Does my car insurance cover me during the State of Alarm?

Does my car insurance cover me during the State of Alarm? You’re sure to have been wondering about this question since Saturday 14 March, the day the State of Alarm was decreed under the Royal Decree presented to the Cortes and published in the Official State Gazette, BOE.

As we’ve mentioned, taking the car out during the State of Alarm without a reason can lead to fines ranging from 600 to 30,000 euros, but what if, in addition to a fine, you were also not covered by your insurance company? We’ll tell you!

It’s important to point out that with the entry into force of the so-called State of Alarm, time spent on the streets and, above all, free movement have been restricted. As we mentioned, you can only leave home if you meet one of these conditions, as can be read in the Official State Gazette, BOE.

“a) Purchasing food, pharmaceutical products and other essential goods.
b) Attending health centres, services and establishments.
c) Travelling to your workplace to carry out your employed, professional or business activity.
d) Returning to your usual place of residence.
e) Assisting and caring for the elderly, minors, dependants, persons with disabilities or other especially vulnerable people.
f) Travelling to financial and insurance institutions.
g) For reasons of force majeure or situations of need.
h) Any other activity of an analogous nature that must be carried out individually, unless accompanying persons with disabilities or for another justified reason.”

Does my car insurance cover me during the State of Alarm?

As the Spanish Business Association for Insurance, Unespa, has stated, car insurance “will maintain its protections with complete normality despite the Government having decreed the State of Alarm”. That said, if you dare to take the car out for a reason not on the list we mentioned above, you could face fines of up to 30,000 euros, depending on the case.

In the event of an accident, your insurance company may request a certificate of the reason you were driving, since during the State of Alarm you may only leave home for the cases mentioned above. Bear in mind that insurers will handle any possible claims. Cover will remain the same: damage to the other vehicle, compulsory civil liability and any additional damage you have contracted.

Línea Directa has stated that its policies “contain nothing excluding cover in the event of breaches of the State of Alarm. Therefore the validity of the insurance is maintained. Although leaving home right now is irresponsible”.

In other words, your car insurance will cover all the damage included in your policy, as long as you are using the vehicle for the journeys permitted by Royal Decree 463/2020 of 14 March.

Car insurance, something compulsory by law

Keeping your car insurance up to date is compulsory, and remember that it can save you from any unforeseen event. It’s important to note that if you disagree with your insurer you have several options: you can ask the policyholder’s ombudsman of your company, contact the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros, file a complaint with the Dirección General de Seguros or even with consumer protection bodies.

Therefore, for as long as the State of Alarm lasts, you should only drive and go out onto the street in the cases approved by the Royal Decree issued in response to the health emergency caused by the Coronavirus, COVID-19.

We hope this situation is brought under control as soon as possible so we can return to our normal day-to-day lives. Stay strong, everyone, and from Highmotor we hope all goes very well!