Dog grooming insurance isn't legally required in the UK. Many groomers operate without any insurance coverage.
This creates financial risk: if your dog is injured during grooming and the groomer has no insurance, you're pursuing an individual for compensation rather than an insurance company. If they have no assets, you may receive nothing regardless of fault.
This guide explains what grooming insurance actually covers, why groomers choose to operate without it, how to check insurance certificates, and where to find insured groomers across London.
Public liability insurance protects groomers (and their clients) when the groomer's business activities cause injury or damage.
Injuries to dogs during grooming:
Property damage:
Legal costs:
Standard public liability policies exclude:
Pre-existing conditions: If your dog already had a skin condition and grooming exacerbates it, this may not be covered.
Deliberate acts: Intentional harm isn't covered (though this would be a criminal matter).
Gradual harm: Long-term damage from repeated poor practice may not be covered under a single policy claim.
Business property: Damage to the groomer's own equipment or premises isn't covered by public liability (they need separate equipment insurance).
Professional indemnity situations: Claims related to "professional advice" rather than physical injury may require professional indemnity insurance (rarely relevant in grooming).
This is the minimum sensible coverage for dog grooming. Many insurers offer £1M as standard.
£1 million sounds substantial, but veterinary costs for serious injuries can be significant:
For most grooming incidents, £1M coverage is sufficient. However, if a dog suffers permanent injury requiring lifetime care, costs can accumulate.
Some groomers carry £2M coverage for additional protection. This typically costs only £50-100 more annually than £1M coverage.
£2M coverage provides greater reassurance for:
Some policies offer up to £5M or £10M coverage. This is unusual in pet grooming and typically unnecessary unless the groomer operates a large facility with multiple staff and high client volume.
Public liability insurance for dog grooming typically starts from around £60-80 per year for basic cover. According to Simply Business, 10% of their customers paid £59.34 or less annually for up to £2 million public liability cover (February-April 2026). Protectivity quotes start from £5.41 per month (October 2024), and Suited offers public liability from £72 per year for £1 million cover. Comprehensive packages with additional covers cost more.
Reasons groomers operate without insurance:
While basic insurance starts from around £60-80 per year, some groomers - particularly those just starting out - choose to operate without insurance until their business generates sufficient income. However, given these low starting prices, the financial risk of operating uninsured far outweighs the cost.
Groomers with previous insurance claims may face higher premiums or struggle to obtain coverage. Some insurers refuse cover after multiple claims.
Some experienced groomers believe their skill level makes insurance unnecessary. They may have groomed for years without incident and consider the cost unjustified.
The unregulated nature of pet grooming means some new groomers genuinely don't know insurance exists or is advisable.
Groomers operating cash-only businesses may avoid insurance to maintain lower overheads and off-books income.
Pet grooming requires specialist insurance. General public liability policies may exclude animal-related activities.
Common specialist insurers for pet groomers:
If a groomer shows you an insurance certificate, check the insurer is recognised and the policy explicitly covers grooming activities.
When a groomer provides an insurance certificate, verify these details:
The certificate should show the groomer's business name or personal name (for sole traders). If the names don't match, ask for clarification.
Every certificate has a policy number. This confirms it's an actual policy, not a template or fake document.
Look for "Limit of Indemnity" or similar wording showing £1M, £2M, or higher coverage.
Check the policy is current. Expired certificates mean no coverage. Some groomers show old certificates hoping clients won't check dates.
The certificate should specify "dog grooming," "pet grooming," or similar. If it says "general public liability" without mentioning animals, it may not cover grooming activities.
Check the insurer is legitimate. Specialist pet insurers (Cliverton, Towergate, Petplan for Business) are reassuring. Unknown company names warrant further investigation.
"I'm insured but don't have the certificate with me": Professional groomers keep certificates accessible. This response suggests possible lack of insurance.
Defensive reactions: If asking about insurance makes a groomer defensive or annoyed, this is concerning. Credential checks are routine in professional services.
Certificate looks unofficial: Legitimate certificates are professionally formatted with insurer branding, policy numbers, and official contact details.
Certificate is about to expire: If expiry is within days or weeks, ask when renewal is scheduled. Groomers sometimes let insurance lapse due to cost.
Certificate shows business name you don't recognise: Some groomers operate under multiple names or show certificates for different businesses. Verify the certificate covers their current grooming activities.
If an uninsured groomer injures your dog, your options are limited:
You can pursue compensation through small claims court (claims up to £10,000). You'll need to prove:
Court fees start at £35-100 depending on claim value. You may recover fees if you win, but you need to pay them upfront.
Winning a court judgement doesn't guarantee payment. If the groomer:
Your own pet insurance may cover vet bills regardless of who caused the injury. Your insurer may then pursue the groomer for compensation (subrogation), but this doesn't affect your immediate access to treatment.
Check your policy excess and coverage limits. Some policies exclude grooming-related injuries or classify them as "negligence" with different terms.
Mobile groomers face additional insurance considerations:
Mobile groomers should carry public liability insurance AND commercial vehicle insurance. Ask to see both if booking mobile services.
Salon-based groomers typically need:
Insurance costs £300-600 annually. For a groomer completing 500 appointments per year, this represents £0.60-£1.20 per appointment.
Some groomers pass this cost to clients through slightly higher pricing. Others absorb it to remain competitive.
In practice, insured groomers don't consistently charge more than uninsured groomers. Pricing is influenced more by location, experience, and business model than insurance status.
If you're checking whether your groomer's insurance is legitimate, these are established UK providers offering pet grooming insurance. We recommend getting quotes from multiple providers to compare prices.
If your groomer shows you a certificate from one of these providers, that's a good sign. If the insurer name isn't recognisable, it's worth checking they're FCA regulated before booking.
Are you a groomer looking to get insured?
Read our complete guide: Pet Grooming Insurance UK: What You Need and Where to Get It
Below are links to view insured groomers (Featured and Premium listings with verified insurance) in each London borough.
Insured Dog Groomers in Westminster
Insured Dog Groomers in Camden
Insured Dog Groomers in Islington
Insured Dog Groomers in City of London
Insured Dog Groomers in Barnet
Insured Dog Groomers in Enfield
Insured Dog Groomers in Haringey
Insured Dog Groomers in Hackney
Insured Dog Groomers in Tower Hamlets
Insured Dog Groomers in Newham
Insured Dog Groomers in Waltham Forest
Insured Dog Groomers in Redbridge
Insured Dog Groomers in Barking and Dagenham
Insured Dog Groomers in Havering
Insured Dog Groomers in Wandsworth
Insured Dog Groomers in Lambeth
Insured Dog Groomers in Southwark
Insured Dog Groomers in Lewisham
Insured Dog Groomers in Greenwich
Insured Dog Groomers in Bexley
Insured Dog Groomers in Bromley
Insured Dog Groomers in Croydon
Insured Dog Groomers in Sutton
Insured Dog Groomers in Merton
Insured Dog Groomers in Richmond upon Thames
Insured Dog Groomers in Kingston upon Thames
Insured Dog Groomers in Hounslow
Insured Dog Groomers in Ealing
Insured Dog Groomers in Hillingdon
Insured Dog Groomers in Harrow
Compare prices, read reviews, and book qualified groomers across London.
Find Groomers