According to Insuranceopedia.com: "Cancellation, in the context of insurance, is the termination of the insurance policy either by the insurer or the insured before the end of the period of coverage. A policyholder has a right to cancel their policy, although they are subject to limitations presented by the laws of his state. An insurer, however, may cancel a policy based on valid grounds, such as non-payment of insurance premiums, misrepresentation, or concealment." https://www.insuranceopedia.com/definition/1098/cancellation We can make it simpler: a policy can be “canceled” or “non-renewed” by either party to the insurance contract:

• The named insured
• The insurance company

“Cancellation” is generally a broader term and encompasses “non-renewal”. From BusinessDictionary.com:
"Non-renewal: Refusal on the part of either the insurer or the insured to renew coverage. This may be done by either party on the expiration date or the policy's anniversary." http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/nonrenewal.html A “non-renewal” usually connotes that the company chose to cancel the policy as of the renewal/expiration date of the contract. However, this action can be taken by named insured as well. In most jurisdictions, the insured is statutorily or contractually protected from a company cancellation or non-renewal of a policy. In other words, there are specific restrictions or guidelines to which a company must adhere before they can initiate cancellation or non-renewal. The terms are interchangeable, but a “non-renewal” generally refers to a company cancellation as of the date of policy expiration. The term “cancellation” may be performed by either party, with the named insured having more control over the timing of same.\ Have more questions about your insurance? We LOVE to help! Stop in and see us, or give us a call (607) 324-7500