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Insuring a Vehicle in Spain: Car Insurance
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Find out about the types of vehicle insurance available in Spain and how to make a claim. Also, find out what the cover provides and how to insure a foreign car in Spain...
All vehicles must have at least third party insurance. Proof of insurance must be carried at all times. There are penalties for drivers of vehicles without valid insurance.
Types of Insurance
Spanish insurance policies may vary from the standards of other countries, including EU countries. For example, when a car is considered a write-off in Spain, the insurance company will only refund a percentage of the value.
- It is obligatory for all cars to have at least third party, fire and theft insurance (part comprehensive). This is called: seguro a terceros or responsabilidad civil obligatoria
- Fully comprehensive "all risks" insurance (Seguro a todo riesgo) is available and often obligatory when leasing a car or buying on hire purchase
- Optional driver and passenger insurance (Seguro de ocupantes) provides compensation for loss of earnings and death. Special insurance may be required for exceptional contents and accessories
The Spanish insurance system operates on a no-claims bonus (bonification/sistema bonus-malus). In order to benefit, evidence of no prior claims will need to be provided. It can significantly reduce the cost of insurance. A premium may be reduced by electing to pay an excess (franquicia or deducible).
Claiming after an accident
- To find out
about what to do after a motor vehicle accident in Spain, see the
Angloinfo guide Road Accidents in Spain
If an
accident is caused by an uninsured vehicle, injured party or owner of damaged
property is entitled to compensation from the Insurance Compensation Pool (Consorcio de
Compensación de Seguros).
If
the car is registered in another country, a Green Card must
be displayed.
Insuring an EU-Registered Car in Spain
If
the car spends over six months of the year in an EU country other than Spain,
it is necessary to take out a European insurance policy with the home insurer.
EU regulations mean that all vehicles must be insured in the country in which
they are registered. Therefore if the car is (for example) UK-registered it
cannot be insured with a Spanish company. The vehicle can, however, be insured
with a British insurer in Spain, by using the Spanish branch of a UK insurance
company.
To
register a car in Spain it needs to be deregistered in the country of origin
then re-registered with the authorities in Spain.
Further Information
- Information on
moving a car to Spain from EURES
- Guide from the DGT in Spain
- The Council for compensation and insurance in Spain: Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros