Iowa Code » Chapter 515 — INSURANCE OTHER THAN LIFE
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 515.125 (2026)

Forfeiture of policies — notice

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. Unless otherwise provided in section 515.127, 515.128, 515.129, 515.129A, 515.129B, or 515.129C, a policy or contract of insurance provided for in this chapter shall not be forfeited, suspended, or canceled except by notice to the insured as provided in this chapter. A notice of cancellation is not effective unless mailed or delivered by the insurer to the named insured at least thirty days before the effective date of cancellation or, where cancellation is for nonpayment of a premium, assessment, or installment provided for in the policy, or in a note or contract for the payment thereof, at least ten days prior to the date of cancellation. The notice may be made in person, or by sending by mail a letter addressed to the insured at the insured’s address as given in or upon the policy, anything in the policy, application, or a separate agreement to the contrary notwithstanding.

2. An insurer shall not fail to renew a policy except by notice to the insured as provided in this chapter. A notice of intention not to renew is not effective unless mailed or delivered by the insurer to the named insured at least thirty days prior to the expiration date of the \n Tue Dec 09 22:05:00 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 515 (73, 3) §515.125, INSURANCE OTHER THAN LIFE 40\n\npolicy. A notice of intention not to renew is not required if the insured is transferred from an insurer to an insurance company admitted in Iowa which is an affiliate of, as defined in section 521A.1, the transferring insurer and all of the following conditions are met:

a. The transfer does not result in an interruption in coverage.

b. The rating of the affiliate from the A.M. Best company or a substitute rating service acceptable to the commissioner is the same or better than the rating of the transferring insurer.

c. The transfer results in the same or broader coverage.

d. Notice of the transfer is delivered to the insured or sent by first class mail to the insured’s last known address not less than thirty days prior to the transfer. The notice required by this paragraph is not required in the event that the insured requests or consents to the transfer.

e. The notice of transfer provides the name and telephone number of the insured’s insurance producer, agent, or agency, if any.

3. If the reason does not accompany the notice of cancellation or nonrenewal, the insurer shall, upon receipt of a timely request by the named insured, state in writing the reason for cancellation or nonrenewal. [C97, §1727; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §8959; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §515.80] 87 Acts, ch 132, §3; 88 Acts, ch 1112, §404; 90 Acts, ch 1234, §38; 2002 Acts, ch 1111, §17; 2007 Acts, ch 152, §9, 58 CS2007, §515.125 2008 Acts, ch 1074, §9; 2010 Acts, ch 1121, §18; 2011 Acts, ch 70, §29; 2015 Acts, ch 128, §23, 50, 51 Referred to in §509B.5, 515.115, 515.126, 515D.7, 515F.39 Continuation rights and notice under group accident and health insurance, see §509B.5 Certain notices relating to automobile insurance, see §515D.5, 515D.7 \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases, 1949–2015 · leading case: Briney v. Tri-State Mut. Grain Dealers Fire Ins., 117 N.W.2d 889 (Iowa 1962).
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Briney v. Tri-State Mut. Grain Dealers Fire Ins., 117 N.W.2d 889 (Iowa 1962). · cites it 2× “Any officer, agent, or representative of an insurance company * * * who may * * * adjust losses, * * * shall be held to be the agent of such insurance company with authority to transact all business within the scope of his employment, anything in the application, policy,…”
Lewis v. Minnesota Mut. Life Ins., 37 N.W.2d 316 (Iowa 1949). · cites it 2× “; section 515.125, Code of Iowa, 1946. However, his title is not material.”
Schmidt v. Fortis Ins., 349 F. Supp. 2d 1171 (N.D. Iowa 2005). · cites it 8× “125 of the Iowa Code defines who is an ‘agent’: Any officer, insurance producer, or representative of an insurance company doing business in this state who may solicit insurance, procure applications, issue policies, adjust losses, or transact the business generally of such…”
Cole v. Hartford Accident & Indem. Co., 46 N.W.2d 811 (Iowa 1951). · cites it 2× “See also Code section 515.125. Plaintiff argues that wherever one party to a business transaction has superior knowledge of tíie facts involved therein a fiduciary relation exists and that Mclnerney had such knowledge.”
St. Paul Reinsurance Co. v. Com. Fin. Corp., 144 F. Supp. 2d 1057 (N.D. Iowa 2001). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 515.125 provides: Agent — specific definition Any officer, agent, or representative of an insurance company doing business in this state who may solicit insurance, procure applications, issue policies, adjust losses, or transact the business generally of such…”
Glenda & Steve Lambert, Individually & as Next Friends of Jessica L. Lambert v. Geico Indem. Co. (Iowa Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 2× “The language of section 515.125(1) with regard to notice of cancellation for nonpayment of premium essentially mirrors the language of section 515D.”
— Iowa Code § 515.125(1) — 1 case
Glenda & Steve Lambert, Individually & as Next Friends of Jessica L. Lambert v. Geico Indem. Co. (Iowa Ct. App. 2015). “The language of section 515.125(1) with regard to notice of cancellation for nonpayment of premium essentially mirrors the language of section 515D.”
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