Lifetime pet insurance cover

Our dogs and cats aren’t just pets, they’re part of the family. When they get ill, it can be really scary, and the last thing we want is to worry about a sky-high vet bill. Our Premier lifetime cover covers vet fees of up to £10,000.

  • Get a guaranteed discount if you’re a Clubcard member. All you need to do is tell us your Clubcard number when you get a quote.
  • Need advice immediately? Our Premier lifetime cover for dogs and cats gives you unlimited 24/7 access to free telephone and video calls with vetfone™ provided by Vetsdirect Ltd. You can also upload photos whilst on a phone or video call.
  • Insure your cat or dog from 8 weeks old and cover vet fees of up to £2,000, £4,000, £7,500 or £10,000, depending on the limit you choose. Your limit will be renewed each year, as long as you renew your policy and there’s no break in cover. We may choose not to renew a policy, if we do, we will let you know in advance of your renewal date.
  • Our Premier lifetime cover for dogs and cats covers accidents and injuries, as well as ongoing conditions, meaning your pet could be covered year after year if they are diagnosed with a chronic disease. We’ll even cover your furry friend for complementary therapies like hydrotherapy.
  • If your cat or dog goes missing with our cover you could get up to £1,000 towards the cost of advertising to find your pet.
  • Our Premier lifetime cover for dogs and cats also covers dental treatment – this includes any dental treatment as long as annual checks and recommended treatments are carried out.
  • We know how expensive it can be to pay for a dog or cat sitter. That’s why if you fall ill and have to go into hospital for four or more days in a row, we’ll help you cover these fees.
  • Our Premier lifetime cover for dogs and cats is arranged, administered and underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Ltd.
  • Excesses will apply to your policy, which will affect the amount of premium you pay, and the amount you pay towards any vet treatment. When your pet turns 8, the amount you pay if they need vet treatment may increase. More on excesses

With our Premier lifetime cover, your dog or cat must be at least 8 weeks old when cover starts, and any pre-existing injuries and illnesses are not covered. Changes in your pet’s health, or behaviour or any illness that develops from these changes within the first 14 days of your cover start date are not covered. Certain breeds of cat and dog are also not covered. Monetary limits, excesses and exclusions apply, see the policy documents for full details.

Like us, as pets get older, sadly they're more likely to get ill. In fact our claims data shows that the cost of looking after your pet's health doubles every four to five years. That's why your renewal price increases each year, and your excess may increase when your pet turns 8.

A claim being paid also increases the chance that a future claim will be made and can therefore also cause your renewal price next year to double.

It’s important you budget for renewal prices to increase as your pet gets older. How much they go up is different for everyone and depends on things like your pet’s breed, their age and health, and there is no limit to how much your renewal price can increase over time.

If, while insured with Tesco Bank Pet Insurance, your pet starts to develop an ongoing illness, like diabetes or arthritis, or a reoccurring illness like an ear infection you may find it difficult to get those things covered elsewhere. But rest assured, as long as you renew your policy and there is no break in cover you’ll be covered up to the vet fees limit you’ve chosen.

      Before you get your Pet Insurance quote

      Information on how we collect and use your personal data (including profiling and automated decisions) and your rights under data protection laws are in our privacy notice. Data may be obtained from and shared with the wider Tesco Group and fraud prevention agencies.


        Talk to us through Live Chat

        Ask a general question about your quote or policy, make changes and payments or chat to us about your renewal. We're open Monday to Friday 8am-8pm and Saturday 9am-5pm


        Why choose our lifetime cover?

        • Star
          Our Premier Cover has a Defaqto 5 Star rating, for policies with £4,000 or more vet fees
        • telephone
          Unlimited access to experts 24/7 via free telephone or video call with vetfone™ provided by Vetsdirect Ltd.
        • padlock
          We can pay claims direct to your vet, if they’re happy to receive direct payments. Excesses will apply.
        • clubcard
          Guaranteed discount for Clubcard members

        Defaqto 5 Star rated Premier Cover

        Defaqto is an independent researcher of financial products, focused on providing intelligence to support better decision making. Tesco Bank Pet Insurance Premier Cover has a Defaqto 5 Star Rating, for policies with £4,000 or more vet fees. This means it has a comprehensive level of features and benefits.

