Canine Cab

Pet Sitting Insurance: $1M Liability Cost + Top Providers [2026]

Pet sitting insurance runs $215-$500/year for $1M liability. 7 providers compared (PCI, Pet Sitters Associates, Insurance Canopy, Thimble, Hartford, NEXT). What’s covered, what’s not.

Faz
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· 8-MIN RIDE
Editorial flat lay of pet sitting insurance documents with calculator and dog leash on warm desk
QUICK TAKE

Pet sitting liability insurance for $1M coverage runs $215-$500/year. Top providers: Pet Care Insurance (PCI) from $175/yr ($14.58/mo), Pet Sitters Associates from $215/yr, Insurance Canopy from $254/yr, Thimble pay-by-hour from $5/hr, The Hartford starting $300/yr, NEXT Insurance from $250/yr, Pet Sitters International (membership-based) from $194/yr. Bonding (separate from liability) adds $100-$400/year. Coverage gaps to watch: aggression/bite exclusions, key loss limits ($1k-$5k typical), pre-existing medical conditions, vehicle accidents involving pet.

FACT-CHECKEDLast reviewed May 2026 by Canine Cab. We update this guide when operator pricing or airline policies change.

Pet sitting insurance for $1M general liability typically runs $215-$500/year. This guide compares 7 major US providers on price, coverage, claims experience, and the exclusions buried in policy fine print — plus the bonding vs liability distinction every professional sitter needs to understand.

7 providers compared

ProviderAnnual costCoverageBest for
Pet Care Insurance (PCI)$175+/year$1M-$2M liability + bonding bundleSolo sitters, lowest cost
Pet Sitters Associates$215/year$2M GL aggregate, $1M per occurrencePet Sitters International members
Insurance Canopy$254/year$1M-$2M GL, optional bondingFlexible coverage levels
Thimble (pay-by-hour)$5/hour$1M-$2M per jobSporadic/part-time sitters
The Hartford$300+/year$1M-$2M comprehensiveMulti-sitter businesses
NEXT Insurance$250+/year$1M-$2M + add-onsQuick online quote
Pet Sitters International (PSI)$194+/yearMembership + insurance bundleCareer-focused sitters

What’s covered vs not covered

Side-by-side comparison of insurance provider brochures on professional desk
Coverage areaStandard policiesExclusions to watch
Bodily injury to third partiesYes (up to policy limit)Intentional acts excluded
Property damage to client homeYesWear-and-tear excluded
Key lossLimited ($1k-$5k)Above limit = out-of-pocket
Dog bite from pet in your careMost policies COVERSome exclude aggressive-breed history
Pet medical conditions worseningIf due to your negligencePre-existing conditions EXCLUDED
Pet theft by you (intentional)NEVER (criminal)That’s bonding, not insurance
Vehicle accidents with pet insideSometimesOften requires commercial auto rider
Legal defense costsYes for covered claimsExcluded claims = your cost

Insurance vs bonding: the difference

  • Insurance (general liability) = accidents, injuries, property damage YOU or pets in your care cause
  • Bonding = theft or dishonesty by YOU (the sitter)
  • Most professional sitters need both. Bonding required by many clients who give house keys; liability required for actual care work.
  • Combined cost: $315-$900/year for $1M liability + $5k-$25k bond.
Pet sitter reviewing insurance paperwork on laptop in home office with pet visible

Frequently asked questions

How much does pet sitting insurance cost?
$1M liability $215-$500/year. PCI from $175/year. Pet Sitters Associates from $215/year. Insurance Canopy from $254. Hartford from $300. NEXT from $250. Plus $100-$400/year bonding.
What does it cover?
Bodily injury to third parties, property damage to client homes, key loss ($1k-$5k cap), legal defense for covered claims, medical payments for pet injuries through your negligence.
What’s NOT covered?
Aggression/dog bites (some policies exclude), pre-existing pet conditions, vehicle accidents (often need separate commercial auto), intentional acts, employee dishonesty (bonding territory), pet theft (criminal).
Insurance vs bonding?
Insurance = accidents YOU or pets cause. Bonding = theft/dishonesty by YOU. Both needed for professional sitters. Combined $315-$900/year.
Need insurance for Rover/Wag?
They provide secondary up to $1M for platform bookings. But limited to platform bookings, has exclusions, secondary to your own. Most pros carry their own anyway.
How to file a claim?
Document immediately (photos, timeline, witnesses, vet bills). Notify insurer 24-48 hours. Process: adjuster assigned 1-3 days, investigation 1-4 weeks, settlement 2-8 weeks.
Which is best?
Solo under $50k revenue: PCI ($175) or Pet Sitters Associates ($215). Multi-sitter business: Hartford or NEXT. Sporadic: Thimble pay-by-hour. Career-focused: PSI membership bundle.
Need an LLC?
Not required for insurance. But LLC ($50-$500) adds personal asset protection beyond insurance. LLC + liability + bonding = $400-$1,000 annual professional setup.
METHODOLOGY

Provider pricing from public rate pages (May 2026). Coverage analysis from policy documents + Insurance Information Institute + Pet Sitters International. Refreshed annually.

Sources & references

Faz

Faz leads the editorial team at Canine Cab. A long-time pet enthusiast and pet-care advocate, Faz has spent years navigating pet transport firsthand – vet runs, cross-state moves, airline cargo paperwork, the works. The Canine Cab brand traces back to the mid-2000s as a Colorado-based pet taxi and dog walking service; Faz now leads its current chapter as a national editorial team covering pet transport pricing, airline pet policies, and operator vetting across all 50 states.

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