafico). Quixa asked for a codice fiscale, the Italian tax code, before it would activate a policy. You don't need Italian citizenship.
80% of eligible vet costs, annual limit €3,000 or unlimited
Waiting Periods
5 days for accidents, 28 days for illness, 6 months for listed joint conditions if your pet joins at 6 months or older
Age Restrictions
From 8 weeks to under 11 years at signup, then covered for life
Additional Details
Prevention 80% up to €100 a year. Policyholder must be a permanent resident of Italy.
Pros
✓
Unlimited annual limit available
Pros
✓
Covered for life once insured
Pros
✓
EU, UK and Andorra stays up to 6 months a year
Pros
✓
No waiting period for prevention
Cons
✕
20% of every bill stays with you
Cons
✕
Italian residence certificate needed
Cons
✕
No price without an email address
Barkibu refunds 80% of vet bills for illness and accidents in Italy, with an annual limit of €3,000 or no limit at all, and prevention is refunded at 80% up to €100 a year. Pets join from 8 weeks to under 11 years and then stay covered for life, and stays in the EU, the UK and Andorra are covered for up to 6 months a year. It's not all good though. You have to be a permanent resident of Italy, the site and documents are in Italian and the price is only sent to you by email.
60%, 80% or 100% depending on the formula, up to €2,500 a year
Waiting Periods
45 days for illness
Age Restrictions
From 2 months to under 10 years at signup, premium +15% from age 10
Additional Details
Resident in Italy or San Marino. Sterilisation €50 to €100, vaccines €15 to €30 and boarding €150 to €200 on some formulas.
Pros
✓
Refund rate of 60%, 80% or 100%
Pros
✓
Cover doesn't drop with age
Pros
✓
EU cover when you travel with your pet
Pros
✓
Extras for sterilisation, vaccines and boarding
Cons
✕
Annual limit of €2,500 at most
Cons
✕
Minimum €15 per claim (€30 on the top formula)
Cons
✕
45-day wait for illness
Assur O'Poil lets you choose how much of each vet bill you get back, with 60%, 80% or 100% depending on the formula, and annual limits of up to €2,500. Pets join from 2 months to under 10 years and cover doesn't drop as they age, although the premium goes up by 15% from age 10. Some formulas add money for sterilisation, vaccines and boarding, and you're covered in the EU when you travel with your pet. Do be aware though that €2,500 a year won't go far after a major operation and claims are handled in Italian.
Vet costs up to €2,000 a year (Silver) or €3,500 (Gold), 10% excess with a minimum of €100
Waiting Periods
30 days
Age Restrictions
Can't be bought for a pet aged 10 or over, cover ends at the renewal after the 10th birthday
Additional Details
Liability €250,000, €500,000 or €1 million (€150 excess), valid worldwide. Some breeds excluded.
Pros
✓
Liability cover up to €1 million, worldwide
Pros
✓
Legal cover included
Pros
✓
Vet cover up to €3,500 a year on Gold
Cons
✕
Not sold for pets aged 10 or over
Cons
✕
€100 minimum excess on vet claims
Cons
✕
Vet cover mainly limited to Italy, San Marino and the Vatican
Redion's Miglior Amico (Best Friend) policy combines vet cover of €2,000 or €3,500 a year with liability cover of up to €1 million that applies worldwide, plus legal cover. The excess on vet bills is 10% with a minimum of €100 and there's a 30-day wait. Still, it's a poor choice for an older pet, as you can't buy it once your pet is 10 and vet cover runs out at the renewal after the 10th birthday.
Prevention package included according to santevet.it.
Pros
✓
Refunds of up to 90% advertised
Pros
✓
Prevention package included
Cons
✕
No price without your name and address
Cons
✕
Current limits and age rules not confirmed by a recent document
Cons
✕
No English
SantéVet is a French pet insurance specialist that also sells in Italy. Its Italian website says its plans refund up to 90% of vet costs and include a prevention package. We haven't listed the limits, excesses or age rules because the only pre-contract document we found is dated 1 March 2026, which is older than the terms we're willing to quote on this page. The quote form asks for your name and full address before it shows a price.
