To take out an auto insurance a driver has to be at least 23 y.o. and have a driving license for at least two years. Nevertheless, any driver under 25 years of age and driving experience less than 5 years is regarded by the insurance companies as an increased risk, and despite increase of price, the companies are reluctant to insure young drivers. Moreover, it becomes more complicated if the vehicle has more than 110 h.p., as in Spain it is considered powerful. Most insurance companies in Spain insure only vehicles registered in Spain; i.e. with Spanish plates.
Third party liability insurance is mandatory.
To drive in Spain as a non-resident you will need an EU driving license or an International Driving License along with a domestic non-member state driving license.
Once you become a resident in Spain, you should get a Spanish driving license within 6 months. If your license is not exchangeable in Spain, you will have to seat a theory exam and pass a practical one.
The following documents will be required:
For the owner of vehicle and driver;
*ID of the driver – residence permit or NIE along with passport (copy);
*driving license indicating experience
Vehicle papers:
*Vehicle registration certificate – “ficha técnica”;
*Motor vehicle certificate of title “Permiso de circulación”
i.e. documents containing information about the driver (residential address, driving experience), as well as information about the vehicle (make and model, displacement and power of the engine, year of production, date of registration, etc.)
to confirm the no-claim status, always regarding the driver, it is enough to provide a receipt of payment for the previous insurance company – recibo or policy number and name of the insurance company.
for correct estimate of price of insurance it is necessary to indicate all extra options in the vehicle: navigation and sound systems, alloy wheels, etc.
*number of bank account in Spain for direct debit of bills
The price of insurance is directly proportional to the value of vehicle, its age and displacement of engine. Any optional coverages will influence the price of insurance. Age and driving experience of the driver as well as no-claim status will also affect the price.
Insurance contract is made for one year, in some cases it is possible to break up the payment to pay every three or six months.
Annual payments are the most economical, in all other cases price of the insurance will be increased slightly due to instalments.
You may pay for the insurance through a bank account (direct debit); by a bank card or in cash.
Subject to all necessary documents being provided, the insurance contract may be formalised on the same day. In some cases it is necessary to revise the vehicle and evaluate risks, which may slightly increase the time required to take out an insurance.
Yes, it is possible to formalize your contract remotely, without visiting our office personally. You only need to send required documents by e-mail; your contract will be sent to you in the same way. Later you may collect your contract at the office and sign the contract personally. Exceptionally all the documents may be sent by ordinary mail.
Additionally to the technical documents of the vehicle (vehicle document of title and certificate of registration) you should have with you an insurance policy and confirmation of payment thereof, as well as the European accident statement form.
If you travel outside EU, you should have an international insurance certificate – Green Card.
The driver shall always carry a driving license and an ID.
You may ask for modifications by e-mail, telephone, or personally in the Expert Agents office.
The insurance contract is renewed automatically every year. Two months before the contract lapses, the Company will send you a notification about price and terms of the insurance for the next year.
The former is the mandatory third party liability insurance. It is more limited and thought to cover any damage caused to third parties, persons, vehicles and other objects. Reparation of the vehicle of the insured will be covered only if the other party is responsible for the accident, subject to that other party being identified. That is, the insurance does not cover damages caused to the vehicle of the insured if he is responsible for the accident.
The later one is an extended insurance option, and covers damages caused to the vehicle of the insured regardless of his responsibility for the accident, or if the responsible person is not found. This insurance option has other optional guarantees (hijacking, fire, windows, breakdown truck, etc.)
Deductible amount is the amount that in case of insured event will be paid by the owner of the vehicle. Insurance with deductible amounts reduces the overall price of insurance policy. This option is suitable for drivers with a long no-claim history who may afford paying small amounts towards reparations.
All risk insurance without deductible amounts is the most expensive option of all risk insurance, however in this case all expenses will be covered by the insurance company.
Family driving is possible if age and driving experience of the driver are similar.
