# Pet Insurance in Spain for Expats (2026) > Pet insurance in Spain for expats: whether it is mandatory, what Mapfre, AMA Seguros and Allianz Espana cover, dog vs cat cost differences, and how dog liability insurance fits in. Updated: July 2026 · By Jules · URL: https://www.how-to-spain.com/insurance/pet-insurance Updated July 2026. Pet health insurance in Spain is **optional** for every cat and dog owner. The only mandatory pet-related cover is **dog liability insurance** for dogs classified as **perros potencialmente peligrosos (PPP)**, a separate national category under **Ley 50/1999**. **[Mapfre](https://www.mapfre.es)**, **[AMA Seguros](https://www.amaseguros.com)**, **[Allianz Espana](https://www.allianz.es)** and **[Generali](https://www.generali.es)** are the established insurers selling pet health plans, supervised by the **[DGSFP](https://www.dgsfp.mineco.es)**. ## Top 3 Pet Insurance Providers in Spain **Mapfre**, **AMA Seguros** and **Allianz Espana** are the three pet insurers expats compare most often in Spain. **Generali** also sells a pet-insurance product line, Generali ON Mascotas, worth a quote thanks to a network of more than 600 partner clinics nationwide, including around 180 in Madrid and Barcelona, where in-network vet bills are covered in full (source: Generali Espana, as of July 2026). Largest General Insurer ### Mapfre Mi Mascota 4.2Mapfre, one of Spain's largest general insurers, sells a dedicated pet insurance product called Mapfre Mi Mascota, covering vet costs alongside its wider household and liability insurance range. Mapfre structures the plan in three tiers: a liability-only option from about EUR 30 a year, an accident-only tier, and a full accident-and-illness tier from roughly EUR 299 to 350 a year that reimburses 80 percent of vet costs up to EUR 2,000 a year through a network of more than 350 clinics (source: Mapfre, as of July 2026). Best for: Expats who already hold other Mapfre policies (home, car) and want to consolidate cover - Dedicated Mapfre Mi Mascota pet plan - Can be bundled with existing Mapfre home or car policies - Nationwide branch and claims network - Three tiers, from a liability-only plan near EUR 30/year to full cover near EUR 299 to 350/year (source: Mapfre, July 2026) [Explore Mapfre Mi Mascota](https://www.mapfre.es)Veterinary Heritage ### AMA Seguros 4.3AMA Compania de Seguros was originally founded by and for veterinarians and remains one of the Spanish insurers most strongly associated with pet and animal cover. AMA's reimbursement plans start from about EUR 36 a month, offering a choice of EUR 1,000 or EUR 3,000 annual vet-cost cap at an 80 percent reimbursement rate after a 20 percent co-payment, and accept dogs and cats enrolled between 8 weeks and 10 years old (source: AMA Seguros, as of July 2026). Best for: Expats who want an insurer historically built by and for veterinarians - Founded by and for veterinarians - Strong brand association with pet and animal insurance in Spain - Pet health and liability product lines - Plans from about EUR 36/month, EUR 1,000 or EUR 3,000 annual vet-cost cap (source: AMA Seguros, July 2026) [Explore AMA Seguros Plans](https://www.amaseguros.com) ### Allianz Espana 4.1The Spanish arm of the global Allianz group, offering pet insurance as part of a broader personal and household insurance range. Allianz Mascotas insures dogs only, not cats, across two tiers: an Estandar plan from about EUR 51 a year with liability cover up to EUR 300,000 and legal defense, and an Estandar plus veterinary-network plan from about EUR 73 a year adding free vet visits and 24 hour chat or video consultations (source: Allianz Espana, as of July 2026). Best for: Expats who want an internationally recognised insurer with a Spanish pet-insurance line - Backed by the international Allianz group - Pet insurance sold alongside home and liability products - Dogs only, not cats: two tiers from about EUR 51 to EUR 73/year (source: Allianz Espana, July 2026) - Nationwide presence across Spain [Explore Allianz Espana Plans](https://www.allianz.es) ## Is Pet Insurance Mandatory in Spain? General **pet health insurance is not mandatory** anywhere in Spain. The only legally required pet-related cover applies to dogs classed as **perros potencialmente peligrosos (PPP)**, a national category defined under **Ley 50/1999**, which