Getting legally insured to drive in Spain as a newcomer

Terms used

• SOA — SOA is Spain's compulsory third-party car insurance, which pays for harm you cause to other people.
• Baja temporal — A baja temporal is a temporary deregistration of a vehicle at Tráfico, which suspends the duty to insure it.
• Tráfico — Tráfico is Spain's traffic authority, which registers vehicles and handles driving licences and fines.
• Permiso de circulación — The permiso de circulación is the car's registration document.
• Ficha técnica — The ficha técnica is the car's technical data sheet.
• Terceros — Terceros is third-party cover, which pays for damage you cause to others but not to your own car.
• Todo riesgo — Todo riesgo is fully comprehensive cover, which also pays for damage to your own car.

Key rules

• SOA: Every motor vehicle based in Spain needs SOA, even when parked or unused.
• Parked car: Only a formal deregistration or a baja temporal ends the duty to insure.
• Own car: SOA does not cover damage to your own car or your own injuries when you are at fault.
• Start date: Confirm the policy has started before you drive, especially with a newly bought car.
• Price: Newcomers usually pay more, so compare several quotes.

What you must have

You need SOA for every motor vehicle based in Spain. SOA is the compulsory third-party insurance. It applies whether you drive the car or not, including a car parked on private land or in a garage. Tractors, mopeds and quads are covered by the same duty.

The only ways out are a formal deregistration, or a temporary deregistration (baja temporal) at Tráfico. A baja temporal suspends the duty while it lasts. If you will leave the car off the road, ask Tráfico about it.

What SOA pays for and what it does not

SOA pays for harm you cause to other people. The limits per accident are €70 million for bodily injury and €15 million for property damage, however many victims there are. Injuries are paid under a scale called the baremo, which is updated every year.

SOA does not pay for:

• Damage to your own car.
• Your own injuries if you are the driver at fault.
• Damage to property owned by you, the owner or the policyholder.
• Your own goods carried in the car.
• Theft or fire of your car.

In some cases, such as drink-driving, driving without a licence or deliberate damage, the insurer still pays the victims. It can then claim the money back from you.

What happens if you are uninsured

Driving or keeping an insured-by-law vehicle without cover can mean a fine. The amount depends on the type of vehicle and how long it was uninsured. The Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros, a state body that pays victims of uninsured drivers, can also claim against you as owner. Ask Tráfico or the Consorcio for the current fine for your vehicle.

How to buy a policy

1. Gather your permiso de circulación, your ficha técnica and your driving licence. The documents box below lists the other details quotes ask for.
2. Get quotes from several insurers, comparison sites or brokers.
3. Choose your level of cover. The choice box below compares the options.
4. Fill in the risk questionnaire accurately. Wrong answers can cause problems when you claim.
5. Pay the first premium by card or direct debit.
6. Sign the policy on paper or electronically.
7. Receive the policy certificate and green card by email.

You usually choose the start date. It is often the next day, or right after payment. A newly bought car must be insured before it goes on the road, so confirm the start date before you drive.

How to avoid overpaying

Newcomers with no Spanish history usually pay noticeably more than established drivers. Terceros (third-party cover only) typically costs several hundred euros a year. Todo riesgo (fully comprehensive) typically costs in the high hundreds, or over a thousand. Prices vary a lot with your age, the car, your region and the insurer.

To keep the price down:

• Compare quotes from several sources, using the same cover and details each time.
• Bring a no-claims certificate from your previous insurer if you have one.
• Give the same accurate answers to every insurer so quotes are comparable.

Read the quick answers below for questions about foreign licences, bank accounts, other drivers and travel in Europe.

Choosing between options

Which level of cover should you buy for your car in Spain?

• Terceros (third-party): Choose this when you want the cheapest compliant policy, typically several hundred euros a year, for an older or low-value car.

• Todo riesgo (fully comprehensive): Choose this when the car is new or valuable and you want your own car's damage covered too; it typically costs the high hundreds or over a thousand euros a year.

Every policy must at least include the compulsory SOA; pick todo riesgo only if the extra cost is worth protecting your own car.

Details and documents needed for a car insurance quote

What insurers ask for

• The car's plate number, or its make, model and year

• Your full name, date of birth, and DNI, NIE or passport number

• Your driving licence number and the date it was issued

• Your address and postcode in Spain

• How you use the car and your expected annual mileage

• Where the car is kept overnight (garage details)

• Your claims history

• A no-claims history certificate from your previous insurer, translated if needed, which can earn you a discount

• The car's permiso de circulación (registration document) and ficha técnica (technical data sheet), needed to take out the policy

• Your driving licence and your ID or NIE, needed to take out the policy

• Payment details for the premium

Checklist

• Check that every car you keep in Spain has SOA (the compulsory third-party insurance), even if it is parked or in a garage.

• Ask Tráfico about a temporary deregistration (baja temporal) if the car will stay off the road, since that suspends the insurance obligation while it lasts.

• Gather your permiso de circulación (registration document), ficha técnica (technical data sheet) and driving licence.

• Get quotes from several insurers, comparison sites or brokers, as newcomers without Spanish history usually pay noticeably more.

• Compare terceros (third-party only, typically several hundred euros a year) with todo riesgo (fully comprehensive, typically the high hundreds or over a thousand) before choosing a cover tier.

• Pay the first premium by card or direct debit and sign the policy electronically or on paper.

• Save the policy certificate and green card you receive by email, and confirm the start date is before you drive.

What to watch out for

• A parked car still needs insurance: Leaving a car uninsured in a garage or on private land can still bring fines, and the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros (the state insurance compensation body) can claim against the owner. Insure the car, or ask Tráfico for a temporary deregistration (baja temporal) before you stop paying.

• Driving before the policy starts: A new car must be insured before it goes on the road, and the start date is often the next day or right after payment. Check the start date on the policy before you drive away.

• Overpaying as a newcomer: With no Spanish history you will usually be quoted noticeably more than established drivers, and prices vary widely by insurer, age, car and region. Compare quotes from several insurers and answer the risk questionnaire accurately so the policy is not disputed later.

Quick answers about Spanish car insurance

Can I use my foreign driving licence to get Spanish car insurance?

Yes, EU and many other foreign licences are accepted, but some insurers add a surcharge if your licence is under two years old. You give the licence number and issue date for the quote. Your NIE or passport works as ID.

Do I need a Spanish bank account to pay for car insurance?

No, you can usually pay the full year by credit or debit card, including a foreign card. Most insurers ask for a Spanish IBAN (bank account number) only for direct debit of instalments. Some accept a foreign SEPA IBAN, so ask before you buy.

Are other people covered if they drive my insured car?

Yes, third parties are covered whoever drives with your consent, and the insurer must pay accident victims in any case. Your policy may list named drivers, occasional drivers or age limits. If an undeclared driver causes an accident, the insurer may claim part of the cost back from you or apply a surcharge, and own-damage cover may be restricted.

Is my Spanish car insurance valid in other European countries?

Yes, the compulsory third-party cover is valid across the EEA and in other countries in the EU guarantee agreement, such as Switzerland, Andorra, Serbia and the UK, and you do not need a green card there. For countries like Morocco or Turkey you need a green card (carta verde), which insurers issue free on request. Extras such as todo riesgo cover or breakdown help abroad depend on your policy.