UK pet owners most likely in Europe to report record-high insurance costs

Pet owners in Britain are the most likely in Europe to say their pet insurance costs are the highest they have ever been.

According to insurance and credit information provider CRIF, 29% of policyholders across Europe have seen a sharp increase in the price of pet policies in the last three years, with consumers in the UK the most likely to feel this way (36%).

In turn, four in ten (39%) Brits with pet insurance now say their costs are the highest they’ve ever been.

This is more than double the average across the rest of the continent (15%), with 39% of UK policyholders saying their pet getting sick or injured is now a major worry for them.

Sara Costantini, regional director for the UK and Ireland at CRIF, said: “The UK has always been a nation of animal lovers and with the number of pet owners only continuing to rise, a knock-on increase in the price of pet insurance policies has led to increased financial pressure for many Brits.”

Reasons for increase

The rise has been driven by a number of factors including rising veterinary costs, lingering inflationary pressures and a large increase in claims.

According to the ABI, a record £1.23bn was paid out in pet insurance claims in 2024.

Meanwhile, a third of Brits (32%) say that they insure their pet’s life but not their own, in comparison to the 13% average across Europe that would say the same.

Costantini said: ”Pet insurers should do more to ensure their policies deliver value.

”Unlike other areas of insurance, the pet sector seems less sophisticated in areas like data analytics and the range of sources it draws on. Innovative solutions could streamline important processes such as fraud detection and pricing. 

“Greater investment in these areas can help pet insurers to offer more personalised and competitive products, meet the needs of British pet owners and improve customer satisfaction without compromising profitability.”