Last updated: September 2026
Quick answer: Pet insurance usually goes up at renewal because your pet is a year older and more likely to need treatment, and because vet fees keep rising: the Competition and Markets Authority found average vet prices rose 63% between 2016 and 2023. Increases tend to get steeper from around seven or eight years old. A claim doesn’t automatically push your price up the way it does with car insurance, but a long-term condition can. You can often reduce the rise by adjusting your excess or paying annually, but think carefully before switching, because a new insurer will exclude anything your pet has already been treated for.
A big renewal increase is one of the most common complaints about pet insurance. This guide explains what drives it, what is and isn’t normal, and how to respond without losing cover you’ve already paid for.
The six reasons pet insurance goes up
| Reason | What’s happening |
|---|---|
| 1. Your pet is older | Older pets are more likely to need treatment, and prices tend to rise more steeply at around seven or eight years old |
| 2. Vet fees are rising | Average vet prices rose 63% between 2016 and 2023, well above inflation |
| 3. Claims are getting bigger | The average claim rose 3% to £685 in 2024, and total payouts reached a record £1.23 billion |
| 4. Your pet’s health history | A long-term condition makes future claims more likely; a one-off problem may not |
| 5. Your policy and postcode | Breed, location and cover level all feed into the price every year |
| 6. Insurers’ pricing decisions | Pet insurance is not covered by the rules that stop insurers charging loyal customers more |
1. Your pet is a year older
Pet insurance works more like human health insurance than car insurance. There is no no-claims bonus: every year your pet is older and statistically more likely to fall ill. Agria explains that older pets are more likely to develop conditions needing ongoing treatment or monitoring, and insurers reflect that at renewal.
2. Vet treatment costs more every year
The CMA’s investigation into the veterinary market found price rises well above general inflation. Modern treatment is also more advanced: scans, specialist referrals and complex surgery that barely existed a generation ago are now routine options. Insurers price each renewal on what treatment is expected to cost next year, not what it cost when you took out the policy.
3. Everyone’s claims are going up
Insurance pools risk. As British Pet Insurance puts it, premiums go into a shared fund, and if the overall cost of claims rises, premiums rise to keep that fund able to pay. That is why your price can go up even in a year you never claimed.
4. Your pet’s claims history
A claim doesn’t automatically increase your premium. According to Agria, insurers look at what the claim was for: a one-off accident or short-term illness may have little or no effect, while a condition likely to need future treatment can. Chronic problems such as arthritis, allergies or diabetes are the ones that tend to move the price.
5. Breed, postcode and cover level
The same factors that set your first premium keep applying. Breeds prone to inherited conditions cost more to insure, and vet fees vary by region. See pet insurance cost in the UK for how each factor affects price.
6. No protection for loyal customers
Since 2022 the FCA has banned insurers from charging renewing home and motor customers more than new ones. That rule does not apply to pet insurance. Some commentators argue that insurers know owners of pets with a treatment history are unlikely to switch, and that renewal pricing can reflect that.
Should you switch insurer?
Sometimes, but this is where owners lose the most money. Any condition your pet has been treated for, or that is even noted in the vet records, will usually be excluded by a new insurer as pre-existing. See pet insurance and pre-existing conditions.
| Your pet’s situation | Switching is… |
|---|---|
| Young, no vet visits except routine care | Usually safe, and worth comparing |
| Has had a one-off problem that fully resolved | Possible, but ask the new insurer in writing what it would exclude |
| Has an ongoing or recurring condition | Usually a bad idea: you lose cover for the condition most likely to cost you money |
Our guide to switching pet insurance walks through the checks. If you do switch, never cancel the old policy until the new one has started.
Seven ways to bring the price down safely
- Ask your insurer to explain the increase. You’re entitled to a clear answer, and sometimes a call leads to options you weren’t shown.
- Raise the voluntary excess. It lowers the premium without cutting your cover. See excess and co-payment explained.
- Pay annually if you can; monthly instalments can include interest or admin fees.
- Review your vet fee limit, carefully. Lowering it saves money but can leave you short on a big claim. Read how much vet fee cover you need first.
- Drop add-ons you don’t use, such as travel or third-party liability if they’re optional and you’re covered elsewhere.
- Get quotes, then compare like for like, including what each new insurer would exclude. Sometimes the gap is smaller than it looks.
- Budget for rises from the start. Assume the premium will climb every year, and faster once your pet reaches seven or eight.
Frequently asked questions
Does pet insurance go up every year? Often, but not always. Age and vet-fee inflation push most premiums up each year, even without claims.
Will my premium go up if I make a claim? Not automatically. Insurers look at what the claim was for; a condition likely to need future treatment can affect the price, while a one-off may not.
Is a big increase at eight years old normal? Yes. Many insurers see a sharp rise in claims from around seven or eight, and some add a co-payment at a set age too. See insurance for older dogs.
Can I complain about a renewal increase? You can complain to the insurer if you think you were treated unfairly or the increase wasn’t explained. If you’re unhappy with its final response, you can take the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Would I be better off without insurance? For some owners, yes; for most, a sudden bill of several thousand pounds is the bigger risk. We run the numbers in is pet insurance worth it?
Key takeaways
- Premiums rise mainly because pets age and vet treatment gets more expensive.
- A claim doesn’t automatically raise your price, but a long-term condition can.
- The FCA’s loyalty-pricing ban does not cover pet insurance, so it’s worth checking the market.
- Before switching, find out exactly what a new insurer would exclude.
New to the basics? Start with how pet insurance works.
This guide is general information, not financial advice. Always read the policy documents before you buy.