must carry **third-party liability insurance**. This is a distinct product from optional pet health cover and is not something most cat or non-PPP dog owners ever need to buy. Illustration of a shield, an umbrella, and a health cross, for health, home, and liability insurance cover in Spain.Health, home, and liability: Spanish cover at a glance.If your dog falls into the PPP category, or you are unsure whether it does, see our dedicated [dog liability insurance guide](/insurance/dog-liability-insurance) for the exact statutory hook, the local licencia process, and Madrid-specific registration steps. Every other cat and dog owner in Spain buys pet health insurance purely by choice, usually to manage the cost of vet bills rather than to satisfy a legal requirement. ## What Does Pet Insurance Cover? Spanish pet insurance splits into two distinct products: **pet health insurance**, which reimburses veterinary treatment, and **dog liability insurance**, which pays for damage your dog causes to others. Most insurers, including **Mapfre** and **Allianz Espana**, sell both as separate policies rather than a single bundle. Illustration of an umbrella, a car, and a house, for what insurance protects in Spain.What your Spanish cover protects. ### Pet Health Insurance - • Vet consultations and examinations - • Surgery and hospital stays - • Medication and diagnostic imaging - • Emergency and after-hours care, included on mid and premium tiers, for example Generali and AMA Seguros both offer 24 hour veterinary phone assistance (source: Generali and AMA Seguros, as of July 2026) ### Dog Liability Insurance - • Bodily injury caused by your dog to a third party - • Property damage caused by your dog - • Legal defense costs, commonly included, for example Mapfre and Generali both list defensa juridica among their liability-policy benefits (source: Mapfre and Generali, as of July 2026) - • Mandatory only for PPP-classified dogs ### Usually NOT Covered - • Pre-existing conditions - • Routine wellness vaccinations on basic liability-only plans, though mandatory vaccines such as the polyvalent and rabies shots are included on some reimbursement plans, for example AMA Seguros (source: AMA Seguros, as of July 2026) - • Breeding-related costs - • Cosmetic procedures ## How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost in Spain? Exact current premiums from **Mapfre**, **AMA Seguros**, **Allianz Espana** and **Generali** vary by pet and tier, but Spanish comparators put liability-only dog cover at roughly **EUR 25 to 40 a year** for non-PPP breeds and full accident-and-illness plans from about **EUR 250 a year** up to **EUR 300 to 350 a year** for comprehensive tiers (source: Rastreator, as of July 2026). Pricing depends on species, breed, age and the coverage level you choose, and always confirm the current figure directly with the insurer before buying. As a general pattern seen across European pet insurance markets, larger dog breeds and older pets cost more to insure, and PPP-classified dogs carry an additional mandatory liability premium on top of any optional health plan, priced from about EUR 62 a year for RC-only cover on PPP breeds versus roughly EUR 25 to 40 a year for non-PPP dogs (source: Rastreator, as of July 2026). Confirm exact current price bands directly with each insurer before budgeting, since these figures move. ## What Are the Differences Between Dog and Cat Insurance? Dog insurance in Spain typically costs more than cat insurance because dogs see the vet more often, and PPP-classified breeds trigger the separate **mandatory liability** requirement described above. Non-PPP dogs only need optional health cover, the same as cats. Cat insurance is simpler: since cats cannot be classified as PPP, cat owners only ever consider optional pet health cover, never a mandatory liability product. Cat cover also tends to run 15 to 25 percent cheaper than equivalent dog cover, with basic plans from about EUR 8 a month and premium tiers up to about EUR 25 a month (source: Spanish pet insurance comparator data, as of July 2026). Some insurers do price indoor and outdoor cats differently, since outdoor access raises accident and infection risk; Santevet, for example, sells a dedicated lower-cost "Cat Indoor" tier alongside its standard cat cover (source: santevet.es, as of 2026), though