How to Notify AXA After a Death in the UK

How to Notify AXA After a Death in the UK

If someone dies with an AXA policy, tell AXA as soon as you reasonably can and ask what happens to each policy. AXA covers several product types, so the right route depends on whether the person had car, home, travel, health, van, landlord or business insurance.

The practical aim is simple: make sure essential cover does not accidentally stop, cancel anything no longer needed, and collect any refund or claim information for the estate.

Start by identifying the AXA policy type

AXA’s UK bereavement guidance separates support by product type. That matters because a car policy, an empty-home situation and a private health membership do not work in the same way.

Look for:

• car insurance
• home insurance
• travel insurance
• health insurance or AXA Health membership
• van insurance
• landlord insurance
• business insurance
• any open claims

If you only have bank statements, search for payments to AXA and keep the dates and amounts. If you have emails, search for “AXA”, “policy”, “renewal”, “claim” and “insurance”.

Who can AXA discuss the policy with?

AXA’s public guidance says policy information can only be shared with certain people, such as a spouse or partner, next of kin, executor, or an alternative contact listed on the policy.

If you are helping but are not the executor or next of kin, you may still be able to report the death, but AXA may limit what they can tell you. That is not them being difficult; it is privacy and authority. Ask what proof they need and who should be the main contact.

What information to prepare

Before contacting AXA, gather as much as you can:

• the person’s full name, address and date of birth
• policy number or membership number, if known
• date of death
• your name, relationship and contact details
• whether there is an executor or administrator
• death certificate, if already available
• grant of probate or letters of administration, if AXA asks for them later
• details of anyone still using the car, living in the property or relying on the policy

For AXA Health, AXA’s public guidance says they may ask for the executor’s name and contact details, and may need a copy of the death certificate and grant of probate depending on the case. For company health membership, the employer may need to notify AXA’s bereavement team.

If the AXA policy is car insurance

Do not assume the car remains insured just because the direct debit is still active. Ask AXA exactly what cover applies after the policyholder’s death.

AXA’s public guidance says car cover may be able to continue until renewal if there is at least one named driver on the policy who will carry on using the car, but that changes cannot be made in the same way. If there are no named drivers, AXA says it may be able to keep the policy in place for 30 days to give time to sell the car or arrange other cover.

Ask AXA to confirm the current position in writing before anyone drives.

If the AXA policy is home insurance

Home cover is often more urgent than families realise. If the property is still occupied by a joint policyholder, spouse, partner or close family member, AXA says it may be able to keep cover running and update the policy with that person’s name.

If no one is living in the home, ask about unoccupied-property conditions. AXA’s guidance says cover may be able to continue until renewal, but some areas of cover may not be included for an unoccupied home. Do not rely on general assumptions: ask what is excluded, what checks are needed, and whether locks, heating, water or inspections are required.

If the AXA policy is travel, landlord, van or business insurance

These policies can involve extra practical risks. A business vehicle may still be needed. A rental property may have tenants. A travel policy may have an open claim. A landlord or business policy may need a new authorised contact.

Ask AXA:

• whether the policy can continue temporarily
• who is allowed to make decisions
• whether any claim can continue
• what documents they need from the executor
• whether premium refunds or further payments are due
• whether any cover restrictions apply immediately

If there is AXA Health cover

AXA Health lists a bereavement contact route and asks for details such as the member’s name, address, date of birth and membership number if available. It also offers online, phone and postal routes.

If the plan is through an employer, contact the employer’s HR or benefits team as well. They may need to notify AXA and explain what happens to any dependants on the plan.

Keep estate records clean

Insurance decisions can affect the estate. Premium refunds, claim payments, repair settlements and cancellation charges all need recording.

Keep a simple log with:

• date AXA was notified
• policy numbers
• who you spoke to
• what cover continues or ends
• documents sent
• refunds or claims expected
• next action and deadline

GetPassage can help keep this alongside other notifications, so one executor is not trying to manage every insurer, bank and household account from memory.

Final checklist

Before closing the task, make sure you have:

• identified every AXA policy
• told AXA about the death
• confirmed who AXA can speak to
• checked whether cover continues, changes or ends
• asked about unoccupied property or vehicle use
• dealt with direct debits and refunds carefully
• saved written confirmation for the estate records

Insurance is not just paperwork. It protects things the family may still need while probate, sale, transfer or cancellation is being arranged. Take it step by step and get AXA to confirm the position before making irreversible changes.