BEST PET INSURANCE / CALIFORNIA
Best Pet Insurance in California in 2025
Reviewed by Kari Steere, Insurance Producer Licensed in CA
Updated 2025 | 5 min read
What is the Best Pet Insurance in California — for You?
Best Overall Pet Insurance in California
There isn’t one “best” pet insurance company in California. However, Pawlicy Advisor is the best option for pet owners in California who want to compare top-rated options for dog insurance or cat insurance.
We offer multiple insurance plans and compare their coverage, affordability, ease of claims, and ratings to make sure that your furry friend gets the best plan for their needs.
Good pet insurance coverage in California will likely cover common pet health risks unique to The Golden State — like snake bites, foxtails, heatstroke, and marijuana poisoning.
The “best pet insurance” depends on your pet’s breed-specific health needs and your preferred coverage range, budget, customer service expectations, and more.
Get unbiased, personalized recommendations with Pawlicy Advisor to find coverage that best fits your pet and see why we’re recommended by thousands of vets.
Why Trust Us
At Pawlicy Advisor, we analyze top pet insurance companies and provide objective breakdowns. We do not get paid to promote one company over another.
A licensed insurance advisor has fact-checked everything below and the American Animal Hospital Association recommends Pawlicy Advisor as the Preferred Business Provider for pet insurance. Learn more about our methodology.
Compare Top Pet Insurance Companies in California
ASPCA Policy Overview
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance protects your pet from the unexpected by covering accidents, illnesses, prescription food and medication, exam fees, and dental conditions.
You have the option to submit claims online or via a mobile app, and you can lower costs by enrolling multiple pets or paying annually.
ASPCA comes with comprehensive coverage and has a long-standing reputation for animal welfare.
- Covers testing & treatment for new accidents & illnesses, exam fees, Rx food & meds, dental conditions, and more
- Does not cover pre-existing conditions
- Save 10% when you enroll multiple pets; pay annually to save $24 on transaction fees
- Wellness plan add-on available
- Enroll pets 8 weeks and older
- Submit claims online or through a mobile app
Embrace Policy Overview
Embrace gives you broad coverage for your pet’s unexpected medical needs, including illnesses, accidents, exam fees, prescriptions, and dental care. Other than that, you can also customize wellness rewards and coverage for alternative therapies like acupuncture.
- Covers testing & treatment for new accidents & illnesses, exam fees, Rx meds, dental conditions, and more
- Does not cover prescription food or pre-existing conditions
- Save 10% when you enroll more than one pet; military save 5%; save 10% on employee benefit sign-up; pay annually to save $12 on transaction fees
- Wellness plan add-on available
- Enroll pets 6 weeks up to 14 years of age
- Submit claims online, through a mobile app, by mail, or by fax
Figo Policy Overview
A Figo policy gives you tech-savvy convenience and fast claims. You get coverage for accidents, illnesses, and prescription meds, while you manage everything through a mobile app.
Figo focuses on digital innovation, making it easier to track care and communicate with veterinarians.
- Covers testing & treatment for new accidents & illnesses, Rx medications, and more
- Does not cover exam fees, Rx food, most dental conditions, or pre-existing conditions
- Save 5% multi-pet; pay annually to save $24 on transaction fees
- Wellness plan add-on available
- Enroll pets 8 weeks and older
- Submit claims through a mobile app, phone, email, by mail, or fax
Hartville Policy Overview
Hartville provides you with all-around protection that includes accidents, illnesses, exam fees, prescription food and meds, and dental treatments.
You can bundle plans to save on multi-pet households and avoid transaction fees by paying annually.
- Covers testing & treatment for new accidents & illnesses, exam fees, Rx food & meds, dental conditions, and more
- Does not cover pre-existing conditions
- Save 10% when you enroll multiple pets; pay annually to save $24 on transaction fees
- Wellness plan add-on available
- Enroll pets 8 weeks and older
- Submit claims online or through a mobile app
MetLife Policy Overview
With MetLife, you can get robust coverage for all life stages with no upper age limits, including exam fees, prescriptions, dental treatment, and wellness care. It also comes with 24/7 virtual vet support and a quick claims process.
- Covers testing & treatment for new accidents & illnesses, exam fees, Rx food & meds, dental conditions, and more
- Does not cover pre-existing conditions
- Save 5% when you enroll a second pet; save 10% with multiple pets; save 10% on animal care for vets and employees, and military
- Wellness plan add-on available
- Enroll pets of all ages
- Submit claims online through a mobile app,
Pets Best Policy Overview
Pets Best is an affordable option with reliable coverage for accidents, illnesses, and routine care. You’re covered for exam fees, prescriptions, and some dental work, and you can manage everything online or through a mobile app. You can enroll pets as young as 7 weeks and save with a multi-pet discount.
- Covers testing & treatment for new accidents & illnesses, exam fees, Rx meds, dental conditions (with limitations)
- Does not cover Rx food or pre-existing conditions
- Save 5% when you enroll multiple pets
- Wellness plan add-on available
- Enroll pets 7 weeks and older
- Submit claims through a mobile app, online, by email, by mail or by fax
Prudent Pet Policy Overview
Prudent Pet provides coverage for prescription meds and food, dental care, and treatments for accidents and illnesses. You start coverage when your pet turns 8 weeks old, and you enjoy a 10% discount for multiple pets. The wellness add-on helps with routine checkups and vaccines.
