What should we check when our insurance renews?

Most Portuguese insurance renews automatically each year. To stop a policy renewing you must tell the insurer in writing at least 30 days before the renewal date, so the time to compare is when the payment notice arrives.

Renewal and cancelling: the law

The insurance contract law (Decree-Law 72/2008) sets these rules:

• A policy for a fixed term with automatic renewal can be ended by either side to stop it renewing
• You must send written notice at least 30 days before the renewal date. For policies with no fixed term or an initial term of 5 years or more, it’s 90 days
• The insurer must tell you in writing how much to pay, and how and where, at least 30 days before the premium is due, and say what happens if you don’t pay
• If you don’t pay a premium on time, the policy ends automatically on the due date
• DECO PROteste has a template letter for leaving a car policy after a big price rise. Send it by registered post or email and keep a copy

Private health insurance

See How does Portuguese healthcare work for Brits? for the public system (SNS).

• Prices: health insurance premiums were expected to rise about 10% in 2026. Compare at renewal
• Age limits: each insurer sets a maximum age to join, often 60, 65 or 70. Many policies, once taken out, can be kept for life if you keep paying without a break
• Senior products: some insurers sell policies for people joining between about 55 and 75, usually with lower cover limits
• Pre-existing conditions: by law, conditions you knew about when you joined are covered unless the policy excludes them, generally or specifically. A policy can set a waiting period of up to 1 year for them. Read the exclusions before you switch
• When a policy ends: for 2 years the insurer can’t refuse to pay for an illness that showed up while you were covered, up to the remaining cover, if you have no new policy. Tell the insurer within 30 days of the end

Home insurance (seguro multirriscos)

• Condominiums: fire insurance is compulsory for every flat and for the common parts. Owners must take it out; if they don’t, the administrator can insure the building and charge them
• With a mortgage: read your loan terms for the insurance the bank requires, and ask whether you can use another insurer’s policy
• Sums insured: check the rebuild value and contents figures each year, as building costs rise
• Tenants: read your contract for what you must insure. See How do deposits and rental contracts work?
• Storms and wildfires: check what the policy covers for storms, floods and fire near forest. See How do we cope with, and enjoy, a Portuguese summer?

Car insurance

• Third-party insurance is compulsory. The legal minimum is €6.45 million for injury and €1.3 million for damage to property per accident
• Your insurer must give you a claims history declaration (declaração de historial de sinistros) for the last 5 years within 15 days of asking, and if the insurer ends your policy it must remind you of this right at least 30 days before. Ask for one before you switch
• You can ask the insurer to include claims history from another insurer. Bring your UK no-claims proof and ask whether it counts
• Proof of insurance can now be electronic: insurers can send the certificate by email, and it replaces the paper one. Since 2020 the international certificate (“carta verde”) and windscreen sticker no longer have to be green
• Driving a UK-registered car in the EU, you don’t need to carry a green card, but you do need valid insurance. See Can I drive on my UK licence?

Complaints

1. Complain in writing to the insurer’s complaints department first. You can also use the official complaints book (Livro de Reclamações), online or on paper
2. Then complain to the ASF (Autoridade de Supervisão de Seguros e Fundos de Pensões) online. Its information line is 217 983 983, working days 9am to 4pm
3. The ASF can sanction insurers that break the rules, but it can’t decide your claim or set compensation
4. For a dispute about your contract, use CIMPAS, the insurance arbitration centre, or a consumer arbitration centre. For consumer disputes up to €5,000 the insurer must accept arbitration. Julgados de Paz handle claims up to €15,000