The 30-day rule
The compulsory motor insurance law says that every vehicle "normally based" in Spain must be insured here, and lists when it is considered to be. Two cases affect us:
- Spanish plates, permanent or temporary. That is, with green plates Spanish insurance is already compulsory.
- A vehicle imported from another country in the European Economic Area: it counts as based in Spain for a maximum of 30 days from the moment the buyer accepted delivery, even if it does not yet carry Spanish plates.
It is the same idea as in the European motor insurance directive: the country where the car is going to live can cover the risk from delivery, without waiting for registration.
Your German claims history counts
If you are coming from having the car insured in Germany, your insurer is obliged to give you a claims history certificate covering the last five years: the European rules give it 15 days to issue it (the Spanish law speaks of 15 working days). And Spanish insurers cannot discriminate or apply surcharges solely on the basis of the State where that certificate was issued.
Let us be precise, though: the fact that they cannot discriminate against it does not mean they are obliged to give you any particular discount. Pricing policy is still theirs.
How it is checked that a car is insured
There is a register, the FIVA, run by the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros, the Spanish insurance compensation body, and updated daily by insurers with policies taken out and cancelled. The traffic authority can order a driving ban and the impounding or sealing of a vehicle driven without insurance. It is not a formality: it is the real enforcement mechanism.
What we cannot tell you
We have not found published the conditions that individual Spanish insurers require in order to insure a car on foreign plates or on green plates. Each company has its own policy and it is worth ringing before you buy, especially if you want the journey itself covered.
Frequently asked questions
Can I insure a car on German plates in Spain?
For the 30 days following acceptance of delivery, the car counts as based in Spain, so it can be insured here even though it does not yet have Spanish plates.
And on green plates?
They are a Spanish temporary registration, so Spanish insurance is compulsory in order to drive.
Is my German insurer's claims history any use?
Spanish insurers cannot discriminate against a claims history certificate because it comes from another State. The premium they decide to charge you is another matter.
How is it checked that a car is insured?
Through the FIVA register, run by the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros and updated every day by insurers.
Do I need a green card?
Inside the European Economic Area, no: compulsory insurance covers that whole territory with a single premium. The green card is used for driving outside it.
Sources
- Spanish compulsory motor insurance law (RDLeg 8/2004)
- Real Decreto 1507/2008 — FIVA
- Directive (EU) 2021/2118 — motor insurance
- Ofesauto — international insurance certificate (green card)
Every source was checked on 25 September 2026. Tax rules change: if you are reading this much later, confirm it or ask us.
