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Pet insurance

Did someone say savings? That’s something to get excited about. Get a pet insurance quote in minutes**.

Pet insurance provided by Pinnacle Insurance plc.
Defaqto 5* expert rated, applies to cover over £4000, Time Limited and Rabbit cover excluded.Defaqto 5* expert rated, applies to cover over £4000, Time Limited and Rabbit cover excluded.

Δ 10% of consumers could achieve this saving in their first year with Lifetime £5,000 Pet Insurance. Based on online independent research by Consumer Intelligence. July 2023 to September 2023.

It takes less than 3 minutes to get a quote **

Why choose Sainsbury's Bank Pet Insurance?

We take the stress out of making sure your furry friends are taken care of as we pay 99% of claims in 5 working days^ and can pay your vet directly. Our range of pet insurance products help you to rest easy, knowing the ones you love most are protected with these benefits:

Multi-pet discount

We'll give you a £1 discount per pet, per month on our multi-pet policies

Flexible Insurance options

Choose from three types of pet insurance - with vet fee cover up to £10,000

Vet Assistance, day or night

Unlimited 24/7 Vet Assistance, giving you access to qualified, UK-based vet nurses

Manage your policy online

Use our handy online portal opens in new window to manage your pet insurance policy

See Terms & Conditions for full offer details* ** †.

See what pet insurance policies we offer

Selecting the best pet insurance for you and your four-legged friend is about more than just price. We can help you get the policy your pet needs, with the right type of cover in case something goes wrong.

Explore our insurance cover options below and get a quote online.

pet guides

Dog insurance

Find cover for your cute canine and enjoy worry-free walkies today.

pet guides

Cat insurance

Start purring at our cat insurance cover for your feline friend.

pet guides

Rabbit insurance

Hop on over to find pet insurance for your cotton-tailed chum.

pet guides

Multi-pet insurance

Keep the pack protected with discounted cover for cats, dogs and rabbits.

pet guides

Lifetime

Ensure your pets enjoy each day to its fullest, with pet insurance for life.

pet guides

Maximum benefit cover

Cover with no time limit. For cats and dogs only

Time limited cover

We also offer time limited pet insurance for cats and dogs, which covers conditions for up to 12 months.

Why buy pet insurance?

Pets can get into all sorts of scrapes and suffer from sudden illnesses, causing vet bills to quickly add up. Having pet insurance to help ensure you’re not left to cover the full cost of treating your cat, dog or rabbit, if they need a visit to a vet.

Our pet insurance can help make these costs more manageable, covering your pet in the event of:

  • Accidents
  • Illnesses
  • Thefts
  • Straying

We can also cover you if your pet goes missing. Our pet insurance coverage can help pay for the adverts and rewards needed to get them back in your arms safe and sound.

There’s no need to feel guilty when you go abroad, no matter how cute your pet looks as you pack your bags. With pet insurance, you can afford great care and treatment for your pet, even when you’re on holiday.

We can also reimburse you (up to your policy limit) if you’ve got to cancel a trip because your pet goes missing before you travel.

What types of pet insurance policy are there?

Lifetime

A lifetime sounds like a long time, but the years can pass by quickly with those you love. This comprehensive cover provides protection for your pets at home and abroad, so you can make the most of your time together. With multi-pet cover, vet assistance day or night, and up to £10,000 towards vet costs.

Apply for lifetime cover

Time limited

Finding the cash to cover unexpected vet bills and treatment expenses isn’t easy. But, even if your canine companion or feline friend finds themselves in trouble, time limited pet insurance can help to cover vet fees for short-term health issues, to help ensure you’re not caught out.

Apply for time-limited cover

Maximum benefit

Pets are playful and accidents can happen, and even the bounciest companion might have a sick day. In moments like these, maximum benefit cover can give you a helping hand. Claim vet fees during the lifetime of your policy   (up to the policy limit), alongside 24/7 advice, so you’re never left feeling unsure.

Apply for max benefit cover

Multi-pet

Arranging separate pet insurance for your pets can take lots of time and effort. We’ve made it easy. Set tails wagging by insuring all your pets in one place. With discounts per pet and all your policies in one place, it’s a treat all around.

Apply for multi-pet cover

What does pet insurance cover?

Pets can get in all sorts of trouble, from small scrapes to more worrying problems. Pet insurance helps to protect against lots of eventualities.

Cover varies from policy-to-policy. Here’s what our pet insurance can offer you and your pet:

  • Cover for vet bills up to £10,000, depending on policy
    This includes dental, behavioural therapy, physiotherapy and more.
  • Cover for death from an accident or illness, up to £2,000 depending on policy
    When times are tough, you can rest assure we’re there to take the financial strain out of a stressful situation.
  • Holiday cover
    Jet off knowing your pets are taken care of, with policies that cover your pet for overseas vet fees, quarantine costs and more while you’re away.
  • Pet theft or straying, including a reward or resources to get them returned
    We can help provide the means to get your missing pets back safely, with money towards rewards, missing posters and more. 
  • 24/7 advice from the Vet Assistance helpline
    We’re here to offer expert support when you need it most, with our dedicated helpline.
     

What is not included in pet insurance?

That’s a lot of cover for your companion, but there are exceptions though, such as:

  • Costs over the policy limit
  • Existing health issues
  • Grooming or cosmetic treatments
  • Cover for worming, vaccinations or other routine care

We’re always happy to discuss you and your pets’ personal circumstances. Get in touch with us and let’s chat about how we can find the right cover for you.
 

When can I take out a policy?

You can take out a new policy for your pet as soon as they’re eight weeks old. We insure cats until their tenth birthday, most dogs until their eighth birthday and rabbits until their fifth birthday. But don’t worry, if you’ve already insured your pet with us before these milestones, cover can continue as they grow older.
 

