Once you are settled, the insurance starts: the car, the home, maybe a health policy. You can buy each separately, or from your bank, but many residents end up with a single English-speaking broker who handles all of it and actually picks up the phone when something goes wrong. Here is how brokers work in Portugal, why an independent one often beats your bank, and the one check that tells you they are legitimate.
What a broker is, in Portugal
Insurance intermediaries here fall into a few categories. An agente is usually tied to one or a few insurers. A corretor, a broker, is independent and can place your business across the whole market. There are also accessory intermediaries, such as a dealer selling cover on the side. For one-stop, impartial help, the category you want is a corretor.
The one check that matters: the ASF register
Every insurance intermediary in Portugal must be registered with ASF, the insurance regulator, before they can legally sell you anything. That registration is public. Before you trust a broker, search their name or tax number on the ASF register and confirm three things: that they appear, that their category is what they claim, ideally a corretor, and that the registration is active.
This is a two-minute check, and it is the single best filter against someone operating without authorisation. A genuine broker will happily give you their ASF number.
Why a broker often beats the bank
When you buy insurance from your bank, you get the bank’s products and no comparison. A good independent broker does three things a bank rarely will:
- Compares across many insurers to fit your situation, rather than selling one provider’s policy.
- Acts as your advocate at claim time, when language and process are hardest.
- Handles car, home and health together, so you have one English-speaking contact for everything.
The law backs this up. Intermediaries owe you real duties: to understand your demands and needs before recommending anything, to give clear information, and to disclose how they are paid. Ask for all of that in writing.
What is actually compulsory
Know what you must have and what is optional, so a broker cannot oversell you:
- Car insurance. Third-party motor cover is compulsory for vehicles in Portugal, with high minimum cover levels set by law.
- Home insurance. Only fire cover is legally required, and only for buildings under shared ownership, such as flats in a condominium. The broader multi-risk home policy most people buy is sensible, but optional.
- Health insurance. Not compulsory at all. It is a discretionary top-up to the SNS.
Want an English-speaking broker who handles it all?
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Frequently asked questions
How do I know a broker is legitimate?
Search them on the ASF public register by name or tax number. Confirm they appear, their category, and that the registration is active. Ask for their ASF number directly.
Is a broker more expensive than going direct?
Not usually. Brokers are typically paid by commission from insurers, and they can compare the market for you. They must disclose how they are paid.
Do I legally need home insurance?
Only fire cover, and only for buildings under shared ownership. Full multi-risk home insurance is optional but widely recommended.
Sources
- ASF, the insurance and pension supervisor, public register of intermediaries: asf.com.pt
- Insurance distribution law (Lei 7/2019, transposing the EU IDD): asf.com.pt
- ASF consumer pages, compulsory motor and home cover: consumidor.asf.com.pt
General information, current as of June 2026, and not financial advice. Always verify an intermediary on the ASF register and read policy terms before buying. Related reading: choosing private health insurance in Portugal.