Since age and experience of the driver are used to calculate the price of the policy, if different drivers will be driving the vehicle, the price shall be calculated indicating the driver with “highest risk”, that is the youngest with less experience. Moreover, in the contract it will be indicated that the company will not cover accidents if the driver is younger than 26, or his/her driving experience is less than 5 years and the driver is not included in insurance contract.
You should inform about all accessories of the vehicle, for example, navigation and sound systems, panoramic roof, etc., indicating price of the options, so that in case of fire, hijacking or damage, the insurance company will consider these amounts for reparation or refund.
When you buy a new vehicle, you should inform the insurance company to re-execute the contract. You should take into account that in case of re-execution of the contract, taking into account previously paid amounts, the owner of the vehicle remains the same driver. Only in this case you would not lose previously paid amounts.
You may introduce any changes and coverage extensions into your insurance contract, except modification of insurant (the person who pays for the insurance) and the vehicle itself.
The insurance policy GENERALI AUTOS offers the complete range of insurance services for all types of vehicles:
- Automobiles
- Motorcycles and mopeds
- Lorries and haulers
Insurance policy GENERALI AUTOS offers additional discounts if you choose deductible amount option in “windows” guarantees, discounts in specialised technical centres (auto repair shop) with a range of free services, as well as no-claim bonuses, taking into account experience of the client and insurance history. No-claim history will reduce the price of insurance.
If you have other insurance policies with the company you may get significant discounts.
Most insurance companies are part of the claims data base – corporate information system (Fichero SINCO). In this way, when you change your insurance company your no-claim status will be recovered from the database and you will enjoy the same bonuses. If your previous insurance company was not registered in the database, you may ask the company to issue a certificate confirming your claims history and get the same no-claim bonuses.
If there are injured, you should immediately call ambulance and police. Emergency service number in Spain is 112.
In case of accident, both drivers shall fill out corresponding forms of European Act about accidents, which should be kept together with the insurance documentation and receipt.
In the accident statement form, you should indicate details of both drivers, details of both policies and a sketch of the traffic accident, as well as position of each car at the moment of the accident.
The form shall be signed by both drivers, each driver keeps a copy and presents it to the corresponding insurance company.
Accordingly to the Law about insurance No. 50/80 the time limit is 7 days from the moment of accident.
Generali technical support service telephone is: 902 33 34 33. If you do not speak Spanish, call 96 583 0953 or 629 856 058.
If you are abroad, not in Spain, you should call +34 91 514 99 34.
GENERALI AUTOS guarantees breakdown truck and technical support on the road without kilometres limit.
You may directly contact GENERALI at 902 33 34 33
If you do not speak Spanish, please call 96 583 0953 or 629 856 058.
The insurance policy GENERALI AUTOS accordingly to the terms and conditions of the contract will provide for reparations and maintenance in the best, specialised centres of your choice. If you go to the centres recommended by the company – talleres concertados- you will enjoy additional free services: such as interior and exterior wash, revision of oil and brake fluid levels, lights adjustment, revision of tyre pressure.
You should inform the insurance company about the accident - insured event, a specialist will be sent to revise the vehicle and asses the damages. Then the vehicle will be repaired in a specialised centre of your choice. The damage may be assessed directly in the specialised centres recommended by the company – tallers consertados, which will save time for revision of the vehicle; in this case you also will get additional free services (interior and exterior wash, revision of oil and brake fluid levels, lights adjustment, revision of tyre pressure).
The company will pay for a substitution vehicle if this option is included in the insurance policy.
In case of breakdown or accident GENERALI AUTOS policy guarantees help in transportation of injured to a hospital and hospitalisation, reimbursement of transport and medical expenses to the passengers.
This option is not available under the very basic, third party liability – seguro a terceros -insurance contract without extended guarantees.
You should report to the local police office where the incident happened, and if your GENERALI AUTOS policy comprises guarantees against hijacking, you should inform the company immediately at 902 33 34 33 or 965830953 to draw up a claim report.
(Ilf and Petrov)
