Car Insurance in Spain for Non-Residents

What Spanish Law Requires

Under Spain's Vehicle Insurance Act (Ley sobre Responsabilidad Civil y Seguro en la Circulación de Vehículos a Motor, Royal Legislative Decree 8/2004), every vehicle circulating on Spanish public roads must have at minimum:

Seguro obligatorio de responsabilidad civil — mandatory third-party liability insurance. This covers:

• Personal injury caused to third parties (no upper limit for personal injury under Spanish law — insurers cover the full amount)
• Property damage to third parties (up to a minimum of €70 million per claim under current EU minimum requirements)

It does not cover:

• Damage to your own vehicle
• Theft of your vehicle
• Fire, natural disasters, or vandalism to your vehicle
• Medical expenses for you as the at-fault driver

Driving without at least this minimum insurance is a serious infraction — fines start at €601 and the vehicle can be immobilised.

Optional Coverage: Todo Riesgo (Fully Comprehensive)

Seguro a todo riesgo (fully comprehensive) adds:

• Own damage (daños propios): repairs to your vehicle in an accident, regardless of fault
• Theft (robo): full vehicle theft or parts theft
• Fire and natural disaster (incendio y fenómenos meteorológicos)
• Glass breakage (cristales): windscreen and window replacement without affecting no-claims bonus
• Roadside assistance (asistencia en carretera): towing, emergency repair, accommodation if stranded
• Legal defence (defensa jurídica): covers legal costs if you are involved in an accident-related dispute

Most non-resident owners of a vehicle in Mallorca should consider at minimum terceros ampliado (third party plus fire, theft, and glass) — a mid-tier policy between basic third-party and fully comprehensive that adds theft and fire protection without the full cost of todo riesgo.

Insuring a Spanish Car With a Foreign Address

Non-residents with a Spanish-registered vehicle can insure it with a Spanish insurance company even with a foreign address. The insurer will ask for:

• Vehicle registration details (matrícula and permiso de circulación)
• Your NIE number
• Your home country address
• Driving licence details (nationality and licence type)
• Your claims history — a no-claims certificate (certificado de bonus) from your home country insurer helps demonstrate your driving record and may reduce your premium

Some Spanish insurers are more comfortable with foreign-address policyholders than others. Mapfre, Mutua Madrileña, Allianz España, AXA, and Catalana Occidente all have experience with non-resident policyholders.

Alternatively, you can use a local Mallorcan insurance broker (correduría de seguros) who deals regularly with non-resident clients and can compare offers across multiple insurers. This is often the simplest route for a first policy.

The Green Card (Carta Verde)

The carta verde (green card) is an internationally recognised document proving that a vehicle has the minimum third-party insurance required for travel in countries that are signatories to the Green Card System. Spain is a member; so are all EU countries, the UK, and most European neighbours.

Key points:

• Your Spanish insurer provides a green card on request (often automatically with the policy documents)
• It is printed on green paper (hence the name) and contains the policyholder's details, vehicle details, and the countries in which cover is valid
• You should carry the green card when driving in Spain and when crossing any international border
• If stopped by police, presenting your green card alongside your vehicle registration and driving licence satisfies the insurance check
• The green card is accepted as proof of insurance even in countries that are not EU members (Morocco, Turkey, etc.) — useful if you plan to take your Mallorcan car to mainland Europe via ferry

Guest Drivers and Named Drivers

If other family members or guests will drive your vehicle while visiting Mallorca, check your policy for:

• Named driver restrictions: some policies restrict coverage to named drivers only. Adding family members as named drivers is usually straightforward and may add a small premium
• Occasional driver clauses: other policies cover any licensed driver with your permission (cualquier conductor autorizado) — more flexible for seasonal use
• Age restrictions: many Spanish policies apply surcharges or restrictions for drivers under 25 or over 75

What to Do After an Accident

In Spain, for minor accidents without injuries, both drivers can complete the Declaración Amistosa de Accidente de Tráfico (DAAT) — the European Accident Statement — a bilateral statement agreed and signed at the scene. Both keep a copy. This form is recognised across Europe and speeds up insurance claims without requiring police involvement.

For accidents involving injuries, call 112. A police (Guardia Civil or Policía Local) attendance report is required for any injury claim.