How to prepare your home insurance when moving within Spain
Most expatriates living in Spain have never read their car insurance policy until they needed it — broken down on the A-7 motorway, engine steaming, kids in the back seat. By that point, it’s too late to find out what’s covered and what isn’t.
Spain is one of the most spectacular countries in the world for a road trip. Over 8,000 kilometres of coastline, mountains, plains and white villages are waiting for you. But as an expat, your insurance has specific details you need to understand before you set off. This guide covers exactly that: which routes are worth the drive and how to make sure your policy actually protects you when something goes wrong.
A good car insurance policy for expatriates in Spain should include 24-hour roadside assistance, accident cover across the European Union, a replacement vehicle and legal assistance. Without those coverages, any incident on the road can quickly become an expensive and stressful problem.
The best road trips in Spain for expatriates
1. Costa del Sol to Granada via the A-92
A classic for anyone living in the Málaga province. You head inland from the coast, pass through towns like Antequera, and arrive in Granada with the Sierra Nevada as a backdrop. It’s barely two and a half hours, but the road includes mountain sections where grip conditions and weather can change quickly.
Risk to watch out for: snow or ice on mountain passes in winter. Your insurance should cover roadside assistance in these conditions.
2. The northern route: San Sebastián to Galicia along the N-634
One of the most beautiful drives in Europe. It passes through Santander and Oviedo before ending in Santiago de Compostela. Secondary roads, frequent rain, and small villages where the nearest garage might be 50 kilometres away.
Risk to watch out for: breakdowns in areas with limited services. Roadside assistance here is essential, not optional.
3. Deep Andalusia: the white villages route
From Ronda to Arcos de la Frontera, passing through Zahara de la Sierra and Grazalema. Narrow roads, tight bends and breathtaking scenery. Perfect for a weekend trip, but it demands a vehicle in good condition.
Risk to watch out for: roads with no hard shoulder where even a minor incident becomes complicated if you don’t have towing cover included.
4. The Levante route: Valencia, Murcia and Almería
Perfect for summer months. Well-signposted motorways, though very busy in August. Extreme heat can affect tyres and your engine’s cooling system.
Risk to watch out for: mechanical breakdowns caused by high temperatures. A policy with a replacement vehicle can save your holiday.
What does your car insurance actually cover on these trips?
This is where many expatriates get a nasty surprise. Basic third-party insurance covers damage you cause to others, but covers nothing that happens to you or your vehicle. To travel with real peace of mind across Spain, you need to check these points:
Essential coverages for a road trip
- 24/7 roadside assistance: towing, tyre changes, emergency fuel. Check whether it covers all of Spain or only certain areas.
- EU geographic coverage: if you cross into Portugal or France, your policy must explicitly include it.
- Replacement vehicle: if your car is immobilised, do you get another one? For how many days? What category?
- Own damage cover: only available on fully comprehensive policies. Covers damage to your own car even if the accident is your fault.
- Legal assistance: if you have an accident with another driver and there’s a dispute, a lawyer included in your policy is worth its weight in gold.
- Unlimited civil liability: mandatory in Spain, but check the limits on your policy for serious accidents.
Frequently asked questions about car insurance for expatriates in Spain
Can I use my Spanish insurance if I drive in Portugal or France?
Yes, as long as your policy includes EU coverage, which is common but not universal. Confirm this with your insurer before you leave.
Do I need a special policy because I’m an expatriate?
There’s no specific legal category, but there are policies designed for expatriates that account for particular situations: documentation in another language, multilingual claims support, or coverage during trips back to your home country.
What do I do if I have an accident in a remote part of Spain?
Call the roadside assistance number on your policy. By law, all car insurance policies in Spain must include an operational assistance number. Save it in your phone before you set off.
Does insurance cover a breakdown caused by heat or snow?
It depends. Roadside assistance covers mechanical breakdowns, but damage caused by negligence — such as not checking coolant levels or tyre condition — can be excluded.
Travel with confidence: how The Insurance Centre can help you
Spain is too beautiful to explore with the constant worry that something might go wrong. If you’ve been living here as an expatriate and aren’t sure what your current policy actually covers — or if you’re looking for car insurance that fits your real circumstances — The Insurance Centre has been helping expatriates in exactly that situation for over 30 years.
We speak your language, we understand the realities of living in Spain as a foreigner, and we find the policy that genuinely suits you — not the most expensive one, and not the most basic.
Not sure your car insurance covers you properly before your next road trip? Get in touch with us today. One conversation could save you a lot of trouble on the road.
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.
