The strength of the March window lies in the shared timeline: everyone compares, decides and switches within the same window. The timeline below shows the typical course of events - the exact dates and detailed rules are set every year by the rules in force at the time and by the insurers' own notices, so check these too before taking your own steps.
- February: preparation - get the policy out, update the sums insured, run the numbers - so you can decide in March, not search.
- March: typically the month when notice of cancellation can reach the insurer - and when it is worth comparing offers by substance.
- 30 April / 1 May: typically when the old contract ends and the new cover starts - with continuous protection.
February: the month of preparation
A good March decision is made in February. Dig out the policy and the last renewal (indexation) letter, and note down the key figures: the buildings and contents sums insured, the deductible, the optional covers. Take a look, too, at what has changed for your household in recent years - a renovation, solar panels, a big purchase - since these are the key questions for your annual review. A quick online calculation (in Hungarian) will already show roughly where your policy stands in the market.
Worth having to hand in February: the policy, the last premium notice, the floor area and construction details, a list of high-value items, and - with a mortgage - the bank's name and the loan agreement number. With these, requesting quotes in March is a matter of minutes.
March: comparison and - if it is justified - cancellation
In March, typically any open-ended home insurance contract without premium arrears can be cancelled, independent of the renewal date. The order matters: get the comparison and the new offer sorted first, and only then send the cancellation - that way you are never left without cover, and you do not have to decide under pressure. It is best to give notice of cancellation in writing, through the channel the insurer specifies; it typically has to arrive by the end of March, though the exact deadline is set by that year's rules. The detailed sequence of steps: how switching works.
April-May: closing out and starting up
Contracts cancelled in March typically end on 30 April, and the new contracts' cover typically starts on 1 May - so no gap opens up in your protection. Two things are worth checking: that the last period's premium is settled with the old insurer, and that the new policy's details are correct (sums insured, optional covers, deductible). For a mortgaged property, notifying the bank and setting up the new mortgagee clause also belong here: switching with a mortgage.
And if you missed March?
Nothing is lost: the classic route, switching at renewal, is available all year round - typically notified 30 days before your own renewal date. The March window is convenient, but it is not the only option; what matters is not the date, but comparing the substance properly. A separate case may be the Certified Consumer-Friendly Home Insurance (MFO): the terms of some MFO policies also allow cancellation for the end of a calendar quarter with 30 days' notice – for a new policy, typically at the earliest for the end of the fourth calendar quarter after the start of risk cover – but this is decided by the policy's own terms - details here: what MFO means. If it would help, we can prepare for the next window together: a 20-minute consultation, or start with the switching checklist.
A question about your own home? Run the numbers in minutes with the online calculator (in Hungarian), or book a free 20-minute consultation →
