Cancelling French car insurance after selling the vehicle: article L121-11 and letter template
How to cancel French car insurance after selling or transferring the vehicle: automatic suspension of the contract at midnight the day after the sale (article L121-11 of the Insurance Code), cancellation with 10 days' notice, refund of the unused premium, transfer certificate and claims history statement. Letter template for registered mail.
Quick answer
Sold your car? The insurance contract is suspended by law at midnight the day after the sale (article L121-11 of the French Insurance Code), but it is not cancelled automatically: notify your insurer of the sale by registered mail with proof of receipt, enclose the transfer certificate (certificat de cession), and request cancellation — it takes effect 10 days after notification. The insurer refunds the unused premium and must hand over your claims history statement (relevé d'informations) for your next contract. Without any action, the contract only dies 6 months after the sale… with premiums due in the meantime.
| Who it's for | Any policyholder who sold or transferred their vehicle (car, motorbike) |
| Legal basis | Art. L121-11 of the Insurance Code |
| Suspension | Automatic, at midnight the day after the sale |
| Cancellation | On notification, effective 10 days later; automatic after 6 months |
| Cost | Free; unused premium refunded |
| Documents | Transfer certificate (Cerfa 15776), contract number |
| Common mistakes | Assuming cancellation is automatic, forgetting the claims history statement |
1. What article L121-11 says
When the vehicle is sold or transferred:
- The contract is suspended by law at midnight the day after the sale: cover ceases, and the car must no longer be driven under your policy.
- You must inform the insurer of the date of sale.
- Either party may then cancel with 10 days' notice.
- Absent cancellation or reactivation of the contract (moved to a new vehicle), it terminates automatically 6 months after the sale.
Suspension does not stop the premium clock: until cancellation takes effect, premiums remain payable. So cancel without delay.
2. Two options: cancel or transfer
- Cancel: if you are not buying another vehicle or are switching insurers. Notify by registered mail, effective in 10 days, overpaid premium refunded.
- Transfer: the insurer can move the contract to your new vehicle (amendment, premium adjustment). Compare first: a sale is also a chance to shop around — your bonus-malus follows you via the claims history statement.
3. Prepare the letter
- Transfer certificate (Cerfa 15776) signed by both parties — enclose a copy.
- Contract number and registration of the sold vehicle.
- Date of sale (it triggers the suspension).
- Request the claims history statement, due within 15 days.
4. Cancellation letter template after a sale
Subject: Cancellation of insurance contract no. [X] — vehicle sold on [date]
Dear Sir or Madam,
I hereby inform you of the sale, on [date], of the vehicle [make, model] registered [number], insured under the above contract. A copy of the transfer certificate is enclosed.
In accordance with article L121-11 of the Insurance Code, the contract has been suspended since the day after the sale, and I request its cancellation, effective 10 days after receipt of this letter.
Please refund the portion of the premium covering the period after the effective date and send me my claims history statement within the statutory 15 days.
Yours faithfully,
[Date — Signature]
Need to send this letter with solid proof? MaisonMail can print and dispatch your cancellation through an available registered service. Origin market, delivery times, tracking and the proof-of-receipt slip are confirmed before payment. See also: sending a registered letter online.
5. Why registered mail with proof of receipt matters
- The 10-day notice runs from notification: the proof-of-receipt slip fixes the start date.
- If premiums are debited after cancellation, the slip is your evidence for claiming them back.
- The enclosed transfer certificate proves the sale beyond argument.
6. After sending
- Check the effective date confirmed by the insurer (10 days after receipt).
- Verify the refund of the unused premium on your account.
- File the claims history statement: your next insurer will ask for it.
- Keep the slip, confirmation and transfer certificate for 2 years (insurance limitation period).
7. Common mistakes
- Assuming the sale cancels the contract: it only suspends it — premiums keep accruing.
- Notifying by phone with nothing in writing: no proof, no start of the notice period.
- Forgetting the transfer certificate, which delays processing.
- Not claiming the claims history statement, blocking your next subscription.
- Letting the buyer drive under your policy after handing over the keys.
In short: a sale suspends car insurance from midnight the next day, but only your notification cancels it — registered mail with proof of receipt, transfer certificate enclosed, effective 10 days later, unused premium refunded. Claim your claims history statement in the same letter, and do not wait: without action, the contract only ends after 6 months of premiums owed.
Official sources
References used and links to the rules currently in force.
- Assurance auto : résiliation du contrat (F2659)Service-Public.fr
- Modèle : demander le relevé d'informations après résiliation (R2689)Service-Public.fr
Information current as of the last verification date. This guide is informational and is not legal advice — for a complex situation, consult a qualified professional.
Frequently asked questions
Do I keep paying the insurance after selling my car?
The contract is suspended by law at midnight the day after the sale: cover stops, but premiums remain due until you actually cancel. That is why you should notify the sale and request cancellation immediately, by registered mail with proof of receipt.
What happens if I never cancel after the sale?
The contract stays suspended. Without reactivation (on a new vehicle) or cancellation, it terminates automatically six months after the sale — but you will have owed premiums for a car you no longer own.
Will the premium I already paid be refunded?
Yes: the insurer must refund the portion of the premium covering the period after the cancellation takes effect, without fees. Cancellation takes effect 10 days after your notification.
What is the relevé d'informations and why ask for it?
It is the statement summarising your driving history (bonus-malus coefficient, claims). Your next insurer will require it. The insurer must provide it within 15 days of the request — claim it in the same cancellation letter.
Related guides
- Switching French mortgage borrower insurance at any time (loi Lemoine): steps and letter templateSince the loi Lemoine of 28 February 2022, borrower insurance on a French mortgage can be cancelled and replaced at any time (article L113-12-2 of the Insurance Code): equivalent guarantees, bank response within 10 working days, substitution free of charge. Letter template and registered mail with proof of receipt.
- Cancelling French home insurance: loi Hamon, renewal date, moving out, letter templateHow to cancel a French home insurance (assurance habitation) contract: at any time after one year (loi Hamon, article L113-15-2 of the Insurance Code), at the annual renewal date with 2 months' notice, or within 3 months of moving (article L113-16). Letter template and registered mail with proof of receipt.
- Cancelling a French electricity or gas contract: deadlines and letterHow to cancel a French electricity or gas contract (EDF, Engie, TotalEnergies…): cancellation is free and unrestricted, the role of the meter reading and the PDL/PCE, and the cases where a registered letter is needed (moving home, dispute, contesting a bill).
Ready to send your letter?
Use our pre-filled template and we will print, stamp and dispatch it for you.