- Covers testing & treatment for new accidents & illnesses, Rx food & meds, dental conditions, and more
- Does not cover pre-existing conditions
- Save 10% when you enroll multiple pets
- Wellness plan add-on available
- Enroll pets 8 weeks and older
- Submit claims online, by phone, or by email
Pumpkin Policy Overview
Pumpkin helps you prepare for the unexpected with coverage that includes everything from accidents and illnesses to dental care, exam fees, and prescription diets. Pumpkin keeps it simple with an annual payment option to cut fees and multiple ways to file claims.
- Covers testing & treatment for new accidents & illnesses, exam fees, Rx food & meds, dental conditions, and more
- Does not cover pre-existing conditions
- Save 10% when you enroll multiple pets; pay annually to save $24 on transaction fees
- Wellness plan add-on available
- Submit claims through email, by phone, or by fax
See More Pet Insurance Company Reviews
What's the Most Affordable Pet Insurance in California?
Pet insurance prices vary by zip code. While Accident-Only plans offer some of the most affordable pet insurance rates, they offer significantly less protection and may lead you to spend more on vet bills in the long run.
How to Get Cheaper Pet Insurance Rates in California?
If you're looking for the cheapest pet insurance in California, you can find the cheapest rates by selecting a higher deductible amount, lower reimbursement rate, and lower annual payout limit. You may also be eligible for discounts, such as multi-pet enrollment.
Remember that rates can change over time, so the most affordable option today might not be the cheapest over the lifetime of the policy.
Too many options? We get it. Enter your zip code to see personalized recommendations.
How to Find Pet Insurance in California
1. Know your pet’s breed-specific risks
Confirm your policy will offer the right protection.
2. Customize your policy terms
Select a reimbursement rate, coverage limit, and deductible that fits your lifestyle and your budget.
3. Compare quotes and fine-print
Check rates, requirements, and exclusions to make sure you get a good deal on the right coverage.
How Pawlicy Advisor Makes it Easy
Rather than comparing pet insurance companies one by one, Pawlicy Advisor shows you quotes from top companies all in one place with breed-specific advice.
- Personalized recommendations
- Top companies side-by-side
- Compare coverage vs. lifetime value
How Much is Pet Insurance in California?
The average cost of pet insurance in California is $62/mo for dogs and $31/mo for cats. Your pet’s age, breed, location, and policy coverage determine your premium rate (which you can pay monthly or annually).
Veterinary fees and pet insurance premiums vary depending on whether you live in a big city like Los Angeles or a rural area like Mendocino.
Rates also depend on the pet insurance underwriter backing the policy, as different underwriters assess risk and pricing differently.
Pawlicy Advisor lets you instantly compare quotes from top companies side-by-side.
See how much pet insurance costs in your CA zip code.
Real Examples of California Pet Insurance Costs in Top Cities
See how pet insurance prices can vary by breed, age, and location in the examples below.
Los Angeles $30-$46/mo
San Diego $26-$41/mo
Sacramento $22-$31/mo
*The average monthly costs above are based on an 80% reimbursement rate, unlimited annual coverage, and a $500 deductible. Premiums vary by location and breed.
Is California Pet Insurance Worth the Cost?
Yes, pet insurance in California is definitely worth the cost. Pet insurance can reimburse 70%-100% of vet bills (after meeting your deductible). Getting pet insurance in California can help you manage care costs without thinking twice about it at the vet’s office.
Pawlicy Advisor works directly with veterinary clinics throughout the Golden State to give you the most up-to-date information.
1 in 3 pets will require emergency care each year.
.
“For many Californians, pet insurance is worth it if you can afford it. Dogs, in particular, see 8% higher vet costs in California than the national average.”
Chief Medical Officer Richard Walther, DVM
Don’t let the cost of treatment determine the care your pet receives. After surveying more than 20,000 pet parents, we found that 4 out of 5 couldn’t afford an unexpected $5,000 veterinary bill without pet insurance.
Pet insurance can reimburse 70%-100% of vet bills (after meeting your deductible). Getting pet insurance in California can help you manage care costs without thinking twice about it at the vet’s office.
“Pawlicy Advisor’s free pet insurance comparison tool highlights potential conditions and injuries your dog or cat might be susceptible to, so you know how much coverage you need before you make a purchase.” - Dr. Ricky Walther, DVM
Common Vet Visit Costs Unique to California
Heat Stroke
$1,500-$6,000
Pet Insurance Coverage in California
All the pet insurance plans in our marketplace include accident and illness coverage, and some have the option to add wellness plans to cover routine care. While pet insurance coverage varies by state, based on specific legislation and underwriting, we’ve outlined common coverage below to help you get started.
Often Covered
- Accidents (such as bites, broken bones, and eating plastic)
- Illnesses (including allergies, diabetes, and cancer)
- Treatments and tests for unexpected accidents and illnesses (like hospitalizations, surgery, prescription medications, X-rays, ultrasounds, and blood tests)
Sometimes Covered
- Breed-specific conditions
- Dental care (periodontal disease)
- Rehabilitation and alternative therapies (acupuncture or hydrotherapy)
- Exam fees
- Rx foods
- Training for behavioral conditions
- Cramation or burial
Not Covered
- Pre-existing conditions
- Preventative care like wellness exams and yearly blood work
- Spay/neuter
- Vaccinations
- Breeding, pregnancy, whelping, or nursing
- Cosmetic procedures like ear or tail cropping
Routine Care Covered by Wellness Plans
Wellness plans vary by company and can include benefits for everyday vet visits, dental care, vaccinations, grooming, and more. When added to your pet insurance policy in California, wellness coverage can cost anywhere from $15 to $52 a month.
Save Hours with Pet Insurance Recommendations Tailored to Your Pet
Pawlicy Advisor’s vet-approved guidance will help you find a golden plan in the Golden State today — for free.
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