Cancel insurance in Spain: oposición a la prórroga
Cancel insurance in Spain: one month’s written notice before expiry, a sold car, mortgage-linked policies, the 14- and 30-day withdrawal and Spanish examples.
Quick answer
Most Spanish policies renew automatically for up to a year at a time. To stop the renewal, send a written non-renewal notice (oposición a la prórroga) that reaches the insurer at least one month before the policy expires (art. 22.2 LCS). A phone call leaves no written record, and returning the premium bill does not cancel the policy. Leaving mid-term is possible only in specific cases: withdrawal from a new policy, the sale of the insured car or property, early repayment of a mortgage, or a clause in your policy.
| Who it’s for | Consumers ending car, home, health, life or other insurance in Spain |
| Non-renewal | Written notice at least one month before the current period ends (art. 22.2 LCS) |
| Premium increases | The insurer must notify changes at least two months before expiry (art. 22.3 LCS) |
| Change of mind | Distance: 14 days, life 30 (Ley 22/2007); individual life policies: 30 days (art. 83 a) LCS) |
| Sold car or home | The buyer takes over the policy; tell the insurer in writing within 15 days (art. 34 LCS) |
| Common mistakes | Cancelling by phone, writing only to the broker, returning the direct debit, a gap in cover |
This guide is for consumers ending insurance policies in Spain. It is general information, not legal advice. Check your policy (póliza), especially the specific terms (condiciones particulares), first. For phone, internet and gym contracts, see our guide to cancelling a contract in Spain; for tenancies, see tenant letters in Spain; for complaints that go further, see consumer complaints in Spain.
Find the expiry date and who can cancel
Under the insurance contract law (Ley 50/1980, de 8 de octubre, de Contrato de Seguro, LCS), a policy runs for the term it states, at most ten years, and may renew automatically for periods of up to one year (art. 22.1 LCS). The specific terms give the day and hour the cover ends; the policy must highlight the conditions and deadlines for opposing renewal (art. 22.4 LCS).
Only the policyholder (tomador) can end the policy; an insured person who is not the policyholder cannot. In a group policy taken out through a bank or employer, the policyholder may be the bank or employer, so check your certificate of membership. Older guides say the customer needs two months’ notice: that was the rule before 2016. For life insurance, art. 22 applies only where compatible with life-insurance rules (art. 22.5 LCS), so check your policy; for funeral (decesos) and long-term-care policies, only the policyholder can oppose renewal (arts. 106 bis and 106 ter LCS).
Send your oposición a la prórroga in time
The law requires written notice, on paper or another durable medium (art. 22.2 LCS and its first additional provision), not a particular channel. It does not say whether the date of sending or of receipt counts, so make sure the letter arrives at least one month before expiry; periods in months run from date to date and holidays are not excluded (art. 5 Código Civil). Arrange new cover first: a registered vehicle must stay insured, and a mortgage deed usually requires buildings insurance.
The insurer must tell you about any change, including a higher premium, at least two months before the period ends (art. 22.3 LCS). According to criterion LC3 of the insurance supervisor, the Directorate-General for Insurance and Pension Funds (DGSFP), if your policy neither fixes the new premium nor sets a formula for it, a late-notified increase cannot be applied without your consent. If a reduced risk is reported and the premium is not lowered at the end of the period, you may end the contract (art. 13 LCS). Otherwise, ask for non-renewal at the next expiry date rather than an immediate cancellation.
Send the letter to the insurer at the address in the policy or its registered office, and copy any broker or agent. The example also covers the next expiry date in case yours arrives too late.
Asunto: Oposición a la prórroga de la póliza n.º [número de póliza]
Muy señores míos:
[Nombre y apellidos], con [DNI/NIE/pasaporte] n.º [número], en mi condición de tomador de la póliza de [tipo de seguro: automóvil, hogar, salud u otro] n.º [número de póliza], relativa a [matrícula del vehículo, dirección de la vivienda o persona asegurada], les comunico, al amparo del artículo 22.2 de la Ley 50/1980, de 8 de octubre, de Contrato de Seguro, mi oposición a la prórroga de dicha póliza, que no deseo renovar a su vencimiento el [fecha de vencimiento] o, en su defecto, al primer vencimiento en que esta oposición sea eficaz.
Les ruego que no emitan ni carguen ningún recibo correspondiente a periodos posteriores y que me confirmen por escrito la recepción de esta comunicación y la fecha en que finaliza la cobertura, en [dirección postal o correo electrónico].