not every provider draws this distinction, so confirm with your chosen insurer whether it applies to your policy. ## Related Guides [### Pet Insurance for Residents Already living in Spain? Switching providers and multi-pet discounts.](/insurance/pet-insurance-for-residents)[### Dog Liability Insurance in Madrid The mandatory PPP licence and liability cover, explained.](/insurance/dog-liability-insurance)[### Insurance Providers in Spain Compare Spain's major insurers across every category.](/insurance/providers)[### Insurance in Spain The insurance hub: health, home, car, and liability cover.](/insurance) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is pet insurance mandatory in Spain? General pet health insurance is not mandatory anywhere in Spain. Only third-party liability insurance for dogs classified as perros potencialmente peligrosos (PPP) is currently enforced nationwide, alongside a local licencia. Regular pet health cover for the rest of the country's cats and dogs stays fully optional. Article 30.3 of Ley 7/2023, de 28 de marzo, de proteccion de los derechos y el bienestar de los animales, sets a future national baseline that would require liability insurance for every dog, not only PPP dogs, but the Direccion General de Derechos de los Animales confirms this obligation only becomes enforceable once its implementing Real Decreto is approved, which was still in draft as of July 2026 (source: Animal's Health, July 2026). A handful of Comunidades Autonomas already require liability cover for all dogs ahead of that national rule, so check local regulations before assuming PPP is the only trigger. ### How much does pet insurance cost in Spain for dogs versus cats? Exact current premiums vary by insurer and by pet, but Spanish comparators put dog liability-only cover at roughly EUR 25 to 40 a year for non-PPP breeds and around EUR 62 a year for PPP breeds, with full accident-and-illness plans starting near EUR 250 a year and comprehensive tiers reaching EUR 300 to 350 a year (source: Rastreator, as of July 2026). As a general pattern, dog cover tends to cost more than cat cover because dogs see the vet more often and can trigger the separate mandatory PPP liability premium on top. Always confirm current price bands directly with Mapfre, AMA Seguros, Allianz Espana or Generali before budgeting, since insurer pricing changes. ### What is the difference between pet health insurance and dog liability insurance in Spain? Pet health insurance (seguro de salud para mascotas) reimburses vet bills for illness, injury and surgery, and is always optional. Dog liability insurance (seguro de responsabilidad civil) pays for injury or damage your dog causes to a third party, and is legally mandatory only for dogs classified as PPP under Ley 50/1999. See our dedicated dog liability insurance guide for the licencia and registration steps. ### Does pet insurance in Spain cover pre-existing conditions? Most Spanish pet insurers exclude pre-existing conditions from day one, matching standard European market practice. AMA Seguros, for example, states directly that any condition diagnosed before enrollment or during the policy's waiting period is excluded (source: AMA Seguros, as of July 2026), and exact wording still varies between Mapfre, Allianz Espana and Generali, so read each policy's terms before assuming coverage. Insuring a puppy or kitten while it is young and healthy avoids most exclusion disputes later. ### Which insurer is best for pet insurance in Spain? Mapfre (Mapfre Mi Mascota), AMA Seguros, Allianz Espana and Generali are the established names expats compare. Mapfre's plan covers both dogs and cats across three tiers, from a liability-only option near EUR 30 a year up to a full accident-and-illness tier around EUR 299 to 350 a year with 80 percent vet-cost reimbursement (source: Mapfre, as of July 2026). Allianz Espana's Allianz Mascotas line insures dogs only, not cats, from about EUR 51 a year (source: Allianz Espana, as of July 2026). AMA Seguros stands out for its veterinary-founder heritage, while Mapfre and Allianz Espana bundle pet cover into wider household insurance relationships. --- Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/insurance/pet-insurance Last updated: Updated: July 2026 Format: LLM-readable Markdown twin (.md) of the canonical HTML page.