How to cancel an insurance policy in Belgium

Does Belgian insurance renew automatically?

Yes. A Belgian insurance contract may run for at most one year and is then renewed tacitly for one year at a time, unless you or the insurer object in time (Insurance Act 2014, art. 85 §1). Health and life insurance follow separate rules: you can cancel those once a year.

How far before the renewal date must I cancel?

At least 2 months before the expiry date. The insurer needs 3 months to refuse a renewal. The 2-month period for consumers applies since 1 October 2024; contracts that were concluded or last renewed before that date keep the old 3-month notice until their next renewal.

Sources: art. 85 §1, as amended by the law of 9 October 2023, in force 1 October 2024 · Test-Aankoop.

Can I cancel at any time after the first year?

Yes, for most tacitly renewable non-life policies you took out as a consumer, such as home (fire), car, family liability, assistance and legal expenses insurance (the government can exclude specific types by royal decree). After the policy has run for one year you can cancel at any moment, without costs or penalties. The cancellation takes effect 2 months after you send it, and you get back the premium you paid for the remaining period.

Your insurer must remind you of this right on every premium notice (art. 85/1 §2). Test-Aankoop sums it up as: contracts from 1 October 2024 can be cancelled at any time from the second insurance year (source).

How do I send a cancellation?

Use one of the ways the law accepts (art. 84):

1. Registered letter, on paper or as a qualified electronic registered delivery.
2. Bailiff’s writ (deurwaardersexploot).
3. Hand in your letter against a receipt at your insurer or broker.
4. Your insurer’s online environment, if it offers cancellation there with a qualified electronic signature.

Mention your name, the policy number, the policy you are cancelling and the date it should end. Keep the receipt or registration proof.

Can my new insurer cancel the old policy for me?

Yes. When you cancel in order to take out a new policy, you can ask the new insurer or broker to handle the cancellation for you, and they may not refuse (art. 85/1 §3). Ask for a confirmation of the end date so you are not left without cover in between.

How do I keep track of all my renewal dates?

Put every policy in one overview. Covera reads the renewal date from your policy PDF, sorts your policies by what renews first and reminds you 30 days before each date. For the 2-month Belgian deadline, add your own calendar reminder via Covera’s .ics export, or simply cancel any time after the first year.

See how renewal reminders work.