Insurance
Car insurance in Spain for expats in 2026: what you need to know
Compulsory cover, terceros vs todo riesgo, foreign licences and no-claims history, and what to do after an accident in Spain.
Updated: October 2026
If you drive in Spain, whether in a car you brought from home or one you bought here, you need valid motor insurance from the first day. This guide is for expats and new residents who want to understand what is compulsory, which type of cover makes sense, how to use your no-claims history from abroad and what to do if you have an accident.
For an overview of all the main policies in Spain, from health to home, see our guide to insurance in Spain.
What the law requires
Every motor vehicle that is normally kept in Spain must have compulsory third-party liability insurance (seguro obligatorio de responsabilidad civil). This applies even if the car is parked and not being driven. The rules are set out in the motor liability law (Real Decreto Legislativo 8/2004), which was updated by Law 5/2025 to transpose the latest EU motor insurance directive.
The legal minimum cover is 70 million euros per claim for personal injury, regardless of the number of victims, and 15 million euros per claim for damage to property. The compulsory part only pays for harm you cause to other people and their property. It does not repair your own car.
Driving or keeping a car on the public road without insurance is a very serious offence. Fines are high (often reported at around 1,500 euros for a car on the road), and the police can immobilise the vehicle on the spot. If you cause an accident without insurance, the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros pays the victims and can then claim the full amount back from you.
Types of car insurance in Spain
Spanish insurers sell three broad levels of cover. Names differ slightly between companies, but the structure is almost always the same.
| Type | What it usually covers | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Terceros (third party) | Compulsory liability, plus voluntary liability, legal defence and often roadside assistance | Older or low-value cars |
| Terceros ampliado (third party plus) | As above, plus extras such as glass, fire and theft | Mid-value cars that are a few years old |
| Todo riesgo (fully comprehensive) | Damage to your own car as well, even if the accident is your fault | New or financed cars |
Fully comprehensive policies are often sold con franquicia, meaning with an excess you pay yourself on each claim for your own damage. A higher excess lowers the premium. If you finance or lease a car, the lender usually requires comprehensive cover for the length of the contract.
What affects the price
- Driver profile: age, years holding a licence and claims history.
- The car: value, power and how attractive it is to thieves.
- Where you live and park: postcode and whether the car sleeps in a garage.
- Named drivers: adding young or occasional drivers usually raises the price.
Foreign licence, foreign plates and your history abroad
Driving on a foreign licence
Most Spanish insurers will cover a driver with an EU licence without problems. With a UK or other non-EU licence, check first whether you are still allowed to drive on it as a resident, because insurance does not make an invalid licence valid. Our driving licence guide explains the exchange rules for EU, UK and non-EU drivers.
Cars on foreign plates
Compulsory liability insurance from any EU country is valid across the EU, so a visitor driving a car insured at home is legally covered in Spain. Voluntary extras such as comprehensive cover may be limited to a certain number of days abroad, so read your policy. Since 2 August 2021, UK-insured cars no longer need a green card in the EU.
Once you live in Spain, the car is generally expected to be registered here, and you will then need a policy from an insurer authorised in Spain. Many Spanish insurers will not insure a foreign-plated car long term, so plan the switch together with the registration. See our guide to registering a foreign car in Spain.
Using your no-claims history from abroad
Spanish insurers check your Spanish history in a shared industry file called SINCO, which records at-fault claims for the last five years. As a newcomer you will not appear there, so you may be quoted as a new driver unless you prove your record.
- Ask your previous insurer for a claims history statement covering the last five years. Under EU rules it must be issued within 15 days of your request.
- Send it with your quote request. A sworn translation is not always required, but ask the insurer what they accept.
- Compare several offers. Insurers are not obliged to give you a discount, but Spanish law says that when they use these certificates they must not discriminate on the basis of nationality or of the country where the certificate was issued.
What to do after an accident
Minor collisions in Spain are normally settled with the parte amistoso, officially the declaración amistosa de accidente (DAA), a joint report both drivers fill in at the scene. Keep a blank copy in the glovebox; your insurer can give you one, and many insurers also offer a digital version in their app.
- Make the scene safe: hazard lights, high-visibility vest and the V-16 warning light, and move the cars if they block traffic and nobody is hurt.
- Call 112 if anyone is injured or if the other driver refuses to cooperate.
- Fill in one DAA together: both drivers’ details, insurers and policy numbers, a sketch and the boxes that describe what happened. Both sign, and each keeps a copy.
- Do not sign anything you do not understand. If your Spanish is limited, write your version in your own language in the observations box.
- Take photos of the cars, plates, the road and any witnesses’ details.
- Report the accident to your insurer within 7 days, the general deadline in the Spanish insurance contract law, unless your policy gives you longer.
When both drivers sign the same DAA, the insurers can usually settle the claim quickly between themselves. If the other party disagrees or drives away, call the police so they can write a report.
Checking whether a vehicle is insured (FIVA)
Spain keeps a central database of insured vehicles called FIVA (Fichero Informativo de Vehículos Asegurados), managed by the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros. Police use it at roadside checks, and it is updated daily.
Private individuals cannot search it freely online. If you have been in an accident and need to know the other vehicle’s insurer, you can apply to the Consorcio with the request form and a copy of the accident report or DAA. RACE explains the procedure and other ways to check. If the vehicle turns out to be uninsured or unidentified, the Consorcio can compensate you directly.
Tips for buying a policy
- Read the exclusions: check driving abroad, named drivers and what happens if an undeclared driver has an accident.
- Watch the renewal: policies renew automatically each year. To cancel, notify the insurer in writing before the renewal date.
- Keep proof in the car: police check insurance through FIVA, but carrying the receipt or a digital copy avoids discussions.
- Use a broker if needed: an independent corredor can compare insurers that accept foreign licences and foreign no-claims statements.
Useful links
- BOE: Law 5/2025 on motor liability insurance (consolidated text, Spanish)
- Your Europe: car insurance validity in the EU and claims history
- RACE: how to check if a car is insured (Spanish)
- Understanding insurance in Spain
- Driving in Spain: licence rules for EU, UK and non-EU drivers
- Registering a foreign car in Spain
FAQ: car insurance in Spain
Do I need insurance if my car is parked and not used?
Yes. A vehicle registered in Spain must have compulsory liability insurance even when it is not driven, unless it has been formally deregistered with the DGT.
Will a Spanish insurer accept my no-claims bonus from home?
Many will take it into account if you provide a claims history statement from your previous insurer, but they are not obliged to give a discount. Ask before you buy and compare several offers.
Do UK drivers need a green card in Spain?
No. The green card requirement for UK-insured vehicles in the EU ended on 2 August 2021. You still need valid insurance and should carry proof of it.
How long do I have to report an accident?
The general legal deadline is 7 days from the accident, unless your policy allows longer. Report it as soon as possible, even if you missed the deadline.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not legal or insurance advice. Rules, cover and prices can change – always read your policy conditions and check with the insurer, a registered broker or the official source before you act.