Surgery (Base) or surgery plus hospital stay (Plus), sum insured chosen at quote, 10% excess in the UniSalute network or 20% (minimum €100) elsewhere
Age Restrictions
From 3 months to under 11 years at signup, vet cover ends at the renewal after the 11th birthday
Additional Details
Liability cover with a €100 excess (10%, minimum €1,000, for listed breeds and high-risk dogs). Funeral costs up to €75. 14 days to cancel.
Pros
✓
Vet cover worldwide
Pros
✓
Lower 10% excess at network vets
Pros
✓
No automatic renewal
Cons
✕
Vet cover ends after the 11th birthday
Cons
✕
Mainly surgery and hospital stays
Cons
✕
20% excess (minimum €100) outside the network
Unipol's UNICA Cane e Gatto (Dog and Cat) policy is mainly surgery cover. Base pays for operations and Plus adds hospital stays, with care 30 days before and after an operation included, and the vet cover applies worldwide. Your excess is 10% at a UniSalute network vet or 20% (minimum €100) elsewhere. Do be aware though that vet cover stops at the renewal after your pet's 11th birthday and the quote form wants your email on the first screen.
Surgery up to €2,000 a year (€250 + 20% excess), hospital stay €500 (€80 + 15%), visits and tests €150 on Platinum+ (€50 + 20%)
Waiting Periods
15 days for accidents, 30 days for illness
Age Restrictions
From 3 months to 8 years (10 on Silver and Silver+)
Additional Details
Liability €250,000 (Gold+) or €500,000 (Platinum+), €150 excess. Resident in Italy, San Marino or the Vatican.
Pros
✓
Liability cover from the Gold level
Pros
✓
Lost-pet search and trip cancellation up to €1,000
Pros
✓
Legal cover up to €5,000
Cons
✕
€250 plus 20% excess on surgery
Cons
✕
Visits and tests only on Platinum+
Cons
✕
Entry age capped at 8 on most levels
ConTe.it Cane e Gatto (Dog and Cat) pays up to €2,000 a year for surgery and €500 for a hospital stay, and only the top Platinum+ level adds €150 for visits and tests. The excesses are heavy, with €250 plus 20% on surgery. The extras are better, with liability cover of €250,000 or €500,000 on Gold and above, a lost-pet search, trip cancellation and legal cover. Pets join from 3 months to 8 years, or 10 on Silver.
Fixed sums on Top: surgery €300 per event (max €900 a year), hospital stay without surgery €200 (max €400), post-op visit €100 (max €200)
Price
Base €2.90 a month from the second month, Top €15.90 a month (list prices)
Additional Details
Lost-pet search €1,000, trip cancellation €1,000, pet sitter or boarding €50 a day for up to 6 days.
Pros
✓
Price shown without personal details
Pros
✓
First month free
Pros
✓
Lost-pet search up to €1,000
Cons
✕
Surgery pays €300 per operation, €900 a year at most
Cons
✕
Fixed sums, not a share of the bill
Cons
✕
Italian tax code (codice fiscale) needed to activate
Quixa is the only insurer in Italy that showed us a price without asking for any details, at €2.90 a month for Base and €15.90 a month for Top on 4 November 2026. Base covers a lost-pet search, travel assistance and a pet sitter. Top adds fixed payouts of €300 per operation (€900 a year), €200 for a hospital stay (€400 a year) and €100 for a post-op visit. We wouldn't buy it as vet insurance, as one operation can cost far more than that.
