Cheap Pet Insurance in California

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Updated: April 20, 2026

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Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies in California

Based on MoneyGeek's analysis, the five cheapest pet insurance companies in California are:

  1. ASPCA: $28 per month or $330 per year on average. ASCPA provides the lowest rates for most medium- and large-sized dog breeds, including Tibetan Mastiffs, Great Danes and Great Pyrenees.
  2. Pumpkin: $36 per month or $432 per year on average. Pumpkin is the cheapest pet insurer for English Pointer dogs and Norwegian Forest cats.
  3. Pets Best: $37 per month or $448 per year on average. Pets Best has the most affordable rates for most small dog breeds like Australian Terriers and most cat breeds, including Burmese and Russian Blue cats.
  4. Spot: $42 per month or $499 per year on average. Spot offers the cheapest pet insurance for Doberman Pinschers.
  5. Hartville: $43 per month or $515 per year on average. Hartville provides the second-lowest rates for Foxhounds and Devon Rex cats.

Our recommendations are based on aggregated rates across over 67,000 pet profiles in Texas. The cheapest pet insurance provider for your pet will depend on its breed, age, location in California and coverage level. Use our recommendations as a starting point, then compare multiple quotes to find your actual lowest-cost option.

ASPCA$28$33052%
Pumpkin$36$43237%
Pets Best$37$44835%
Spot$42$49927%
Hartville$43$51525%

How We Determined the Cheapest Pet Insurance Providers in California

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THE CHEAPEST PET INSURANCE IN CALIFORNIA DOESN'T MEAN BEST FIT

The lowest monthly premium doesn't guarantee a policy will hold up when your pet needs care. Waiting periods can delay coverage right when it matters, low reimbursement rates can leave you covering most of each vet bill out of pocket and annual limits that seem reasonable can run out partway through treating a serious condition. If you want to evaluate insurers based on overall value rather than just affordability, read our guide to the best pet insurance companies in California.

Cheapest Pet Insurance in California by Species

According to our study, ASPCA has the lowest pet insurance rates in California for both dogs and cats, providing 48% and 58% savings against the state average, respectively.

CatASPCA$1758%
DogASPCA$3848%

Check out the resources below to find the cheapest pet insurer in California based on your pet's species.

Cheapest Pet Insurance in California by Breed

ASPCA leads as the cheapest pet insurance in California across the widest range of dog breeds, ranking first for affordability in 83% of dog breeds in our dataset. Pets Best is the lowest-cost option for cat owners, ranking first for affordability in 61% of cat breeds, and also covers 10% of dog breeds, the second-largest share among all providers we analyzed. Pumpkin rounds out the top three, ranking first for affordability in 29% of cat breeds, with a smaller but distinct group of dog breeds where it prices below all other providers.

