If you’ve spotted a better deal with a new car insurance provider, or you’re getting rid of your car and need to end your insurance once and for all, the good news is you might be able to get a sizeable refund. The bad news is you’re going to have to get on the phone and potentially pay a cancellation fee.
In this guide we walk you through the process and will help you decide whether leaving Aviva is worth it.
Cancellation within 14 days of cover We’ve all rushed into something and then quickly regretted it. From deciding to try to fit in dessert to choosing a new haircut, sometimes it just doesn’t feel right. Thankfully if you decide within the first 14 days of having Aviva car insurance you want to leave, then you’ll get a large amount of what you paid back. Here are the basic steps.
Contact. It is not possible to cancel your policy online, so you must call Aviva within 14 days of receiving the policy or renewal documents (whichever is later) on 0800 056 2192.
Refund. You’ll then get refunded the premium you paid.
Leaving fee. However, Aviva will hit you with an administration fee, which it will take from the money it’s giving back to you.
Documents. You’ll be expected to return your Certificate of Motor Insurance by post.
Cancellation after 14 days Even if the cooling off period has been and gone, getting out of your Aviva deal shouldn’t be too difficult. You could get most of your money back too. Here’s what to do.
Contact. The policy holder can ask Aviva to cancel their deal at any time during the policy by calling 0800 056 2192 (cancellation not available online).
Premium refund. You’ll get a refund for the days of cover you paid for but didn’t use.
Leaving fee. Aviva will charge you a fee to leave, to cover its administrative costs.
Documents. You’ll be expected to return your Certificate of Motor Insurance by post.
Things to consider before cancelling your policy with Aviva
Adjust deal instead. While Aviva still charges you an administration fee to change the terms of your deal, it’s less than the cancellation charge. If you’re looking for a cheaper policy, or one with different cover, adjusting your Aviva car insurance policy might be easier.
Charges. Thankfully Aviva’s cancellation charges aren’t too large. However, if you don’t want to pay a fee to leave then you could just change car insurance provider at the end of your Aviva deal.
Best time to switch. Should you be looking to change provider, then the best time to start getting quotes is about three or four weeks before your existing Aviva deal is due to expire. You can cancel your Aviva deal and leave immediately, or ask your new company to delay the start of your cover for when your Aviva insurance runs out.
No claims. You probably won’t be able to take your no claims discount with you if you cancel your Aviva policy early. You might decide that losing your no claims discount isn’t worth leaving early for.
One, you can cancel your Aviva deal early and sign up to a new provider. You might do this if you’ve spotted a much cheaper policy elsewhere, or if you want a different level of cover.
Or secondly, instead of cancelling, you can wait for your Aviva policy to run itself down. You’ll have to get in contact to tell Aviva not to automatically renew. Once you’ve done this, you can hunt around for a new insurance policy.
Remember to use comparison websites to really see all your options, plus it’s worth getting some quotes directly from insurance companies too, as they don’t list all their deals on comparison sites.
Frequently asked questions
If you’re looking to switch then you will typically find car insurance quotes are cheapest about three weeks before your existing deal is set to run out. Arranging for your new provider to delay your sign-up for when your Aviva deal runs out could save you having to pay cancellation charges too. Some might be looking to just cancel, without switching provider. Maybe you’re moving abroad or you’re selling your car because you’re moving home.
You should look to cancel as soon as possible. You don’t want to be paying insurance for a car you don’t use, and the faster you act the more refund you’ll get back – so long as you haven’t had any claims on your policy.
The offers compared on this page are chosen from a range of products we can track; we don't cover every product on the market...yet. Unless we've indicated otherwise, products are shown in no particular order or ranking. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations), aren't product ratings, although we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it; this is subject to our terms of use. When making a big financial decision, it's wise to consider getting independent financial advice, and always consider your own financial circumstances when comparing products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
*Based on data provided by Consumer Intelligence Ltd, www.consumerintelligence.com (July ’24). 51% of car insurance customers could save £523.17
Esther Wolffowitz was a publisher at finder.com specialising in insurance. Esther holds an MSc in Media and Communication Governance from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). See full bio
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