The Indie blog

From the Indie team

Insurance explained plainly. Practical guides for Portuguese consumers.

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Open health insurance document on a desk with glasses and pen, warm light
Health Insurance

Comparing Private Health Plans in Portugal: What the Brochures Don't Tell You

We analysed the standard health plan documents from major Portuguese insurers and found four common exclusions that surprise most new policyholders. Here is what to look for.

Marta Carvalho 8 min read
Person reviewing car insurance renewal notice on a phone screen
Auto Insurance

Why Car Insurance Prices in Portugal Went Up in 2025 — and What You Can Do

Repair costs, parts scarcity, and claims frequency drove market rates up 12-18% across Portuguese auto insurers in 2025. Here is how to avoid paying that increase.

Rui Alves 5 min read
Wet Portuguese street after rainfall with water reflections of Lisbon buildings
Home Insurance

Flooding in Portugal: Is Your Home Insurance Actually Covering You?

Many standard home policies in Portugal exclude flood damage by default. After the 2024 floods in the Setúbal district, we saw how many homeowners found out too late.

Hugo Oliveira 6 min read
Car keys resting on a Portuguese cobblestone surface with the Lisbon skyline out of focus in background
Auto Insurance

The 8 Factors That Determine Your Car Insurance Price in Portugal

Vehicle age, kilometres driven, garage vs street parking, postal code, claim history, NIF seniority — here is how each input moves your premium, and what you can actually control.

Marta Carvalho 7 min read
Small team working at a startup office in Lisbon with warm light and city view
Company

Year One: What We Learned Building an Insurtech in Portugal

We launched Indie in 2024. Here is an honest account of what surprised us about the Portuguese insurance market, what we got wrong in v1, and what we changed.

Hugo Oliveira 10 min read
Split concept: a clean smartphone screen beside a folded paper document
Guides

Digital Insurance Policy vs Paper Policy: Does It Hold Up Legally in Portugal?

A digital policy is legally identical to a paper one under Portuguese law. We explain the specific regulations, what a digital document must contain, and how to prove coverage to police or a landlord.

Hugo Oliveira 5 min read
Person photographing car damage for insurance claim on a Lisbon street
Claims

Filing an Insurance Claim in Portugal: What Moves Slowly and What You Can Speed Up

Claim delays in Portugal are usually documentation problems, not insurer bad faith. We explain which documents to have ready before something goes wrong.

Marta Carvalho 6 min read
Abstract concept of instant digital processing — glowing nodes connected in warm tones
Technology

Three Minutes from Quote to Policy: How the Technology Works

We pull back the curtain on the Indie pricing engine — how risk models trained on anonymised actuarial data turn six questions into a legally binding policy in under 180 seconds.

Rui Alves 7 min read
Person walking along a bright Lisbon street with modern clinic in background
Health Insurance

Private Health Insurance in Portugal: A Guide for Expats and NHR Residents

The SNS is free but slow. Private health cover fills the gap for specialist appointments, diagnostics, and maternity. Here is what the plans actually cover.

Hugo Oliveira 9 min read
Cozy Lisbon apartment window with azulejo tiles and rooftop view
Home Insurance

Home Insurance for Lisbon Renters: What You Actually Need

Renting in Lisbon? Your landlord's insurance does not cover your belongings. We break down what renter's insurance covers, what it costs, and why most tenants skip it.

Marta Carvalho 5 min read
Person reviewing insurance documents at a desk with a cup of coffee in Lisbon apartment
Guides

Switching Insurance in Portugal: A Step-by-Step Guide

Portuguese law gives you the right to switch insurers. Here is exactly how to cancel your current policy, time the switch right, and avoid coverage gaps.

Hugo Oliveira 8 min read
Abstract visualization of real-time AI data processing over a car silhouette
Auto Insurance

How AI Prices Your Car Insurance in Real Time

Traditional car insurance puts you in a bracket. We explain how individual risk scoring replaces demographic averages — and why it usually means a lower price.

Hugo Oliveira 6 min read