Data filtered by:
Select
AbyssinianMetLife$352,800%
AffenpinscherPets Best$295,300%
Afghan HoundASPCA$374,800%
Airedale TerrierASPCA$394,800%
AkitaASPCA$325,700%
Alaskan HuskyASPCA$256,000%
Alaskan MalamuteASPCA$394,700%
American BulldogASPCA$425,800%
American BullyASPCA$455,100%
American EskimoASPCA$225,900%
American FoxhoundASPCA$255,500%
American Hairless TerrierASPCA$226,100%
American Staffordshire TerrierASPCA$424,500%
Australian Cattle DogASPCA$304,800%
Australian KelpieASPCA$305,300%
Australian MistFigo$391,800%
Australian ShepherdASPCA$225,700%
Australian Silky TerrierPets Best$255,300%
Australian TerrierPets Best$245,500%
BalinesePets Best$234,900%
BasenjiASPCA$225,800%
Basset Fauve de BretagneMetLife$573,400%
Basset HoundASPCA$395,100%
BeagleASPCA$305,200%
Bearded CollieASPCA$255,600%
Belgian Shepherd MalinoisASPCA$305,400%
BengalPets Best$263,900%
Bernese Mountain DogASPCA$665,000%
Bichon FrisePets Best$294,800%
BirmanPumpkin$214,900%
BloodhoundASPCA$564,100%
BombayPumpkin$194,700%
BombayPets Best$194,700%
Border CollieASPCA$226,000%
Border TerrierPets Best$284,800%
BorzoiASPCA$326,000%
Boston TerrierASPCA$324,700%
BoxerASPCA$534,400%
Bracco ItalianoPets Best$424,500%
BriardASPCA$305,600%
British LonghairMetLife$352,000%
British ShorthairPets Best$234,800%
Brussels GriffonASPCA$304,700%
Bull MastiffASPCA$665,200%
Bull TerrierASPCA$424,700%
BurmesePets Best$185,600%
Cairn TerrierPets Best$285,300%
Cane CorsoASPCA$495,700%
Caucasian Shepherd DogMetLife$484,800%
CavachonASPCA$225,500%
Cavalier King Charles SpanielASPCA$325,100%
CavapooASPCA$196,000%
Central Asian Shepherd DogASPCA$395,500%
ChihuahuaASPCA$185,600%
ChinchillaPets Best$204,900%
Chow ChowASPCA$305,600%
Clumber SpanielASPCA$306,000%
CockapooASPCA$196,100%
Cocker spanielASPCA$325,500%
CollieASPCA$255,900%
CorgiMetLife$601,600%
Cornish RexPets Best$273,900%
Coton De TulearASPCA$255,000%
DachshundASPCA$225,800%
DalmatianPets Best$474,000%
Devon RexPumpkin$214,900%
DingoASPCA$304,000%
Doberman PinscherSpot$863,500%
Dogue de BordeauxASPCA$665,100%
Domestic ShorthairPets Best$185,000%
English BulldogASPCA$664,500%
English FoxhoundASPCA$255,400%
English MastiffASPCA$495,900%
English PointerPumpkin$394,800%
English SetterASPCA$305,500%
English Springer SpanielASPCA$305,300%
English Toy TerrierASPCA$254,900%
Estrela Mountain DogASPCA$424,900%
Exotic ShorthairPets Best$294,000%
Field SpanielASPCA$305,300%
Finnish LapphundASPCA$305,000%
Fox TerrierPets Best$334,100%
FoxhoundASPCA$255,600%
French BulldogASPCA$535,100%
German PinscherASPCA$255,500%
German ShepherdASPCA$325,500%
German Shorthaired PointerASPCA$325,100%
German SpitzASPCA$226,100%
Golden RetrieverASPCA$375,000%
GoldendoodleASPCA$255,400%
Gordon SetterASPCA$395,300%
Great DaneASPCA$496,000%
Great PyreneesASPCA$306,300%
GreyhoundASPCA$375,300%
GroodleFigo$540%
HarrierASPCA$256,100%
HavaneseASPCA$196,100%
HimalayanPets Best$215,000%
Hungarian VizslaASPCA$374,700%
HuskyASPCA$225,000%
Icelandic SheepdogASPCA$305,100%
Irish SetterASPCA$394,700%
Irish TerrierASPCA$305,100%
Italian GreyhoundASPCA$305,000%
Italian SpinoneASPCA$305,700%
Jack Russell TerrierASPCA$196,000%
Japanese ChinASPCA$225,800%
Japanese SpitzASPCA$225,900%
Kangal Shepherd DogASPCA$394,800%
KeeshondASPCA$305,100%
KomondorASPCA$306,300%
LabradoodleASPCA$255,500%
Labrador RetrieverASPCA$384,800%
Lhasa ApsoASPCA$225,800%
LurcherASPCA$424,400%
Maine CoonPets Best$303,600%
MalteseASPCA$225,700%
MaltipooASPCA$195,900%
Miniature Bull TerrierPets Best$503,700%
Miniature DachshundASPCA$255,400%
Miniature Fox TerrierPets Best$285,600%
Miniature PinscherASPCA$255,300%
Miniature PoodleASPCA$225,500%
Miniature SchnauzerASPCA$255,500%
Mixed BreedWagmo$73No Data
MorkieASPCA$196,100%
MunchkinPets Best$244,100%
NewfoundlandASPCA$535,200%
Norfolk TerrierPets Best$295,100%
Norwegian ElkhoundASPCA$305,000%
Norwegian Forest catPumpkin$195,200%
Norwich TerrierPets Best$284,900%
Old English SheepdogASPCA$305,900%
Olde English BulldoggeFetch$1510%
PapillonASPCA$196,200%
PekingesePets Best$255,200%
Pembroke Welsh CorgiASPCA$325,000%
PersianPets Best$215,300%
Peruvian Hairless DogPets Best$393,100%
Peruvian Hairless DogPumpkin$393,100%
Petit Basset Griffon VendeenASPCA$305,400%
PitbullASPCA$394,800%
PointerASPCA$305,100%
PomeranianASPCA$255,200%
Portuguese Water DogASPCA$394,500%
PugASPCA$325,200%
PuggleASPCA$225,700%
PuliASPCA$227,000%
RagdollPumpkin$224,700%
Rhodesian RidgebackASPCA$395,000%
RottweilerASPCA$535,400%
Rough CollieFetch$592,500%
Russian BluePets Best$175,500%
Saint BernardASPCA$535,900%
SalukiASPCA$325,400%
SamoyedPumpkin$413,600%
SavannahPumpkin$293,700%
SchnoodleASPCA$225,700%
Scottish DeerhoundASPCA$534,700%
Scottish FoldPets Best$234,600%
Scottish TerrierASPCA$305,700%
SerengetiLiberty Mutual$402,700%
Shar PeiASPCA$663,700%
Shetland SheepdogASPCA$226,000%
Shiba InuASPCA$196,100%
Shih TzuASPCA$195,800%
SiamesePets Best$175,400%
SiberianPumpkin$293,600%
Siberian HuskyASPCA$255,700%
Smooth ColliePets Best$473,400%
SnowshoePumpkin$293,100%
Soft Coated Wheaten TerrierASPCA$374,500%
SphynxPets Best$274,400%
Staffordshire Bull TerrierPets Best$414,000%
Standard PoodleASPCA$374,500%
Standard SchnauzerASPCA$305,200%
Tibetan MastiffASPCA$396,500%
Tibetan TerrierASPCA$305,600%
TonkinesePumpkin$214,700%
Toy PoodleASPCA$255,000%
VizslaASPCA$305,500%
WeimaranerASPCA$395,200%
Welsh Corgi CardiganASPCA$305,100%
Welsh Springer SpanielASPCA$196,700%
Welsh TerrierASPCA$305,400%
West Highland White TerrierASPCA$255,500%
WhippetASPCA$305,000%
Wire Fox TerrierASPCA$305,100%
Yorkshire terrierASPCA$225,600%

