Guide to pet insurance in Spain including dog insurance in Spain, cat insurance in Spain, as well as insuring other animals such as horses.
This article on pet insurance in Spain, also known as animal insurance, is designed to help you get the lowest and cheapest quote for your pet/cat/dog insurance.
If you are considering buying a dog, cat or other animal you may want to find out how much pet insurance in Spain costs, in which read on and we will give you factual examples.
Perhaps you are also reading this article because you are planning on moving to Spain and you plan on bringing and importing your pet to Spain. Do always remember that cheap pet insurance is not necessarily the best cover for your dog, cat or other type of pet.
Most expatriates searching for quotes for dog, cat or pet insurance in Spain will mainly be in the popular expat areas on the Costa del Sol (especially Marbella, Puerto Banus, Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Torremolinos, Nerja, Malaga), the Costa Blanca (especially Alicante, Benidorm, Calpe, Moraira, Torrevieja), the Costa Brava, Madrid, Barcelona or the islands of Spain such as Tenerife, Lanzarote, Majorca/Mallorca, the Canary Islands and Menorca.
Image Above: Pet Insurance in Spain
If you already have a pet in Spain and you are looking to renew then obviously you want to renew your pet insurance for the lowest and most affordable price. Try going to an Spanish insurance broker who will be able to compare quotations from many different Spanish insurance companies and providers of pet insurance as this will potentially save you enormous amounts of time (as well as money) contacting each insurance company directly yourself.
Try also find an online pet insurance price comparison search engine which will take your specifications and instantly search online and compare prices for the cheapest pet insurance on the market. Always shop around as pet insurance in Spain varies greater between providers. Don’t just choose the cheapest pet insurance quote – check the policy and the small-print to ensure you have adequate levels of cover for your pet.
Do I need pet insurance in Spain?
Most people do not take out cover or insurance for their pets in Spain which is surprising considering they are animal lovers who would regard their pets as part of the family. When there is a need most people take their pets to the nearest veterinary clinic. Pet insurance is also known as pet plans or pet care insurance.
Just like anywhere else this can be relatively expensive. Most pets in Spain will be dogs and cats but could also include horses (also known as equine insurance).
Most of us don’t hesitate to insure items that are valuable and important to us such as our house, car, even our life, so you would assume it would be logical to extend the same protection and care on our pets. Unfortunately most pet owners in Spain do not insure their pets against the cost of veterinary treatment should they need medical attention.
Many people are perhaps taking on a pet for the first time and they just don’t always understand the expenses that can be involved in keeping them aside from the day-to-day upkeep which of course is reasonably low. Consider carefully the impact of having to go to the vets in Spain – possibly for urgent emergency treatment, maybe in extreme cases an operation. Your pets life could literally be in your hands due to some unforeseen event. Insurance cover gives you peace of mind.
Is there a possibility you may not have the money to hand and you may be short of the necessary funds?
In this case taking out pet insurance cover in Spain is a worthwhile expense as premiums are relatively small. Premiums are affordable and low cost for most and in case of an emergency you won’t have the stress of having to suddenly find the funds necessary or borrow money should something happen to your beloved pet.
Imagine the sad prospect of not having any insurance for your pets and being faced with the dilemma of a potentially large vet bill that might not be possible to pay or having to put your pet down. As pets come to be considered part of the family this could be a very distressing situation especially if you have children who are very attached to their cat, dog or other pet.
Another issue is that of dangerous dogs. If your dog/canine attacks someone you could be liable to large losses. If you believe you could be at risk in this way, you really need to take out insurance to limit your potential liabilities.
Below we have a pet insurance video from a major news channel which discusses the pros and cons of taking out insurance for your pet:
Animal Insurance Tip - Check your home insurance policy as under your clause for third-party liability you my find you are already covered for any damage your pets/animals cause.
How much are vet fees and costs in Spain?
Vet costs in Spain are not as expensive as the UK but they are not exactly cheap either.
What does pet insurance in Spain cover?
Chiefly you would insure your pet in case they need medical treatment at a vets but you can also cover and protect them for accidental death which is a common cause of death as well as disappearance or even theft! This may sound over the top but dogs especially can be expensive to purchase and so may well be worth insuring.
Note that some insurers offering pet insurance will not insure your pet depending on it’s age and medical condition. You must disclose your pets previous medical history. In the event of a claim being necessary some insurers will refuse to pay out if they suspect you failed to provide the full facts upon your application.
