A guide to business insurance renewals

How often does my business insurance policy need to be renewed?

Every 12 months, your business insurance policy needs to be renewed. We know that renewal periods can be stressful for business owners, and you might have questions or concerns about what this means for protecting your business.

That’s why we’ve put together this guide on all things renewals - to help you better understand the business insurance renewal process and tackle any of those burning questions you might have.

Taking the jargon out of renewals

Nobody likes to spend their time trying to decipher jargon. So, here are a few terms you’re likely to come across when your researching your business insurance renewal.

Renewal

Keeping your current insurance policy going for another year.

Renewal date

The date when your policy is due to be renewed for another year

Renewal notice

An email you’ll receive from us to let you know that your policy will soon be due to renew. If there’s anything we need you to do, you’ll find he next steps in this email.

Cooling off period

The 14 days after you renew your policy where you can cancel with no cancellation fees.

Lapsed

A policy which has ended. This will happen if your renewal date has passed and you have either:

1. Told us you don’t want to continue the policy, or
2. Haven’t responded to your renewal invite, meaning your policy ended at the renewal date

Do I need to contact you about my renewal?

If nothing with your business has changed during your time insured with us, then you don’t need to get in touch with us regarding your renewal. However, if there have been any changes to your business that might affect your renewal or your cover, please get in touch to let us know.

What is automatic renewal?

Automatic renewal means your policy is set to automatically continue once you’re policy reaches the renewal date.

What is manual renewal?

Manual renewal means that you will have to manually either accept or decline your renewal with us. If you are on manual renewal and don’t respond to your renewal invite, your policy will be lapsed.

What is AXA’s renewal process?

When it’s getting close to your renewal date, you’ll start to see some emails coming through from us. Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect:

In the month before your policy is due to renew, you will receive 3 emails from us.

Which emails you receive will depend on whether you are on automatic renewal or manual renewal.

1. 27 days before your renewal date

   You’ll receive our renewal premium explanation email which will serve a few purposes.

   Customers on automatic renewal
   It will tell you the date that your policy is due to renew and the date you’ll receive your renewal invite. Since you’re due to renew automatically, there will a prompt to log into your account and check your details are all still correct.

   Customers on manual renewal
   It will also tell you the date that your policy is due to renew and the date you’ll receive your renewal invite. Since you’ll need to manually renew your policy, this email will also contain the details of how to do that.

   Both emails will also contain a link to our business insurance premiums explained page which will help you understand why premiums change from year to year.

2. 25 days before your renewal date

   Customers on automatic renewal
   Will receive an email telling them that their renewal is approaching and what their price is.

   Customers on manual renewal
   Will receive an email telling them that their renewal is approaching, what their price is, and prompt them to log onto their account and renew their policy.

   A small portion of customers will receive a renewal decline email which will let them know that unfortunately we won’t be able to continue covering them, and they’ll need to find cover with another provider.

3. 7 days before your renewal date

   Customers on automatic renewal
   Will receive an email reminding them that their policy will automatically renew in 7 days and there’s nothing they need to do.

   Customers on manual renewal
   Will receive an email reminder them that they need to log on and accept their renewal, otherwise their policy will end.

   Those customers who do accept their renewal will receive one more email confirming that their policy has been successfully renewed.

Why has my price increased?

It’s not always easy to understand why your business insurance premium might have changed. So, if you’re ready to renew you your policy but have questions about your price, you can find out more information here: Business insurance premiums explained.

Our team are happy to help with any queries relating to your business, landlord or van insurance policy. Unfortunately, we’re unable to assist with any queries regarding policies sold via a broker, or policies relating to personal products.