OtherEnds 8 Sept 18h 2m left
Should all dog owners be required to have third-party liability insurance?
Dog owners in the UK are liable for injuries or property damage caused by their dogs, yet third-party liability insurance is only legally required for owners of exempted banned breeds until July 2026, after which the requirement was removed due to lack of available policies. Dog attacks have risen, with over 29,400 out-of-control incidents causing injury recorded across England and Wales in 2025, and NHS costs from bites reaching £71 million annually. A campaign following fatal dog-on-dog attacks has called for mandatory cover for all owners to ensure victims receive compensation.
7 Opinions
No, all insurances should be voluntary. Owners responsibility and quick and fair justice system is the solution here. We should focus on fixing our laws and justice system rather than expanding laws. And why just dogs? What about cats, or other dangerous pets (venomous snakes or spiders)?
Insurance is simply shifting the blame and deterrence. Far better to apply existing law: if something you are responsible for, such as a dog, causes harm or damage, then you should be prosecuted for that harm. If you don't want that risk, as a dog owner, then train your dog and control it properly.
If you own a dog which could be classed as dangerous, get the insurance, for your own space of mind. Most house insurance covers dog bites, unless you own a "dangerous" dog. No house insurance covers dog attacks. It's advisable to get the insurance, just in case. Regardless of breed, if your dog gets attacked you will need insurance to cover vet fees. Vet fees can run high, over £5000.
Instead bring back the dog license and stop irresponsible ownership.
In theory this should be encouraged. A larger pool of people paying in means more shared risk and lower Premiums, in addition to the individual risk-assessment determining those Premiums. The low-risk dog owners will barely notice. On the other hand, how do you enforce this? And there are other models. Germany, for example, has Dog licenses which are seen as a civic responsibility.. The money from which goes towards shelters, that have far greater success in re-homing.
As someone who has a dog I think this is perfectly reasonable. If you have an animal that is capable of causing harm (no matter how predictable you think it is), then third-party insurance should be a no brainer. It costs as little as £25 a year, so a fairly inconsequential cost...