Transport Insurance in Spain

Goods in transit, haulage and cargo insurance for businesses transporting goods by road, sea, air or rail.

By Andrew Turner · In insurance since 2001, exclusive Generali agent since 2007 · DGS Registry C0467B54657010 · Last reviewed May 2026

Quick Answer. Transport Insurance in Spain

ForHauliers and freight forwarders

Cover modesSingle consignment OR annual open

CMR/CMNI coverYes — international road and sea

ADR coverAvailable — hazardous goods

Excess optionsTailored per fleet size

Spanish Insurance Law: Transport & Goods-in-Transit. Key Facts, Limits & Exclusions

The legal framework, specific waiting periods, exclusions and citations every prospective policyholder should know. Sources are linked inline to the BOE (Boletín Oficial del Estado) and Spanish regulators.

Legal framework

Transport insurance is governed by Ley 50/1980 Articles 54–62 (Seguros de Transporte Terrestre). For international road transport, the CMR Convention (Geneva 1956, ratified by Spain) governs liability, capping carrier liability at 8.33 SDR per kilogram of lost or damaged goods (≈€10/kg at current exchange rates). For sea cargo, the Hague-Visby and Hamburg rules apply, depending on the bill of lading.

Cover types

Goods-in-transit policies use Institute Cargo Clauses adapted to Spanish law: Clause A (all-risks) — broadest cover, recommended for high-value or damageable goods; Clause B — named perils plus general average; Clause C — most basic, named perils only (fire, collision, sinking). For Spanish hauliers, the CMR liability policy covers carrier liability up to CMR limit (€10/kg) plus optional uplift to commercial value (typically €30,000–€300,000 per consignment).

ADR and hazardous goods

Carriage of hazardous goods is governed by ADR (European Agreement on Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road), transposed into Spanish law by Real Decreto 97/2014. Vehicles carrying ADR-classified loads need: ADR certification of the vehicle, ADR-trained drivers (CAP-ADR), specific orange placards, and increased insurance liability typically €50–€100M. Standard transport policies exclude ADR unless explicitly added with surcharge.

Single consignment vs annual open cover

Single-consignment policies cover one specific shipment — appropriate for occasional or high-value one-off moves. Annual open-cover policies cover all consignments throughout the year up to a per-consignment limit (typically €50,000–€500,000) — appropriate for regular carriers. Premium calculation is based on annual turnover or kilometres run, with adjustment at year-end.

Standard exclusions

Common exclusions: ordinary leakage and weight loss; inherent vice (goods deteriorating from their own nature); insufficient packing; delay-related losses (CMR Article 23 specifically caps delay liability); strikes and political risks (Strikes Riots and Civil Commotions cover is a separate add-on); and war on land (war on sea covered separately under SR&CC clauses).

Transport Insurance in Spain

Transport insurance Spain (Seguro de Transporte de Mercancías) protects the value of goods while being transported. Essential for businesses that import, export or regularly move stock or equipment.

Key Points

Goods in transit by road, rail, air or sea
Single consignment or annual open / floating policy
Full load and groupage (partial load) cover available
Own vehicles and third-party haulage contractors covered
Domestic Spain and international European cover
Cover during loading, transit and unloading operations

What Transport Insurance Covers

Loss or damage to goods during transit — fire, theft, accident, collision
Damage during loading and unloading operations
Natural events — flood, storm, lightning strikes during transit
Refrigerated goods — temperature excursion damage
High-value goods — electronic equipment, artwork, machinery
Third-party liability arising from goods in transit

Optional Extras

Refrigerated cargo: Specialist cover for perishable goods
High-value goods rider: Jewellery, artwork, electronics, pharmaceuticals
Haulier liability (CMR): Road haulage CMR liability cover
Delay in transit: Consequential loss from delayed delivery
Exhibition and fair cover: Goods sent to trade fairs
Customs bonds: Temporary importation cover

How to Get a Quote

We make getting a quote simple and fast.