Barkibu sells in Italy with a policy underwritten by Nordic Guarantee, a Swedish insurer. According to its general conditions dated July 2026, it refunds 80% of vet bills for illness and accidents with an annual limit of €3,000 or no limit at all, and prevention such as vaccines is refunded at 80% up to €100 a year with no waiting period. Waiting periods are 5 days for accidents and 28 days for illness, plus 6 months for a list of joint conditions if your pet is 6 months or older when it joins. Pets can join from 8 weeks to under 11 years and then stay covered for life, while stays in the EU, the UK and Andorra are covered for up to 6 months a year.
It's not all good though. The policyholder has to be a permanent resident of Italy and Barkibu can ask for a residence certificate. When we ran the quote form on 4 November 2026 for a 3-year-old mixed-breed dog in Milan, the last step asked for an email address and said the price would be sent there, so we didn't get one. Barkibu's English website only covers its Spanish policies.
On Trustpilot, Barkibu had a score of 4.4 from 17,234 reviews on 4 November 2026. A customer writing on 3 November 2026 praised a "very fast reimbursement", while one on 23 October 2026 complained that a rabies vaccine was advertised as covered in full but the VAT wasn't refunded.
Ideal for
Expats who want the widest vet cover in Italy and plan to keep their pet insured into old age.
Watch out for
You always pay 20% of the bill, and you'll be dealing with everything in Italian.
Assur O'Poil
Cover
Vet bills for illness and accidents, extras on some formulas
Assur O'Poil is a French brand that sells in Italy through the broker HD Assurances, with SwissLife Assurances de Biens as the insurer. Its general conditions dated July 2026 list five formulas. Super Cane and Super Gatto (Super Dog and Super Cat) refund 60%, Zampa di Bronzo and Zampa d'Argento (Bronze Paw and Silver Paw) refund 80% and Zampa d'Oro (Gold Paw) refunds 100%, with annual limits of up to €2,500. There's a minimum of €15 per claim (€30 on Zampa d'Oro) and a 45-day wait for illness. Pets join from 2 months to under 10 years and the cover doesn't drop with age, although the premium goes up by 15% from age 10. Some formulas add money for sterilisation (€50 to €100), vaccines (€15 to €30) and boarding (€150 to €200), and you're covered across the EU when you travel with your pet.
Do be aware though that €2,500 a year is a low ceiling if your pet needs a major operation. Our quote test went through the pet's details and the formula and then stopped at a form asking for a name, email and phone number before the price. The site was advertising 50% off the first 2 months on 4 November 2026.
Assur O'Poil had a score of 4.3 on Trustpilot from 3,506 reviews on 4 November 2026. Most of the recent reviews we read were from new customers who liked the advice they got from a real person but hadn't claimed yet, and one owner wrote on 4 October 2026 that getting quotes online for 4 cats was hard to work out.
Ideal for
Owners who want to pick their refund rate, up to 100% of the bill.
Watch out for
The €2,500 limit, and recent reviews say little about how claims are handled.
Redion is the new name of Europ Assistance Italia, part of the Generali group. Its Miglior Amico (Best Friend) policy (documents dated 1 October 2026) covers vet costs up to €2,000 a year on Silver or €3,500 on Gold, with a 10% excess and a minimum of €100 per claim, and a 30-day waiting period. Liability cover goes up to €250,000, €500,000 or €1 million with a €150 excess and it applies worldwide, and legal cover is included as well. The vet cover mainly applies in Italy, San Marino and the Vatican.
It's a poor fit for older pets though. You can't buy it once your pet is 10 and the vet cover runs out at the renewal after its 10th birthday, and some breeds are excluded. We didn't find a quote tool on Redion's page and we didn't test the policy ourselves, so we can't tell you what it asks for or what it costs. We also didn't find enough recent reviews of the pet policy to quote.
Ideal for
Dog owners who want strong liability cover and a decent vet budget in the same policy.
Watch out for
Not available for pets aged 10 or over, and every vet claim has a €100 minimum excess.
