To make sure your cancellation is legally valid and you do not risk expensive double insurance, you should observe the following three core rules.
Rule 1
Observe the ordinary notice period (check your policy)
In Switzerland, most property insurance contracts are concluded for a term of 1 to 5 years. If you want to end the contract normally, the ordinary notice period applies.
- The standard period
- As a rule, the notice period is 3 months before the end of the insurance year.
- The decisive date
- What matters is the expiry date (main renewal date) on your policy – often 1 January or the date the contract was concluded. If, for example, your household contents insurance expires on 31 December, the cancellation letter must reach the company by 30 September at the latest.
- Beware of multi-year contracts
- Thanks to the revised Insurance Contract Act (VVG), contracts concluded since 1 January 2022 can be cancelled at the end of the third insurance year regardless of the agreed term – with the same 3-month notice period. For older contracts, the agreed term applies. However, many companies grant an annual right of cancellation there too – it is worth checking the general terms and conditions (GTC/AVB).
Rule 2
Use the extraordinary right of cancellation
In certain situations you can leave an insurance policy during the year or without the ordinary notice period. The two most important cases:
A. Cancellation due to a premium increase
Is your insurer raising the premium or changing the terms for the next year to your disadvantage? Then the terms and conditions almost always provide a special right of cancellation. The cancellation usually has to reach the company by the last day of the current insurance year – with some companies within 30 days of receiving the new premium invoice.
B. Cancellation after a claim
After every claim for which the insurer pays out, both parties may terminate the contract (Art. 42 VVG). As the policyholder, you must cancel no later than 14 days after learning of the payment. The contract then ends early, without you having to wait for the end of the insurance year.
Rule 3
The postmark does NOT count – receipt is what matters!
The most common and most expensive mistake when cancelling in Switzerland concerns the post. Many policyholders think it is enough to post the letter on the last day of the deadline. That is a mistake.
- Arrive on time
- The letter must have reached the insurer before the deadline expires.
- Mind the weekend
- If the last day of the deadline falls on a Sunday, the letter should already be with the company on the Friday before.
- Our recommendation
- Always send cancellations by registered mail and allow a buffer of at least 7 to 10 days. Only then will you have proof in the event of a dispute.
When you change vehicles, the motor vehicle insurance is usually transferred to the new car. If you sell the vehicle without replacing it or deposit the licence plates, the insurance can be cancelled or suspended during the year, depending on the GTC.
Only cancel once the new insurer has confirmed in writing – especially for liability, daily allowance and life insurance. With pillar 3a and life insurance, cancellation leads to a surrender, often at a loss. Get advice beforehand.