California's Automatic Renewal Law: click to cancel

The basics

California's Automatic Renewal Law (Business and Professions Code §§ 17600–17606) is one of the strongest in the country. For subscriptions that renew automatically, businesses must:

• disclose the renewal terms clearly and conspicuously before you subscribe;
• get your affirmative consent to those terms;
• send an acknowledgment explaining how to cancel;
• let you cancel online if you signed up online, without making you call or jump through extra steps.

The 2025 update

Amendments that took effect on July 1, 2025 (AB 2863) strengthened the law: consent to auto-renewal must be express, free trials that convert to paid plans are clearly covered, and cancellation must be available through the same medium you used to sign up. Retention offers are limited so they don't block an immediate cancellation.

How to use it

1. Look for the online cancel option in your account. If you live in California and signed up online, it should be there.
2. If it isn't, send a written request citing Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17602 — our letter template adds it automatically for California addresses.
3. Keep screenshots. If the company keeps charging you, dispute the charges and report it.

See also: ROSCA and other states.