Cancel a contract, with no nasty surprises
Commitment, notice period, early-termination fees, letter template: every provider has its own rules. Find the right steps, and calculate the deadline to cancel at the right time — without paying an avoidable penalty.
Calculateur de date limite de résiliation
Estimez votre échéance et les frais éventuels selon la loi.
Estimation indicative fondée sur le cadre légal (préavis 10 j, loi Chatel). Vérifiez les conditions exactes de votre contrat.
Insurance
Cancel assurance auto
Assurance auto
Cancel assurance habitation
Assurance habitation
Cancel mutuelle santé
Complémentaire santé
Cancel assurance emprunteur
Assurance de prêt
Cancel MAIF
Assureur mutualiste
Cancel AXA
Assureur
Cancel Allianz
Assureur
Cancel Macif
Assureur mutualiste
Cancel Groupama
Assureur
Cancel GMF
Assureur
Cancel Matmut
Assureur mutualiste
Energy (electricity & gas)
Mobile plans
Internet & TV boxes
Streaming & subscriptions
Gyms
How contract cancellation works in France
Most contracts — insurance, telecom, subscriptions — renew by automatic renewal : they restart automatically for a year on their anniversary date. It's the most profitable mechanism for providers, and the most costly for you when a deadline slips by unnoticed. Three laws rebalance the power dynamic.
The loi Chatel (2005)
It requires the provider to remind you, with the annual renewal notice, of the deadline for not renewing the contract. If it notifies you too late, your cancellation window is extended; if it doesn't notify you at all, you can cancel at any time. It's your first lever on insurance and subscriptions.
The loi Hamon (2014)
For car, home and affinity insurance, it allows cancellation at any time after the first year, with no fees or justification — the new insurer even handles the process. Infra-annual cancellation (2020) extended this principle to supplementary health insurance.
The '3-click' cancellation (2023)
Since June 2023, any contract taken out online must be cancellable online, via a dedicated button as accessible as signing up was. No more mandatory letter for a subscription taken out on the internet: telecom, insurance, press and streaming are all covered.
The telecom case
A mobile plan or box can be committed for 12 or 24 months. Before the term, the loi Chatel caps early-termination fees: the monthly payments are due up to the 12th month, then only 25% of the remaining monthly payments. Cancellation takes effect within 10 days, and you keep your mobile number thanks to the RIO (dial 3179). No-commitment offers, on the other hand, can be cancelled at any time and free of charge.
When to cancel at the right time
The right move isn't to cancel fast, but to cancel at the right time : identify each contract's renewal date and the notice period to respect, then plan ahead. Sending your request about two weeks before the deadline covers the 10-day legal notice without risking a renewal. The calculator above gives you this deadline in seconds; all that's left is not to forget it — a centralized tracking of your personal contracts takes care of that for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is tacit (automatic) renewal?
It's the automatic renewal of your contract on its anniversary date, without any action on your part. Convenient as long as all is well, it's the mechanism that traps you: the only date that matters comes once a year, often buried in a renewal notice nobody reads.
What's the difference between the loi Chatel and the loi Hamon?
The loi Chatel (2005) requires the provider to remind you, with the renewal notice, of the deadline for not renewing; if it warns you too late, your right to cancel is extended. The loi Hamon (2014) goes further for car and home insurance: after one year, you can cancel at any time, with no fees or justification.
Can I really cancel at any time?
It depends on the contract. Car/home insurance and supplementary health: yes, at any time after one year. No-commitment telecom: yes, right away. Committed telecom: at the term, or before with fees capped by the loi Chatel. Streaming (Netflix, Spotify): yes, no commitment.
What is '3-click' cancellation?
Since June 2023, any contract taken out online (telecom, insurance, press, subscriptions) must be cancellable online, via a cancellation button as accessible as signing up was. You no longer have to send a letter for these contracts.
Do I need to send a registered letter?
Not always. For a contract taken out online, online cancellation is enough. A registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt is still advisable when no online channel exists, or to date your request indisputably in case of dispute (notice period, pro rata).
How do I never miss a deadline again?
The breaking point is always the same: an annual date you don't see coming. Centralizing your contracts and setting an alert before each deadline turns a renewal you endure into a decision you choose. That's exactly what Paecto does.
Free tools
See also: your warranty rights, our free tools, the blog, and Paecto for individuals.
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