Public Liability Insurance in Spain for Autonomos: What It Covers, When You Need It, and Typical Costs
If you work with clients in person, visit customer premises, or run a space where people can slip, trip, or get hurt, public liability insurance is one of the most practical covers to arrange early. It's also a policy that gets misunderstood: people assume it covers everything 'business-related', then find out too late that employees, professional advice, or undeclared activities can fall outside the policy.
Quick Answer
Public liability insurance protects autonomos when clients or the public are injured or their property is damaged due to your business activity. It's not mandatory for everyone, but often required by contracts and landlords.
- Covers injury to clients and damage to third-party property
- Not mandatory for all autonomos, but often required by contracts
- Pricing starts from around €15/month for low-risk activities
- Does NOT cover employees or professional advice errors
- Cover can start within 24-72 hours with proper documentation
Key Takeaways
Public liability insurance protects you if a client or member of the public is injured, or their property is damaged, because of your business activity.
It's not mandatory for every autonomo, but some activities, licences, landlords, or client contracts can require it.
Pricing usually starts from around €15/month for low-risk activities, and changes with your sector, turnover, premises, and required limits.
What Public Liability Insurance Covers (In Plain English)
Public liability insurance is built for third-party claims. That usually means two types of situations: someone is injured, or something belonging to someone else is damaged, and you are held responsible because it happened through your business activity.
What's Typically Included
- Injury to clients or members of the public on your premises or at a client site
- Damage to third-party property caused by your work
- Legal defence costs linked to covered claims
- Compensation/settlements, up to the policy limit
This is why it matters even for "low-risk" work. A freelance consultant visiting offices can still trigger a claim if, for example, equipment is damaged or someone is injured in connection with your work visit.
What It Does NOT Cover
- Activities you didn't declare (or that fall outside the policy description)
- Intentional acts, criminal acts, fines and penalties
- Injury to employees (that needs separate cover)
- Professional advice that causes purely financial loss (usually professional indemnity)
If your work is advice-led (IT, finance, design, consulting), this "financial loss" point is important. You might need public liability for physical visits and general risk, and a separate professional indemnity policy for advice-based claims.
Is It Mandatory for Autonomos in Spain?
For many autonomos, public liability is recommended rather than universally mandatory. Whether it's compulsory depends on the activity, and some professions or business types can require it.
A reliable way to avoid guessing is to use Spain's Compulsory Insurance Register (RSO). Most compulsory insurance is third-party liability insurance, and the RSO lists compulsory insurance policies, their legal basis, territorial scope (national or autonomous community), minimum limits, and even the CNAE activity code.
In practice, even when it isn't mandated by law for your specific activity, it can still be required by:
Your landlord
Lease clauses, certificate wording
Co-working spaces
Membership requirements
Client contracts
Tenders with minimum limits
Typical Costs and What Changes the Price
The biggest pricing drivers tend to be: what you do, whether you have premises, how many people visit, your turnover, and the limit your contracts require. Pricing starts from €15/month for basic cover in low-risk activities.
Essential
€15-€30/month
Best for low-risk, office/home-based work
- • Consultants & advisors
- • Freelance office workers
- • Remote service providers
Business
€25-€60/month
Best for shops, cafes, salons, client footfall
- • Retail businesses
- • Hospitality venues
- • Service premises
Professional & Trades
€40-€120+/month
Best for on-site work, tools, higher-risk activity
- • Contractors & tradespeople
- • Property maintenance
- • Installation services
The goal is not "the cheapest policy". The goal is a policy that matches what you actually do, because claims can be declined if the activity wasn't accepted or properly described.
How Much Cover Do You Need?
Your limit should match your real-world exposure: how many people you interact with, what property you could damage, and what your contracts demand.
Business tier limits can be set higher, with examples such as €300,000-€600,000 or more. Certificates and wording may be needed for landlords.
If you do occasional client visits, basic cover may be enough. If you run premises with regular public access, or you work on customer property, it's usually safer to choose a tier that explicitly mentions slips/trips on premises and damage to property in your care.
What You Need to Get a Quote Quickly
Have these ready, and you usually avoid most delays:
Once details are confirmed and the insurer accepts the risk, cover can often start within 24-72 hours (some sectors need extra questions).
Expert reviewed
Written and reviewed by licensed insurance agents Maya Kallio and Marco Elsinger, who have helped over 15,000 expats in Spain since 2012.
Maya Kallio
Licensed Insurance Agent
Since 2012
Marco Elsinger
Licensed Insurance Agent
10+ years
Languages: English, Finnish, Spanish, German, Swedish
Frequently asked questions
Still have questions? Check these answers or get in touch.
Is public liability insurance mandatory for freelancers in Spain?
Not for everyone. Whether it's compulsory depends on your activity and the rules attached to that activity. Some licences, sectors, and professional roles can require it, while others don't. A practical way to check is Spain's Compulsory Insurance Register (RSO), which lists compulsory insurance policies, their legal basis, territorial scope, and minimum limits. Even when it isn't legally required for your activity, your landlord, co-working space, or client contract may still demand a certificate and a minimum limit before you can start work.
What's the difference between public liability and professional indemnity?
Public liability is about physical harm and property damage to third parties linked to your business activity. Professional indemnity is about financial loss caused by your professional service or advice. Public liability typically doesn't cover 'purely financial loss' from professional services, which is why professional indemnity is often a separate policy. If you're an autonomo who visits clients and also provides advice (IT, consulting, design), you may need both: public liability for in-person risk, and professional indemnity for advice-related claims.
How quickly can cover start, and what documents do I need?
After you provide your details and the insurer accepts the risk, cover can often start within 24-72 hours, although some sectors require more underwriting questions. To keep it fast, prepare your ID or passport, NIE/tax number, a clear description of your activity, estimated turnover, and the premises address if you have one. If a landlord or client requires specific wording or limits, share that early so the certificate matches what they're asking for.
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