Travelling with pets through Europe from Spain
Building flat and apartment in new house concept. Little wooden house standing near small shopping cart with building materials on the table indoor light room with copy space for text
Many expats arrive in Spain with a clear idea of what they’ll pay for home insurance — and then get a surprise. Sometimes it’s cheaper than expected. Sometimes not. But it’s almost never the same as back home. Why? The answer comes down to something most people don’t think about before signing anything: where you’re from matters more than you’d expect.
If you’re ready to take out home insurance in Spain and want to understand exactly what’s going to drive your price, here’s what you need to know before requesting a single quote.
Does your nationality affect the price of home insurance in Spain?
Yes — but not in the way you might think. Spanish insurers don’t charge you more or less simply because you’re British, German or American. What they do assess are factors that are directly linked to your country of origin:
- Your previous insurance history (and whether it can be verified)
- The language you need for communication and documentation
- The type of property expats from your country typically own
- The area of Spain where you tend to live (coast, inland, city)
- Whether you’re a tax resident in Spain or not
In practice, this means two expats with similar properties can receive very different quotes depending on their personal situation and where they come from.
What role does your previous insurance history play?
This is the point that surprises most expats when they arrive in Spain.
In many countries, you’ve spent years building up a no-claims bonus: a discount that rewards you for not having made any claims. In Spain, that history can be difficult to transfer if it comes from abroad.
Why? Because every country has a different system for documenting and verifying that record. Some Spanish insurers accept a letter from your previous provider. Others don’t. This means that in many cases, the expat arriving in Spain starts from zero — no accumulated discounts, treated as a brand new customer with no history.
What you can do about it:
- Ask your current insurer for a proof of no-claims letter before you leave
- Request it in Spanish or English
- Work with a broker who specialises in expat insurance and knows how to present that document to Spanish insurers
Why do expats often pay differently to local residents?
It’s not discrimination. It’s simply that the risk profile is different.
Properties in coastal or tourist areas
Most expats in Spain live in areas like the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca or the islands. These locations carry specific risks (wind, humidity, higher exposure to break-ins during low season) that insurers already factor into their base rates.
Properties that aren’t your main home
If your Spanish property is a second home and you don’t live there year-round, the risk is higher for the insurer. A property left empty for months is more likely to suffer damage that goes undetected. This translates into higher premiums or stricter conditions.
Differences in contents value
Expats, depending on their country of origin, often have a different standard of living to the Spanish average. This directly affects the contents cover side of your policy: appliances, electronics, valuables, imported furniture. Underestimating this is one of the most common and costly mistakes expats make.
Does it matter whether you’re a tax resident in Spain or not?
Yes, it does. If you’re a tax resident in Spain (you have a NIE and pay taxes here), the process is more straightforward and similar to that of any Spanish citizen.
If you’re a non-resident, some insurers ask for additional requirements or apply different cover conditions — especially if the property is used as a holiday home.
Frequently asked questions about home insurance for expats in Spain
Can I take out home insurance in Spain as a foreigner?
Yes, without any problem. You’ll typically just need basic documentation about the property and, in most cases, a NIE.
Will I be attended to in English?
It depends on the insurer. If you go through a broker that specialises in expats — like The Insurance Centre — yes: full English-language service, from taking out the policy to handling any claim.
What documents do I need?
Generally: the title deed or rental contract, an estimate of your contents value, and basic property details (square metres, year of construction, type of building).
Is home insurance compulsory in Spain?
Not by law, unless you have a mortgage. But it’s strongly recommended, especially if you’re in an area with flood, fire or theft risk.
What you should do before taking out a policy
- Gather your insurance history from your previous country of residence
- Establish whether the property is your main home or a second residence
- Calculate the real value of your contents — don’t underestimate it
- Speak to a specialist in expat insurance who knows the Spanish market and can compare policies from multiple insurers on your behalf
Your country of origin doesn’t directly set the price of your home insurance in Spain, but it does influence key factors: your previous history, the type of property, where you live and your residency status. The clearer your profile before you ask for a quote, the better the conditions you’ll get.
At The Insurance Centre we’ve spent over 30 years helping expats in Spain find the right home insurance for their specific situation — with personalised English-language service and access to the best insurers on the market. If you know what you need and want a no-obligation quote, we’re one step away.
Get in touch today and tell us about your situation. We’ll get back to you quickly, with no hassle and no jargon.
About Our Team
At The Insurance Centre, we’ve been helping clients since 1999 with friendly, professional, and multilingual insurance services tailored especially for expatriates in Spain. We work with top-tier, reputable insurance providers and have proudly received awards for excellence in customer service and expat insurance for the past 10 years.
We are fully registered with the Dirección General de Seguros (DGS) and are members of the Colegio de Mediadores. Our team speaks English, Spanish, French, and Swedish, ensuring clear and confident communication with clients from around the world.