Atentamente, [Nombre y apellidos] [Firma]
Changing your mind about a new policy
For a policy concluded at a distance, without the insurer and you being physically together, you generally have 14 calendar days to withdraw (desistimiento), or 30 for life insurance, counted from the conclusion of the contract (for life insurance, from when you are told it has been concluded), or from receiving the contract terms if later (art. 10 Ley 22/2007). Travel or luggage cover under one month, investment-linked policies and policies that fulfil a legal duty to insure, arguably including compulsory motor liability cover, are excluded. You pay only for the cover already provided, and the insurer refunds the rest within 30 calendar days of receiving your notice (art. 11 Ley 22/2007).
Whatever the sales channel, you can end an individual life policy lasting more than six months within 30 days of receiving the policy, unless it is investment-linked (art. 83 a) LCS). In both cases the notice must be on a durable medium and is in time if sent before the deadline. There is no general cooling-off period for a non-life policy signed face to face. The EU withdrawal-button rules for financial services (Directive (EU) 2023/2673) had not been transposed into Spanish law on 18 October 2026.
Asunto: Desistimiento de la póliza n.º [número de póliza]
Muy señores míos:
[Nombre y apellidos], con [DNI/NIE/pasaporte] n.º [número], tomador de la póliza de [tipo de seguro] n.º [número de póliza], celebrada el [fecha de celebración] y recibida el [fecha de entrega de la póliza o de la información contractual], les comunico que ejerzo [el derecho de desistimiento previsto en el artículo 10 de la Ley 22/2007, de 11 de julio, sobre comercialización a distancia de servicios financieros destinados a los consumidores / la facultad de resolución prevista en el artículo 83 a) de la Ley 50/1980, de 8 de octubre, de Contrato de Seguro].
Les ruego que me reembolsen la prima pagada, deducida en su caso la parte correspondiente al periodo de cobertura transcurrido, en el plazo máximo de treinta días desde la recepción de esta comunicación, mediante transferencia a la cuenta [IBAN], a nombre de [titular de la cuenta], y que me confirmen por escrito su recepción.
Atentamente, [Nombre y apellidos] [Firma]
Sold car and mortgage-linked insurance
When you sell an insured car or home, the buyer takes over the policy from the sale, unless a named policy for a non-compulsory risk says otherwise. You must tell the buyer about the policy and notify the insurer in writing within 15 days of the sale (art. 34 LCS). The buyer can end the policy within 15 days of learning of it, and the insurer can do so within 15 days of learning of the sale (art. 35 LCS). Selling a car does not by itself end its insurance: the insurer can report the car as uninsured only once the contract has ended (art. 24 RD 1507/2008). The law gives the seller no express right to a refund of the unused premium; the DGSFP considers a refund good practice, but many policies offer a credit instead, so it depends on the policy.
A lender may require payment-protection or buildings insurance, but must accept an equivalent policy from another insurer at signing and at each renewal, without charging for it or worsening the loan (art. 17.3 Ley 5/2019). You may lose an interest-rate discount (bonificación) that was conditional on the bank’s insurer: check the deed and the pre-contract information sheet (FEIN). If you repay the mortgage early, the linked insurance of which the lender is beneficiary ends and you are entitled to a refund of the unused premium (extorno), unless you ask to keep the cover with a new beneficiary (art. 23.3 Ley 5/2019).
Refunds, charges after cancellation and complaints
Stopping payment is not cancellation: an unpaid later premium suspends the cover one month after its due date, the insurer can still claim the premium for the current period, and the contract ends only if it does not claim within six months (art. 15 LCS). If the insurer keeps charging after your non-renewal, or refuses a refund that is due, send a written complaint (reclamación) addressed expressly to its customer service (Servicio de Atención al Cliente, SAC) or customer ombudsman (Defensor del Cliente). It must include your ID number, the facts, your request, and a statement that you know of no court, arbitration or administrative proceedings on the matter (art. 29 ter of the financial-system reform law, Ley 44/2002).
The insurer must acknowledge the complaint with a reference code and decide within one month (Ley 44/2002 as amended by Ley 10/2025, from 28 December 2025); whether that deadline binds insurers during the adaptation period, which ends on 28 December 2026, is unsettled. After one month without an answer, or after a rejection, you can complain free of charge to the DGSFP, whose report is not binding (art. 30 Ley 44/2002). A complaint left unanswered or answered unsatisfactorily also counts as the settlement attempt required before suing (LO 1/2025). If a refund still does not arrive, see our guide to payment demands in Spain.
