Cancel a German insurance policy on time
To cancel a German insurance policy, enter the end of the insurance year and the notice period: the tool shows which expiry your notice reaches and by when the insurer must have it.
Independent site, not a law firm: a standard template, like a book of legal forms, not legal advice.
Example: insurance year ends 31 December, three months’ notice — change any figure to see your own result
Cover ends on
31 December 2027
received by 30 September 2027 (3 months before)
| Statutory range | 1 to 3 months, same for both |
| Renewal | at most one year |
A standard template, like a book of legal forms: no review of your individual case and no legal advice. What you type stays in your browser.
Most German property and liability policies run for a year and then renew tacitly for another year unless someone cancels. Section 11 VVG sets firm limits: a renewal for more than one year is void, and the notice period must be the same for both sides, at least one and at most three months before expiry. If your insurance year ends on 31 December 2026 and the policy has three months’ notice, the cancellation must arrive by 30 September 2026; with one month, 30 November 2026 is enough. If it arrives on 5 October 2026 with three months’ notice, the policy only ends on 31 December 2027. A policy taken out for more than three years can still be cancelled at the end of the third year on three months’ notice (section 11(4) VVG). The expiry date is on your policy schedule or the last premium notice. The letter prints in German.
____________________________ ____________________________ __________________
____________________________ ____________________________ __________________
__________________, den 14. November 2026
Kündigung meiner Privathaftpflichtversicherung, Versicherungsscheinnummer ________________
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
hiermit kündige ich den oben genannten Vertrag ordentlich und fristgerecht zum 31. Dezember 2027, hilfsweise zum nächstmöglichen Termin.
Bitte erstatten Sie zu viel gezahlte Beiträge auf das Ihnen bekannte Konto. Eine erteilte Einzugsermächtigung (SEPA-Lastschriftmandat) widerrufe ich zum Vertragsende.
Bitte bestätigen Sie mir den Eingang der Kündigung und das genaue Vertragsende schriftlich oder per E-Mail. Einer Kontaktaufnahme zu Werbezwecken oder zur Rückgewinnung widerspreche ich.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
____________________
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
Cancelling a German insurance policy: expiry and notice
The calculator looks for the next expiry after receipt and checks whether the notice period fits before it. If not, the end moves on by one insurance year. A period under one or over three months is set to the limit in section 11(3) VVG, with a warning.
| Notice arrives | 1 month’s notice: ends | 3 months’ notice: ends |
|---|---|---|
| 15 September 2026 | 31 December 2026 | 31 December 2026 |
| 5 October 2026 | 31 December 2026 | 31 December 2027 |
| 10 December 2026 | 31 December 2027 | 31 December 2027 |
What this template does not cover
Life and pension policies, private health and long-term care insurance have their own rules, and for health insurance proof of follow-on cover is required. This letter is not meant for them. Many car policies run on the calendar year with one month’s notice, so cancellation must arrive by 30 November; check your schedule. When selling a car, the insurance passes to the buyer, which belongs in the car sale contract; other running contracts such as a gym membership have their own periods.