Canary Islands (IC)
The Canary Islands are Spain's Atlantic autonomous community: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa.
Insurance Guide
Which insurances you actually need in Canary Islands, prioritised.
Spain is a mature insurance market with thousands of products and a strong price-comparison culture (comparadores like Rastreator, Acierto, iAhorro). Most policies renew annually and can be cancelled with at least one month's notice before renewal (Ley 50/1980 de Contrato de Seguro). Health insurance is not mandatory for Spanish tax residents covered by SNS, but is mandatory for most visa holders and as a complement in many professional sectors.
Legally Mandatory
- - Seguro de responsabilidad civil vehicular (third-party car insurance) — mandatory for any registered vehicle
- - Seguro de responsabilidad civil para perros (mandatory from Sept 2023 under Ley 7/2023) for ALL dog owners
- - Seguro de responsabilidad civil para perros PPP (Potentially Dangerous Breeds) — €175,000 minimum cover
- - Seguro de vivienda (home insurance) — required by mortgage banks; not legally required for outright owners but strongly recommended
- - Seguro de caza (hunting insurance) — if you own a hunting licence
- - Seguro decenal (10-year construction warranty) — for property developers
Private Health Insurance
Faster specialist access, dental cover, private rooms, English-speaking doctors. Mandatory for non-lucrative visa, digital nomad visa, student visa holders and until SNS registration.
Who needs it: All visa holders awaiting SNS registration; anyone wanting faster specialist access or English-speaking care.
Annual cost: €480–1,800/person/year depending on age, coverage, dental inclusion
For visas: policy must specify "sin copagos, sin carencias, cobertura equivalente a SNS en territorio español" (no copays, no waiting periods, SNS-equivalent in Spain). Sanitas Más 250,000 and Adeslas Plena are two commonly-accepted visa-compliant products.
Home Insurance
Covers contents (contenido) and/or building (continente) against fire, theft, water damage, electrical, natural events, plus third-party liability for damage caused from your flat to others.
Who needs it: Homeowners (required if mortgaged); tenants (highly recommended — landlord’s policy only covers the building).
Annual cost: €150–400/year (apartment); €250–600/year (detached house)
Includes responsabilidad civil familiar (family liability up to €150,000–600,000) covering you, your spouse, children and pets — CRUCIAL as RC familiar is bundled inside the hogar policy rather than sold separately. Water damage from upstairs flats (daños por agua) is common — check coverage and excesses.
Civil Liability (RC Familiar)
Damages you or your family accidentally cause to others or their property. Almost always included in home insurance, so a separate RC policy is rarely needed. Stand-alone option exists for non-homeowners.
Who needs it: Everyone — usually bundled in seguro de hogar.
Annual cost: €40–80/year stand-alone; free as part of seguro de hogar
In the Canary Islands (as throughout Spain), personal liability (RC familiar) is bundled inside the seguro de hogar rather than sold separately. Check your home policy includes €300,000+ RC Familiar cover — €150,000 is inadequate.
Car Insurance
Mandatory third-party liability (seguro obligatorio) + optional comprehensive (todo riesgo). Covers damage caused, plus theft, fire, weather, own damage if comprehensive.
Who needs it: Every registered vehicle owner.
Annual cost: Third-party: €200–400/year. Third-party + theft/fire: €300–500. Todo riesgo: €500–1,500/year depending on age/vehicle.
Bonus system (bonus-malus): after 5 claim-free years your premium is heavily discounted (up to 60% off). Comparadores (Rastreator, iAhorro) can save 30–50% on renewal.
Pet Insurance
Third-party liability (mandatory from Sept 2023 under Ley 7/2023) + optional vet costs, death, theft, travel cover.
Who needs it: MANDATORY third-party liability for all dog owners from Sept 2023. Optional extensions for vet costs.
Annual cost: €40–80/year (RC only) or €150–350/year (comprehensive)
Minimum RC cover: €120,000 for regular dogs, €175,000 for PPP (perros potencialmente peligrosos). No fine system yet enforced consistently but insurance is obligatorio under Ley 7/2023.
Life Insurance
Pays lump sum to beneficiaries on death or permanent disability. Often bundled with mortgage (seguro de vida vinculado a hipoteca).
Who needs it: Those with dependents (children, non-working spouse) or active mortgages.
Annual cost: €120–500/year for €100,000–300,000 coverage (varies strongly by age, health, smoking)
Ley de Crédito Inmobiliario 2019 forbids banks from requiring you to buy life insurance directly with them as a mortgage condition — you can shop independently for much cheaper rates.
Legal Protection (Defensa Jurídica)
Covers legal costs in employment, tenancy, neighbour, consumer or traffic disputes.
Who needs it: Tenants, employees at dismissal risk, drivers. Often bundled in seguro de hogar or coche.
Annual cost: €30–80/year stand-alone; often free in seguro de hogar/coche
Most Spanish hogar policies include €3,000–6,000 of defensa jurídica — check your policy before buying separately.
Income Protection (Baja Laboral Privada)
Daily allowance during sickness-caused absence from work. Complements Seguridad Social sick pay (which only pays 60% from day 4).
Who needs it: Autónomos (who get less SS sick pay than employees); high-earners where SS cap is well below salary.
Annual cost: €300–900/year
Typical waiting period 7–15 days before payout begins. Read carencia (waiting periods) and exclusions carefully.
Dental Insurance
Standalone dental cover or add-on to health insurance. Covers basic check-ups, cleaning, fillings, sometimes ortho and implants.
Who needs it: SNS doesn’t cover dental for adults — useful for most expats.
Annual cost: €120–300/year stand-alone
Most policies cover basic services with no excess and tariffed prices on implants/crowns (30–50% of private market). Check annual cap and exclusions on implants.
Travel Health (Seguro de Viaje)
Emergency medical, trip cancellation, luggage loss outside Spain.
Who needs it: Travellers to non-EU (especially US, UK post-Brexit, Asia). EHIC covers EU/EEA.
Annual cost: €30–100/year annual policy; €5–10/day single trip
Decesos (Funeral Insurance)
Unique to Spain. Covers funeral expenses (€3,500–10,000) plus logistical support for surviving family.
Who needs it: Widespread cultural product — ~22 million Spaniards hold one. Not essential but common especially among older generations and in Iberoamerican immigrant communities.
Annual cost: €150–400/year depending on age and coverage
Spanish families often view this as standard. Policies increase in cost with age — taking out young is cheapest. Consider whether a savings account of equivalent cost is preferable.
Comparison sites
Renew by month 11 to avoid auto-renewal at inflated price — Ley 50/1980 requires notice 1 month before renewal. Always review cover limits, excesses (franquicias) and waiting periods (carencias). Get a duplicate in writing of all conditions before signing; Spanish insurance companies tend to include tricky exclusion clauses in the letra pequeña. Comparadores save 20–40% on average vs direct purchase.
Insurance
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