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How much does it cost to insure older dogs?
When it comes to insuring a dog, both age and size are factors that are taken into consideration by pet insurance providers. Canstar research has found that, in general terms, it is more expensive to insure a smaller breed of dog than a larger one, which may be attributable to the different and sometimes more complex health needs of smaller dog breeds.
It is also worth keeping in mind that some pet insurance providers may not be willing to accept applications for pets beyond a certain age. For this reason, Canstar considers pets aged between 6–7 years as the maximum age range in this article. We have found insuring pets within this older range can be relatively more expensive.
When comparing products that were rated in our 2024 Pet Insurance Awards, Canstar research found the following average costs for insuring dogs with accident and illness cover:
Accident and illness pet insurance premiums for small dogs
To insure a small dog aged between 6–7 years, the average annual cost you might expect to pay is $1,619. The average price of insuring small dogs across various age groups is as follows:
- younger than 1 year: $793
- 2–3 years: $1,025
- 4–5 years: $1,317
- 6–7 years: $1,619
Accident and illness pet insurance premiums for medium dogs
To insure a medium-sized dog aged between 6–7 years, the average annual cost you might expect to pay is $1,602. The average price of insuring medium-sized dogs across various age groups is as follows:
- younger than 1 year: $866
- 2–3 years: $1,060
- 4–5 years: $1,261
- 6–7 years: $1,660
Accident and illness pet insurance premiums for large dogs
To insure a large dog aged between 6–7 years, the average annual cost you might expect to pay is $1,660. The average price of insuring large dogs across various age groups is as follows:
- younger than 1 year: $922
- 2–3 years: $1,139
- 4–5 years: $1,430
- 6–7 years: $1,660
How much does it cost to insure older cats?
Canstar research found that, unlike with dogs, there is no distinct price difference between insuring small and large cats. When comparing products that were rated in our 2024 Pet Insurance Awards, it was found that, to insure a cat aged between 6–7 years, the average annual cost you might expect to pay is $894. As was the case with dogs, we found that insuring cats at an older age tends to be more expensive.
The average price of insuring cats across various age groups is as follows:
- younger than 1 year: $560
- 2–3 years: $644
- 4–5 years: $745
- 6–7 years: $894
Source: www.canstar.com.au. Prepared on 4/04/2025. Based on products rated Canstar’s 2024 Pet Insurance Star Rating and Awards (July 2024). Quotes obtained for a range of breeds, ages and excesses. Small dog category excludes French Bulldogs.
As Canstar’s 
