Australian pet insurance
Page last updated: 2026-08-28
Compare pet insurance products available directly to Australian consumers, including issuers, underwriters, key terms and official PDS documents. This page does not rank products; some products provide quote links, including paid partner links explained below.
At a glance
| Brand | Underwriter | Pets covered | Cover types | Get a quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSPCA Pet Insurance | Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd | Dog · Cat | Accident · Illness · Routine care | Visit official site |
| Knose | Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd | Dog · Cat | Accident · Illness | Visit official site |
| Petsy | Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd | Dog · Cat | Accident · Illness | Visit official site |
| Fetch | Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd | Dog · Cat | Accident · Illness | Visit official site |
| Budget Direct | Auto & General Insurance Company Limited | Dog · Cat | Accident · Illness · Routine care | Visit official site |
| Coles Insurance | Guild Insurance Limited | Dog · Cat | Accident · Illness · Routine care | Visit official site |
This table is an overview only — a quick way to see who underwrites each product, whether it covers cats or dogs, and which cover types are included. Detailed terms such as annual limits, reimbursement, excess, waiting periods and pre-existing rules are in the sections and product cards below.
Annual benefit limits
The annual benefit limit is the most a policy can pay in one period of cover, but some products set lower sub-limits for particular conditions or treatments. A high headline limit therefore needs to be checked against any per-condition or category caps that may apply to costly care.
See the comparison table above and the product cards below for each product's position.
Reimbursement
The reimbursement percentage generally applies only to eligible vet costs, so it does not mean the same percentage of the whole invoice will be returned. Many products deduct the excess before calculating the benefit, while annual limits and sub-limits still apply.
See the comparison table above and the product cards below for each product's position.
Excesses and waiting periods
An excess may apply per claim, per unrelated condition or per period of cover, so a lower premium does not necessarily mean a lower total out-of-pocket cost. Accidents, general illness, cruciate conditions and routine care can also have different waiting periods.
See the comparison table above and the product cards below for each product's position.
Pre-existing conditions and entry age
Definitions for pre-existing, related and bilateral conditions can determine whether a later claim is covered, not just the diagnosis name. Entry-age limits and renewal rules also differ, so owners of older pets should check the current PDS before buying.
See the comparison table above and the product cards below for each product's position.
Direct vet payment vs reimbursement
Direct vet payment can reduce the need to fund the whole bill first, but it is usually limited to participating clinics or approved claims. Reimbursement requires you to pay first and submit a claim, with processing times and supporting documents varying by product.
See the comparison table above and the product cards below for each product's position.
Product details
RSPCA Pet Insurance
PetFlex
- Issuer
- Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd
- Underwriter
- Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd
- Administrator
- Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd
- Pets covered
- DogCat
- Cover types
- AccidentIllnessRoutine care
- Annual benefit limit
- Selectable annual limit up to $35,000, with no sub-limits; policy terms, exclusions and selected cover still apply.
- Reimbursement
- Choose 60%, 70%, 80% or 90%; the percentage is applied after the annual excess.
- Excess
- Selectable annual excess shown in the quote and Certificate of Insurance; it resets each policy year.
- Waiting periods
- 1 day for accidental injury and 14 days for general illness; 3 months for routine care; up to 6 months for dental illness, behavioural and specified conditions, with the dental puppy/kitten rule in the PDS.
- Entry age
- New policies generally accept pets from 6 weeks to 8 years 364 days; dental illness cover must be added before age 3; no maximum renewal age with continuous cover.
- Key exclusions
- Pre-existing symptoms and conditions, including those arising in exclusion periods, are generally excluded; routine prevention requires the relevant option, and BOAS, breeding, elective and experimental treatment have further restrictions.
- Direct vet payment / claims
- Most claims are settled with the policyholder; an authorised Direct2Vet clinic may submit a claim and, if approved, receive payment directly, with the policyholder paying the gap.
- PDS effective/applicable date
- 2026-06-30
- Information verified
- 2026-08-28
Knose
Knose Pet Insurance
- Issuer
- Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd
- Underwriter
- Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd
- Administrator
- ThePetInsuranceCompany.com.au Pty Ltd
- Pets covered
- DogCat
- Cover types
- AccidentIllness
- Annual benefit limit
- Selectable annual limit up to $25,000; the selected limit and cover are shown on the Certificate of Insurance.
- Reimbursement
- Choose 70%, 80% or 90%; the percentage is applied after the annual excess.
- Excess
- Selectable annual excess shown in the quote and Certificate of Insurance; accepted costs count toward it once per policy year.
- Waiting periods
- 1 day for accidental injury and 14 days for general illness; dental illness, behavioural and specified conditions generally have 6-month periods, while dental illness is 14 days for pets under one year.
- Entry age
- New policies accept pets from 6 weeks to 8 years 364 days; optional extras must be added before age 3; no maximum renewal age with continuous cover.
- Key exclusions
- Pre-existing symptoms and conditions are generally excluded unless an assessment grants a written exception; routine/preventive care, breeding, elective and experimental treatments are excluded, while dental, behavioural and specialised therapies require optional cover.
- Direct vet payment / claims
- Claims are usually settled with the policyholder; direct vet payment is possible only when instructed and authorised, or at the insurer's election.