            Defaqto logo 2023

            Lifetime cover for your best friend

            Our Premier lifetime cover offers you vet fees cover limits up to £10,000 (if you pay your premium and renew) giving your pet the level of care they deserve.

            Compare cover levels for your pet

            We understand that you want to give your pet the very best of protection. We have a range of cover levels, each with different costs and features to help you find the best pet insurance for your budget and needs. Get started below.

            Important information

            Tesco Bank Pet Insurance is arranged, administered and underwritten by Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Ltd.​

              Check which cover level is right for you and your pet​

              Please read the policy documents to make sure that the cover level you've selected meets your needs.​

              The policy booklet also contains information on cancellation rights that apply.​

                Travelling with your pet

                The United Kingdom Government Pet Travel Scheme (also known as PETS) allows you to take your pet temporarily to certain countries and return to the UK without the hassle of putting them into quarantine.

                Tesco Bank Pet Insurance offers Pet Travel Cover with the Standard, Extra or Premier cover levels, when you travel to any country covered by the PETS scheme. It could cover you for repeating a worming treatment or emergency vet fees abroad. We could also pay if you lose your pet passport, or it is stolen or destroyed or if the microchip fails and you have to put them into quarantine. The Accident and Injury cover level doesn’t include this cover.

                  Cover for lost or missing pets

                  If your pet goes missing, the Standard, Extra and Premier cover levels of Tesco Bank Pet Insurance could cover your advertising costs up to £1,000, including a reward of up to £200. If the worst happens and your pet isn't found within 45 days, we’ll also cover what you paid or donated when you bought them, up to a cost of £1,500.

                    Renewal costs

                    It's important you budget for renewal prices to increase as your pet gets older.

                    Accident Only - There are a number of reasons including new developments in diagnosis and treatment which have meant vets can give pets even better care, which is great news for your pet but means an increase in vet costs. There is no limit to how much your renewal price can increase over time.

                    Standard, Extra, Premier - Like us, as pets get older, sadly they're more likely to get ill. In fact, our claims data shows that the cost of looking after your pet's health doubles every four to five years. That's why your renewal price increases each year, and your excess may increase when your pet turns 8.

                    A claim being paid also increases the chance that a future claim will be made and can therefore also cause your renewal price next year to double.

                    How much they go up is different for everyone and depends on things like your pet's breed, their age and health, and there is no limit to how much your renewal price can increase over time.

                      All claims are subject to excesses

                      Various excesses apply to your policy. Read our page on excesses for more information.

                        We'll search our records for your Tesco Clubcard number, and we may access and use information (including transactional information, name and address) from your Clubcard. This will help us and your insurer to assess your premium and will only be used to make a positive impact on your premium.

                          How we collect and use your personal data

                          Tesco Personal Finance plc, trading as Tesco Bank as part of the Tesco Group and the insurer who may underwrite your policy take the security of your data seriously. Detailed information on how we handle your data and your rights under data protection laws is available in our Privacy Notice.

                          We collect data when you browse our website (e.g. your IP address), request a quotation, partially complete a quotation, do not purchase or provide data indirectly via price comparison sites. We keep quote data for up to 7 years and we may use this information if you apply for a product again in the future.

                          We will use your data to give you quotes, provide our services to you, perform eligibility checks, work out insurance risk, manage debt, protect you and us against fraud and financial crime and manage and develop our business. Automated decisions may be taken to detect crime.

                          We use data such as your name and address, to find any Clubcard(s) that are linked to your address. That might be your Clubcard, the Clubcard of other family member(s), or the Clubcard of house or flat mates. We may use this information to tailor our communications and to try to bring you better terms, deals or offers, and this may include profiling on an on-going basis. We may also award Clubcard points.

                          Data may be obtained from and shared with the wider Tesco Group and fraud prevention agencies (FPAs). The FPAs will use it to prevent fraud and money-laundering and to verify your identity. If fraud is detected this may be shared with other organisations and you could be refused certain services, finance or employment.

                          By proceeding with your application you acknowledge we can use your data in this way.