Call or email us — ring 966 461 625 or email info@turnerinsurance.es. Our English-speaking team is available Monday to Friday, 09:30–15:00.
Tell us your situation — we will ask a few quick questions about what you need to cover, your age, location, and any existing policies you hold.
We compare options — as authorised Generali agents, we present the plans that match your needs and budget. No pressure, no obligation.
Your policy is set up — once you are happy, we arrange everything and send your certificate and English-language policy documents promptly.

Goods in Transit Cover Types

Cover level	What is included	Best for
Single consignment	One-off cover for a single shipment by road, rail, sea or air	Businesses making occasional or one-off shipments
Annual open cover	Continuous cover for all shipments during the year on one policy — no per-shipment admin	Regular shippers wanting simplified management
Full truck load (FTL)	Dedicated vehicle cover — goods travel alone, no shared risk with other cargo	Large or high-value loads requiring dedicated transport
Part load / groupage (LTL)	Cover for shared transport — goods travel with other consignments	Smaller loads and cost-efficient shipping

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Spain-UK Trade. Transport Insurance Post-Brexit

Since Brexit, cross-border movements between Spain and the UK involve customs declarations and additional documentation. For regular importers and exporters trading between Spain and the UK, annual floating transport insurance policies are the most cost-effective solution. .

It covers all shipments throughout the year. We can include customs bond cover for goods held in temporary importation status while clearing Spanish or UK customs, and our policies cover the additional administrative costs associated with delayed shipments at borders.

Understanding CMR Liability. Why You Need Your Own Cover

Under the CMR Convention on international road carriage, a haulier's liability for lost or damaged goods is capped at just 8.33 Special Drawing Rights per kilogram — currently approximately €10/kg. For a 1,000kg consignment worth €50,000, you could recover less than €10,000 from the haulier.

Your own transport insurance Spain policy covers the full declared value of your goods, regardless of what the haulier can pay. This gap is the primary reason own-account transport cover is essential even when using reputable haulage companies.

Annual floating policy covers all movements throughout the year — no need to arrange cover per shipment
Inland transit, sea freight and air cargo all covered under one policy
Refrigerated goods and temperature-sensitive cargo available as an extension
Claims handled in English by our team in Javea — no language barrier in an emergency

Approximate Transport (Goods in Transit) Insurance Pricing

Annual premiums depend on goods value, journey length and transport mode:

Small carrier (1 van)

from €600/yr

€10,000-€25,000 max load value
Spain only
Carrier's liability included
Loading/unloading covered
Annual or per-load options

Frequently Asked Questions. Transport (Goods in Transit) Insurance

These are the most common questions we receive.

Transport insurance covers goods being moved by road, rail, sea or air — protecting both the carrier (CMR liability) and the cargo owner (cargo insurance). These answers cover the main questions from Costa Blanca carriers and shippers.

Carrier's liability (CMR for international road transport) protects the carrier — it pays when the carrier is legally liable for damage to goods in their custody. The CMR convention sets standard liability limits of 8.33 SDR per kilogram, roughly €11/kg. Cargo insurance protects the goods owner — it pays for damage regardless of who is at fault. High-value goods need cargo insurance because CMR liability limits are inadequate.

For international road carriage of goods between CMR signatory countries (most of Europe), the CMR Convention applies automatically. Carriers' liability insurance is not strictly mandatory by law but is required by virtually all customer contracts. Spanish domestic transport law (Ley 15/2009) sets similar minimum carrier liability that needs insuring.

Damage to goods caused by collision, overturning, fire, theft (with forced entry to vehicle), loading/unloading damage, water damage from third party, weather events. Excluded: ordinary wear and tear, inherent vice in goods (food spoilage in non-refrigerated transport), war/political risks (insurable separately), and delay (unless specifically covered).

Yes, on most modern policies — historically a contentious area. Modern transport insurance covers loading and unloading at origin and destination, and during transhipment. Some older policy wordings exclude these moments and only cover 'in transit' (vehicle moving). We always specify modern wordings that include load/unload.