SantéVet is a French pet insurance specialist that also sells in Italy. Its Italian website says its plans refund up to 90% of vet costs and include a prevention package. We haven't listed the limits, excesses, waiting periods or entry ages here because the only pre-contract document we found is dated 1 March 2026, and on this page we only quote terms from documents dated July 2026 or later. Ask for the current documents when you get a quote.
Our quote test for a 3-year-old dog in Milan went through the pet's details and then asked for a name and a full street address before any price, so we stopped there. SantéVet's Italian profile on Trustpilot had a score of 4.2 from 1,033 reviews on 4 November 2026. One owner wrote on 14 October 2026 that getting a refund after urgent surgery on their dog was simple and quick, although Trustpilot's own summary of the reviews describes customer service and response times as mixed. Our SantéVet France review covers the company in more detail.
Ideal for
Owners who want a high refund rate and some help with routine care.
Watch out for
You can't compare the current terms until you've given your name and address.
Unipol UNICA Cane e Gatto
Cover
Surgery and hospital stays, liability, legal cover
Unipol is one of Italy's biggest insurers and its UNICA Cane e Gatto (Dog and Cat) policy (documents dated 1 October 2026) is built around surgery. Base pays for operations and Plus adds hospital stays, and care in the 30 days before and after an operation is covered too. You choose the sum insured in the quote. The excess is 10% at a vet in the UniSalute network or 20% (minimum €100) elsewhere, and the vet cover applies worldwide. Liability cover has a €100 excess, which rises to 10% with a minimum of €1,000 for listed breeds and higher-risk dogs. Funeral costs are covered up to €75 and the policy doesn't renew automatically.
It's not all good though. Pets can join from 3 months to under 11 years and the vet cover stops at the renewal after the 11th birthday, just when many owners start needing it. There's no cover for ordinary vet visits either. The quote form asked for an email address on its very first screen, so we didn't get a price. Unipol was advertising up to 50% off online until 31 December 2026.
Ideal for
Owners who mainly want help with the cost of an operation, at home or abroad.
Watch out for
Vet cover ends after the 11th birthday, and routine visits aren't covered.
ConTe.it is an online insurer and its Cane e Gatto (Dog and Cat) policy is underwritten by Admiral Europe Compañía de Seguros. According to its policy documents (edition 10/2026), it pays up to €2,000 a year for surgery with an excess of €250 plus 20%, and up to €500 for a hospital stay without surgery (€80 plus 15%). Only the top Platinum+ level adds €150 for visits and tests. Waiting periods are 15 days for accidents and 30 days for illness. Liability cover is €250,000 on Gold+ or €500,000 on Platinum+ with a €150 excess (€250 for listed breeds), while a lost-pet search and trip cancellation are covered up to €1,000 each and legal cover up to €5,000.
Do be aware though that the excess takes a big bite out of a small surgery bill, and pets can only join up to 8 years old (10 on Silver and Silver+). Our quote test stopped at a page asking for an email and phone number. On 4 November 2026 ConTe.it was advertising up to 5 months free, or 6 for a mixed breed.
ConTe.it had a score of 4.6 on Trustpilot from 54,620 reviews on 4 November 2026, but the recent reviews we read were all about car insurance, so they don't tell you much about the pet policy.
Ideal for
Owners who travel a lot and want liability, lost-pet and cancellation cover in one policy.
Watch out for
The €250 plus 20% excess on surgery, and no routine vet visits below Platinum+.
Quixa Smart Dog&Cat
Cover
Assistance, fixed payouts for surgery and hospital stays
Quixa is the online insurer of the AXA group in Italy and Smart Dog&Cat was the only pet product that showed us a price without asking for any details. On 4 November 2026 the Base offer cost €2.90 a month from the second month, after a free first month, and Top cost €15.90 a month. Base covers a lost-pet search (up to €1,000), a pet sitter or boarding (€50 a day for up to 6 days) and trip cancellation or extension (up to €1,000). Top adds fixed sums for vet care, with €300 per operation (€900 a year at most), €200 for a hospital stay without surgery (€400 a year) and €100 for a vet visit after surgery (€200 a year).
