Key takeaways

Switching home insurance in 60 seconds

Three legal paths

  • Loi Hamon : after 12 months, any time, no justification, the new insurer cancels for you.
  • Loi Châtel : at annual renewal, 2 months notice ; if not properly notified, any time.
  • Legitimate motive : before 12 months, with proof : move, sale, departure from France.

For expats

  • Departure from France = automatic legitimate motive (article L113-16).
  • Subscribe new contract first, the new insurer handles cancellation under Hamon.
  • Get registered-letter proof for any direct cancellation : disputes are common.

Loi Hamon : switch any time after 12 months

The Loi du 17 mars 2014 (loi Hamon, article L113-15-2 of the Code des assurances) made switching insurance almost effortless. The rule : after the first 12 months of cover, you can cancel your home or auto insurance at any time, with no fee and no penalty. You don't even need to provide a reason.

The procedure is one-sided : the new insurer takes care of the cancellation on your behalf. You don't write to the old insurer ; you don't even need to know the contract number ahead of time. You just :

  1. Subscribe the new contract with another insurer (you'll need a French IBAN for the direct debit) (use our live comparator to compare).
  2. Sign a "mandat de résiliation" at subscription : usually a tickbox on the online form authorising the new insurer to cancel the previous one.
  3. The new insurer notifies the old one by registered letter or electronic equivalent.
  4. Cancellation takes effect 30 days after receipt of the notice.
  5. Continuous cover : the new contract starts the day after the old one ends, so you're never uninsured (a legal requirement for tenants).
  6. Pro-rata refund of the unused premium from the old insurer arrives within 30 days.
What's great about it : you can do this online in 15 minutes, the new insurer carries the paperwork burden, and you stay continuously insured. No registered letter to send yourself.

Loi Châtel : the annual renewal escape hatch

Before the loi Hamon, switching was already possible at annual renewal under the Loi du 28 janvier 2005 (loi Châtel, article L113-15-1 of the Code des assurances). The rule : the insurer must notify you of the resignation deadline at least 15 days before the end of the deadline (typically 2 months before the annual anniversary).

  • If the insurer notifies you on time : you have 20 days from the notification to send a registered letter resigning the contract for the next renewal. The contract ends at the annual date.
  • If the insurer notifies you late (less than 15 days before the deadline) : you can resign at any time after the renewal, with a refund of the unused premium, and the contract ends 20 days after the resignation letter is received.
  • If the insurer never notifies you : you can resign at any time, full refund of the post-renewal premium.

The Châtel route is mostly used in the first 12 months when Loi Hamon doesn't yet apply, or when you specifically want to align the cancellation with the contract anniversary.

Legitimate motives : cancel even within the first year

Article L113-16 of the Code des assurances lists motives that let you cancel before the 12-month minimum, with proof :

  • Change of address (déménagement) : moving to a new home cancels the cover at the old address ;
  • Marriage, divorce, PACS : change of family situation ;
  • Change of profession ;
  • Retirement or cessation of professional activity ;
  • Sale of the insured property ;
  • Departure from France with proof of new foreign residence ;
  • Insurer's significant tariff increase not justified by a contractual clause.

The procedure :

  1. Send a registered letter (recommandé avec accusé de réception) to the insurer ;
  2. Attach proof of the motive : new lease, sale deed, marriage certificate, etc. ;
  3. Cancellation effective 1 month after receipt of the letter ;
  4. Pro-rata refund of the unused premium.
For expats leaving France : the proof needed is typically a new foreign lease, a foreign work contract, or a flight ticket dated after the move. Some insurers also accept a sworn affidavit. Send the registered letter with the proof attached as soon as the move is confirmed : don't wait until you're physically gone.

Resignation letter template

If you're cancelling directly (departure from France, sale of the property, or simply preferring to handle it yourself rather than via the new insurer's mandate), here's a template. Send it as a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt.

[Your name]
[Your address]
[Email] · [Phone]

[Insurer's name]
[Insurer's address : see your contract]

[City], [Date]

Subject : Resignation of home insurance contract n° [contract number]
Sent by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt

Madam, Sir,

I hereby resign the home insurance contract referenced above, effective [date] in accordance with [article L113-15-2 of the Code des assurances (Loi Hamon, after 12 months) / article L113-16 (legitimate motive) / article L113-15-1 (Loi Châtel)].

[If legitimate motive :] In support, please find attached [proof of motive].

