Reviewed by Hugo Gonçalves, Founder & Risk Management Specialist at Adler & Rochefort · Degree in Business Management (University of Hertfordshire) · Ongoing training at the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), London.
Neither route is automatically right. Here is an honest comparison, and why the broker route tends to matter more once a foreign licence, a property abroad or paperwork in another language is involved.
Buying direct from an insurer can be the simpler choice for a straightforward risk. A broker earns its place when the situation has more moving parts than a single online form is designed for.
A broker is not always cheaper, and does not always have better cover than going direct — we do not claim either. What we do claim is that within the relationships we hold, we compare rather than sell a single product, and we explain what we find in plain English.
Tell us the essentials. As each proposal is specific and requires a detailed analysis of the risk, response times may vary.
The broker route matters more, not less, once a case does not fit the assumptions a domestic online form is built around.
A property used for part of the year, priced differently to a full-time residence. Second homes in Spain
Cover across more than one country, or a plan that must accept a history built up abroad. International health insurance
Paperwork issued in another language or another country's format. How we work
A household with more than one property, vehicle or type of cover to coordinate. Private clients — Portugal · Spain
Not always, and we do not claim it. What a broker offers is access to the relationships it actually holds, help understanding requirements, and support with documentation and claims — not a guarantee of the lowest price.
No. We compare within the agency agreements and relationships we actually hold, and say plainly when something falls outside what we can currently place.
A broker is typically remunerated by the insurer through commission built into the premium, not a separate fee charged to you — confirm this directly with us for your specific case.
Looking specifically for an English-speaking insurance broker in Portugal and Spain? That page sets out who we are and how we work. If you would like to know what actually happens after you get in touch, see how we work. If you already know you want a review, start there directly.
Adler & Rochefort is the commercial brand of Ownizo, Unipessoal Lda., an insurance broker registered with the Autoridade de Supervisão de Seguros e Fundos de Pensões (ASF) under no. 425591790/3, and operating in Spain under Freedom of Services. General information only, not personalised advice.