We've organized the cheapest California providers by breed below, so you can find the most affordable option for your specific pet.

Cheapest Pet Insurance in California by Age

Pets Best offers the most affordable pet insurance for pets ages 1 through 4, making it the lower-cost option during the early years when premiums across all providers tend to be at their lowest. ASPCA takes over from age five onward, ranking first for affordability through age 20.

Data filtered by:
Select
Under 1ASPCA$18-53%
1Pets Best$17-55%
2Pets Best$17-55%
3Pets Best$17-57%
4Pets Best$19-57%
5ASPCA$22-54%
6ASPCA$26-52%
7ASPCA$31-51%
8ASPCA$38-44%
9ASPCA$43-42%
10ASPCA$52-40%
11ASPCA$61-40%
12ASPCA$70-40%
13ASPCA$71-44%
14ASPCA$78-45%
15ASPCA$79-49%
16ASPCA$81-46%
17ASPCA$81-46%
18ASPCA$81-46%
19ASPCA$81-46%
20ASPCA$81-46%

Use our dedicated resources below to see which provider in California offers the lowest rate for your pet's age group.

Is the Cheapest Pet Insurance Right for Your Pet in California?

The cheapest pet insurance in California only makes sense when the policy still pays out when your pet needs care, whether that's an emergency visit at a Sacramento animal hospital or a specialist referral in Los Angeles. Before choosing the lowest-cost option, check that the policy meets the following criteria:

  • Annual limit covers real emergencies: The yearly maximum should be enough to handle surgeries, hospitalizations or ongoing illness treatment without leaving you with the bulk of the bill.
  • Reimbursement rate reduces your share: A policy with a 70% or higher reimbursement rate means pet insurance covers most of each eligible vet bill after your deductible.
  • Deductible fits your budget: The amount you pay before coverage starts should be something you can realistically cover in a single year.
  • Core conditions are covered: The policy should cover accidents, illnesses and hereditary conditions relevant to your pet's breed, since California's diverse pet population includes breeds prone to specific health issues.

The goal is a policy that keeps monthly costs reasonable while still covering the expenses that matter most. A lower premium can come with tradeoffs, such as higher out-of-pocket costs per visit, tighter annual limits or a smaller reimbursement share, so the right fit depends on your pet's age, health history and how much of an unexpected vet bill you could comfortably cover on your own.

Learn More About Pet Insurance: California Pet Insurance Guide

Is the Cheapest Right for Your Pet?