I therefore request the cancellation of my contract and the pro-rata refund of the unused premium to my bank account, the IBAN of which you have on file.

Please confirm receipt of this letter and send the cancellation confirmation by email to [email address].

Yours sincerely,

[Your signature]

Translate "registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt" as "lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception" if writing in French (preferred by the insurer). The above is bilingual-acceptable for most insurers.

Switch checklist

  1. Check you're past 12 months for the Hamon route, OR identify the legitimate motive with proof.
  2. Get 3-5 quotes from new insurers. Use our live comparator to compare.
  3. Verify the cover matches your current contract (or improves it). Same options, same franchise.
  4. Subscribe the new contract. Tick the "mandat de résiliation Hamon" box during subscription so the new insurer handles the cancellation.
  5. Confirm the start date of the new contract : should be the day after the old one ends, no gap.
  6. Wait for the cancellation confirmation from the old insurer (within 30 days).
  7. Verify the pro-rata refund hits your bank account within 30 days. If not, follow up with the old insurer.
For tenants : never let your cover lapse for even a single day. Article 7 g of the loi du 6 juillet 1989 obliges continuous cover ; the bailleur is entitled to cancel the lease for breach of MRH obligation.

If you'd rather not handle the Hamon paperwork yourself, our advisor takes care of the cancellation letter and the new subscription in your name (free service) :

+33 9 87 67 37 93
Mon-Fri 8am-9pm · Sat 8.30am-6.30pm · Sun 9am-6pm (CET)
Free service · English-speaking advisors · Hamon cancellation handled in your name
Request callback →

When not to switch

A few situations where staying put is the better choice :

  • You're 6 months away from a 5-year loyalty bonus. Some insurers (MAIF, MMA) offer 10-20% reductions after 5+ years. Switching resets the counter.
  • You have an open claim or dispute. Settle it first : switching during a claim risks coverage gaps.
  • You're moving abroad in <6 months. Use the "departure from France" motive directly to cancel rather than switch then cancel.
  • The new quote is only 5-10% cheaper. Possibly not worth the friction once you factor in any new-customer hidden fees, app re-setup and lost loyalty perks.

No-commitment insurers : cancel any time, even in year 1

A handful of French home insurers — almost all of them neo-insurers — let you cancel at any time, any month, without waiting for the 12-month Loi Hamon window. Their contracts are billed monthly with a 1-month notice instead of the standard annual tacit renewal. If your situation is uncertain (short-term lease, expat moving back home in less than a year, trial of French market), pick one of these :

French home insurers with no-commitment monthly contracts
Insurer Cancellation notice Type Best for
Luko 1 month, online cancellation Neo-insurer · App-first Short stays, English FAQ
Lemonade No notice, instant cancellation Neo-insurer · App-first Tenants, fully English
Acheel 1 month Neo-insurer · Online Lowest price, French only
Lovys 1 month Neo-broker · Online Resilié friendly
Friday 1 month Neo-insurer · Online Modular cover

Curated list based on contract terms published by each insurer. Verify the cancellation clause before subscribing : neo-insurer terms can evolve.

Why traditional insurers (AXA, MAIF, Macif, etc.) don't offer no-commitment contracts : their distribution model relies on annual policies with tacit renewal — Loi Châtel and Loi Hamon are the legal mechanisms to escape early. Neo-insurers built their products from scratch in the post-Hamon era and made monthly cancellation a feature.

Frequently asked questions

When can I use Loi Hamon ?

After your first 12 months of cover. Article L113-15-2 of the Code des assurances. No fee, no penalty, no justification required.

Are there cancellation fees ?

No, never : cancellation under Loi Hamon, Loi Châtel or with a legitimate motive carries no fee, no penalty. Some insurers try to charge an "administrative fee" : refuse, it's illegal.

I'm leaving France : how do I cancel ?

Departure from France is a legitimate motive (article L113-16). Send a registered letter with proof : new foreign lease, foreign work contract, or flight ticket. Cancellation effective 1 month after receipt.

Can I cancel without subscribing a new contract ?

As a tenant of an unfurnished property : no. Continuous cover is mandatory by law ; without it, the bailleur can cancel the lease. As an owner : yes, but you lose protection against fire, water damage, theft.

Will I get a refund of the unused premium ?

Yes, pro-rata, within 30 days of the cancellation date. Refund goes to the bank account the insurer has on file. Follow up if it doesn't arrive.

Continue reading