Validity of compulsory vehicle insurance

Obligation to insure motor vehicles

Motor vehicle drivers are liable for damage caused to people or property when driving.

Non-driver owners are also liable for damage caused by the driver in certain situations, and parents are liable for damage caused by children under their care.

What is third-party insurance?

When a vehicle is registered in any European Union (EU) country, it must be insured to cover that civil liability of the owner or driver, which is known as ‘third-party insurance’.

This insurance covers, through payment of a single premium:

• Damage to third parties
• Own damage is not covered.
• This insurance covers the whole European Economic Area (EEA) and not only the country in which the policy is taken out. This applies to vehicles in that EU country, regardless of the type of stay, whether temporary or permanent, provided that the insurance policy is in force.
• This insurance is compulsory.

The amounts covered by this compulsory insurance are limited by law and are currently as follows:

• Personal injury: 70 million euros per claim, regardless of the number of victims.
• Damage to property: 15 million euros per claim.

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Proof of insurance

What documents need to be carried to prove that the insurance is valid?

For proof of insurance, all motor vehicles must have:

• The receipt of payment of the premium for the current insurance period, which must show at least the following: the name of the insurer, the vehicle registration number, insurance plate or vehicle insurance plate or distinguishing sign, the period of cover and an indication of the compulsory insurance cover.
• For vehicles for hire without a driver, the certified copy of the receipt of payment of the premium, in the form determined by the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT), will be considered evidence of valid insurance.

The validity of the compulsory insurance will be certified by officials of the authority by consulting the information file on insured vehicles.

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Additional voluntary insurance

In addition to the compulsory insurance, additional voluntary insurance may be taken out (fully comprehensive, for example [a todo riesgo in Spanish]), which covers other events: bodily injury to the driver, damage or theft of the vehicle or its content, vandalism, medical assistance, theft, legal assistance, civil liability cover in excess of the mandatory limits, etc.

There are no EU regulations related to additional voluntary insurance.

Before going on a trip, it is important to read the policy and check the terms and conditions and, as applicable, request supplementary cover if the terms of the policy (that exist in Spain) are not valid outside Spain and you want to provide cover for them too. Keep in mind that the insurer is free to decide whether or not they want to assume the risk.

In any case, compulsory civil liability insurance will ensure you are covered in the EU.

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