Canceling a assurance-vie policy: the 30-day period, how to exercise it in 2026

After signing a assurance-vie contract, you have 30 calendar days to change your mind. This period begins on the date you were informed of the contract's conclusion. Cancellation must be made by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt or by electronic registered mail. For contracts concluded remotely via an online interface, the insurer must also offer a free cancellation option, as of June 19, 2026.

This page deals with canceling a assurance-vie policy. It does not address the taxation of refunded amounts, the case of non-residents or foreign policies, or any fees that may be charged. These points are verified on a case-by-case basis.

The deadline: 30 calendar days

The French government website Service-public.fr states: "Once the contract is signed, you have 30 calendar days to change your mind." The DGCCRF (Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control) refers to "30 full calendar days." Both pages cite Article L132-5-1 of the French Insurance Code as the relevant reference.

In everyday language, a calendar day is a day on the calendar: weekends and holidays are included. The official documents I consulted do not detail the countdown to the last day. Therefore, do not wait until the last day to send your letter.

From what point does the time limit begin?

The period begins "on the date on which you were informed of the conclusion of the contract." This is not necessarily the day you signed the form. It is the date of notification that counts.

If the insurer has not provided the mandatory information

If the insurer has not correctly provided the required preliminary information, "the time limit begins to run from the date the missing documents are provided." This extension applies "up to a maximum of 8 years from the date on which the policyholder is informed that the contract has been concluded.".

Among the documents that the insurer must provide you is an information sheet summarizing the essential features of the contract. The complete list is available on the public service website.

How to give up

Send the letter to the address indicated in your contract. As a practical tip from the firm (not included on official pages), keep a copy of the letter and the delivery receipt.

The "cancel contract here" button, since June 19, 2026

New consumer protection rules for the sale of remote financial services apply from June 19, 2026. They are introduced by an order and a decree of January 5, 2026. The scope of this news includes insurance.

For contracts concluded remotely via an online interface, the professional must offer a feature allowing customers to submit a withdrawal notice online free of charge. According to service-public.fr (news item A18754), this takes the form of a button labeled "Cancel contract here" and must be "accessible throughout the withdrawal period." The DGCCRF (French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control) describes a feature allowing customers to exercise their right of withdrawal free of charge, available throughout the withdrawal period.

The pages consulted indicate that this obligation applies from June 19, 2026. They do not specify the status of contracts concluded before that date. Registered mail remains the method described by the public service website.

Remote assurance-vie: 30 days, not 14

For insurance policies purchased remotely, the DGCCRF (French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control) specifies a 14-day cooling-off period, as per Article L112-2-1 of the French Insurance Code. For assurance-vie policies purchased remotely, this period is extended to 30 full calendar days. Therefore, the DGCCRF specifies a 30-day cooling-off period for assurance-vie, including for contracts purchased remotely.

After the renunciation: the restitution

Service-public indicates that the insurer "will refund you all the sums paid into the contract".

The reimbursement timeframe should be verified with the official source: the F15268 information sheet on the French public service website and Article L132-5-1 of the French Insurance Code. If your reimbursement is delayed, ask the insurer for the date they consider to have received your letter and the applicable processing timeframe.

If the insurer exceeds the deadline

According to the French government's public service website, after the repayment period, the sums paid accrue interest at the legal rate plus 50% for the first two months, then at twice the legal rate. The current legal rate is not shown here: consult the source before making any calculations.

What changes depending on your situation

• The date of notification of the conclusion of the contract : it is she who starts the time period, not necessarily the date of signature.
• Whether or not the prior information was provided in full : their absence may postpone the start of the period, up to a limit of 8 years.
• The subscription method : online, a free feature must be offered for contracts concluded remotely using an online interface from June 19, 2026.
• The tax situation and any potential expenses These rules are not addressed here. The rule depends on your situation and should be verified before making a decision.
• A contract taken out abroad or by a non-resident : not addressed here.

No results are promised.

Numerical example (fictitious profile)

Situation. Hélène, 54, a business executive in Lyon, takes out a assurance-vie policy online with a deposit of €40,000. She is notified that the policy will be finalized on December 10, 2026. This data is based on assumptions in this fictitious profile.

Issue. After reading the documents she received, she wants to withdraw. She wants to know until when she can do so.

Strategy. She is not aiming for the last day. Counting 30 calendar days from the day after she received the notification, the deadline is January 9, 2027. This calculation is straightforward: the official documents she consulted do not detail how the last day is calculated. She chooses registered mail, the method described by the public service website, and sends it on December 28, 2026, 18 days after receiving the notification, to the address listed at the end of the contract.

Result. There are 12 days left before January 9, 2027, when she sends her letter. The €40,000 paid must be repaid in full (service-public.fr). The repayment deadline should be verified with the official source: no deadline is calculated here. If the repayment is delayed, the interest described by service-public.fr (see above) will apply beyond the repayment deadline. No interest amount is calculated, as the legal interest rate is not available.

This profile is fictitious. The dates and amount illustrate the calculation. They do not reflect your actual situation.