How to cancel your car insurance

Published 18 February 2025

If your currentcar insurance policy isn’t working for you, you might be tempted to cancel. We understand that things change, so here’s everything you need to know about cancelling your car insurance….

  • How do I cancel my car insurance?
  • Does it cost me to cancel my insurance? 
  • Can I cancel my car insurance during a claim?

To cancel your policy, you’ll need to find out when your car insurance is due and then get in touch with your insurer. Every insurer will have their own required process for cancellations, whether that’s in your online account, by email, letter, or by phone, so it’s worth checking the terms and conditions of your insurance policy to find out the correct process.

At Allianz Insurance, we keep it simple. To cancel your car insurance policy, all you need to do is log in to your Allianz account and follow a few simple steps. Remember, there may be a cancellation fee - have a look at your policy documents for more detail.

Car insurance policies tend to last 12 months as standard. So, if you’re looking to cancel before your policy ends, it may mean you need to pay a cancellation fee. 

Your policy terms and conditions should state if you’ll be charged for leaving your policy early, and what these costs will be. You can also get in touch with your insurer or broker to find out what cancellation fees might apply.

  • Good to know: The price for leaving your policy early can be labelled under many different names, including cancellation fees, admin charges and processing costs.

As with most goods or services, it’s a legal requirement to provide you with a 'cooling off period' to give you 14 days to cancel your insurance policy. You don’t even have to give a reason.
The 14-day cancellation period begins when your cover starts or the day the paperwork arrives (whichever’s later).
During these initial two weeks, you should expect to receive a refund if you decide to cancel your policy. It’s worth remembering, though, you’ll still be charged for any days you had cover, so this will be deducted from your refund. You’ll also want to read the terms and conditions of any policy you take out as some insurers charge admin fees.
Yes. At Allianz, you can cancel your car insurance at any time - even if you’re paying on a monthly basis.  Remember to check your policy documents before cancelling, as depending where you are in your policy year, you may, need to pay the full balance of the annual premium.  

Yes, there are some scenarios where your insurer may have to cancel your policy, for example, if you’ve breached the conditions of your contract. A breach could include any or all of the following:

  • Failing to pay your monthly premiums. This is one of the most common reasons for your insurer cancelling your policy.
  • Not updating relevant details such as change of vehicle, or failing to tell your insurer about new details such as a speeding conviction.
Although not ideal, it is possible to cancel your car insurance when you have an open claim. . Most insurers would advise against this though, as it may make resolving a claim more difficult.  
It’s likely that you won’t gain the benefits of a year’s NCD during the policy period if you cancel your car insurance policy midterm. It will remain at the same number of years of discount before you started the policy.  
Here's a handy checklist to help you get ready to cancel your car insurance and make sure the process is as smooth as possible:
The standard cooling off period is 14 days, but some insurers may give you longer.
 When you contact your insurer about cancelling, they may ask for your policy number and renewal date. You’ll find these in your policy documents.
The insurer may ask why you’re cancelling. This could be to improve their services or decide the next steps. It’s a good idea to be honest, even if you’re looking for a cheaper policy elsewhere.
 If you decide to cancel your car insurance policy, always keep a record of dates and times of any correspondence or confirmation, in case there are any issues further down the line.
It’s illegal to drive without car insurance. If you want to keep driving your car, make sure you’re covered by taking out another policy as soon as your cancellation is confirmed. 
So, as much as we’d love for you to stay, we know things change – so we make updating and cancelling your policy as easy as possible.
  • Remember, as a car owner, it’s your responsibility by UK law to make sure your vehicle is insured. This applies even if you’re not intending to drive it.
  • The only time you wouldn’t need valid tax and car insurance is if the car’s not being kept or used on a public road. In other words, if it’s in a garage, on a drive or on private land.
  • If you’re the registered keeper and this applies, you’ll need to declare it ‘off-road’ by making a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
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  • Looking for a car insurance quote? With Allianz, you manage your policy yourself online, so you can make changes with just a few taps… and no admin fees.