We wouldn't recommend Quixa to expats or travellers as pet insurance. It pays fixed amounts rather than a share of the bill, and €300 doesn't go far when a CT scan alone can cost up to €600 in Italy, according to L’Espresso. To activate the policy the form asked for a codice fiscale (Italian tax code), a date and place of birth, an address, an email and a mobile number. Quixa's 4.8 score on Trustpilot (39,658 reviews on 4 November 2026) mostly comes from car insurance customers.
Ideal for
Owners who only want a lost-pet search and help with travel plans for a few euros a month.
Watch out for
Fixed payouts that won't pay for a real operation.
Information:
Liability-Only Cover and Home Policies
If you only want liability cover for your dog, Allianz Direct sells it as an add-on to its home policy and Prima sells RC Animali (pet liability cover) on its own (documents dated 28 October 2026). Genertel, also part of the Generali group, adds liability and some vet cover for accidents and surgery to its home policy, with a 60-day wait on the vet cover (documents dated 17 October 2026). Generali's Immagina Adesso Cucciolo covers surgery and liability but it's sold through agencies, so you can't buy it online. Dalma, which we review in France, had no Italian offer on 4 November 2026. We haven't rated these because they aren't full vet policies or we couldn't check them online.
Pet Insurance for Expats in Italy
You don't need Italian citizenship to insure a pet in Italy but you do need to live there, and you'll be dealing with Italian paperwork in Italian. Below is what we think matters most once you've moved.
Residence and Documents
An Italian address, as every policy we looked at is for residents of Italy (some also accept San Marino or the Vatican).
A residence certificate (certificato anagrafico), which Barkibu can ask for.
A codice fiscale (Italian tax code), which Quixa asked for before activating a policy.
Your pet's microchip number, which Assur O'Poil's form asked about.
Language
None of the insurers had an English website or quote form for Italy on 4 November 2026, and Barkibu's English site only covers Spain.
Claims and policy documents are in Italian, so a translation app helps.
Cover When You Travel
Barkibu covers stays in the EU, the UK and Andorra for up to 6 months a year.
Assur O'Poil covers you across the EU when you travel with your pet.
Unipol's vet cover applies worldwide, while Redion's mainly applies in Italy.
What the Quote Forms Asked For
Insurer
What we entered
Where it stopped
Barkibu
Species, sex, age, size, name, health, other pets, postcode
Price shown, then tax code (codice fiscale), address, email and mobile to activate
Redion
Not tested
No online quote tool found
We ran these tests on 4 November 2026 for one profile, a 3-year-old mixed-breed male dog of about 15 kg living in Milan (postcode 20121). We stopped wherever a form asked for personal details, as we weren't going to make up a tax code or hand over contact details for a test, which is why the only prices on this page are Quixa's. We didn't test a cat or an older dog, and your own quote will depend on your pet's age, breed and where you live.
Is Dog Insurance Mandatory in Italy?
No, not for most dogs. There's no national law that makes pet insurance compulsory in Italy. The rules come from a national dog-safety ordinance first issued in 2013, which was renewed on 16 July 2026 for another 12 months from 5 September 2026 (published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale, Italy's official journal, on 5 September 2026). Under it you're always responsible for any damage or injury your dog causes, and liability insurance is only compulsory for owners of dogs that the local health authority (ASL) has put on its register of dogs at higher risk of aggression. The Italian vets' association ANMVI pointed out in August 2026 that Italy still has no full law on this, and that a bill on it had stalled in the Senate.
The Rules at a Glance
Rule
Who it applies to
What you need
Liability (RC) insurance
Dogs on the ASL register of higher-risk dogs
Compulsory, plus a lead and a muzzle at all times
Responsibility for damage
Every dog owner
You're liable for any damage or injury your dog causes
Lead
All dogs in towns and public places
No longer than 1.5 m
Muzzle
All dogs
Carry one to use if needed
Clean-up
All dogs
Pick up after your dog
Vet insurance
All pets
Optional
Tip:
What We Recommend
Even if your dog isn't on the higher-risk register we'd still get liability cover, because you're responsible for whatever your dog does. Redion and Unipol include it in their pet policies and ConTe.it does from the Gold+ level, while Allianz Direct and Prima sell it on its own. Check your home insurance first though, as it may already include it.
