RACQ pet insurance

Proudly helping Queenslanders since 1905, the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) offers two different classes of pet insurance: standalone cover for illness and injury and an optional add-on to your RACQ home contents policy. This page is about the standalone illness and injury pet insurance policy, which covers your pets for 80% of vet bills, up to $12,000 a year.

What is RACQ pet insurance?

RACQ pet insurance covers domestic dogs and cats for accidental injury as well as illness. The RACQ does not offer accident-only insurance.

What am I covered for?

After a 21-day waiting period, you can claim a flat rate of 80% for eligible vet expenses. The maximum you can claim each year is $12,000.

• Choose your excess. You can choose the excess you wish to pay – $100, $200 or none at all. The excess does not apply to the optional wellness cover, and no excess will be deducted from emergency boarding costs.
• Optional wellness care. RACQ’s Tender Loving Care add-on allows you to claim up to $100 annually for services and products, such as teeth cleaning, vaccinations and special diets prescribed by your vet.
• Essential euthanasia. If your pet needs to be put down, this is covered up to 80% of vet costs.
• Emergency boarding. Up to $1,000 per year is covered, in addition to the $12,000 limit, if you are unexpectedly hospitalised for five or more consecutive days and there is nobody who can reasonably look after your pet.
• Overseas travel cover. Your pet is covered if you take it with you to New Zealand or Norfolk Island, as long as it is travelling under your supervision.

What exclusions are there?

• After-hours treatment and home visits, unless your vet deems it to be a medical emergency
• Alternative therapies, training and behavioural therapy, except as covered by the Tender Loving Care option
• Ambulance transport and non-essential hospitalisation
• Any course of treatment that conflicts with your vet's recommendations
• Banned or restricted dog breeds and crossbreeds will not be insured, and neither will any dog listed as dangerous by a government authority
• Deliberate harm, illegal activities and negligence, including failure to apply preventative treatment for fleas and worms
• Dental care
• Diseases caused by fleas, worms and other parasites (except for paralysis ticks)
• Elective treatments and selected conditions including a dislocating kneecap
• Emergency boarding if someone living with you can reasonably look after your pet, or if you are going into hospital for an elective procedure
• Essential euthanasia, if it is necessitated by one of the conditions for which you are not covered
• Genetic testing, transplants and devices such as pacemakers or artificial joints
• Infectious diseases such as Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) and kennel cough, unless all your pet’s vaccinations are up to date
• Injury, loss or damage caused by your pet to your property or anyone else’s property
• Ordinary day-to-day care, including vitamins, grooming and accessories
• Pre-existing conditions
• Pregnancy and obstetrics
• If you use your pet for commercial or occupational purposes, such as racing or hunting

How do I make a claim?

To be reimbursed for eligible expenses, you need to fill out a claim form and ask your vet to complete the relevant sections as well. You will need to provide your furry friend's full veterinary history when making your first claim unless you are claiming one of the eligible benefits covered by the Tender Loving Care option. You must submit all your original receipts and itemised invoices with your claim, although it’s important to keep a copy for your own records. You must also inform RACQ immediately if your furry friend may already have cover under a different insurance policy.

Other questions you may have

• Do I have to be a member of the RACQ before purchasing pet insurance?

  No. You automatically become a member by taking out a policy. This means you also become eligible for all the perks that come with membership, such as discounts on movie tickets and car batteries.

• Can I pay my premiums month by month?

  Yes, although you may be charged an annual “pay by the month” fee. Any percentage discounts that apply to your premiums will not be deducted from this fee.

• Can I cancel my policy if I change my mind?

  Yes. You have a cooling-off period of 21 days from when your policy starts, or from midnight on your renewal date, to cancel your policy without charge. If you have made a claim within that time, you will not be eligible for free cancellation.

• Can I keep visiting my favourite vet?

  Yes. RACQ policies are valid for any licensed vet in Australia.

• Can my exclusion for a pre-existing condition be waived if my pet has fully recovered?

  If your pet shows no clinical signs or symptoms of a curable condition for 18 months after making a full recovery, you can apply to have cover for this condition reinstated. You will need to provide suitable documentation from your vet to support your application.

• Is there an age limit?

  You can’t purchase a new policy after your pet reaches nine years of age. You also have to wait until it’s eight weeks old to get cover. You can continue to cover your pet for its lifetime as long as the policy commences prior to your pet’s ninth birthday and you renew it without any breaks.

