Asda Pet Insurance Review: The Right Insurance for Your Dog or Cat?
Asda Pet Insurance Review: The Right Insurance for Your Dog or Cat?
Good for
- Paying a lower fixed excess
- New Lifetime policies for older pets
- No time limit on Accident Only plans
Bad for
- Dental illness not covered
- Short time to submit claims
- 10% copay once pets turn 5
- Limits on MRI or cruciate ligament treatment
The guidance on this site is based on our own analysis and is meant to help you identify options and narrow down your choices. We do not advise or tell you which product to buy; undertake your own due diligence before entering into any agreement. Read our full disclosure here.
Asda Pet Insurance is underwritten by Legal & General, one of the UK’s oldest insurance companies. But is Asda pet insurance any good and how does it compare to leading pet insurance brands? Find out what we think Asda could do better, how prices compare to the UK market and what customers have to say.
Compare quotes from Asda against 25 providers by clicking the blue "Get Quotes" button below to see how much you can save:
Compare Cheap Pet Insurance for Your Dog or Cat
Pet cover can help with vet bills. Compare quotes from 25 providers, including Asda
In This Review
Choosing the right cat or dog insurance policy for you will depend upon the individual needs of you and your pet. Use the information in this guide to help you understand which features are important to you in order to make the best buying decision. We also advise reading through the policy wording before you buy.
Asda Pet Insurance Review
Asda offers decent value pet insurance for relatively low prices; their best cover is with their Lifetime policies, available with £2,500, £4,000, £6,000, £8,000 or £10,000 of vet cover.
We like that their accident and illness policies include holiday cancellation and boarding cover, death cover and cremation cover, but they don't include dental illness and there are limits to coverage for MRIs and cruciate ligament treatment.
Claims must be submitted within 180 days, which while shorter than some competitors who offer a full year, Asda has extended this (it used to be just 90 days).
There's a 10% copay once your pet turns 5 that you pay in addition to the fixed excess. This can be a pro and a con. The con is that you'll have to contribute more towards vet fees for older pets; the pro is that your premiums might be lower as a result of the copay. The fixed excess is £100 - £250, as chosen by you (although some breeds have a minimum excess of £200).
Another point to be aware of from the policy wording regarding price increases at renewal:
"Like humans, our pets are more likely to be affected by illness as they get older. This means that every year, your insurance premium will increase even if you have not made a claim. This increase may be more significant if you have claimed."
It's not surprising that their premiums rise with pet age—this is common throughout the industry. But not all companies raise prices if you claim, as Asda is essentially saying they may do. However, we didn't notice any complaints about rising premiums in their customer reviews. That said, it is normal for pet insurance to get more expensive each year, whether or not you claim, simply because of your pets age. Why? Older pets usually have more health issues.
Also, they won't cover routine blood tests if your pet is under 6 years of age (even before surgery) unless there is something in your pet’s medical history indicating their health may be at risk from the anaesthetic, surgery, or a procedure.
Pet owners are required to keep their dogs and cats in a good general state of health—pets must be up to date with required vaccinations and receive an annual dental check with a vet.
Customer Reviews
| Asda Customer Reviews and Ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot customer reviews | 3.0 out of 5 | |
Asda Money is rated 3.0 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot by around 300 people. These reviews mostly reflect credit cards, but there are a few related to pet insurance. It's a bit of a mixed bag, with some complaints of price rises. Note, it is common in the industry for premiums to rise a bit each year due to rising health costs as a pet ages. It's unclear from the complaints if the price rises are related to claims. For example:
"Pet insurance - Price hike. After 7 years insurance, ranging from £20/month to £40 per month, through change of address my monthly increased to £59. This was completely unacceptable. I found alternative cover for £19/month with others. ASDA Money Pet insurance thrives on customers NOT looking around."
"Asda Pet insurance rip-off renewal. Pet insurance renewal, increased by 19% from previous year, that also had an in contract raise already. Took out a plan with same cover with Admiral, over £200 cheaper, so go figure why I binned Asda. I would have given zero stars but that wouldn't work."
"I have been under ASDA pet insurance for two years for my cat (since he was born). I sent a claims for my cat who suddenly became lame on his hind leg. It's been over two months without any progress. And today, they asked for full history ( that cat was born two years ago , and no past medical history. Shocking service and can't wait to change to some other insurance provider. I would not recommend ASDA insurance to anyone."
"Amazing pet insurance. Pays claims promptly and the app that you get with help from vets has been so helpful to us."