How to Get Cheaper Pet Insurance in California Without Sacrificing Protection

There are several ways to reduce what you pay each month while keeping the coverage that matters when your pet needs care in California.

    giveMoney icon
    Opt for a higher deductible

    Choosing a higher deductible reduces your premium because you're agreeing to cover more out of pocket before coverage starts. This tends to work well if your pet is healthy and a moderate unexpected expense wouldn't put you in a difficult financial position. It's a tradeoff worth weighing against how often your pet visits the vet.

    coins2 icon
    Match your annual limit to your pet's risk level

    Having more coverage than your pet's health profile warrants means paying for financial protection you may never use. A younger, mixed-breed pet with no known conditions can often do well with a midrange annual limit. Purebred and senior pets tend to carry higher health risks; purebreds because of inherited conditions common to their breed, seniors because the likelihood of illness increases with age, so higher annual limits can help prevent coverage gaps when care gets expensive.

    discount icon
    Select a reimbursement rate based on what you can cover

    Your reimbursement rate affects both your premium and your share of each vet bill. Choosing 80% over 90% can meaningfully reduce your monthly cost, with the difference being the larger share of each claim you'd cover yourself. Pick a level that balances what you pay monthly against what you can absorb per visit.

    injuredPet icon
    Consider accident-only coverage for low-risk pets

    Accident-only plans carry lower premiums than comprehensive policies and can be a reasonable fit for young, healthy pets with no signs of underlying health issues. Coverage applies to injuries like fractures or ingestion incidents, emergencies that tend to generate large, unexpected bills. Keep in mind that any condition your pet develops while on an accident-only plan may be excluded if you upgrade later.

    petMedicalCheckup icon
    Skip the wellness add-on

    Optional wellness plans cover routine expenses like annual exams and vaccinations, but the monthly cost of carrying that rider often exceeds what you'd spend paying for those visits directly. In California, where vet costs in urban areas like San Francisco or Los Angeles can run higher, it's worth doing the math before adding a wellness plan. Keeping routine care out of your policy focuses your premium on the unexpected costs that are harder to absorb on your own.

    vs icon
    Compare quotes using identical coverage terms

    Pricing for the same coverage can differ more than you'd expect across insurers. Getting quotes from several companies using the same deductible, annual limit and reimbursement rate gives you a true side-by-side comparison. The cheapest option for your pet's specific breed, age and California zip code may not be the first provider you consider.

Affordable Pet Insurance in California: Bottom Line

No single insurer is the cheapest for every California pet owner. Your lowest cost option depends on your pet's breed, age, ZIP code and coverage level. Use our recommendations to narrow down your options, then collect quotes using the same coverage terms to find the most affordable pet insurance provider for your companion's specific health needs.

If you're ready to get quotes: Explore pet insurance providers

Cheapest Pet Insurance in California Chart

Cheap Pet Insurance in California: Next Steps

If you want to find the lowest rate for your situation, we recommend getting quotes from multiple pet insurers in California using identical limits. Our recommendations of California pet insurance companies give you a starting point, but the cheapest for you may differ. 

If you're still undecided, our resources below can help you understand your options and feel more confident when making a decision.

If you want to ensure pet insurance is right for you

Compare Pet Insurance Rates in California

Ensure you are getting the best rate for your pet insurance in California. Compare quotes from the top California pet insurance companies.

How We Determined the Cheapest Pet Insurance Providers in California

To identify the cheapest pet insurance options in California, we collected and analyzed pricing data across 18 major pet insurance companies.

Dataset scope and assumptions  

  • Providers analyzed: 18 major pet insurance providers
  • Pet profiles analyzed: Over 67,000 profiles
  • Standard breed and age used: 6-year-old Labrador Retriever for dogs, 7-year-old Ragdoll for cats
  • Policy baseline: $500 deductible, $5,000 annual limit, 80% reimbursement rate

How we identified the cheapest providers
We determined which insurers consistently offered the lowest premiums across different pet profiles in California. Our recommendations reflect overall affordability based on average monthly premiums across all pet profiles in California in our dataset.  

Important note: Our results show standardized pricing estimates, not personalized quotes for your specific pet. Your actual premium depends on your pet's breed, age and ZIP code, plus the deductible, annual limit and reimbursement rate you choose. The most reliable way to find your cheapest option in California is comparing quotes from multiple providers using identical coverage terms.

Learn more: Read our full pet insurance methodology

About Ritchel Mendiola

Ritchel Mendiola headshot

Ritchel Mendiola is a Content Writer at MoneyGeek specializing in pet insurance. With a journalism background and over three years of experience in personal finance writing, she brings a reporter's approach to coverage, digging into the details that actually matter when you're trying to protect your furry friends without overpaying.

Ritchel focuses on the policy terms that actually matter when your pet needs care: waiting periods that could delay coverage right when you need it, exclusions that might catch you off guard at the vet, reimbursement levels that determine your real costs, and claim scenarios that reveal how policies hold up in practice. She digs into what providers offer, checks their track records and pricing, then turns it into clear comparisons that help you decide.

Whether you're shopping for your first pet insurance policy or switching providers, Ritchel does the research for you and breaks down your options so you can protect your furry family members, without breaking the bank.

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