Refrigerated transport needs specific cover for refrigeration unit failure resulting in spoiled goods. Standard transit insurance covers fire/theft of the load. Frigorífico extension covers compressor failure, fuel exhaustion, electrical fault leading to thaw. Important for food, pharmaceutical and floral transport. Premium is typically €100-€300 additional per year.

Standard goods in transit excludes valuables — cash, bullion, jewellery, art, securities, antiques. These need a Specie or Fine Art transport policy with specific underwriting, secure transport requirements (armoured vehicles, multiple drivers, GPS tracking) and high premiums. We can arrange specialist cover for one-off high-value moves.

ADR-classified hazardous goods (chemicals, fuels, explosives) need specific cover with higher liability limits and additional perils (explosion, leak, contamination liability). Drivers must hold ADR certification. The transport vehicle needs ADR equipment and signage. Premium loadings of 30-100% are typical depending on the hazard class.

Most Spanish transport policies cover Spain, Portugal, EU/EEA, UK and Switzerland by default. Russia, Turkey, North Africa and other border regions need specific extensions. Unstable countries on standard FCO or Spanish foreign ministry warning lists are usually excluded. Cover continues through ferry crossings (Channel, Italy-Greece, Portugal-Morocco).

CMR consignment note (international road), or albarán de entrega (Spanish domestic), showing pickup and delivery details; photos of damage; police report (denuncia) for theft; weight tickets where relevant; commercial invoice for goods value. The driver should sign damage notation on delivery papers if goods damage is noticed at unloading.

Standard policy covers your own vehicles and your own goods in transit. Goods carried by sub-contractors on your behalf may need explicit coverage — many carriers maintain liability cover for sub-contracted moves. The interaction between your policy and the sub-contractor's own policy needs to be clear at underwriting. We document this in policy wordings.

Damaged goods are valued at the CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) value at destination — typically the commercial invoice plus shipping cost. Total loss pays the full insured sum. Partial loss is pro-rated to the damage proportion. For perishables (food, flowers) the spoilage percentage is determined by an independent surveyor. Claims usually settle within 30-60 days.

Yes — 'declaration policies' or 'open cover' arrangements allow ad-hoc declaration of individual high-value loads with premiums charged per shipment. Useful for irregular shipments of unusual goods. Annual minimum premium typically applies. Good for export businesses with occasional high-value international moves.

More questions? Visit our complete FAQ centre with 90+ detailed guides, or contact us for free English-speaking advice.

How This Compares to the Competition

Honest comparisons help you make an informed choice. These figures are typical Spanish-market starting points and depend on age, area, cover level and individual circumstances.

Generali Transporte vs Mapfre Transporte and Allianz Trade

How Generali's goods-in-transit cover compares to Mapfre and Allianz Trade for hauliers and freight forwarders.

Feature	Generali Transporte	Mapfre Transporte	Allianz Transit
Single-consignment vs annual open	Both	Both	Both
CMR (international road)	Yes — full conditions	Yes — full conditions	Yes — full conditions
Sea cargo (Cl. A/B/C)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Air cargo	Yes	Yes	Yes
ADR (hazardous goods)	Optional surcharge	Optional surcharge	Optional surcharge
Excess from	€300	€500	€400
Premium SME haulier (€500k turnover)	~€2,400/year	~€2,800/year	~€2,600/year

Comparisons are based on publicly available product literature and our experience placing policies across the Spanish market. Premium estimates assume a healthy applicant on the Costa Blanca with no significant claims history. Contact us for a personalised, like-for-like quote.

Sources & References

This page references the following official Spanish regulatory and legal sources. These are the authoritative bodies and laws governing insurance products in Spain:

Dirección General de Seguros y Fondos de Pensiones (DGS). Spanish insurance regulator. Confirms registration of insurance brokers (Andrew Turner: Registry C0467B54657010) and authorises all insurance products distributed in Spain.
Ley 50/1980. Ley de Contrato de Seguro (BOE). Spanish Insurance Contract Law. The primary legal framework governing all insurance contracts in Spain — defines duties, claims, cancellation rights and disclosure obligations.

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