A la atención del Servicio de Atención al Cliente [o del Defensor del Cliente]
Asunto: Reclamación — póliza n.º [número de póliza]
Muy señores míos:
[Nombre y apellidos], con [DNI/NIE/pasaporte] n.º [número] y domicilio en [dirección], tomador de la póliza n.º [número de póliza], presento la siguiente reclamación: [hechos: por ejemplo, el [fecha] vendí el vehículo [matrícula] y se lo comuniqué por escrito el [fecha]; el [fecha] amorticé anticipadamente el préstamo hipotecario n.º [número] al que estaba vinculada la póliza; o, pese a mi oposición a la prórroga de [fecha], han cargado el recibo de [fecha]]. Adjunto [lista de documentos].
Solicito [la devolución de [importe] euros correspondientes a la prima no consumida / la anulación del recibo de [fecha] y el reembolso de su importe], mediante transferencia a la cuenta [IBAN], a nombre de [titular de la cuenta], así como el detalle del cálculo.
Declaro que no tengo conocimiento de que la materia objeto de esta reclamación esté siendo sustanciada a través de un procedimiento administrativo, arbitral o judicial. Les ruego que me envíen el acuse de recibo con la clave identificativa de esta reclamación y que la resuelvan en el plazo de un mes.
Atentamente, [Nombre y apellidos] [Firma]
Post your letter and keep evidence
If you prefer post, upload your final PDF or write the letter in MaisonMail. Use the address in your policy or on the insurer’s website, not only your broker’s. The recipient address determines the destination; available services, estimated delivery and the final price appear before payment. Send a non-renewal notice well ahead, for example six to eight weeks before expiry, and also use the insurer’s own written channel, such as its customer area or the email address in the policy, and keep its confirmation.
No law requires registered post for these letters, but you must be able to prove that your notice arrived in time. In Spain this is usually done with a burofax (a Correos service that certifies the content and delivery of a letter) or a carta certificada con acuse de recibo (registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt); if the deadline is close or a dispute is likely, use one of those locally. A standard or tracked letter is neither. For a complaint, the DGSFP accepts an insurer’s acknowledgement of receipt as proof. Keep a copy of the exact letter. Tracking shows that an item arrived, not what the envelope contained.
Official sources
References used and links to the rules currently in force.
- Seguros hipotecarios — Portal del Cliente BancarioBanco de España
Information current as of the last verification date. This guide is informational and is not legal advice — for a complex situation, consult a qualified professional.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice do I need to cancel insurance in Spain?
The policyholder must give written notice at least one month before the current insurance period ends; the insurer needs two months (art. 22.2 LCS, since 1 January 2016). The law does not say whether sending or receipt counts, so make sure your letter reaches the insurer at least a month ahead. A policy may allow a shorter notice period, not a longer one (art. 2 LCS).
What happens to my car insurance when I sell the car in Spain?
The buyer takes over the policy from the sale (art. 34 LCS). You must tell the insurer in writing within 15 days, and the buyer can end the policy within 15 days of learning of it (art. 35 LCS). The law gives the seller no express right to a refund of the unused premium; it depends on the policy, so ask for one in writing.
Can I change my mind after taking out insurance in Spain?
For a policy concluded at a distance, online or by phone, you generally have 14 calendar days, or 30 for life insurance (art. 10 Ley 22/2007). An individual life policy lasting more than six months can be ended within 30 days of receiving the policy, whatever the sales channel (art. 83 a) LCS). There is no general cooling-off period for non-life policies signed face to face.
Do I have to keep my bank’s insurance with my mortgage in Spain?
No. The lender must accept an equivalent policy from another insurer, at signing and at each renewal, without charging for it or worsening the loan (art. 17.3 Ley 5/2019). You may lose an interest-rate discount (bonificación) that was conditional on the bank’s insurer. Buildings insurance is usually required by the mortgage deed, so put the new policy in place first.
Related guides
- Cancel a contract in Spain: phone, internet and gymCancel a phone, internet, pay-TV, gym or streaming contract in Spain: the baja, permanencia penalties, the 14-day desistimiento and Spanish example letters.
- Consumer complaint in Spain: reclamación and escalationWrite a reclamación to a company in Spain: what to include, the 15-day reply rule, hojas de reclamaciones, sector bodies, arbitration and Spanish examples.
- Tenant letters in Spain: notice, deposit and repairsWrite to a landlord in Spain: give notice to leave, reclaim your fianza with interest and ask for repairs, with the October 2026 changes and Spanish examples.
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