Admiral Pet Insurance Review 2024: Pros and Cons

Admiral pet insurance is a go-to option if you are planning to get full coverage and also save more on your pet insurance. With its multi-policy discounts, you can get pet cover on one policy and earn a guaranteed 15% discount per pet.

With an average of £4,000 in vet fee coverage, you can insure your pet for accidents and illnesses over 12 months.

Admiral offers two types of pet insurance policies: Lifetime and Time Limited. Its Lifetime plan is its most comprehensive pet cover, insuring policyholders for a lifetime, while the Time Limited is for those seeking short-term coverage for at least 12 months.

As one of the top pet insurance companies in the UK, here is what you need to know about Admiral pet insurance, its pros and cons, while also comparing their rates with other insurers in the UK.

About Admiral pet insurance

Admiral is a UK-based insurance company. The company was founded in 1993 and historically focused primarily on car insurance. Over the years, the company has grown from just offering auto insurance to now selling many other policies, including pet insurance, home insurance, travel insurance, etc.

The company has been highly rated on several review websites – having a 5-star rating on Defaqto and 4.3 on Trustpilot.

Admiral pet coverage is also available in all locations within the UK.

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Admiral pet insurance coverage

Admiral has two cover options. Here’s how they both stack up.

Lifetime Limited

Admiral’s Lifetime Limited plan covers your pet for up to 1 year and expires after the period. If your pet(s) are of age you might want to consider this plan for their short-term cover when they are ill.

The Lifetime Limited policy includes:

  • Up to £4,000 in vet fee cover
  • £1,000,000 in third-party liability
  • Up to £1,500 in emergency holiday cancellation cover
  • Complementary medicine, special diet, and emergency kennel/cattery cover

This policy is divided into two levels: Essential and Extra. Here are their benefits and cover rates.

Product TypeESSENTIALEXTRA
Duration12 month12 month
Veterinary Fees
Per condition
£2,000£4,000
Excess
(Pets age 0-6)
£99£99
Excess
(Pets age 6 and above)
£199£199
Co-Insurance0%0%
CT/MRI scans and Associated CostsVet Fee LimitVet Fee Limit
Cruciate LigamentVet fee limitVet fee limit
Dentistry as a direct result of an accidentVet fee limitVet fee limit
Overseas Travel Extension
(30 day limit)
Vet Fee LimitVet Fee Limit
Third Party Liability
(Dogs only)
£1,000,000£1,000,000
Complementary medicine/treatments£500£500
Special Diet£100£100
Dentistry as a direct result of an illnessYesYes
Death of pet by illness
(cover ceases after age 6+)
£1,000£1,500
Death of Pet by accident£1,000£1,500
Emergency Boarding Kennel/Cattery Fees£750£750
Holiday Cancellation Cover£1,000£1,500
Loss by Theft or Straying£1,000£1,500
Advertising and Reward£250£250
Vet Advice LineYesYes
Behavioural treatmentNoNo
Farewell cover£100£150

Lifetime

If you need a long-term cover for your furry, the Admiral Lifetime cover option will be ideal for you. This offers comprehensive cover for pet accidents and illnesses depending on the policy limit you choose. Your policy limit also resets at renewal.

As per Admiral, their Lifetime policy includes:

  • Up to £10,000 in vet fee cover
  • Up to £2,000,000 in third-party liability
  • Up to £2,000 in emergency holiday cancellation cover
  • Behavioral, dental, and emergency kennel/cattery cover

Admiral Lifetime cover comes with four levels: Blue, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. These plans come with different fees to cater to the different needs and budgets of each policyholder.

BLUESILVERGOLDPLATINUM
Product TypeLifetimeLifetimeLifetimeLifetime
Veterinary Fees
per year
£2,000£4,000£5,000£10,000
Excess
(Pets aged 0-6)
£99£99£99£99
Excess
(Pets aged 6 and above)
£199£199£199£199
Co-Insurance0%0%0%0%
CT/MRI scans and Associated CostsVet fee limitVet fee limitVet fee limitVet fee limit
Dentistry as a direct result of an accidentVet fee limitVet fee limitVet fee limitVet fee limit
Cruciate LigamentVet fee limitVet fee limitVet fee limitVet fee limit
Overseas Travel Extension
(30 day limit)
Vet fee limitVet fee limitVet fee limitVet fee limit
Third Party liability
(Dogs only)
£1,000,000£1,000,000£2,000,000£2,000,000
Complementary Medicine/treatments£500£500£500£500
Special Diet£100£150£150£200
Dentistry as a direct result of an illnessNoNoNo£2,000
Death of pet by illness
(cover ceases after age 6+)
£1,500£2,000£2,000£3,000
Death of pet by accident£1,500£2,000£2,000£3,000
Emergency Boarding Kennel/Cattery Fees£750£750£750£1,500
Holiday Cancellation Cover£1,000£1,500£1,500£2,000
Loss by Theft or Straying£1,500£2,000£2,000£3,000
Advertising and Reward£250£250£250£500
Third Party Accidental DamageNoNoNo£1,000
Vet Advice LineYesYesYesYes
Behavioural treatmentNoNoNo£2,000
Farewell cover£100£150£150£200
Multi-pet DiscountYesYesYesYes

Highlight of Admiral pet insurance features

  • PawSquad access: Policyholders can have exclusive access to qualified veterinarians for advice and good treatment options.
  • Multi-Pet savings: Admiral offers a 15% multi-Pet discount if you cover more than one pet in your policy.
  • Vet fee coverage starting at £4,000 for Lifetime Limited plan, and £10,000 for Lifetime full coverage.

