Border Collie insurance cost
A 3-year-old Border Collie typically costs $30 a month to insure, with a likely range of $16–$44. Expect about $29 for a puppy and $89 at age 10.1. That is 17% less than the median dog breed.
Estimates only, not a quote. Not financial or veterinary advice. Full disclaimer.
Estimate for your Border Collie
$30 /month typical
Likely range $16–$44 a month ($192–$532 a year)
- Average dog premium at the reference age$52.83/mo
- Age 3 years×0.68
- Border Collie×0.84
- National average (no state selected)×1.00
- Accident & illness plan×1.00
Estimates only, not a quote. Not financial or veterinary advice. Based on a $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement and $5,000 annual limit. Actual prices depend on the insurer, ZIP code and your pet's history.
Monthly cost by age
| Age | Typical | Likely range | All-breed median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy (6 months) | $29 | $15–$43 | $35 |
| Young adult (3 years) | $30 | $16–$44 | $36 |
| Middle-aged (6 years) | $44 | $23–$64 | $53 |
| Senior (10.1 years) | $89 | $47–$131 | $119 |
Border Collies rank 30 of 154 dog breeds by price in the quote data (1 = cheapest), in the cheapest quarter. Between age 3 and 10.1 the typical premium rises 2.9-fold. AAHA guidelines treat dogs as seniors in the last 25% of their expected lifespan, which for a Border Collie (AKC life expectancy 12–15 years) starts around age 10.1. Add your state in the calculator above: state prices range from about 31% below to 18% above the national average.
Why a Border Collie costs less to insure
Border Collies have one of the lighter risk profiles in the research we use. They had lower odds than crossbreds of ear infections and bone cancer, and their odds of dental disease were not significantly different. The one documented predisposition is mitral valve disease, at about twice the odds. Their premiums are below the all-breed median in the quote data, which makes them one of the better-value medium-size breeds to insure.
-
Mitral valve disease (heart) Higher risk
Border Collies had 2.02 times the odds of diagnosed mitral valve disease compared with crossbred dogs. [source]
-
Ear infections (otitis externa) Lower risk
Border Collies had lower odds of ear infections than crossbred dogs (odds ratio 0.34). [source]
-
Bone cancer (osteosarcoma) Lower risk
Border Collies had lower odds of osteosarcoma than crossbred dogs (odds ratio 0.21). [source]
No treatment cost shown for mitral valve disease (heart): we have not found a reliable published US cost range yet, and we do not estimate one ourselves. Ask your vet for a written estimate.
Lifetime cost: insurance vs paying the vet yourself
Insuring a Border Collie from puppyhood to an expected lifespan of about 13.5 years adds up to roughly $9,403 in typical premiums at today's prices (national average, accident and illness, no inflation).
Insurance is a hedge: most years you pay more in premiums than you claim, and a policy pays off in the years with a large bill. If you could pay the bills in this table from savings without hardship, self-insuring can make sense; see is pet insurance worth it?
Which coverage fits a Border Collie
- Accident and illness, not accident-only. The conditions documented for Border Collies are illnesses or degenerative problems, which accident-only plans do not cover. Accident-only costs about 31% as much as accident and illness in the quote data, so it suits a tight budget but leaves out the main risks for this breed.
- Check how chronic conditions are handled. Mitral valve disease (heart) is a lifelong condition. Ask whether the deductible resets every year or once per condition, and whether there are per-condition caps.
- Enroll early. Anything noted in your dog's records before coverage starts can be excluded as pre-existing. Premiums for a Border Collie are $30 a month at age 3 versus $89 at 10.1 in the quote data.
Similar breeds
- Standard Poodle $40/mo
- German Shepherd $40/mo
- English Bulldog $66/mo
- Pomeranian $29/mo
- Dachshund $29/mo
Related guides
- How pet insurance deductibles work
- Pet insurance for senior dogs
- Pre-existing conditions and pet insurance
- Accident-only vs accident and illness pet insurance
Frequently asked questions
How much is pet insurance for a Border Collie?
About $30 a month for a 3-year-old Border Collie (likely $16–$44), $29 for a puppy and $89 at age 10.1, for an accident and illness policy with a $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement and $5,000 limit, before any state adjustment.
Is a Border Collie expensive to insure?
At the reference age of 6, a Border Collie costs 17% less than the median dog breed in our data, and ranks 30 of 154 breeds from cheapest to most expensive.
Does pet insurance cover mitral valve disease in Border Collies?
Accident and illness policies generally cover it if it was not present, treated or showing signs before the policy started or during the waiting period; that is the NAIC Model Act definition of a pre-existing condition. Policies that exclude hereditary or congenital conditions must say so in their disclosures.
At what age is a Border Collie a senior, and what happens to the price?
AAHA guidelines define a senior dog as one in the last 25% of its expected lifespan. With an AKC life expectancy of 12–15 years, that is about age 10.1 for a Border Collie. In the quote data its premium at 10.1 is 2.9 times the price at age 3.
How much does it cost to insure a Border Collie for life?
If you insure from puppyhood to an expected lifespan of about 13.5 years, typical premiums add up to roughly $9,403 at today's prices (no inflation, no state adjustment). Premiums usually rise over time, so the real figure is likely higher.
Breed facts: AKC Border Collie page (Herding Group; weight 30-55 pounds; life expectancy 12-15 years).
Sources
- American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. Accessed 11/06/2026.
- American Kennel Club (AKC). Dog breed pages (weight, life expectancy, group). Accessed 11/06/2026.
- Mattin MJ et al., Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2015). Prevalence of and risk factors for degenerative mitral valve disease in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England. Accessed 11/06/2026.
- MoneyGeek. How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost? (10/14/2026). Accessed 11/06/2026.
- MoneyGeek. Best Dog Insurance. Accessed 11/06/2026.
- MoneyGeek. Pet Insurance Methodology (04/24/2026). Accessed 11/06/2026.
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Pet Insurance Model Act (MO-633) (08/13/2022). Accessed 11/06/2026.
- O'Neill DG et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics (2021). Frequency and predisposing factors for canine otitis externa in the UK - a primary veterinary care epidemiological view. Accessed 11/06/2026.
- O'Neill DG et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics (2023). Dog breeds and conformations predisposed to osteosarcoma in the UK: a VetCompass study. Accessed 11/06/2026.
Full list, limitations and how each figure is used: methodology.
Data last reviewed: · How we estimate