Sign an insurance subscription online
Insurance contract between an insurer (or broker) and an insured party, electronically signed with a 14-day withdrawal period precisely timestamped. Compliant with article L132-5-1 of the Insurance Code, the DDA directive (insurance distribution) and the eIDAS regulation — advanced signature recommended, handwritten mention replaceable, 10-year archiving included.
- Legal framework
- Insurance Code · DDA
- Signature level
- AES eIDAS recommended
- Legal archiving
- 10 years included
What is an electronic insurance subscription?
An insurance subscription is the act by which an insured party accepts the terms of an insurance contract proposed by an insurer or broker. For life insurance (art. L132-5-1 Insurance Code), prior information notes are mandatory; for insurance distribution in general (DDA directive 2016/97), an insurance product information document (IPID) must be provided before subscription, accompanied by documented advice. Advanced electronic signature allows precise tracking of the moment of delivery of pre-contractual elements and the moment of contract signature — which starts the 14-day withdrawal period (art. L112-2-1 for distance sales, L132-5-1 for life insurance).
Why sign electronically?
Timestamped withdrawal period
The 14-day period (art. L132-5-1 for life insurance, L112-2-1 for distance sales) runs from the moment of contract signature. Certyneo's advanced signature precisely timestamps this moment with a qualified timestamp — enforceable in case of dispute.
Handwritten mention replaceable
Article L132-5-1 of the Insurance Code requires a specific handwritten mention in life insurance. Recent case law admits replacement by a typed mention + advanced signature, provided the audit trail is produced demonstrating the insured party's knowledge of the terms.
Documented advice duty
The DDA directive requires documented advice: rationale for advice, identification of needs, product suitability. Certyneo allows electronic signature of the advice sheet and archiving with audit trail, enforceable before ACPR in case of audit.
Enforceable audit trail
Each subscription is delivered with a proof PDF: signatory identity verified by OTP SMS, qualified timestamp, SHA-256 hash, IP. Enforceable before ACPR, in customer disputes and before all courts.
4-step procedure
From preparation to legal archiving, in less than 5 minutes.
1. Prepare the subscription
Upload the insurance contract, the information document (life insurance) or the DIC IPID (other insurance), the DDA advisory sheet. Include general and specific conditions.
2. Delivery of pre-contractual elements
Sending to the insured with qualified timestamping of delivery. The platform technically guarantees prior review of the elements before contract signature.
3. Sign electronically
Advanced signature (AES) with OTP SMS on the verified phone. For life insurance, the specific handwritten note is entered via keyboard then timestamped.
4. Withdrawal period and archiving
The 14-day period runs from the signature, timestamped with qualified timestamp. The finalized contract + audit trail are archived for 10 years automatically.
Frequently asked questions
- Can an insurance contract be signed electronically?
- Yes, including life insurance (art. L132-5-1 Insurance Code). French case law accepts advanced signature + audit trail as satisfying substantive and formal requirements, provided that the signer''s identity is verified and knowledge of the terms is traceable.
- Is the mandatory handwritten note in life insurance compatible with electronic signature?
- Yes — case law (Cass. civ. 2e, 2018) accepts that the handwritten note required by art. L132-5-1 may be entered via keyboard, provided it is timestamped and accompanied by an advanced signature. Certyneo automatically generates the note form and integrates it into the audit trail.
- How to respect the 14-day withdrawal period?
- Certyneo precisely timestamps the contract signature (qualified timestamp within the meaning of eIDAS). The 14-day period runs from that moment. The platform automatically notifies the insured and the insurer of the expiration of the period.
- What signature level for an insurance subscription?
- Advanced signature (AES) recommended: identity verification by OTP SMS, unique certificate, qualified timestamping. Compliant with article 26 of the eIDAS regulation and ACPR requirements for insurance distribution.
- Is the DDA advisory duty traceable?
- Yes. Certyneo allows electronic signature of the advisory sheet (identification of needs, justification of the recommended product, suitability). The audit trail proves delivery to the client and acceptance — enforceable against the ACPR in case of audit.
- How long must the contract be kept?
- 10 years minimum after contract expiration (art. L114-1 Insurance Code for the limitation period, and ACPR requirements). Certyneo automatically archives the contract + audit trail for this duration.
- What happens if the insured withdraws within 14 days?
- The insured may withdraw without reason by registered letter or any means provided in the contract (including electronically via Certyneo). The insurer must refund premiums paid within 30 days. The audit trail proves the withdrawal date and correct calculation of the period.
- Is the electronically signed contract enforceable before the judge?
- Yes — French case law unanimously recognizes electronic signature compliant with eIDAS. The presumption of reliability of art. 1367 Civil Code makes the advanced signature (AES) enforceable without further proof.
See also
Sign your first online insurance subscription
Permanent free plan (5 envelopes / month), no credit card. Compliant with Insurance Code and eIDAS. DDA audit trail and 10-year archiving included.