What it doesn’t cover

  • Pre-existing conditions: If your pet is injured or ill before your policy kicks in, treatment won’t be covered.
  • Claims within the waiting period: No coverage for pet injuries in the first 24 hours of policy or illnesses within the first 14 days.
  • Breeding or pregnancy: Admiral will not cover pregnancy costs, birth costs, or any other costs that may be incurred during this period.
  • Routine health treatment: Admiral will not cover routine health treatment for your pet like:
  • Vaccination costs
  • Flea or parasite-control products
  • Bathing, grooming, nail clipping, or de-matting your pet
  • Spaying/castration

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Admiral pet insurance waiting periods for coverage

Most insurance companies mostly apply waiting periods to their policy. During this waiting period, you are not eligible for coverage or benefits. After this period your policy will be activated.

Admiral Pet Insurance has a waiting period of 14 days for illnesses and 24 hours for accidents. During this time, if the mentioned events happen to your pet, the company will not honor your claim.

How Much Does Pet Insurance from Admiral Cost?

With Admiral pet insurance you can expect to pay between £7.36 and £20 per month for a basic policy for your dog or cat.

Admiral Excess charges for pet

Older dogs and cats attract excess charge. They charge £99 for pets under 6 and £199 for older pets. The excess rate is the same for both cats and dogs.

How to save money on Admiral pet insurance

Through discounts, you can save more on your pet insurance cover with Admiral. If you add more than one pet to your policy, you will save more through the Admiral 15% Multi-Pet discount. Existing customers can also save 10% more.

Other insurance companies like Church Pet Insurance offer a 30% discount when you buy a policy online.

Consumer complaints

Admiral pet insurance has a good number of positive reviews from happy customers. At the time of writing this, they had a 4.3 rating on Trustpilot from 38,059 total reviews and claim to have a 5-star rating on Defaqto.

Some have complained of poor customer service and slow claims settlements, while some have expressed satisfaction with their service.

Just spoken with Ian to sort out my policy and claims following the tragic death of my cat. He treated me with such compassion and kindness throughout the (very teary) call. He was so patient and thorough and made sure I understood everything as we went along. I didn’t feel rushed or made to feel like a nuisance, and the call felt person-centred even though there was a lot to cover. In a world where everyone is so quick to complain, I wanted to share some positive feedback and pass on my thanks to Ian. He made a very difficult task just a little less difficult.” a user said on Trustpilot.

  • User review
  • User review
  • User review

Here is a comparison of Admiral Pet Insurance rates with other popular pet insurers in the UK:

Insurance companiesAverage rate/mo
Admiral Pet Insurance£7.36 – £20 per month
Petplan£15.22 – £25 per month
More Than Pet Insurance£18.20 – £28 per month
Bought By Many Pet Insurance£30 – £40 per month
Direct Line Pet Insurance£9.78 – £25 per month

How to sign up with Admiral pet insurance

To get a quote from Admiral, you will have to submit a request via their website. You can get started on their website today or call 0333 777 7361. Phone support is available through.

  • Mon to Fri: 08:00 – 18:00
  • Sat: 09:00 – 13:00
  • Sun: Closed

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Comprehensive coverage for short and long-term needs
  • Multi-Pet discount
  • 24hr vet support

Cons

  • 14 days waiting period for pet illness
  • No breeding or pregnancy cost coverage

How your pet insurance cost is calculated

Some of these factors could influence the cost of your pet insurance.

  • Pet age
  • Pet breed
  • Location
  • Claims history
  • Medical advances

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How to file a pet insurance claim with Admiral

You can file a claim by visiting the website claims page here, and follow the subsequent instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Admiral a good insurance company for pets?

Yes, Admiral has been a well-known insurance company in the UK since 1993 and has Defaqto’s highest 5-star rating.

What type of pet does Admiral policy cover?

Admiral only offers pet insurance for cats and dogs.

What pet age and breeds does Admiral cover?

They cover all breeds of cats and dogs from the age of eight weeks, except for Dogs on the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Can I change my pet’s coverage level or type of insurance with Admiral?

Yes, you can often change your pet’s coverage level or type of insurance with Admiral when your policy is up for renewal.

Is Admiral Pet Insurance available outside the UK?

No, Admiral Pet Insurance is only available for pet owners in the United Kingdom.