- PDS effective/applicable date
- 2024-11-15
- Information verified
- 2026-08-28
Petsy
Pet Protection Plus
- Issuer
- Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd
- Underwriter
- Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd
- Administrator
- ThePetInsuranceCompany.com.au Pty Ltd
- Pets covered
- DogCat
- Cover types
- AccidentIllness
- Annual benefit limit
- Selectable annual limit up to $25,000, with the selected amount shown on the Certificate of Insurance.
- Reimbursement
- Choose 80% or 90%; the percentage is applied after the annual excess.
- Excess
- Selectable annual excess shown in the quote and Certificate of Insurance; it resets each policy year.
- Waiting periods
- 1 day for accidental injury and 14 days for general illness; 6 months for dental illness, behavioural and specified conditions; an approved application may reduce some periods.
- Entry age
- Pet Protection Plus accepts pets from 1 year to 8 years 364 days; separate puppy/kitten products apply below one year, and optional extras must be added before age 3.
- Key exclusions
- Pre-existing symptoms and conditions are generally excluded unless a written assessment grants an exception; routine care, breeding, elective and experimental treatments are excluded, while dental, behavioural and specialised therapies are optional.
- Direct vet payment / claims
- Most claims are settled with the policyholder; the vet or provider is paid directly only when the insurer agrees and the provider authorises it.
- PDS effective/applicable date
- 2024-11-15
- Information verified
- 2026-08-28
Fetch
Fetch Pet Plan
- Issuer
- Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd
- Underwriter
- Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd
- Administrator
- Fetch Pet Health Pty Ltd
- Pets covered
- DogCat
- Cover types
- AccidentIllness
- Annual benefit limit
- Up to $30,000 per 12 months; the selected limit and plan terms are shown in the app.
- Reimbursement
- The cover percentage is selectable and shown in the quote and app; it is applied after the excess.
- Excess
- The excess is selectable and applies once per condition arising from the same specific cause for the pet's lifetime while the plan remains active.
- Waiting periods
- 2 days for injury and 30 days for illness; 90 days for cruciate, patellar luxation, hip/elbow dysplasia, BOAS and cherry eye; periods may be skipped after the in-app assessment.
- Entry age
- Dogs and cats only; the TMD says the product is not suitable for a new pet over age 9.
- Key exclusions
- Pre-existing conditions, including those arising in waiting periods, are excluded; routine care, vaccinations, desexing, breeding, elective cosmetic procedures, some experimental treatments, and commercial/working dogs are not covered.
- Direct vet payment / claims
- With Fast Claims and an enabled vet, Fetch can pay the whole invoice directly after the policyholder pays their contribution.
- PDS effective/applicable date
- 2024-01-09
- Information verified
- 2026-08-28
Budget Direct
Plus Pet Insurance
- Issuer
- Auto & General Insurance Company Limited
- Underwriter
- Auto & General Insurance Company Limited
- Administrator
- Not listed
- Pets covered
- DogCat
- Cover types
- AccidentIllnessRoutine care
- Annual benefit limit
- $25,000 annual policy limit, with sub-limits for orthopaedic and cruciate conditions, tick paralysis and snake attack.
- Reimbursement
- 80% of eligible vet expenses after the applicable excess, subject to annual limits, sub-limits and policy terms.
- Excess
- Choose a $100 or $200 excess, applied once per unrelated condition in each period of cover.
- Waiting periods
- 2 days for accidental injury and snake attack; 30 days for illness and tick paralysis; 6 months for cruciate conditions; no wait for optional routine care.
- Entry age
- The pet must be over 8 weeks and under 9 years when first insured; continuous renewal can continue beyond age 9.
- Key exclusions
- Pre-existing conditions are excluded, with stricter treatment of recurring, related and bilateral conditions; orthopaedic, cruciate, tick and snake sub-limits and general exclusions also apply.
- Direct vet payment / claims
- You pay the vet and then claim reimbursement from Budget Direct; the PDS does not promise point-of-care direct payment.
- PDS effective/applicable date
- 2024-07-22
- Information verified
- 2026-08-28
Coles Insurance
Ultimate Pet Insurance
- Issuer
- Guild Insurance Limited
- Underwriter
- Guild Insurance Limited
- Administrator
- Guild Insurance Limited
- Pets covered
- DogCat
- Cover types
- AccidentIllnessRoutine care
- Annual benefit limit
- Selectable annual limit up to $40,000; the selected limit and applicable sub-limits are shown on the Policy Schedule.
- Reimbursement
- Choose an 80% or up to 100% benefit level; the excess is deducted first and annual limits and sub-limits still apply.
- Excess
- The per-claim excess is shown on the Policy Schedule; additional and optional benefits can be treated differently.
- Waiting periods
- No wait for specified serious accidents such as motor vehicle accidents and snake bite, 2 days for other accidents, 21 days for general illness and 6 months for cruciate conditions; other optional waits are on the Schedule.
- Entry age
- The pet must be over 8 weeks and under 9 years when first insured; continuous renewal has a lifetime-care renewal guarantee subject to policy terms.
- Key exclusions
- Pre-existing and bilateral-related conditions are generally excluded unless accepted as fully cured; breeding, elective surgery and behavioural issues are excluded, while dental and routine care require optional cover.
- Direct vet payment / claims
- Claims can normally be lodged online; Guild may pay a vet or provider directly where they agree, but this is not available at every clinic.
- PDS effective/applicable date
- 2025-06-11
- Information verified
- 2026-08-28
Terms can change. Before buying, re-check the current PDS, any SPDS, the TMD, and your quote and Certificate of Insurance.