Cancelling French insurance under loi Hamon or loi Chatel: how to

Quick answer

After one year of contract, the loi Hamon lets you cancel French car, home or individual health insurance at any time, without reason or fees, with a one-month notice. Before one year, the loi Chatel applies at the annual renewal date. In both cases, the letter must go by registered AR, with an explicit reference to the relevant article of the French Insurance Code.

You pay too much for your French car, home or health insurance and have found cheaper elsewhere? The loi Hamon (2014) and the loi Chatel (2005) give you two simple cancellation windows — provided you send your letter at the right moment and by registered AR. Here is how.

1. Loi Hamon or loi Chatel: which one for you?

The two laws coexist. The right choice depends on the contract's age and the type of insurance.

2. Loi Hamon: cancel any time after 1 year

Since 2014, as soon as your contract is more than one year old, you may cancel whenever you wish, without reason, without fees, for:

• Car and motorbike insurance
• Home insurance
• Affinity insurance (phone, appliances, travel…)
• Complementary health insurance (since 1 December 2020)

Notice is 1 month from receipt of the letter by the insurer. The contract ends 1 month after receipt.

✅ Major upside: your new insurer can handle the cancellation for you if you mandate them (car and home). Otherwise, you send the letter yourself.

3. Loi Chatel: cancel at renewal

If your contract is less than one year old, you must wait for the anniversary renewal date. But the loi Chatel protects you:

• The insurer must send you a renewal notice reminding you of your cancellation right, no later than 15 days before the cancellation deadline.
• If the notice arrives late (less than 15 days before) or not at all, you have 20 days from the notice's dispatch date to cancel.
• If the notice is never sent, you can cancel any time, without fees or penalties.

The standard notice is 2 months before renewal, unless the contract states otherwise.

4. Mandatory mentions of the letter

To be valid, your cancellation letter must contain:

• Your first name, last name and address
• The name and address of the insurer (as shown on the renewal notice)
• Your contract number and member number (if applicable)
• The subject: "Résiliation du contrat n° … (Cancellation of contract no. …)"
• The statement of the legal basis:
  • For loi Hamon: "In accordance with article L113-15-2 of the French Code des assurances (loi Hamon), I hereby notify you of my decision to cancel my contract with effect from receipt of this letter."
  • For loi Chatel: "In accordance with article L113-15-1 of the French Code des assurances (loi Chatel), I hereby notify you of my decision not to renew my contract at its anniversary."
• The desired effective date
• A request for written confirmation of cancellation and refund of any prorated premium
• Date and signature

5. Letter template — loi Hamon

Subject: Résiliation du contrat n° [X] — loi Hamon

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am the holder of insurance contract no. [X] since [date], i.e. for more than one year.

In accordance with article L113-15-2 of the Code des assurances, I hereby notify you of my decision to cancel this contract. Cancellation will take effect one month after receipt of this letter, as the law provides.

Please confirm in writing the exact effective date of this cancellation, and refund the portion of premium corresponding to the period after that date.

Yours faithfully,

[Date — Signature]

6. Why registered AR is essential

Articles L113-14 and L113-15 of the Code des assurances require notification by registered letter (or by declaration at the head office, or by registered electronic mail). In practice:

• The AR sets the date from which the notice (Hamon) or the deadline to oppose renewal (Chatel) runs.
• In case of a debit after cancellation, it is your only proof to challenge it.
• An email or phone call is not enforceable against the insurer.

💡 You live abroad or far away? MaisonMail posts your cancellation letter as LRAR from France the same day. You receive the tracking number online and the scanned AR as soon as it returns.

7. Special cases to know

• Car and home, loi Hamon: your new insurer can handle the cancellation. Give them a written mandate, they take care of everything.
• Health insurance (mutuelle): if it is subscribed via your employer (group contract), the Hamon cancellation does not apply — you must opt out of the group contract.
• Recent claim: the insurer may, under certain conditions, cancel on their side after a claim. You can then also cancel within the month following their cancellation.
• Premium increase: you have 15 to 30 days from the notification of increase to cancel without notice, whatever the contract.

8. Common mistakes

• Cancelling before 1 year under loi Hamon: automatic refusal.
• Forgetting the legal basis (article and law name): the insurer may requalify as cancellation out of time.
• Sending as plain mail: no enforceable receipt date, debits continue.
• Not requesting written confirmation: you remain in the dark about the exact effective date.
• Forgetting to cancel the direct debit mandate at your bank after the contract ends: not mandatory but avoids an "overlooked" debit.

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Bottom line: under loi Hamon, cancelling a French insurance after 1 year takes a single registered AR letter, no reason, no fees, effective 1 month after receipt. It is one of France's most effective consumer rights — provided you respect the form. Proof of receipt is all that matters the day the insurer claims to have received nothing.