📋 Can I cancel my insurance?

With conditions

Quick answer

Yes, after the first year you can cancel most non-life consumer insurance at any time, with a notice of maximum two months and without cost or penalty. This comes from the Law of 9 October 2023 which inserted art. 85/1 into the Insurance Act of 4 April 2014. Important: that rule applies since 1 October 2024 (not earlier) and to contracts concluded or tacitly renewed from then. The first contract year still runs as a fixed term. The rule covers non-life consumer lines: fire/home, car, family liability. Your new insurer can carry out the cancellation for you and must ensure the new cover starts when the old one ends. Health and life insurance fall outside the always-cancellable rule and keep their own regime (for health cover, usually annual cancellation with 3 months). You can also cancel after a claim, after a premium increase, and the protection against tacit renewal (Verwilghen Act) still applies.

📋 The rules

After the first year: always cancellable with 2 months notice, no cost (art. 85/1 Insurance Act)
In force since 1 October 2024, for contracts concluded or renewed from then
Applies to non-life consumer insurance (fire/home, car, family liability)
Your new insurer can carry out the cancellation and make the new cover follow on
Health and life are excluded (health: annual cancellation with 3 months)
Cancellation also possible after a claim or after a premium increase; by registered or digital means

🔓 Exceptions

Health insurance: you stay covered for the year; cancellation only at the annual expiry with 3 months
Life insurance: separate rules per product type; the always-cancellable rule does not apply

⚠️ Penalties & fines

A cancellation under art. 85/1 may not bring any cost or penalty, and you are entitled to the premium credit for the unused period. If an insurer refuses a valid cancellation, charges a fee or ignores the switch request, you can complain to the Insurance Ombudsman or the FSMA; a wrongly charged fee is not owed.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-06-20

❓ Frequently asked

Can I cancel my car insurance after a year?

Yes. After the first year, you can cancel most non-life insurance (car, fire/home, family liability) at any time with a maximum of two months notice and no cost. This rule applies since 1 October 2024.

Do I have to cancel my old insurer myself?

You can cancel yourself (registered or digital), but your new insurer can also do it for you and must ensure the new cover follows on from the end of the old one.

Does this apply to my health insurance?

No. Health and life insurance fall outside the always-cancellable rule. Health insurance is usually cancelled at the annual expiry, with three months notice.

Can the insurer charge a fee on cancellation?

No, a cancellation under the new rule may not bring any cost or penalty, and you get back the premium credit for the unused period. A wrongful charge is not owed.

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