When you want to terminate a contract, whatever it is, you sometimes come up against complex legislation.
In some cases, termination is as simple as pie, but in others you have to respect fairly long notice periods... Let's take stock of the laws in force for your changes in insurance contracts, in particular the Chatel law and Hamon law.
Hamon law and termination of insurance contract
The Consumer Law of March 17, 2014, known as the "Hamon" law, came into force on January 1, 2015. It is part of the law relating to consumption and since this date allows any insured person who has taken out a contract by tacit renewal to terminate it at the end of the legal minimum period of one year, without financial penalties and without having to justify yourself, by sending a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt.
This concerns terminations of car and motorcycle insurance contracts, multi-risk home insurance and mortgages.
And, since December 1, 2020, it is possible to terminate your complementary health insurance contract, by invoking the Hamon law.
The latter also modified the legal withdrawal period: for contracts signed as of June 14, 2014, the period during which it is possible to withdraw is 14 days, instead of 7 previously.
I change car insurance
How to terminate a contract according to the Hamon law?
To terminate a contract according to the Hamon law, the process is very simple: contact the insurer you have selected after various comparisons and send them the information related to your old contract (insured number, contract number, your contact details and those of the insurer).
You must indeed send a certain number of documents to change car insurance.
This new insurer is responsible for sending the cancellation request to your former insurer and formulates a request for the sending of your information statement.
Your old contract is terminated one month later.
If there is an overpayment, it is refunded maximum 30 days later.
Your new contract takes over from the old one, to provide you with the coverage you need according to the insurance plan chosen.
A well-done business, isn't it?
Insurance: what is the Chatel law?
The Chatel law of January 3, 2008 for the development of competition in the service of consumers was published in the Official Journal of January 4.
It obliges your insurer to inform you of the notice period for terminating certain contracts on expiry.
This information must then reach you with your notice of expiry at least 15 days before the deadline.
Even overwhelmed by daily tasks, it is thus possible, thanks to this reminder, to react at the right time and to proceed with a request for termination before the tacit renewal of your contract, if you wish to change it.
The Chatel law concerns contracts that are automatically renewed each year, contracts that insure individuals outside of their professional activities and non-life insurance.
If your insurer does not respect the deadline and sends you the notice of expiry less than 15 days before the date of the notice (or if he does not send it to you at all!) you can terminate your contract within 20 days.
Compare to change insurance
To change insurance, nothing better than to make the comparison according to the deadlines imposed by law.
Online insurance comparators help you make a quick simulation and choose the right rate and the right guarantees.
You will be accompanied by insurance experts who can help you with the termination process.