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From Escaped Pets to Slippery Floors: Why Pet Shop Insurance Matters
Running a pet shop means managing not just retail stock but also live animals, customer safety, and specialist equipment. Incidents could happen with…
Pet ShopInsurance
Pet Shop Insurance
Public liability and product liability cover built for pet shops, including the animal licensing that applies if you sell live animals.
Public liability and product liability cover built for pet shops, including the animal licensing that applies if you sell live animals.
Livestock in stockAnimal-related claimsTanks & equipment
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What is pet shop insurance?
Pet shop insurance is a combination of covers built around selling pet supplies and, in some cases, live animals, public liability for customer or animal-related injury, product liability for food and products you sell, and employers’ liability if you have staff.
If you sell animals as pets, including online, you need a licence under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, separate from your insurance.
Pet shop insurance can include:
Public liabilityEmployers’ liabilityProduct liabilityAnimal-related injury coverBusiness interruptionBusiness van insurance (separate policy)
Cover often bought alongside pet shop insurance
Public Liability
Covers claims if a customer or member of the public is injured or their property is damaged.
Employers’ Liability
A legal requirement once you employ any staff, even casual help.
Product Liability
Covers claims that pet food or products you’ve sold caused harm.
Business Contents
Protects equipment, stock and fixtures at your shop.
Stock Insurance
Covers your stock against theft, fire or damage.
Do you need an animal licence?
Do you need an animal licence?
This is separate from your insurance, but it affects how your shop can legally operate.
This is separate from your insurance, but it affects how your shop can legally operate.
| What you sell | Licence needed? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
Pet food, toys and accessories only | No animal licence needed | Standard retail rules still apply |
Small animals, fish or birds as pets | Yes, under the 2018 Regulations | Required under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 |
Puppies or kittens as pets | Yes, and only if bred by the licence holder | Known as Lucy’s Law, in force since April 2020 |
Selling animals online or from home | Yes, the same licence applies | Selling online doesn’t remove the licensing requirement |
Top Tip
Many modern pet shops sell supplies only, with no animal licence needed at all. If you do sell live animals, check exactly which rules apply before you insure or open, licensing conditions are inspected separately from your insurance.
How much does pet shop insurance cost?
There’s no fixed price. It depends on whether you sell live animals, your stock, staff numbers and your claims history.
Whether you sell live animals
Selling animals as pets carries different risk to supplies alone.
Level of cover
Adding product liability or a higher limit increases your premium.
Number of staff
More employees increase your employers’ liability exposure.
Premises and location
High street or shopping centre units can affect your premium.
Value of stock
Higher-value stock and equipment increase your contents premium.
Claims history
A clean claims record helps keep premiums down at renewal.
How to get pet shop insurance
How to get pet shop insurance
Getting pet shop insurance takes four steps: tell us about your shop, choose your covers, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
Getting pet shop insurance takes four steps: tell us about your shop, choose your covers, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
1
Tell us about your shop
What you sell, and whether you have staff.
2
Choose your covers
Public liability, product liability and any extras.
3
We compare specialist insurers
We search our panel of 20+ UK insurers.
4
Get covered and trading
Receive your documents, usually the same day.
UK-based specialist advisersAccess to specialist insurersNo obligation, just expert helpTrusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
Trusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
Pet shop insurance guides
Pet shop insurance guides
Animal welfare licensing, livestock cover and customers handling pets.
Animal welfare licensing, livestock cover and customers handling pets.
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Pet shop insurance FAQs
Pet shop insurance FAQs
Straight answers on cover, animal licensing and cost.
Straight answers on cover, animal licensing and cost.
Pet shop insurance is a combination of covers built around selling pet supplies and, in some cases, live animals: public liability for customer or animal-related injury, product liability for what you sell, and employers’ liability if you have staff.
Still have questions?
Our advisers are here to help you find the right solution.