For many people, pets are beloved members of the family. Whether you are bringing your cat to the veterinarian for a checkup, taking the dog on a family vacation, or just bringing your pet along for a car ride, you may sometimes go driving with your pet. If you were to get into an accident while on the road, you may be concerned about covering the cost of the animal's injuries. While not all car insurance companies offer pet injury insurance, many do, and it's becoming a more popular option as demand for this service increases.
What is Pet Injury Coverage?
Pet injury coverage is offered through some insurance companies as a rider on your collision or comprehensive coverage. This rider sets aside a small amount of money, usually around $500 to $2,000, to cover the cost of veterinary bills for a pet who is injured in an accident. In many cases, the coverage also pays for burial or cremation costs for pets that are killed in a collision.There are a few limitations to this type of coverage. Most importantly, it only covers injuries sustained by animals riding in a vehicle at the time of an accident. It will not pay for injuries your pet sustains if he is hit by a car in the road. Furthermore, in order to claim this insurance if the accident is not your fault, the other person's insurance must not already cover the cost of your vet bills.
You will have to ask for the coverage and pay extra for it since this rider is optional and not included on all policies. Pet injury coverage is usually quite affordable, costing as little as $20 extra a year, and some insurance companies might even offer it for free with full coverage.
Does My Insurance Cover Pet Insurance?
Because pet protection coverage is a fairly new concept, insurance companies may not broadly advertise this feature, or it might have been added after you purchased your policy. If you are shopping for a new insurance company, you can ask about this benefit as a deciding factor for choosing an insurer.Depending on your needs, purchasing pet collision protection may be a worthwhile investment. If you frequently take your dog for car rides, transport animals to shows, or take vacations with your pets, the additional expense can give you some much-needed peace of mind. If your pet only rides once or twice a year for annual vet visits, you can probably forgo this coverage.
As the popularity of pet insurance coverage increases, more insurers will begin offering these programs. It never hurts to ask your insurer about this option; even if the company doesn't offer it now, with enough demand they may begin offering this rider in the future to stay competitive. Until then, be sure to keep your pet properly restrained in the car, and follow safe driving practices to keep all members of your family safe.
Shanna Tan, who lives in London with her two dogs, writes about different types car insurance add-ons for www.carinsurance.org.uk. Visit their site to find cheap car insurance quotes in the UK.
If you love your pet, why not treat it as another living being? An accident can harm it as much as it can harm any of your other passengers. A pet insurance will bear the costs, if your pet gets hurt in any way. Adding a rider to your auto insurance policy to cover your pets is thus a sensible option.
ReplyDeleteIf you are looking for a car insurance plan that covers pets, be aware that the coverage varies from one company to the other. For example, while the coverage provided by some companies applies only to cats and dogs, other companies’ pet protection may apply to any kind of pet, as well as animals pulled in a trailer, such as horses, that might not even be considered as pets by some. There are also companies that extend their auto insurance to cover lizards, horses, birds, bunnies, and all manner of exotic pets.
ReplyDeleteElnora Cowger
We value our pet just like how we value our loved ones. That’s why those people who really love their pets make sure that they get an auto insurance that provides pet injury coverage as well. It’s really great if you would find an insurance package that covers the cost of care if your pets get injured in an accident. There are some insurance wherein such coverage is automatically included in collision coverage. Well, it’s good because these companies just show that they truly appreciate not just you, but also the ones that are important to you.
ReplyDeleteFe Penley
Pets are a part of our family and oftentimes we take them along for a ride. In extension, they are one of our passengers, so I think it’s only right to include them in car insurances. I‘m glad I have Pet Injury Coverage! =)
ReplyDeleteBarry Bates
This is good news for every pet owner and car owner out there! If we can have our car insured, we definitely should have our pets insured, as well. They are our best friends. At some point, they will probably give up their lives just to save us. I hope all car dealers offer this type of insurance, even just as an add-on.
ReplyDeleteEllsworth Mciltrot