Insurance and licences for cycling, hunting, skiing and diving

Key rules

• Hunting: Hunter's liability insurance is compulsory, on top of your regional hunting licence.
• Federation licence: It is optional for most recreational sport, but required for official federated competitions.
• Cycling: Ordinary bikes need no personal insurance, but you get no accident benefit unless you buy cover or a licence.
• Regional rules: Requirements for fishing and adventure activities differ by region, so ask the local authority.

The short answer

Spain has no single national list of sports that need insurance. Most rules are set by each region and by the activity. Hunting is the clearest case where insurance is compulsory. For most recreational sport, a federation licence is optional, but it is the easiest way to get accident cover.

Hunting: insurance is compulsory

If you hunt, you must hold compulsory hunter's liability insurance (seguro obligatorio de responsabilidad civil del cazador). It covers damage you cause to other people. You also need a regional hunting licence (licencia de caza) from the autonomous community where you hunt.

• Carry the licence, the insurance receipt and your ID whenever you hunt.
• Some regions ask for extra cover, for example for big-game drives or hunting societies.
• If you use a firearm, you also need a separate firearms licence and the weapon's own compulsory insurance.
• Minimum cover limits are updated from time to time. Ask the regional hunting authority or your insurer for the current figure.

Federation licence: optional for most, bundled cover when you have one

A federation licence (licencia federativa) is required to enter official competitions run by a sports federation, or to play for a federated club. For ordinary recreational sport, you don't need one.

A licence usually includes compulsory sports accident insurance. That typically covers:

• medical care in the insurer's contracted centres for injuries in your sport;
• death and permanent disability benefits;
• in many mountain federations, also rescue costs and liability to third parties.

Limits depend on the licence type and region. Typical exclusions are pre-existing conditions, injuries outside the licence's sport or territory, activities above your licence category (such as high-altitude or expedition cover), and reckless or intentional acts. Care is usually limited to the insurer's network, except in emergencies. Without a licence, you have no federation accident cover.

Cycling

You don't need personal insurance to ride an ordinary bike for fun. Damage you cause to others may be covered by the liability section of your home insurance (seguro de hogar), but only if the policy includes private-life liability. Check your policy.

If you are injured, public health care treats you, but no accident benefit is paid. A cycling licence or separate cycling insurance fills that gap. A licence is needed if you race in federated events.

Electric bikes limited to 25 km/h count as bicycles. Faster ones count as mopeds and need insurance.

Skiing and diving

Neither has a national insurance requirement for recreational use. In practice, ski areas, diving centres and shooting ranges may ask for a federation licence or separate insurance. Some regions require a licence or day licence for certain mountain activities. Ask the venue before you book, and ask schools and organisers for proof of their own insurance.

Adventure activities and organised events

Canyoning, rafting and climbing are usually regulated through regional rules for active tourism companies. Fishing needs insurance in some regions. Organised sporting events often require insurance or a day licence. Ask your regional authority or the organiser what applies where you will be.

What to do

Go through the checklist below with each activity you do, then read the exclusions in your own policies. The FAQ below answers common questions on licences and electric bikes.

Activity cover check for your sports and hobbies

Activity cover check

• List every sport and hobby you do regularly, including cycling, hunting, skiing, diving, sailing and walking a dog.

• Tick hunting if you hunt: you need compulsory hunter liability and accident insurance, set by national and regional hunting rules.

• Tick any federated sport: a federation licence includes accident insurance, so ask the federation what it covers.

• Ask your regional authority whether fishing, canyoning, rafting or climbing need insurance where you do them; organised adventure tourism companies are usually required to carry it.

• Ask the organiser or school for proof of insurance before you join an organised event, a diving course or a ski resort activity.

• Check your dog's cover if you own one: dog owners must hold civil liability insurance, and some regions have their own extra rules.

• Get your full policy, both the condiciones particulares (your own cover and sums insured) and the condiciones generales (the standard terms).

• Search the exclusions (exclusiones) and limits (límites) for each activity by name, and for terms like deportes de riesgo, competiciones, deportes de invierno, buceo and navegación.

• Check that your home policy's private-life liability does not exclude hunting, boats or high-risk sports, and remember it never pays for your own injuries.

• Check your health policy for exclusions on diving, high-mountain sport, motorsport, competitions, rescue costs and treatment abroad.

• Ask whether off-piste skiing is covered if you ski; recreational skiing is sometimes accepted but off-piste is often excluded.

• Check whether a boat needs its own insurance if you sail; powered recreational craft must have it.

• Ask your insurer or broker in writing whether your exact activity, place and level are covered, and for what sum insured.

• Buy an add-on or a specific policy for each gap, such as day ski insurance, diving insurance or a federation licence.

• Keep the written reply with your policy, and if the answer is unsatisfactory, complain to the insurer's customer service, then to the Dirección General de Seguros y Fondos de Pensiones, the state insurance regulator.

Rules differ by region and insurer, so confirm each point with your regional authority, your federation or your insurer.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a federation licence for recreational sport?

No, a federation licence is optional for most recreational sport, but you need one to enter official competitions or play in a federated club's teams. Without it, you have no accident cover bundled with a licence.

Will a ski area or diving centre ask for a federation licence?

Yes, some ski areas, diving centres and shooting ranges ask for a federation licence, or for separate insurance if you do not have one. Ask the venue before you book which of the two it accepts.

What does a federation licence usually cover?

A federation licence usually includes accident insurance covering medical care in contracted centres, plus death and permanent disability benefits. Many mountain federations also add rescue costs and civil liability to third parties. Pre-existing conditions, activities above your licence category and reckless acts are typically excluded.

Do I need insurance to ride an electric bike?

Yes, but only for faster models: an electric bike limited to 25 km/h counts as a bicycle with no compulsory insurance, while a faster one is a moped and needs insurance.