The Complete Guide to Expat Insurance in Spain (2026)
Everything British and international expats need to know about insurance in Spain — health, home, car, life, business and travel cover, explained in English.
Does Your UK Insurance Still Work in Spain?
The short answer for most expats: no.
Once you become a Spanish resident, the majority of UK insurance policies are no longer valid — or provide significantly reduced protection. This catches a lot of people out, particularly in the first year after moving. Here’s what typically changes:
- UK health insurance: Most UK private health insurers (Bupa UK, AXA Health UK, Vitality) cover UK residents only. Your policy is likely to become void the moment you’re no longer ordinarily resident in the UK.
- UK car insurance: You can typically drive in Spain on UK car insurance for up to 90 days. After that — or once you become a resident — you need Spanish-registered insurance. Driving without it is illegal and can result in your vehicle being seized.
- UK home insurance: UK insurers do not cover properties abroad. Your mortgage lender in Spain may also require buildings insurance as a condition of your loan.
- UK travel insurance: UK travel insurers cover you as a traveller. Once you’re a resident of another country, annual travel policies typically become void when you establish residency abroad.
The good news: Spanish insurance is generally excellent value, and as an independent broker we can arrange everything you need in one place, entirely in English.
Health Insurance in Spain for Expats
Private health insurance is the most important insurance to sort when you move to Spain — both for practical reasons and because it may be legally required. Spain’s public health system is good, but access depends on your residency status, employment and social security contributions.
The residency requirement: If you’re applying for a non-lucrative visa, digital nomad visa or TIE residency card, you are legally required to show proof of private health insurance with no co-payments, no deductibles, and issued by a DGS-authorised insurer.
Premiums start from around €50/month for younger adults and increase with age. Family plans and multi-policy discounts are available. Providers we work with: Sanitas, Adeslas, Cigna, DKV, Asisa, AXA.
→ Full guide to health insurance in Spain for expats
→ Health insurance for residency and visa applications
Home Insurance in Spain for Expats
Whether you own or rent in Spain, protecting your property is essential — and in many cases it’s a requirement. If you have a Spanish mortgage, your lender will require buildings insurance as a condition of the loan.
Key types: Buildings insurance (seguro de continente), contents insurance (seguro de contenido), community insurance (seguro de comunidad) for urbanisations, and specialist holiday home policies for properties that are regularly unoccupied.
Critical: Most standard home insurance policies in Spain contain an unoccupancy clause of 30–60 days. If your holiday home is empty beyond this without notifying your insurer, cover may be suspended. Specialist holiday home policies deal with this correctly.
Car Insurance in Spain for Expats
Third-party liability insurance is the legal minimum in Spain — driving without it is a criminal offence. Most expats opt for fully comprehensive cover (todo riesgo), which is often surprisingly affordable. The main options are terceros (third party), terceros ampliado (third party fire and theft) and todo riesgo (fully comprehensive).
Transferring your UK no-claims bonus: Most Spanish insurers will accept written proof of your UK no-claims history. We handle this process and make sure you receive the discount you’ve earned.
Re-registering your UK vehicle: As a Spanish resident, you are required to re-register your UK-plated vehicle within 30 days. We can arrange insurance for your vehicle before or during the re-registration process.
Life Insurance in Spain for Expats
Life insurance is worth reviewing when you move to Spain — particularly if you have a Spanish mortgage, dependants or significant financial commitments. Spanish banks will often push their own in-house life insurance when you take out a mortgage — these policies are frequently overpriced. You are not obliged to use them.
We can arrange independent cover that provides the same protection at a significantly lower premium, with documentation your lender will accept.
Business Insurance in Spain for Expats
If you’re running any kind of business in Spain — whether as a registered autónomo or through a limited company (S.L.) — you’ll need the right commercial insurance. The most commonly required is public liability (responsabilidad civil), which many leases, contracts and local authority licences require before you can trade.
Professional indemnity cover is essential for consultants, architects, engineers, IT professionals, estate agents and many others. If you employ staff in Spain — even one person — employer’s liability is required by law.
Travel Insurance for Spain Residents
Once you’re a Spanish resident, your relationship with travel insurance changes completely. Your old UK annual travel policy almost certainly won’t cover you — it was designed for UK residents travelling abroad, not for residents of another country.
You need a travel policy designed for people who are based in Spain. If you travel frequently — back to the UK, around Europe or further afield — an annual multi-trip policy is almost always better value than buying single-trip insurance each time.
When to Arrange Your Insurance
If you’re in the process of moving to Spain, here’s our recommended order:
Before you arrive or immediately on arrival:
- ✅ Health insurance — arrange as early as possible, especially if you need it for a visa application
- ✅ Car insurance — required the moment you drive in Spain as a resident
Within the first month:
- ✅ Home insurance — required if you have a mortgage; strongly advisable for all owners
- ✅ Travel insurance — your UK policy may already be void
When established:
- ✅ Life insurance — especially if you have a mortgage or dependants
- ✅ Business insurance — before you begin trading as an autónomo or company
We can arrange all of these in a single conversation. Most clients find it easier to go through everything in one go rather than dealing with them piecemeal.
Expat Insurance in Spain — Frequently Asked Questions
Is it compulsory to have insurance in Spain?
Third-party car insurance is compulsory for all drivers. Buildings insurance is typically required by mortgage lenders. Health insurance is required for most visa and residency applications. Life insurance and contents insurance are not legally required but are strongly recommended.
Can I arrange all my Spanish insurance through one broker?
Yes. We arrange health, home, car, life, business and travel insurance — all from one conversation, all in English. Many clients appreciate being able to manage everything through a single trusted contact rather than dealing with multiple insurers directly.
How long does it take to get covered?
For most types of insurance, cover can start within 24–48 hours. Health insurance for urgent visa applications can often be arranged same-day.
What if I need to make a claim?
Contact us first. We’ll guide you through the process, help you understand what documentation is needed and communicate with the insurer on your behalf — in Spanish if necessary. This is one of the most valuable things a local English-speaking broker provides.
Are Spanish insurance premiums higher than the UK?
In most cases, no. Health insurance and car insurance in Spain are often significantly cheaper than equivalent UK policies. Home insurance is broadly comparable.
Do I need a Spanish NIE to arrange insurance?
Not always, but for some policies — particularly health and life insurance — the insurer will require your NIE. If you don’t have one yet, we can advise on which policies can be arranged in the meantime.
Let’s Get You Sorted
Whether you’ve just arrived or have been living in Spain for years with cover that’s never quite felt right, we’re here to help. Get in touch and we’ll review your situation and come back with clear, honest recommendations — in English, with no obligation.
Or WhatsApp: +34 650 160 711