Making an insurance claim

Overview

Filing a car insurance claim in Spain is usually straightforward if you have the right documentation from the incident — the parte amistoso, if there was an accident with another vehicle, makes the process considerably faster.

Requirements

• An active insurance policy covering the type of claim you're making
• Documentation of the incident: a parte amistoso for an accident involving another vehicle, or a police report/photos for other types of claim (theft, vandalism, weather damage)

Step-by-step process

• Contact your insurer as soon as possible after the incident, ideally within the timeframe specified in your policy (commonly within days)
• Submit your parte amistoso (for accidents) or other relevant documentation
• Provide any additional information or photos the insurer requests
• If a vehicle inspection or repair estimate is needed, arrange this through your insurer's approved process
• Receive the claims decision and, if approved, arrange repair or payment according to your policy terms

Required documents

• Parte amistoso, for accidents involving another vehicle
• Police report, where relevant (theft, disputed accidents, injuries)
• Photos of the damage or incident
• Your policy details

Common mistakes

• Delaying reporting the incident to your insurer, sometimes past the window specified in your policy
• Not keeping copies of everything submitted, making it harder to follow up if the claim stalls

Practical tips

• Keep your insurer's claims contact details saved somewhere accessible, since you may need to report an incident quickly, sometimes at the scene itself
• If a claim is declined or you disagree with the outcome, most insurers have a formal complaints process, and the Dirección General de Seguros y Fondos de Pensiones oversees the sector if it's genuinely unresolved

How Tuchati can help

Tuchati can help you understand what documentation to prepare and what to expect from the claims process, without providing regulated insurance advice.