MoneyGeek’s research found that Spot is the best pet insurance company with accident-only coverage for dogs and cats. Hartville, ASPCA and Liberty Mutual also offer strong alternatives based on our analysis of affordability, customer experience and coverage options.
Best Accident-Only Pet Insurance
Updated: October 21, 2025
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Best Accident-Only Pet Insurance: Key Takeaways
Spot offers the best accident-only pet insurance nationwide, earning a score of 4.27 out of 5.0 in MoneyGeek’s analysis.
ASPCA ($15.71 monthly) and Hartville ($10.93 monthly) are the cheapest accident-only pet insurance companies for dogs and cats, respectively.
Get the best value for accident-only pet insurance by comparing multiple quotes, understanding the fine print and reading company reviews before enrolling.
What Are the Best Pet Insurance Companies for Accident-Only Coverage?
Spot | 4.27 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Hartville | 4.07 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
ASPCA | 3.15 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Liberty Mutual | 1.88 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
Best Accident-Only Pet Insurance Overall
pros
Best option for dogs and cats
High customer service ratings
Unlimited annual coverage available
cons
No direct vet pay available
Waiting period for accidents is 14 days
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Spot offers the best overall accident-only pet insurance due to its excellent customer service and a broad range of coverage options for accidents. With an average monthly cost of $11.23 for cats and $18.07 for dogs, Spot’s policies feature annual limits from $2,500 to unlimited coverage, deductibles from $100 to $1,000 and reimbursement rates between 70% and 90%. The company covers vet exam fees, surgeries, hospitalization and diagnostic services like X-rays for accidents such as falls, fights and toxic ingestions, though it requires a standard 14-day waiting period in most states and doesn’t offer direct vet payment.
Spot maintains a high Trustpilot rating of 4.7 out of 5.0, but its positive sentiment on Reddit is low at 45%, based on the 29 comments we studied. The company operates in all 50 states and doesn’t impose upper age limits for accident-only enrollment.
What Are the Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies for Accident-Only Coverage?
Accident-only policies are affordable because they exclude illness coverage, with cats costing less than dogs due to lower veterinary costs. Based on our analysis, ASPCA offers the cheapest pet insurance with accident-only coverage for dogs at $15.71 per month, while Hartville has the lowest rates for cats at $10.93 per month.
Cheapest Accident-Only Pet Insurance for Dogs
ASPCA offers the cheapest accident-only pet insurance for dogs at $15.71 monthly ($188.48 annually), followed by Hartville at $17.52 monthly ($203.56 annually). These rates reflect our standard 6-year-old Labrador Retriever profile with a $5,000 annual limit, $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate.
ASPCA | $15.71 | $188.48 |
Hartville | $17.52 | $203.56 |
Spot | $18.07 | $211.40 |
Liberty Mutual | $25.97 | $311.64 |
Cheapest Accident-Only Pet Insurance for Cats
Cat owners can find the most affordable accident-only pet insurance from Hartville at $10.93 monthly ($128.08 annually), with Spot coming in second at $11.23 monthly ($131.73 annually). Our analysis used a standard 7-year-old Ragdoll profile with a $5,000 annual limit, $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate for these quotes.
Hartville | $10.93 | $128.08 |
Spot | $11.23 | $131.73 |
Liberty Mutual | $15.62 | $187.50 |
ASPCA | $19.28 | $191.49 |
How to Get the Best Cheap Accident-Only Pet Insurance
Follow the steps below to secure quality accident-only coverage that fits your budget.
- 1
Determine your coverage needs
Decide on an annual limit between $2,500 and unlimited that matches your budget. Pick a deductible that keeps your monthly premium low while ensuring you can cover emergency costs. Also, choose a reimbursement rate that determines how much you'll receive back after paying your vet bill, with higher rates providing more financial protection but costing more monthly.
- 2
Compare multiple quotes
Collect quotes from at least three insurers that offer accident-only policies to find the most competitive rates. Compare identical coverage specifications across providers to ensure you're evaluating true price differences. Check whether there are discounts for insuring multiple pets or paying annually to reduce your premium.
