Petco’s Vital Care Premier costs $24.99/month or $239.88/year when you pay annually (about 20% off). If you shop Petco regularly, the perks can add up fast. The catch: it’s a 12-month commitment even on the monthly plan—so it’s smart to do a quick “Will I actually use this?” check before you hit confirm.

If you’re not sure you want to pay for a membership yet, start with the free option first: Petco’s free rewards program guide. Then come back here to see whether upgrading to Premier makes sense for your pet and your routine.

Before you commit to any membership, don't forget to check out our Petco codes and discounts for an extra nudge of savings.

Quick verdict

What you get with Vital Care Premier

Premier comes with monthly rewards plus discounts on key categories. Here’s the perk stack at a glance.

Monthly vs annual pricing (the 20% savings)

Premier costs $24.99/month. If you pay monthly, that’s $299.88/year. Pay annually instead and you’ll save 20%, bringing the total to $239.88/year.

How to tell if Premier will pay for itself

Think of this as a two-part equation: your $15/month rewards plus any discount savings you’ll actually use.

Easy ways to cover the remaining ~$60

• Grooming: One or two discounted visits can do it, depending on your usual bill.
• Nutrition: Regular food purchases can cover it through 10% off.
• Vet exams: If you use the exam benefits, Premier can swing into “worth it” territory quickly.

The grooming sweet spot

If grooming is already part of your routine, Premier is often the easiest membership to justify. Example: spend $50 per grooming session and go every two months. With 20% off, you save $10 per visit, or $60 annually—enough to cover the “gap” after rewards on an annual plan.

• 6 grooming sessions/year: $60 in savings + $180 rewards = $240 value
• 12 grooming sessions/year: $120 in savings + $180 rewards = $300 value

Premier vs. free Vital Care Core

Petco’s free Vital Care Core is a solid “start here” option. You’ll get points and member perks without paying a monthly fee. Premier builds on that with monthly rewards, bigger discounts, and veterinary benefits.

Want the free version details? Here’s the full breakdown: Petco Vital Care Core rewards guide.

Which membership makes more sense?

• Choose Core (free) if you want member pricing, points back on purchases, and occasional perks (like every 8th groom free) without paying a monthly fee. It’s the easiest option if you’re a casual Petco shopper or you’re still figuring out how often you’ll buy food, book grooming, or use Petco services.
• Choose Premier (paid) if you’ll reliably use the $15 monthly rewards and at least one other major perk—10% off nutrition, 20% off grooming, or the vet exam benefits. It’s especially compelling if you pay annually, since you’ll save 20% ($239.88/year vs $299.88/year when paying monthly).
• If you’re on the fence, start with Core and track your last 1–2 months of Petco spend. If you’re shopping often and grooming/vet perks are in your routine, upgrading to Premier is much easier to justify.

The 12-month commitment problem

Here’s the part that makes Premier feel less like a casual add-on and more like a real decision: Vital Care Premier requires a 12-month commitment with automatic renewal.

This isn’t a “try it for a month and see” situation. If your pet care needs change mid-year—fewer grooms, a move, a new vet—you’ll still be paying for a plan you may not be using as much.

Why the annual payment can be a smart move

If you already know you’ll use the benefits, paying annually is the cleaner deal. You save 20%—$239.88/year instead of $299.88/year when paying monthly.

Customer complaints you should know about

Some customers report being surprised by the annual commitment and renewal timing. The safest move is to read the terms closely and treat Premier like a year-long membership from day one.

How to cancel if you need to

If you decide Premier isn’t for you, you’ll want to cancel before your annual renewal window. Here are the options listed for cancellation.

Your cancellation options

• Online: Log into your Petco account, find your Vital Care Premier subscription, and turn off auto-renewal
• Phone: Call customer support at 858-657-2035
• Email: Contact vitalcarepremier@petco.com

Bottom line: should you sign up?

Vital Care Premier can be worth it, but it’s not automatic. The $180/year in monthly rewards does most of the heavy lifting—then you’re typically looking to cover about $60 more in savings to justify the $239.88/year annual plan.

If you’re confident you’ll use the perks, the annual payment is the best-value way to join because of the built-in 20% savings.

Skip it if you:

• Aren’t sure about the annual commitment
• Prefer shopping around for deals
• Mainly buy pet supplies at other stores
• Only need dog food every few months

Consider it if you:

• Regularly groom your pet at Petco
• Buy pet food monthly and want 10% off nutrition purchases
• Plan to use the vet exam benefits
• Don’t mind committing to a year