Top 10 items expats forget to include in their home insurance in Spain
Most expats living in Spain find out too late. They cross the border, have an accident or a breakdown, and then start wondering whether their insurance actually covers them there. The short answer is: it depends on your policy — and whether you requested the right document before you left.
If you have car insurance in Spain, you are covered to drive across western Europe. But there is one step that many people skip, and it can cost them dearly: requesting the green card (also known as the international certificate of insurance) before crossing the border. Without it, some countries can legally require you to take out basic border insurance on the spot — paid out of your own pocket.
In this article we explain exactly what your Spanish car insurance covers abroad, what you need to do before you leave, and how to prepare for a road trip across Europe without any nasty surprises.
What your Spanish car insurance normally covers abroad
When you take out car insurance in Spain, the basic coverage that travels with you is third party liability. This means that if you cause an accident, the damages to other people — their injuries, their vehicle, their property — will be covered.
But there is more to know:
- Mandatory and voluntary third party liability: Covers damages you cause to others in any country within the European Economic Area (EEA) and in countries that are part of the green card system.
- Roadside assistance: If this is included in your policy, it works outside Spain too — including towing, a hotel stay if repairs take more than 8 hours, and repatriation of the vehicle and passengers back to your home.
- Third party, fire and theft: Covers fire and theft of your vehicle regardless of which country you are in.
- Fully comprehensive: The most complete cover. If you have an accident that is your fault in France or Portugal, your insurer will also pay for repairs to your own car.
What may not extend automatically to other countries without checking first:
- Windscreen cover may have territorial restrictions.
- A courtesy car may not be available outside Spain.
- Some optional extras can be limited to Spanish territory.
The green card: the document you cannot afford to forget
One of the most important things every expat with a Spanish car insurance policy needs to know about is the green card — also called the international certificate of insurance, or in Spanish, certificado internacional de seguro (CIS).
What exactly is it?
It is a document that proves your vehicle is insured and meets the minimum legal requirements of the country you are driving in. The green card system has been in place since 1952 and now covers more than 40 countries.
Is it compulsory?
It depends on the country. Within the European Union, it is not always legally required, but it is the clearest and most universally recognised proof that you are insured. In some non-EU countries that are part of the system — such as Turkey, Morocco or Serbia — it is practically essential.
The key point: the green card is not issued automatically. You have to request it from your insurer before you travel. If you forget it and get stopped by the police or have an accident, you could face a serious problem.
Countries where your Spanish insurance is valid
Your Spanish car insurance policy, with the green card, is valid in all countries that are part of the international green card system, which includes:
- All European Union member states
- The United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland and Iceland
- Countries such as Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia, Israel, Serbia, Bosnia and others
If you plan to drive outside this list — for example, in parts of Africa or Asia — you would need additional specific cover.
How to prepare before leaving Spain by car
If you are an expat living in Spain and planning a road trip through Europe, follow these steps before you set off:
- Review your current policy. Check what type of cover you have: third party, third party fire and theft, or fully comprehensive. The level of cover you have in Spain is the same you carry abroad, except for any specific restrictions.
- Request the green card. Contact your insurer well in advance — at least a week before you travel — and ask for it. At The Insurance Centre we handle this for you without any fuss.
- Always carry your documents in the car. In Spain it is not legally required to carry your insurance papers with you, but in other countries it may be. Always take: your green card, your vehicle registration document and your driving licence.
- Save the roadside assistance number. If you have breakdown cover, this service operates 24 hours a day and is multilingual. Do not leave without that number saved on your phone.
- Check whether your courtesy car applies outside Spain. Not all policies include this abroad. It is better to know before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive in France with my Spanish car insurance?
Yes. France is part of the EU and the green card system. With your Spanish policy and your green card, you are covered to the same extent as in Spain.
What about driving in Morocco or Andorra?
Both Morocco and Andorra are part of the green card system, so your Spanish insurance can be valid there. Confirm this with your insurer and always carry the physical green card with you.
What if I only have third party cover and I cause an accident abroad?
Third party cover only pays for damages you cause to others. Damage to your own car will come out of your own pocket. If you travel frequently, it is worth considering upgrading to fully comprehensive.
Does the insurance cover all drivers outside Spain?
In Spain, you insure the vehicle, not the driver. Any authorised driver over 25 with more than 2 years of driving experience can drive the car abroad as well, within the conditions of the policy.
Do you have the right car insurance for your life in Spain?
Many expats realise their current policy does not really fit their lifestyle — they travel to other countries regularly, they are not clear on what they are covered for, or they took out a policy in a hurry when they first arrived in Spain.
At The Insurance Centre we have been helping expats across Spain find the right car insurance for over 30 years — cover that protects you both inside the country and beyond its borders. We speak your language, we understand your needs, and we take care of everything.
If you would like to review your current cover or get a no-obligation quote, get in touch with us today. A well-chosen insurance policy is not an expense — it is what lets you drive with confidence on any road in Europe.
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.