Are there any pets that aren’t covered?

Unfortunately, there are certain dog breeds that we aren’t able to cover, and some we can’t insure under our £10,000 Lifetime Cover. 

Policies are restricted to cats, dogs and rabbits at the moment.

All insurance policies have restrictions. To find out more about our terms and conditions including exclusions, excesses and limits, please take a look at our policy documents.

What to consider when buying pet insurance

Sometimes, it can be hard to remember everything when looking at pet policies, especially if you’re busy looking after a poorly pet. 

Here are some things to consider about pet insurance with Sainsbury’s Bank that may help:

  • We will pay your vet directly
    We pay 99% of claims in 5 working days^ and can pay your vet directly so you're never out of pocket, letting you focus on looking after your pet.
  • We have a range of different insurance options
    You can pick the one that’s right for you and only pay for the cover you need.
  • We can’t cover treatment costs for any pre-existing conditions or illnesses
    Pre-existing conditions and illnesses that occur or show symptoms within 14 days of the policy start date will not be covered.
  • We can't cover the cost of treatment for poisoning or accidents within three days of the policy start date
    If your pet suffers an incident in the first three days after you take out a policy, we unfortunately cannot cover vet bills for treatment.
  • We offer discounts for multiple pets
    Making it both convenient and cheaper if you’ve got a house full of cats, dogs and rabbits.

Need more information?

To find out more about pet insurance, our FAQs are a great place to start. They’ve got loads of information on everything from making a claim to finding a vet. They’ll help you decide on the cover that’s right for you and your pet, and explain how to buy and manage your policy.


Helpful pet guides

We love pets as much as you do. Our handy guides give step-by-step help on everything from vaccinations and microchipping to training and animal wellbeing.

Pet guides

Browse all guides

Tips and advice for pet owners

Health and wellbeing

Health and wellbeing

Find out how to keep your pet healthy and happy

Pet insurance glossary

Pet insurance glossary

Cut through the jargon and understand your cover

Ready to insure your pet today?

Let’s get the right cover in place for your pet and find a policy that helps you relax. Use the button to get started now.


Already got pet insurance with us?

If you need to check or change your policy or make a claim – it’s all in customer support.


Making a claim on your pet insurance?

We’re sorry your pet has been unwell. Please visit customer support to find out how to make a claim and check your policy details.


Need to talk to us?

You may find the answer you need in our FAQs opens in new window. If you’d prefer to speak to someone, our friendly team will be happy to help.

Get in touch with us.

Frequenty asked questions

Can I get pet insurance before my pet’s surgery?

You can, but if the surgery is considered a pre-existing condition (or related to that condition) you won’t be covered for the costs associated with it. Likewise, if the surgery is something that made the pet uninsurable, you may no longer be able to get cover.

Does pet insurance cover vaccinations?

Unfortunately not. Routine care such as vaccinations and other preventative treatments or worming aren’t covered under policies. If you’re ever in doubt, our policy documents outline everything you need to know about your cover, including any coverage limits.

Can I get immediate cover pet insurance?

If you are switching from another pet insurance company, providing that there is no gap in cover, there will be no exclusion period for claims and your pet will be covered from your policy start date. However, all other policies purchased will have a 14 day exclusion period for conditions and a 3 day exclusion period for accidental injury or poisoning from the policy start date.

Does pet insurance cover a cancer diagnosis?

Most policies will cover cancer diagnoses or longer-term medical illnesses, but they may not be covered if the condition is there before the pet insurance is taken out. However, as with all policies, there are exceptions.

Can I get comprehensive pet insurance?

Lifetime pet insurance can cover your furry friend if they require treatment, with annual cover of up to £10,000, alongside 24/7 vet assistance. It’s our most comprehensive cover and can ease the cost of one-off illnesses and recurring conditions throughout your pet’s life.

To find out more about pet insurance, our full list of FAQs are a great place to start. They’ve got loads of information on everything from making a claim to finding a vet. They’ll help you decide on the cover that’s right for you and your pet and explain how to buy and manage your policy.

Get an answer

Terms and conditions

^ Based on Sainsbury's Bank Pet Insurance claims data from July 2022 to June 2023.

For more information on how we use your data, go to sainsburysbank.co.uk/privacy.

* Guaranteed discount for Nectar members: The discount is based on information related to you and the transactions you've made with Sainsbury's supermarkets and Sainsbury's Bank using your Nectar card. For more information go to sainsburysbank.co.uk/nectar.

** Based on website data between October 2023 and December 2023 

† Multi-pet discount is a minimum of £24 when insuring more than one pet as this is worked out at £1 per pet per month for each pet on a policy. Pets can have different cover levels. Discount deducted separately from any other offer.

Δ 10% of consumers could achieve this saving in their first year with Lifetime £5,000 Pet Insurance. Based on online independent research by Consumer Intelligence. July 2023 to September 2023.

◊ This only applies to customers switching to Sainsbury’s Bank Pet Insurance from another provider. You must have continuous cover with no gaps between your existing policy and new policy starting. If you do need to make a claim within the initial exclusion period, you will have to provide evidence of your previous policy. We will not cover any pre-existing medical conditions or anything you have already claimed for with your previous insurers.

Important information
Sainsbury's Bank plc, Registered Office, 33 Holborn, London EC1N 2HT (registered in England and Wales, no. 3279730) is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (register no. 184514). Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd is an appointed representative of Sainsbury's Bank plc.
Sainsbury's Bank plc acts as an introducer to Pinnacle Insurance plc who is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (register number 110866). Registered Office: Pinnacle House, A1 Barnet Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 2XX. Sainsbury’s Bank plc and Pinnacle Insurance plc are not part of the same corporate group.