Compare alternative pet insurance policies

Product AUFPI	Accidental Injury	Illness	Paralysis Tick Yearly Sub-Limit	Maximum yearly benefit	Reimbursement rate	Reimbursement Rate
Promoted Medibank Pet Max Cover with Extra Care			$30,000	$30,000	90%	90%	Fetch your 1st month free. Sign up to Medibank Pet Insurance using promo code 1FREE and get your first month's premium free. Offer ends 6 March 2025. T&Cs apply.	Get quoteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Promoted Bow Wow Meow Nose-to-Tail Cover Finder Award			No sub-limit	$30,000	70%, 80% or 90%	70%, 80% or 90%	Get your first 2 months free by using the promo code: 2MFREE. T&Cs apply. Enjoy GapOnly claiming and complimentary use of myPetPass with 24/7 access to Live Vet Care. Also, policyholders are entitled to a free ID tag.	Get quoteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Promoted Budget Direct Plus Cover			$3,000	$25,000	80%	80%	Get a Pet Insurance quote and fill in the entry form for your chance to win a $1,000 Visa eGift card for you and a $1,000 Pets & Vets eGift card for your pets. T&Cs apply.	Get quoteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Everyday Comprehensive Plus Cover			$3,000	$30,000	80%	80%	Everyday Pet Insurance customers get 10% off their monthly Woolworths shop. T&Cs apply.	Get quoteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Knose Pet Insurance Finder AwardExclusive			$25,000	$25,000	90%	90%	⭐Finder Exclusive: Get 10% off your first year. Sign up using promo code FINDER10. T&C's apply.	Get quoteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
PIA Major Medical Cover			$3,000	$30,145	80%	80%	Covers specified accidents and illnesses, with Routine Care Cover included. Get 3 months free when you sign up using the code PIA303. T&Cs apply.	Get quoteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Kogan Pet Luxury Cover			$2,000	$15,000	80% up to age 8 & 65% over age 8	80% up to age 8 & 65% over age 8	Get 1 month free when you purchase Kogan Pet Insurance. Sign up using promo code FREEMONTH. Offer ends 30 September 2025. T&Cs apply.	Continue Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Coles Premium Cover			$2,500	$15,000	80% or 100%	80% or 100%	Earn 10x Flybuys points per $1 spent on pet food at Coles Supermarkets. T&Cs apply.	Get quoteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
PD Deluxe Plan			$15,000	$20,000	100%	100%	Apply online and get your first 1 month free. T&Cs apply.	Get quoteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Fetch Pet Insurance			$30,000	$30,000	80% or 90% or 100%	80% or 90% or 100%	Get dental, physio and behaviour cover included and skip wait periods by following our in-app journey.	Get quoteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Pet Circle Dog Cover			$10K or $17.5K or $30K	$30,000	70% or 80% or 90%	70% or 80% or 90%	Get 2 months free when you sign up using the code PCI2FREE. T&Cs apply.	Continue Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Vets Choice Elite Cover			$2,500	$15,000	80%	80%	Get a 5% discount when you insure more than one pet.	Get quoteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Guardian Platinum Accident & Illness Cover			$1,200	$12,000	80%	80%	Lifetime cover for cats and dogs, up to 80% covered.	Get quoteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Petsy Custom Cover Exclusive			$5000 or $10,000 or $25,000	$0	80% or 90%	80% or 90%	⭐ Finder Exclusive: Enjoy 30% off your first month of pet insurance, plus receive a custom pet tag. Sign up using the code FINDER. T&Cs apply.	Get quoteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Real Premium Accident & Illness Cover			$1,200	$12,000	80%	80%	Claim up to a maximum of $12k per year, with no excess to pay.	Get quoteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
RSPCA Ultimate Plus Accident and Illness Cover Best Rated Brand			$20,000	$20,000	80%	80%	Comprehensive cover for your pet, including the option of routine care. Get 1 month free for the first year of new policies. T&C's apply.	Get quoteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Kogan Pet Primary Cover			$1,200	$8,000	80%	80%	Get 1 month free when you purchase Kogan Pet Insurance. Sign up using promo code FREEMONTH. Offer ends 30 September 2025. T&Cs apply.	Continue Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Written by

Alexandra Koster

Publisher

Alexandra Koster was Finder's publisher for car, home and pet insurance. She has a Tier 1 certification in General Insurance, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Cultural Studies from the University of Sydney. Her hobbies include reading Product Disclosure Statements and deciphering complicated insurance lingo to help people save on their insurance so that they can spend their money on better things – like dogs. See full bio