When does cooling off period on car insurance start?

Sandwich

I'm planning on selling my car soon, but my insurance is also due soon. I was wondering if anyone knew when the 14 cooling off period for car insurance begins: Is it from the day you pay your premium (usually several weeks in advance of the policy start date), or from when the policy kicks in?

dunstonh

14 days from receipt of the cancellation rights. Typically, with internet purchases, that is from the same day you buy the policy. Or the commencement date, whichever is later.

If you purchased more than 14 days before the start date, then it's usually only the cancellation/admin charge that will be charged as no premium would be due yet.

Each firm publishes its cancellation terms. 

Sandtree

Cooling off period starts from the later of policy commencing or you receiving the policy book… insurers can be more generous than this if they want. 

Just remember that cooling off period gives you a right to cancel and doesn’t mean it’s cost free. After cooling off you have no statutory right to cancel at all but in practice all motor insurers allow a cancellation at any time in the policy. 

What fees insurers charge vary significantly, some only differentiate between pre and post inception others may charge a different amount during the statutory cancellation and after. Others have the same method if you cancel a week before it starts or a week before it ends