- 3
Understand the terms and conditions for accidents
Review sample policies before enrolling to confirm what accidents the plan covers, such as broken bones, toxic ingestions and bite wounds. Check exclusions since accident-only plans don't cover illnesses, pre-existing conditions or routine care like vaccinations. Note the waiting period for accident coverage, which usually ranges from one to 14 days, depending on your state.
- 4
Look for company reviews
Research customer feedback on claims processing speed, reimbursement accuracy and customer service responsiveness through sites like Trustpilot and Reddit. You can also look up complaint records through your state insurance department to find highly rated providers. Focus on reviews mentioning accident claims to understand how fast insurers handle emergencies.
- 5
Review annually before renewing
Review your accident-only policy each year to determine if your current annual limit, deductible and reimbursement rate still meet your needs. Adjust your coverage levels if your pet's lifestyle or your financial situation has changed. You can also compare your renewal premium against current market rates to ensure you're getting competitive pricing.
Best Accident-Only Pet Insurance: Bottom Line
Spot is the best accident-only pet insurance company for dogs and cats, providing quality service with flexible coverage options for new accidents. ASPCA provides the cheapest accident-only coverage for dogs, while Hartville has the lowest rates for cats. To ensure you’re getting the best accident-only pet insurance for your budget, compare quotes from multiple insurers, review policy terms and check customer feedback before choosing a provider.
The Best Accident-Only Pet Insurance: FAQ
We’ve answered some frequently asked questions about the best accident-only pet insurance below:
What is the best accident-only pet insurance?
The best accident-only pet insurance provider is Spot, which earned a score of 4.27 out of 5.0 in MoneyGeek’s analysis. The company combines excellent customer service with a broad range of coverage options for new accidents.
What is the cheapest accident-only pet insurance?
ASPCA offers the cheapest accident-only pet insurance for dogs at $15.71 monthly, while Hartville provides the lowest rates for cats at $10.93 monthly, based on MoneyGeek's analysis. These rates reflect our standard 6-year-old Labrador Retriever and 7-year-old Ragdoll profiles with $5,000 annual limits, $500 deductibles and 80% reimbursement rates.
What does accident-only pet insurance cover?
Accident-only pet insurance covers veterinary costs for injuries from unexpected incidents like broken bones, toxic ingestions, bite wounds, swallowed objects, falls and fights. Coverage often includes diagnostic services like X-rays and blood work, surgeries, hospitalization and prescription medications for treating accidents.
Is accident-only pet insurance worth it?
Accident-only pet insurance is worth it for pet owners seeking emergency financial protection without comprehensive illness coverage. It works best for healthy pets, budget-conscious owners or those with emergency savings for illnesses but not accidents.
What is the waiting period for accident-only pet insurance?
Most accident-only pet insurance policies have a 14-day waiting period, meaning coverage for new accidents begins two weeks after your policy start date. Accidents occurring during the waiting period aren't covered.
Can I add a wellness plan to an accident-only pet insurance policy?
Some pet insurance companies, including Spot, allow you to add an optional wellness plan to your accident-only policy. Wellness plans cover routine care like annual exams, vaccinations, dental cleanings and preventive treatments, with no deductible or waiting period.
How We Found the Best and Cheapest Pet Insurance for Accident-Only Coverage
MoneyGeek analyzed four major pet insurance providers offering accident-only coverage in the United States to find the best and cheapest options. We evaluated each company based on affordability, customer experience and coverage details to tailor our recommendations.
To ensure fair comparisons, we collected quotes using our standard 6-year-old Labrador Retriever and 7-year-old Ragdoll profiles with $5,000 annual limits, $500 deductibles and 80% reimbursement rates.
How We Score Each Provider
Affordability (50% of total score): We gathered accident-only quotes from each provider and compared rates against competitors within every state. Our affordability analysis also considered available discounts, though these played a minor role in the final rating since variation between companies remains minimal.
Customer experience (30% of total score): We calculated customer experience scores by collecting ratings from Trustpilot and analyzing sentiment from Reddit comments to assess policyholder satisfaction with claims processing, customer service and overall experience.
Coverage options (20% of total score): We reviewed complete policy contracts for every provider in each state, evaluating add-on options, covered accidents, exclusions and enrollment restrictions to determine coverage comprehensiveness.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.