Liability insurance for your dog or cat in Spain

Key rules

• Dangerous dogs: Owners of potentially dangerous dogs need civil liability insurance of at least 120,000 euros to get their licence.
• Other dogs: Dog owners now face a general insurance duty, but minimum cover and details differ by region.
• Cats and other pets: No law requires insurance for them, but you are still liable for any damage they cause.
• Vet insurance: Optional health cover has waiting periods, exclusions and age limits, so compare them before you buy.

Which pets need liability insurance

Dogs are the pets that most often need it. Cats and other pets are not legally required to be insured.

• Potentially dangerous dogs: Insurance is compulsory everywhere in Spain. You need a licence from your town hall or regional body, and the licence requires civil liability insurance of at least 120,000 euros.
• Other dogs: Several regions have long required insurance, and a national animal welfare law in force since September 2023 now sets a general duty for dog owners. The minimum cover and the details differ by region, so ask your town hall what applies where you live.
• Cats and other pets: No insurance is required. You are still personally liable for damage your animal causes.

Potentially dangerous dogs

If your dog is on the potentially dangerous list, you must get the licence before you can keep it legally. To get it you must:

• be an adult;
• have no criminal record for specified offences;
• pass psychological and physical fitness checks;
• hold the liability insurance described above.

You must also register the dog in the special section of the animal registry. In public, keep the dog on a short lead and muzzled, and carry the licence. Regions may add more requirements, so check with your town hall.

Cats and other pets: your home policy

Home insurance with a liability section (hogar) normally covers damage caused by ordinary pets such as cats, small birds, rabbits and fish. Cover is limited to the policy's liability limit.

Exotic, wild, venomous or dangerous animals, horses and livestock are usually excluded. They need a specific policy. Read the exclusions before you rely on the cover. Some regions also require registration or a permit for certain species, so ask your town hall if your pet is unusual.

Many home policies include dog cover too, often with limits of several hundred thousand euros. Check that the policy names dogs and, if you live in a region with a minimum, that the limit meets it.

Optional vet insurance

Pet health insurance is optional. It typically pays for vet consultations, surgery, hospital stays, tests and medicines after an accident or illness. Higher tiers add vaccines, check-ups, dental care and euthanasia or cremation costs. Many policies for dogs also include liability cover.

Before you buy, compare:

• Waiting periods: usually short for accidents and longer for illness or surgery.
• Exclusions: pre-existing conditions, hereditary diseases and elective procedures are commonly excluded.
• Age limits: many policies set a maximum age at entry and limit cover for older animals.

Premiums depend on species, breed, age and cover level. Cats usually cost less than dogs.

The checklist and questions below walk you through these steps.

Checklist

• Ask your town hall which dog insurance rules apply in your region, including the minimum cover.

• Check that your dog's policy is a civil liability policy, either a home policy that includes dogs or a separate one.

• Read your home policy's exclusions to see if your cat or other pet is covered, and whether any exotic, wild or venomous animal needs a specific policy.

• Ask your town hall whether your region requires registration or a permit for your type of pet.

• Compare optional vet insurance for waiting periods, exclusions, and age limits at entry before you buy.

Check current regional rules and policy exclusions with your town hall and your insurer.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need liability insurance for a dog that is not on the dangerous list?

Yes, as a dog owner you now need civil liability insurance, because the 2023 animal welfare law sets a general duty for dog owners. Several regions, including Madrid, Andalucía and Cataluña, already required it under their own rules.

Does my home insurance cover damage caused by my cat?

Yes, a home (hogar) liability policy normally covers damage by ordinary pets such as cats, small birds, rabbits and fish, within the policy's liability limit.

Does optional pet health insurance include liability cover?

Often yes for dogs, because many pet health policies include civil liability for dogs. They also cover vet visits, surgery and medicines, but pre-existing conditions and hereditary diseases are usually excluded. Waiting periods usually apply, shorter for accidents and longer for illnesses or surgery.