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Car
insurance in Portugal is slightly different to that of
the United Kingdom as the vehicle itself is insured and
not the actual drivers. Therefore even if you are not
named on the policy, but have the permission of the
owner and are in receipt of a full driving license you
are legally covered.
There
are two types of insurance for normal vehicles in
Portugal - third party and fully comprehensive. As in
the United Kingdom the third party insurance covers if
you have an accident and hit another vehicle. The
insurance will cover the cost of repair to the other
vehicle, though not to yours. Fully comprehensive
insurance is more or less the same as in the United
Kingdom.
Another
difference with insurance in
Portugal is proof must be
displayed within the windscreen of the vehicle for easy
of checking by authorities. There are a vast number of
insurance companies in Portugal offering insurance for
Portuguese registered cars, some offering deals for one
or more vehicles.
Motor insurance in Portugal can be more expensive than in your home country but you have to remember motor claims here are generally higher than those in Northern Europe.
If you presently benefit from a non-claim bonus and plan to own a car in Portugal, bring a letter or statement from your current insurance company giving full details. You may be able to transfer the reduction to an insurance policy taken out in Portugal.
Third Party insurance is obligatory in Portugal, and because of the high rate of
accidents in Portugal, we strongly advise you to take out a fully comprehensive policy. We further recommend that the policy should be taken out with an international insurance company because there is no "knock for knock" agreement between Portuguese insurance companies. All claims presented to such a company will normally be paid without argument to clients holding fully comprehensive policies. |