"I made 2 pet insurance claims in August/September time. After they contacted my previous vet for medical history and had no reply, they closed my case. I had to chase this up myself, and they then told me after a few emails back an forth that they had enough information to finish my claims. This was months ago and I still haven't had this sorted. I have emailed several times which have been ignored. This company is more hassle than its worth."
There are not very many customer reviews of Asda pet insurance online, but we found a few at SmartMoneyPeople. If you have anything to say about Asda pet insurance please leave a comment at the bottom of this review. Here is what a few real customers think of Asda pet insurance:
"Claiming recently for a vets bill was very straightforward. The forms were emailed to me, and simple to do. Asda kept me updated every step of the way by text and email until the claim was processed. Very easy and very pleased."
"...when the time came for claiming for operations, the vets could claim directly, without us having to pay and claim back via the insurance company like some. They were very caring in the time of need and paid out quickly and successfully for thousands of pounds worth of treatment. Highly recommend."
Asda Quote Comparison
Asda pet insurance seems to be on the cheaper side. For example, Lifetime dog insurance premiums for a one-year-old mixed breed dog start from around £150 a year which is less than the average cost of pet insurance in the UK. Asda quotes will vary depending on factors like where you live and the age and breed of your pet, however.
To see how prices vary by product (e.g., Time Limited vs Lifetime and by vet fee limit), we ran sample quotes for a one-year-old mixed breed dog. Your prices will vary.
Asda Notable Features
Here is a brief overview of the notable features of Asda dog and cat insurance. For a complete rundown of the details and exclusions, please refer to the policy documents. Conditions and terms apply to all benefits, as always.
Asda Pet Insurance Features
- Cover for Holiday Cut Short. Cover if you have to cancel or curtail your holiday because your pet needs emergency life-saving surgery (within 14 days of departure for cancellation cover); trips booked last minute, within 28 days of departure, are excluded.
- Cover When You're Unwell. Covers some boarding fees if you're unable to care for you dog because you're in hospital at least 4 days in a row.
- Travel. Policy is valid when you travel on holiday with your pet in the UK and Republic of Ireland for up to 30 days in each period of insurance. It also covers holidays with your pet for 364 days whilst outside of the UK.
- Death of pet. | Cover If your pet dies or is euthanised for humane reasons due to injury or illness (limited to £250 if you don't have proof of payment and no cover once your pet is 8 years old).
- Euthanasia. Up to £100 for putting your pet to sleep in the event that this was not caused by a pre-existing condition or a condition not covered by the insurance.
- Cremation/burial. Up to £100 towards cremation or burial.
- Medicine. Will pay maximum of 100% mark up on manufacturer's or wholesaler's price for veterinary medicines
Types of Asda Dog and Cat Insurance Policies
Asda offers two types of pet insurance—Time Limited and Lifetime, with vet cover ranging from £2,000 up to £10,000. For more information on pet insurance cover in general, please see our article on What Does Pet Insurance Cover in the UK.
All of Asda's accident and illness pet insurance plans include some level of reimbursement for boarding fees (see policy docs for all details, but roughly this reimburses for some boarding costs in case you are hospitalized for an emergency or your home becomes uninhabitable due to flood, fire, etc.), holiday cancellation, death from accident, euthanasia, cremation, third party liability and access to Asda's bereavement helpline.
Asda has gotten rid of their Accident Only plan and now sells Time Limited and Lifetime pet insurance. Here's a quick overview of the plans on offer:
Asda Time Pet Insurance
Asda's Time Limited products cover up to 12 months of treatment costs, up to a limit of either £2,000 or £5,000 per accident or illness. For example, for a given accident or illness you can claim for many treatments related to that incident for up to 12 months or until you reach the maximum cover amount—whichever comes sooner. Once you claimed for 12 months or £2,000/£5,000 of treatments, you can no longer claim for that particular incident.
The 12-month clock starts from the date when treatment first begins.
Asda Lifetime Pet Insurance
Asda offers three Lifetime pet insurance levels, with annual vet cover of up to £2,000, £4,000, £6,000, £8,000 or £10,000. These limits reset each year when you renew your policy.
Lifetime policies are considered to be the best type of pet insurance and are usually the most expensive—as well as providing the highest levels of cover, reimbursement of conditions is not subject to a time limit or a per-condition limit (just the annual limit, which resets each year). Lifetime cover can provide financial assistance for ongoing chronic or recurring health issues for your dog or cat so is most beneficial if your budget allows.