Choosing the Right Pet Insurance in Italy
Italian pet policies come in three main types and it helps to know which one you're looking at before you compare prices.
Type
What it pays
Examples
Full vet cover
A share of vet bills for illness and accidents, sometimes prevention
Barkibu, Assur O'Poil, SantéVet
Surgery cover
Operations and hospital stays, rarely routine visits
Unipol, ConTe.it, Generali Cucciolo
Liability (RC)
Damage or injury your pet causes to others
Allianz Direct and Prima, and included at Redion, Unipol and ConTe.it
Every Italian policy comes with a short summary called the DIP (Documento Informativo Precontrattuale, the pre-contract information document) and a longer DIP Aggiuntivo (additional DIP). They're in Italian, but they list the limits, excesses, waiting periods and exclusions in a standard layout, so they're the quickest way to compare two policies. Check the date on the front, as insurers update them often.
What to Compare
Excess and Co-Pay
Barkibu keeps 20% of each bill. Redion takes 10% with a €100 minimum, Unipol takes 10% at its network vets or 20% (minimum €100) elsewhere, and ConTe.it takes €250 plus 20% on surgery.
Age at Signup and When Cover Ends
Barkibu takes pets up to 11 and covers them for life, and Assur O'Poil takes them up to 10 with no drop in cover. Unipol's vet cover stops after the 11th birthday and Redion's after the 10th.
Cover Abroad
Check how long you're covered outside Italy if you travel home often. Barkibu allows up to 6 months a year in the EU, the UK and Andorra.
Waiting Periods
They range from 5 days for accidents at Barkibu to 45 days for illness at Assur O'Poil, and Barkibu's prevention cover has no wait at all.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost in Italy?
We can't give you a reliable average. Quixa was the only insurer that published a price on 4 November 2026 and the others would only show one after an email, phone number or address. What we can show you is what vet care costs in Italy, as that's what the insurance is there to pay for.
A month for Quixa Base, the only published price (assistance only)
€2.90
A month for Quixa Top, with fixed payouts for surgery
€15.90
Emergency vet visit in Italy (L'Espresso, August 2026)
€95
CT scan at an Italian vet (L'Espresso, August 2026)
Up to €600
Treatment
Typical cost in Italy
Emergency visit
€95
Blood panel
About €80
X-ray
Over €80
Ultrasound
€90–€130
Endoscopy
From €400
CT scan
Up to €600
Intensive care
€150/day
These figures come from an article in L’Espresso published on 29 August 2026. An operation with a scan and a few nights in a clinic can pass €1,000, which is why we'd look at the annual limit before the monthly price.
Some insurers were running offers when we checked on 4 November 2026. Assur O'Poil advertised 50% off the first 2 months, ConTe.it up to 5 months free (6 for a mixed breed) and Unipol up to 50% off online until 31 December 2026.
Moving to Italy with Your Dog or Cat
Bringing a pet to Italy is mostly about the microchip, the rabies vaccination and having the right document. The EU rules on travelling with pets changed in 2026, so older guides may be out of date.
From Another EU Country
A microchip.
A rabies vaccination given at 12 weeks or older, valid from 21 days after the first dose.
An EU pet passport. Passports issued on the old model before 22 April 2026 are still valid.
From Outside the EU
An animal health certificate, valid for 10 days to enter the EU and then for 6 months of travel within it.
From some countries, a rabies blood test taken at least 30 days after the vaccination and at least 90 days before the certificate is issued, with entry through a travellers' point of entry.
