Misrepresentation (insurance)

Misrepresentation means providing the insurer with inaccurate or incomplete information. The French insurance code distinguishes deliberate misrepresentation, which voids the policy and lets the insurer keep the premiums (article L113-8), from unintentional misrepresentation, which leads to a proportional reduction of the payout (article L113-9). These references belong to French law and do not transfer as such to other jurisdictions. Misrepresentation may also amount to fraud, with criminal penalties.