Asda Pet Insurance Coverage Amounts
To enhance visibility in the table below, we have not included details for the Lifetime plans with £6,000 and £8,000 of cover. You can get a general idea of the cover on offer by looking at the £4k and £10k Lifetime policies and see their website for full details if you'd like them.
| Features | 12 Month £2,000 | 12 Month £5,000 | Lifetime £2,000 | Lifetime £4,000 | Lifetime £10,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vet's fees | £2,000 per condition for 12 months only | £5,000 per condition for 12 months only | £2,000 per condition per year | £4,000 per condition per year | £10,000 per year |
| Cover for ongoing conditions | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Dental Treatment | Illness – No, Accident – Yes | Illness – No, Accident – Yes | Illness – Yes, Accident – Yes | Illness – Yes, Accident – Yes | Illness – Yes, Accident – Yes |
| Complementary medicine | £500 | £750 | £1,000 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| CT/MRI scans and associated costs | £1,250 | £1,500 | £1,250 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| Cruciate ligament | £1,250 | £1,500 | £1,250 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| Death of pet from accident or illness* | £750 | £1,000 | £1,500 | £2,000 | £2,000 |
| Advertising and reward | £250 | £500 | £750 | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| Loss by theft or straying | £750 | £1,000 | £1,500 | £2,000 | £2,000 |
| Holiday Cancellation | £750 | £1,000 | £1,500 | £2,000 | £2,000 |
| Fixed excess (payable by you) | £100-£250 as chosen by you, or advised | £100-£250 as chosen by you, or advised | £100-£250 as chosen by you, or advised | £100-£250 as chosen by you, or advised | £100-£250 as chosen by you, or advised |
| Additional 10% co-payment for pets aged 5 and over (the amount you pay towards the vet fee claim for each condition) | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Third party legal liability excess (dogs only) £1m per claim | £250 | £250 | £250 | £250 | £250 |
FAQs
How does Asda Pet Insurance Compare to Competitors?
To better understand the value of Asda Pet Insurance you need to look at it in the context of other available options. We compared this insurer to other similar insurers so you can see which may be more suitable for you.
Asda Pet Insurance vs PetPlan
PetPlan Pet Insurance is the largest insurer of dogs and cats in the UK. Due to this, many vets are accustomed to submitting claims on behalf of pet owners, which can save you a lot of hassle—plus you get a full 12 months to submit claims for reimbursement. PetPlan policies include dental illness and injury but don't cover euthanasia. However, older pets (i.e., dogs aged 5 or 8 depending on breed, cats aged 10) are not eligible for new Lifetime policies and can only sign up for a Time Limited policy. Additionally, owners of older pets must contribute more towards vet bills, through the addition of a 20% copay.
Quick Takeaway: Asda may be a better option if you're looking for a lower premium. However those looking for a pet specialist, dental illness and/or a longer claims submission window might prefer PetPlan.
Asda Pet Insurance vs Agria Pet Insurance
Agria Pet Insurance offers plans with very good value from a specialist pet insurer. Agria is able to charge lower premiums by 1) offering some features as add-ons, so you only pay for them if you want and 2) having the pet owner pay a 10% copay in addition to the fixed excess (of £95 or £160 for dogs, £85 or £160 for cats). We like that Agria is a specialist pet insurer with a long history. Agria plans offer some desirable features, such as dental, euthanasia, 6+ months to claim and cremation/burial, plus congenital conditions are covered. The cost for a young, healthy crossbreed dog is around £350 per year for a plan with £6,500 of vet cover and a £95 fixed excess + 10% copay; a British shorthair with an £85 excess + 10% copay would cost around £325 for the same level of cover.
Bottom Line: If you want dental illness cover and a longer time to claim, Agria can be a good option—but as standard you'll have to pay a larger share of any vet bills that arise.
Asda Pet Insurance vs Animal Friends Pet Insurance
Animal Friends Pet Insurance is a specialist pet insurer, whose plans stand out for lower-than-average premiums (partially achieved through per condition limits, even on Lifetime plans) and they publicly state on their website that they don't penalize for claims by increasing premiums upon renewal. Those with older pets can insure their dogs and cats with Animal Friends, as there is no upper age limit for new policies, even Lifetime cover—but there is a 20% copay (in addition to the £99 fixed excess) for dogs aged 8+ and cats aged 10+. Animal Friends doesn't have dental cover or a vet line to call with queries, however, plus claims need to be submitted within 90 days. Our price check showed a range of £130 to £390 for Lifetime cover for a healthy, young crossbreed dog, significantly lower than average.
Bottom Line: If you're very price conscious, you'll can probably find a lower premium with an Animal Friends plan—but be aware of their annual per condition limits on Lifetime plans.