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Pet Circle Insurance Pet Insurance review
Effectively the Knose product with the Pet Circle e-commerce brand on top — same underwriter (Pacific International), same distributor (Knose Financial Services), $30k max annual benefit, three reimbursement options.
The short version
Pet Circle Insurance launched in May 2023 as a brand extension of Pet Circle, Australia's largest online pet retailer. Underneath the brand: Pacific International Insurance underwrites, Knose Financial Services distributes, Millell Pty Ltd (trading as Pet Circle) acts as authorised rep. Same underwriting and distribution chain as Knose itself.
Product spec is genuinely strong: $30,000 maximum annual benefit limit (more than Knose's $25k, less than RSPCA's $35k), three reimbursement options (70/80/90%), Dental Illness covered as core. Pet Circle's e-commerce brand recognition is the differentiator vs the lesser-known Knose label.
4.4 stars across 248 ProductReview ratings — solid mid-pack volume, similar average to PIA. Worth knowing: many of these reviews are about the Pet Circle online shop experience, not specifically the insurance product. Read the most recent reviews if you're trying to gauge claims-handling specifically.
Score breakdown
v1.1 of the Insu Score weights four components. Pet Circle Insurance scores well on the dimensions covered; affordability is pending until our premium estimator launches.
Strong $30k annual limit (between Knose's $25k and RSPCA's $35k). Three reimbursement options (70/80/90%) — same flex as Knose. Dental Illness covered as core. Behavioural appears restricted (verify in PDS Section 4).
Pending quote sample. Likely priced similarly to Knose given identical underwriter and distributor.
Pacific International underwriter (APRA-authorised). Knose Financial Services distributor (well-established AFSL 536651). Pet Circle parent brand has strong AU market presence (largest online pet retailer). Brand operating ~3 years specifically as insurance — younger than Knose.
4.4 stars across 248 ProductReview ratings. Mid-pack — better than PetsOnMe (3.9★/18) but lower than Knose (4.7★/692) or Petsy (4.9★/309). Caveat: Pet Circle reviews on aggregator sites often blur the e-commerce experience with the insurance experience.
Pet Circle's 50/100 partial reflects strong product spec offset by mid-tier customer experience signals. With same underwriter as Knose and a slightly higher annual limit, the choice between Pet Circle vs Knose comes down to brand preference and pricing — they're genuinely similar products. How the score is calculated →
Coverage features audit (current PDS)
The 8 features feeding the Coverage Depth score, with the actual values from the current Pet Circle Insurance Product Disclosure Statement (dated 2024-07).
| Feature | Pet Circle Insurance value | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Annual benefit limit | Up to $30,000 (more than Knose's $25k, less than RSPCA's $35k) | 8 / 8 |
| Reimbursement % | 70% / 80% / 90% — three options (same as Knose) | 6 / 8 |
| Excess flexibility | Annual Excess options available (default tier $100 visible in PDS — verify other tiers in current document). | 3 / 5 |
| Dental cover | Dental Illness covered as core per PDS Section — subject to waiting periods and sub-limits. | 3 / 5 |
| Behavioural cover | Behavioural Conditions defined in PDS — appears partially excluded as part of "Specified Condition" framework. Verify in current PDS. | 2 / 5 |
| Alternative therapy cover | Alternative therapies covered subject to sub-limits and vet recommendation. | 3 / 5 |
| Routine care add-on | Optional Extra Benefit available per current PDS — verify if routine care or specific add-on bundle. | 3 / 5 |
| Bilateral condition flexibility | Standard bilateral restriction. Pre-existing on one side excludes the other. | 1 / 5 |
| Pre-existing condition review | Pre-existing Symptoms and Conditions excluded per industry-standard model. Review path may exist similar to Knose — verify in current PDS. | 2 / 4 |
Source: Pet Circle Insurance Combined Product Disclosure Statement and Policy Wording (PDS document petcircle-pds, dated 2024-07). Last read by Insu: 2026-04-29. Verify current values at www.petcircleinsurance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/petcircle-pds.pdf before purchasing.
What we liked
- $30,000 annual benefit limit at the top tier — only RSPCA's $35k beats it in our directory
- Three reimbursement options (70/80/90%) — gives premium flexibility
- Pet Circle parent brand recognition + 248 reviews of feedback (most volume of any Pacific International brand)
- Same underwriter (Pacific International) and distributor (Knose Financial Services) as Knose — proven operational backbone
- Dental Illness as core cover (not optional add-on)
What to think about
- Functionally identical product to Knose — the choice between them is mostly brand preference and pricing
- Behavioural cover appears restricted compared to Pacific International's RSPCA PetFlex product
- Insurance brand only ~3 years old (launched May 2023) — limited claims-handling track record under the current structure
- ProductReview ratings blur e-commerce shop reviews with insurance reviews — separate the two when reading
- Lower customer rating volume than the industry leaders in our directory (BWM 3,193, RSPCA historical 8,239)
Same underwriter as 4 other AU brands
Pet Circle Insurance is underwritten by Pacific International Insurance — the same underwriter as four other Australian pet brands. It's also distributed through Knose Financial Services, the same distributor as Knose's own product:
Same underwriter doesn't mean identical product — pricing, benefit tiers, and add-ons vary by brand. But your claim is paid by the same company regardless of which logo is on the policy. More on the Pacific International family → (coming soon)
Affordability — coming soon
The Insu premium estimator is being built using a combination of PDS-published rate tables and manual benchmark quote sampling. Once it launches, this section will show:
- Pet Circle Insurance's premium for the standard 3-year-old Labrador Sydney 2000 benchmark
- Where that premium sits in the percentile ranking across all 19 AU pet insurers
- Variations for older pets, regional postcodes, and cat scenarios
In the interim, the most accurate way to get a real Pet Circle Insurance quote is direct from their site (no obligation, no signup required for the quote itself).
Get a Pet Circle Insurance quote
Direct quote from the insurer, no signup needed to see pricing.
Visit Pet Circle Insurance ↗We may earn an affiliate commission if you purchase through this link. The Insu Score is calculated independently of affiliate status — see the methodology page.
PDS read: 2026-04-29 · ProductReview data captured: 2026-04-29 · Underwriter status verified: 2026-04-27 · Insu Score version: v1.1