Why You Should Consider Pet Travel Insurance

Whether you are travelling locally or internationally, if you are taking a pet with you, you should consider buying pet travel insurance. Much the same as human travel insurance, pet travel insurance covers your pet for medical treatment received while travelling, and could save you a lot of money and heartache.

Pet travel insurance generally covers veterinary treatment such as X-rays, injections, laboratory tests, prescriptions and veterinarian fees. Should your pet fall ill or be injured while travelling, pet travel insurance means that you can give your pet the care it needs. Some policies will insure your pet for loss or theft as well.

Just as you would when buying insurance for yourself, you should shop around for pet travel insurance and get a few quotes before making a decision. Check that the policy provides adequate cover at a reasonable rate, and provides the benefits you need. Pet travel insurance policies usually have an ‘excess’ – an amount that you have to pay before insurance pays for the rest – so make sure you compare carefully when choosing a policy. Often the lowest rates mean a higher excess and vice versa. Pet travel insurance can be bought as an annual policy, worthwhile if you travel with your pets regularly, or as a one-off policy that will only last for the specified travel period.

Local and international travel may need different policies, and some insurance will cover damage to hotel rooms and transportation should your pet damage something. If you are taking your dog with you, you might want dog travel insurance that includes liability cover in case your dog injures another person.

Pet travel insurance may have specific requirements in terms of carriers, bedding arrangements and safety accessories. Airlines are very specific about crates and pet carriers, so check all the details before you buy anything. You do not want to lose the dog travel insurance benefits because the crate was not according to specification.

Most pet travel insurance does not cover your pet when it is in the care of a third party such as a courier or pet transporter. The courier should include insurance in their fee for loss, theft or injury of your pet while in transit.

Just as you would not like to fall ill or be injured while travelling and left stranded with inadequate care, you should not take the same risk when travelling with your pets. If you love them enough to travel with them, they are surely worth a little extra for pet travel insurance.