Clearly it is important to compare prices from the many providers and also it is a good idea to get quotes from insurance brokers who will shop around to get the lowest quote. Often they have access to cheaper prices than if you approached insurance companies directly yourself.
How much is pet insurance in Spain?
To give you an approximate idea, a policy to insure your cat in Spain costs about 150 euros for an annual premium.
To give you an approximate idea, a policy to insure your dog in Spain costs about 200 euros for an annual premium.
Real Life Example – A friend approached BMI Spain who quoted €120 for a years cat insurance and €175 for a years dog insurance giving medical and vet cover up to a value of €2000 which should be more than adequate for most people and their pets.
How do I find/get the cheapest pet insurance for Spain?
Remember that cheapest or the lowest does not necessarily equal the best or most sensible policy for your pet. It is pointless paying an annual premium if it doesn’t cover the risks you want to insure against.
Here are a few of our favourite tips for anyone looking to buy pet insurance in Spain:
- Decide exactly what you wish to be covered for then get several quotes so you can compare like-for-like.
- Try an insurance broker as well as contacting insurance companies/providers directly. A broker may have access or insider knowledge that can get you the best deal. The key is to shop around, you can save a lot by putting in small amount of effort.
- Search online. Many Internet-only companies will have the cheapest pet insurance prices as they have lower overheads but do make sure you are dealing with a real/reputable company.
- See if there are any price comparison websites for pet insurance in Spain.
- A typical policy excess is €75 but if you opt for a higher excess (known in Spain as franquicia) you can reduce and lower your premiums. Let’s face it , most years you will not need to make a claim which really is a good thing. Just make sure you can always pay the excess amount however much it is.
- Pay your pet insurance yearly in one single payment. By paying annually instead of opting to pay by monthly installments you save money because when you pay monthly premiums an amount of interest (usually a higher rate then the banks charge) is typically added.
What should I check for in my pet insurance premium?
As usual with an insurance policy – not just those issued in Spain – you need to check the small-print!
We bring to your attention the following:
Is there a limit to the number of times you can visit the vet before you are charged?
Does your pet insurance cover emergency home visits or operations? Basically – is the care available to your pet limited in anyway and are there limits to the claims you can make?
Does your pet insurance policy include an amount for advertising if your pet is lost? Some policies even allocate an amount for a reward to increase the chances of finding your lost pet.
Some policies will cover the boarding costs of kennel or cattery fees if you or your partner have to go to hospital and cannot care for your animals.
Most companies offering pet insurance for Spain will also be able to offer extended cover if you regularly travel out of Spain with your animals. This will usually cover loss of pet passport, health certificate as well as medical treatment.
You may find it difficult to get pet insurance Spain for exotic pets such as Scorpions, Snakes, Goldfish, Lizards, Chinchillas, Turtles, Frogs, Spiders such as Tarantulas, Iguanas, Dwarf Hamsters, Guinea Pigs, Gerbils, Ferrets, Hedgehogs and birds such as Parrots and Cockatoos.
Do take into consideration your language skills. If you are not fluent in Spanish then it is important to take out pet insurance with policy documents issued in English. Otherwise you won’t fully understand what you are covered for. Don’t take the agent or brokers verbal explanation as when it comes to claiming on your pet/animal insurance you will be the one footing the bill if you find you are not properly covered. So check the small print and ask questions until you are 100% sure the policy if what you want.
While there are many brokers in Spain who offer pet insurance, most of the time you will find they use the services and polices issued from a company called Protectapet Insurance. Protectapet Insurance provide a comprehensive pet insurance and was introduced in 1999 to fill the need for Expatriates living abroad. As Spain’s leading Pet Insurer for Expatriates in Spain, with European cover, Protectapet Insurance policies have been specifically tailored to suit the needs of your pets in Spain and Europe.
If you have any reviews for Spanish pet insurance companies we would love to hear from you with your feedback. It has to be said that we have been sent a number of negative reviews of Protectapet.
If you have a cat in Spain and you have arranged to insure your cat then tell us who has insured your cat, at what price and any reviews, ratings or stories you may have about cat insurance in Spain.
If you have a dog in Spain and you have arranged to insure your dog then tell us who has insured your dog, at what price and any reviews, ratings or stories you may have about dog insurance in Spain.
Related Pages: This article is just one of a whole series of pet insurance Spain helpful articles containing useful tips and advice.
If you need more help with other types of insurance in Spain then see our home page which contains many links to many different types of insurance coverage available for people living in the country of Spain.