Your End-of-Year Spanish Insurance Review — A 2026 Checklist

December is the month most British expats in Spain quietly let renewal notices slide into the inbox unread. It is also the month that costs the most. Build prices have moved, family circumstances change, and policies bought three or four years ago rarely match the household they were written for. Before the calendar flips to 2027, run through the checklist below — an hour now can save four figures over the year ahead.

1. Home: does your rebuild value still match reality?

The single biggest mistake we see on Spanish home policies is an outdated capital asegurado (sum insured for the building itself). Construction costs in Spain have risen sharply since 2022, and a rebuild figure set five years ago will almost certainly leave you underinsured today. If your insurer applies the regla proporcional after a partial loss, you carry the shortfall yourself.

• Check the rebuild value (continente) against current per-square-metre build costs in your province.
• Review the contents figure (contenido) — new furniture, electronics and bicycles add up faster than people think.
• Confirm jewellery and high-value items are declared individually if they exceed the policy sub-limit.
• Note any home improvements done in 2026 (pool, solar, kitchen refit) and add them to the schedule.

2. Car: strip the add-ons you no longer need

Comprehensive (todo riesgo) cover makes sense on a newer car. Once a vehicle is past seven or eight years old, the maths often flips. Review what you are paying for and ask whether the value still justifies the premium.

• Is your car still worth full todo riesgo, or would terceros ampliado (third-party plus) be more sensible?
• Are you paying for a courtesy car, legal defence or windscreen cover you have never used?
• Has your annual mileage dropped? Some policies offer reduced premiums for low-mileage drivers.
• If you now hold a Spanish licence and have a clean local claims history, ask for the no-claims bonus to be re-rated.

3. Health: does the policy still fit the household?

Health is where mismatches cost the most. A policy chosen for a 45-year-old couple does not suit a 55-year-old couple with a child planning university in Madrid. Both Sanitas and Caser allow upgrades and family changes at renewal — this is the moment to use them.

• Consider moving from Sanitas Más Salud to Sanitas Premium if you want broader hospital choice and faster access to specialists.
• If a pregnancy is planned for 2027, add maternity cover now — carencias (waiting periods) apply.
• Review whether dental is still bundled correctly, or whether a standalone dental plan would cost less.
• Check that adult children over 25 have moved to their own policy rather than dropping out of cover entirely.
• If you are approaching 65, ask about lifetime renewal guarantees on your current contract before any switch.

4. Motorbike: new rider in the household?

Spain’s motorbike culture has pulled in plenty of British expats this year — trail bikes for the mountains, scooters for the village. If you or a partner started riding in 2026, the household insurance picture has changed. A bike is a separate policy and a separate medical risk profile.

• Make sure the bike is insured in its own right — it is not covered by the car policy.
• Check that your health policy includes hospitalisation following a motorbike accident; some entry-level products exclude it.
• Confirm your travel policy covers bike use abroad if you plan European trips.

5. Travel: upgrade before the long-haul booking

If 2027 includes a trip back to the UK, a visit to Australia or a cruise, an annual multi-trip policy almost always works out cheaper than buying ad hoc. Upgrade before you book, not after.

• Check the geographical zone — Europe-only policies do not stretch to the US, Canada or Asia.
• Review the cancellation limit against the actual cost of your booked flights and accommodation.
• Add cover for pre-existing conditions if anything has changed medically this year.

6. NLV compliance check

For non-lucrative visa holders, health cover is not just a household decision — it is a renewal condition. Make sure your policy still meets the requirements before your immigration appointment.

• Full cover, no co-payments, no waiting periods, no excess.
• Equivalent to Spanish public health cover, with the certificate worded for immigration.
• Sanitas and Caser both issue NLV-compliant certificates on request — ask early, not the week of the appointment.

7. Beneficiaries and admin

The least glamorous item on the list, and the most overlooked. Life events — marriage, separation, a new grandchild, a death in the family — should all flow through to your life and decesos policies.

• Confirm beneficiaries on life cover are still correct.
• Update direct debit details if you changed Spanish bank in 2026.
• Make sure your NIE or TIE number on file matches your current document.

247 Expat Insurance is a registered Spanish brokerage. Cover, exclusions and waiting periods vary by product and insurer — policy wording prevails. This article is general guidance and not personal advice.