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Pet Insurance NZ Compared
A neutral, side-by-side comparison of New Zealand pet insurance providers — coverage type, annual limits, excess and co-payment. We don't sell insurance or earn commission here; this is just the information we wish was in one place. Filter by what matters to you, shortlist, then get a personalised quote.
Showing 9 of 9 NZ providers. We compare policy structure, not premiums — premiums depend on your pet's age, breed and region, so always get a personalised quote.
AA Pet Insurance
Canstar-rated- Plans
- Customisable plan (+ optional Paw Care)
- Annual benefit limit
- Set by chosen options
- Excess
- $0 / $100 / $250 / $500
- Co-payment
- 20%
- Coverage
- Comprehensive (illness + injury)Accident-only option
Canstar top marks for Value for Money and Cost; optional routine-care (Paw Care) add-on.
PD Insurance
Canstar-ratedNo co-payment option- Plans
- Accident · Classic · Deluxe
- Annual benefit limit
- $5,000 – $20,000
- Excess
- $100 – $200 (fixed, your choice)
- Co-payment
- None — 100% of eligible vet bills reimbursed
- Coverage
- Comprehensive (illness + injury)Accident-only option
Only major insurer with no co-payment (100% reimbursement); month-to-month, no lock-in contract; includes liability cover.
Pet-n-Sur
Canstar-ratedCovers exotics- Plans
- Silver · Rhodium · Platinum · Titanium
- Annual benefit limit
- $4,000 – $18,000
- Excess
- $0
- Co-payment
- 20–30%, or $300 fixed
- Coverage
- Comprehensive (illness + injury)Accident-only option
$0 excess across tiers; covers rabbits and horses; alternative therapy included.
Petcover
Canstar-ratedCovers exotics- Plans
- Safety-net · Mid-range · Superior
- Annual benefit limit
- $5,000 – $20,000
- Excess
- Excess up to 35% of treatment, or fixed
- Co-payment
- 10–30% depending on plan
- Coverage
- Comprehensive (illness + injury)Accident-only option
Canstar's most-awarded NZ pet insurer (five 5-star ratings). Covers cats, dogs, horses and exotic pets.
Southern Cross
Canstar-rated- Plans
- PetCare (illness + injury) · AcciPet (injury only)
- Annual benefit limit
- PetCare $2,500 – $15,000 · AcciPet up to $5,000
- Excess
- $100 / $250 / $500
- Co-payment
- 10–30%
- Coverage
- Comprehensive (illness + injury)Accident-only option
Established 1982; member discounts; six weeks of free kitten/puppy cover.
SPCA Pet Insurance
Canstar-rated- Plans
- Everyday · Big Stuff · The Works
- Annual benefit limit
- $11,000 – $25,000
- Excess
- Varies by co-payment choice
- Co-payment
- Flexible: from 30% + $0 excess, up to 10% + $1,000 excess
- Coverage
- Comprehensive (illness + injury)Accident-only option
Highest annual limits; flexible co-payment/excess mix to match your budget; supports SPCA's work.
Cove
- Plans
- Accident Only · Major · Major + Minor
- Annual benefit limit
- $5,000 – $25,000
- Excess
- $500 – $1,000
- Co-payment
- 10–20%
- Coverage
- Comprehensive (illness + injury)Accident-only option
Budget-friendly; 'Major' tier targets the big unexpected bills if you want lower premiums.
Mighty Ape Pet Insurance
- Plans
- Accident Only · Major · Major + Minor
- Annual benefit limit
- $5,000 – $25,000
- Excess
- $500 – $1,000
- Co-payment
- 10–20%
- Coverage
- Comprehensive (illness + injury)Accident-only option
Underwritten via Cove's policies, with Mighty Ape member discounts.
Tower
- Plans
- Accident Only · Essential · Comprehensive
- Annual benefit limit
- $5,000 – $15,000
- Excess
- $0
- Co-payment
- 20%
- Coverage
- Comprehensive (illness + injury)Accident-only option
$0 excess with a consistent 20% co-payment; familiar NZ general insurer.
Structural facts compiled from Canstar NZ and provider disclosures (2026). This is general information and a neutral comparison — not financial advice or a recommendation. Always read the policy wording and get a quote before deciding.
How to choose pet insurance in NZ
- 1. Decide accident-only vs comprehensive. Illness cover is where the big lifetime costs usually sit — comprehensive is generally better long-term value, accident-only is a budget entry point.
- 2. Check the annual limit. A serious illness can use $5,000+ in a year. Higher limits ($15,000–$25,000) give more headroom for cancer or surgery.
- 3. Understand excess + co-payment. These set what you pay at claim time. A no-co-payment option (PD) means 100% reimbursement above the excess; percentage co-payments lower the premium but cost you more on big claims.
- 4. Insure early. Pre-existing conditions are excluded for life, so cover taken while your pet is young and healthy protects the most.
- 5. Read the waiting periods and sub-limits. Cruciate ligaments and some conditions often have longer waiting periods or per-condition caps.
Want to know what you're insuring against? See our NZ vet costs guide and cost of owning a dog in NZ.
Frequently asked questions
Is pet insurance worth it in NZ?
It depends on your savings buffer and risk tolerance. A single serious event — a swallowed object, a cruciate ligament repair, or cancer treatment — can run into the thousands at a NZ vet. Insurance trades a known monthly cost for protection against those large, unpredictable bills. If you could comfortably absorb a $5,000–$10,000 vet bill from savings, self-insuring is reasonable; if not, cover is worth pricing.
What is an excess and a co-payment?
An excess is a fixed amount you pay per claim or per condition (e.g. $100–$500). A co-payment is a percentage of the bill you pay after the excess (commonly 10–30%). Lower excess and co-payment mean higher premiums. PD Insurance is the main NZ provider offering a no-co-payment (100% reimbursement) option.
Should I get accident-only or comprehensive cover?
Accident-only is cheaper and covers injuries (e.g. car accidents, fractures, swallowed objects) but not illness. Comprehensive adds illness cover — important because chronic and age-related conditions are where the biggest lifetime costs usually fall. For a young pet on a tight budget, accident-only is a starting point; for long-term protection, comprehensive is generally better value.
Does pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Almost never. This is why it pays to insure while your pet is young and healthy — any condition that appears (or shows signs) before cover starts, or during the waiting period, is typically excluded for the life of the policy. Always read the policy wording.
Why don't you show premium prices?
Premiums are quoted individually based on your pet's species, age, breed and your region, and they change often. Publishing a single price would be misleading. We compare the things that stay stable — coverage type, limits, excess and co-payment structure — so you can shortlist, then get an accurate quote from the providers you like.