How this indicative estimate is calculated

This calculator starts from a broadly representative £15-a-month base rate and adjusts it using five simplified factors: species (dogs typically cost more to insure than cats, reflecting more frequent claims and bigger average vet bills), age band (premiums rise steadily as pets get older and claims become more frequent and more expensive), size for dogs only (larger breeds are more prone to joint and orthopaedic problems, so treatment costs scale up with size — this factor doesn't apply to cats), cover type (accident-only is cheapest since it excludes illness, while lifetime cover — which renews your claim limit each year for ongoing conditions — costs the most), and where you live (vet fees and claims frequency vary noticeably by area). Because real insurers also price on breed, exact postcode, your pet's medical history and claims record, this estimate is deliberately shown with a wide ±40% range either side of the headline number. Treat it as a starting point for budgeting, not a price you'll actually be offered.