                            All policies

                            • Pets must be at least eight weeks old when cover starts, any pre-existing injuries and illnesses are not covered.Pets must be at least eight weeks old when cover starts, any pre-existing injuries and illnesses are not covered.
                            • Monetary limits, excesses and exclusions apply.Monetary limits, excesses and exclusions apply.
                            • Certain breeds of cat and dog are not covered, including Pit Bull, Pit Bull type, Japanese Tosa, Fila Brazileiro, Dogo Argentino, American Bulldog, Wolf or Wolf hybrid or of any breed not on our breed list unless we have agreed to cover it.Certain breeds of cat and dog are not covered, including Pit Bull, Pit Bull type, Japanese Tosa, Fila Brazileiro, Dogo Argentino, American Bulldog, Wolf or Wolf hybrid or of any breed not on our breed list unless we have agreed to cover it.

                            We do not offer cover if:

                            • You have ever had an insurance policy declared void or cancelled by an insurer.You have ever had an insurance policy declared void or cancelled by an insurer.
                            • Your pet is used for breeding (this means used for breeding more than two times in its lifetime).Your pet is used for breeding (this means used for breeding more than two times in its lifetime).
                            • Your pet is used as a business or to make money or earn an income.Your pet is used as a business or to make money or earn an income.
                            • Your dog is trained to attack, used for security or as a guard dog.Your dog is trained to attack, used for security or as a guard dog.

                            Accident and Injury

                            Illnesses are not covered unless the illness develops from accident or injury your pet suffers while insured under this policy.

                            Accidents within the first 5 days of your policy first starting, or any illness or injury that develop from them.

                            No cover for cruciate ligament* problems however caused.

                            This policy will not cover health issues, concerns, illnesses and injuries which you or your vet were aware of before you took out the policy, they are known as pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions are:

                            • signs or symptoms of diagnosed or undiagnosed injuries or illnesses.signs or symptoms of diagnosed or undiagnosed injuries or illnesses.
                            • existing illnesses or injuries.existing illnesses or injuries.
                            • existing physical abnormalities.existing physical abnormalities.
                            • existing illnesses, injuries or physical abnormalities which lead to other health issues or injuries.existing illnesses, injuries or physical abnormalities which lead to other health issues or injuries.
                            • illnesses or injuries which are medically linked to existing illnesses, injuries or physical abnormalities.illnesses or injuries which are medically linked to existing illnesses, injuries or physical abnormalities.

                            Standard, Extra and Premier

                            Cruciate* problems which you or your vet were aware of in the first 14 days of your policy first starting however caused, or any arthritis, illness or injury that develops from them.

                            Parvovirus, hepatitis, distemper, leptospirosis in dogs or feline leukaemia, cat flu or infectious enteritis in cats if you have not had your pet vaccinated against them and kept the vaccinations up to date.

                            Illnesses which you or your vet were aware of in the first 14 days of your policy first starting, or any illness that develops from them are not covered. By illness we mean, both diagnosed illness and signs or symptoms of illness (undiagnosed illness). These include:

                            • signs or symptoms of diagnosed or undiagnosed injuries or illnesses.signs or symptoms of diagnosed or undiagnosed injuries or illnesses.
                            • existing illnesses or injuries.existing illnesses or injuries.
                            • existing physical abnormalities.existing physical abnormalities.
                            • existing illnesses, injuries or physical abnormalities which lead to other health issues or injuries.existing illnesses, injuries or physical abnormalities which lead to other health issues or injuries.
                            • illnesses or injuries which are medically linked to existing illnesses, injuries or physical abnormalities.illnesses or injuries which are medically linked to existing illnesses, injuries or physical abnormalities.

                            We consider the following to also be pre-existing conditions:

                            • treatment of cruciate ligaments* in the second leg if one leg has shown signs, been diagnosed or been treated for cruciate ligaments before you took out the policy.treatment of cruciate ligaments* in the second leg if one leg has shown signs, been diagnosed or been treated for cruciate ligaments before you took out the policy.
                            • treatment of spinal disc† problems if any disc has shown signs, been diagnosed or been treated for spinal disc problems before you took out the policy.treatment of spinal disc† problems if any disc has shown signs, been diagnosed or been treated for spinal disc problems before you took out the policy.

                            * The cruciate ligaments are deep within the knee joint. There are two in each knee and they help keep the joint stable and make sure it only moves in a certain way.

                            † Discs are located between the bones of the spine. They are found along the entire length of the spine.