Moving from the UK
If you live in Great Britain you need an Animal Health Certificate, as an EU pet passport issued in Great Britain can't be used, according to GOV.UK.
Once You Live There
Register your pet on the local pet register. The deadlines we found weren't consistent, so ask your vet or the ASL.
Take out insurance early so the waiting periods are behind you, and check whether your dog needs liability cover (see the dog law section above).
The rules for pets travelling with their owners are now in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, together with Regulations 2026/132, 2026/133 and 2026/134, Implementing Regulation 2026/636 (the list of non-EU countries, amended by 2026/1228) and Implementing Regulation 2026/705 (the new passport and certificate models). They've applied since 22 April 2026 and replaced Regulation 576/2013, according to the European Commission's pages on travelling within the EU and arriving from outside the EU, updated on 7 August and 30 October 2026, and ANMVI. A separate law on dog and cat welfare, Regulation (EU) 2026/1818, will add EU-wide identification and registration rules from 31 August 2028.
Travelling to Italy with Your Dog or Cat
Italian pet insurance isn't really an option for a holiday. The policies we compared are only sold to people who live in Italy, so for a trip you'll want a policy from your home country that covers your pet abroad, or travel insurance that includes pets. Check how long your current policy pays outside your country of residence before you go.
Documents
A microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU pet passport or animal health certificate, for up to 5 pets per trip.
No tapeworm treatment is needed for Italy.
From Great Britain
An Animal Health Certificate from your vet, valid for 10 days to enter the EU and then for 6 months of onward travel within the EU, according to GOV.UK.
Travelling Separately
You need to travel within 5 days of your pet, or someone you've authorised in writing can travel with it instead.
Out and About
In towns and public places your dog must be on a lead no longer than 1.5 m, and you need to carry a muzzle and pick up after it.
If you're coming from the UK, GOV.UK (updated 21 October 2026) has the full steps for getting an Animal Health Certificate, and Your Europe covers travel between EU countries.
FAQ about Pet Insurance in Italy
No, vet insurance is optional for all pets. Liability insurance is only compulsory for dogs that the local health authority has put on its register of dogs at higher risk, under the national dog ordinance that was renewed in 2026.
Yes, as long as you live in Italy. Insurers ask for an Italian address, Barkibu can ask for a residence certificate and Quixa asked for a codice fiscale (Italian tax code). You don't need Italian citizenship.
Not really, as the Italian policies we compared are only sold to residents. If you're travelling to Italy with your pet, use a policy from your home country that covers trips abroad or travel insurance that includes pets.
We didn't find one on 4 November 2026. Every quote form and policy document we read was in Italian, and Barkibu's English website only covers its Spanish policies.
Quixa was the only insurer that published a price on 4 November 2026, at €2.90 a month for assistance and €15.90 a month with fixed payouts for surgery. The others only gave a price after an email, phone number or address.
For full vet cover we'd look at Barkibu first, as it refunds 80% with an unlimited annual limit available and keeps pets covered for life. Assur O'Poil is the one to look at if you'd rather have up to 100% of the bill paid, with a lower limit of €2,500.
Some policies do. Barkibu covers stays in the EU, the UK and Andorra for up to 6 months a year, Assur O'Poil covers you in the EU when you travel with your pet and Unipol's vet cover applies worldwide. Redion's vet cover mainly applies in Italy, San Marino and the Vatican.
From another EU country your pet needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU pet passport. From outside the EU, including Great Britain, it needs an animal health certificate from a vet, which is valid for 10 days to enter the EU.
About the authors
Thibault Helle
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.
Elin Viberg
Author
Elin is a passionate dog lover with roots in Sweden and a background in the service industry. With several years of experience working closely with customers, she has developed a deep understanding of what it takes to deliver outstanding service. Elin's love for animals, especially dogs, drives her to constantly seek the best information and products for pet owners. At Comparesies, she contributes her dedication and expertise by ensuring that our content reflects the care and quality our readers expect.
