Direct Line

Direct Line is owned by the Direct Line Group, which was formed in 2012 by the divestment of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group's insurance division. The Direct Line Group also owns Churchill and Green Flag. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constitute of the FTSE 250 Index.

Direct Line offers a wide array of insurance products, such as car, home, business, life, travel, pet, over 50's and landlord insurance.

Direct Line's general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited.

Their headquarters are based in Leeds, UK.

Direct Line
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Gold ribbon: first place

Breakdown Cover

Ranked 4th of 31 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness score 55.09%
Customer trust score 57.49%
Complaints performance 77.05%
Transparency rating 73.77%
Fairer Finance score
Reviewed Autumn 2023
66%
Gold ribbon: first place

Car insurance

Ranked 8th of 49 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness score 66.77%
Customer trust score 59.26%
Complaints performance 77.05%
Transparency rating 74.19%
Fairer Finance score
Reviewed Autumn 2023
69%
Gold ribbon: first place

Home emergency cover

Ranked 7th of 35 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness score 57.01%
Customer trust score 59.43%
Complaints performance 77.04%
Transparency rating 68.91%
Fairer Finance score
Reviewed Autumn 2023
66%
Gold ribbon: first place

Home insurance (building and contents)

Ranked 10th of 46 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness score 60.26%
Customer trust score 54.76%
Complaints performance 77.05%
Transparency rating 82.47%
Fairer Finance score
Reviewed Autumn 2023
69%
Gold ribbon: first place

Life insurance

Ranked 8th of 24 providers reviewed.

Claims score 85.50%
Complaints performance 86.81%
Transparency rating 61.25%
Fairer Finance score
Reviewed Autumn 2023
78%
Gold ribbon: first place

Pet insurance

Ranked 10th of 35 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness score 60.44%
Customer trust score 59.59%
Complaints performance 77.05%
Transparency rating 72.64%
Fairer Finance score
Reviewed Autumn 2023
67%
Gold ribbon: first place

Travel insurance

Ranked 4th of 45 providers reviewed.

Customer happiness score 58.21%
Customer trust score 57.97%
Complaints performance 77.05%
Transparency rating 65.2%
Fairer Finance score
Reviewed Autumn 2023
65%

Car insurance

Direct Line

Comprehensive

4 stars
Cover limit for lost keys i £1,000.00
Courtesy car for duration of repair i
Uninsured driver promise i
Cover for replacing original audio/visual equipment i Unlimited
Windscreen repair excess i £25.00
Windscreen replacement excess i £115.00
Repairs guarantee (years) i 5 years
New car replacement i
Cover limit for stolen keys i £1,000.00
24hr helpline available i
Courtesy car provided if stolen / total loss i
Vandalism i

Direct Line

Comprehensive Plus

4 stars
Cover limit for lost keys i £1,000.00
Courtesy car for duration of repair i
Uninsured driver promise i
Cover for replacing original audio/visual equipment i Unlimited
Windscreen repair excess i £25.00
Windscreen replacement excess i £115.00
Repairs guarantee (years) i 5 years
New car replacement i
Cover limit for stolen keys i £1,000.00
24hr helpline available i
Courtesy car provided if stolen / total loss i
Vandalism i

Direct Line

Essentials

2 stars
Cover limit for lost keys i £0.00
Courtesy car for duration of repair i
Uninsured driver promise i
Cover for replacing original audio/visual equipment i Unlimited
Windscreen repair excess i £25.00
Windscreen replacement excess i £115.00
Repairs guarantee (years) i 5 years
New car replacement i
Cover limit for stolen keys i £0.00
24hr helpline available i
Courtesy car provided if stolen / total loss i
Vandalism i

Telematics Car Insurance

Direct Line

Drive plus

5 stars
Cover limit for lost keys i £1,000.00
Cover limit for Legal Liability Cover for property damage £20,000,000.00
Courtesy car for duration of repair i
Uninsured driver promise i
Self-installed or engineer-installed box? i Insurer's choice
Is device removal mandatory at the end of the contract? i
Is there an excessive speeding restriction?
Can your insurance be cancelled due to a poor driving score?
Can premiums increase due to driving score?
Curfew i
Digital capability i
Cancellation fee (within 14 days) box installed i £48.16
Speed restrictions scenario i Pass
Cover for replacing original audio/visual equipment i Unlimited
Cancellation fee (within 14 days, box not installed) i £0.00
24hr helpline available i
New car replacement i
Cover limit for stolen keys i £1,000.00
Legal cover for manslaughter defence i Unlimited
Are children's car seats covered?
Cover limit for personal belongings inside car £250.00
Underwriter U K Insurance Limited
Storage after accident i
Vermin & insects i
Misfuelling i

Commercial Vehicle Insurance

Direct Line

Van Insurance

4 stars
Courtesy car for duration of repair i
Uninsured driver promise i
Cover limit for lost keys i £0.00
Cover for replacing original audio/visual equipment i Unlimited
Windscreen repair excess i £10.00
Windscreen replacement excess i £75.00
24hr helpline available i
New car replacement i
Courtesy car provided if stolen / total loss i
Cover limit for stolen keys i Unlimited
Repairs guarantee (years) i 5 years
Vandalism i

Home emergency cover

Direct Line

Home Emergency (Home Insurance)

3 stars
Home Security Cover i
Home Emergency Cover limit i £500.00
Internal plumbing and drainage i
Primary Heating System i
Boiler breakdown cover i
Annual boiler service i
Internal gas supply pipe cover i
Pest infestation cover i
Domestic Power supply covered? i
Cover Type i Add-On
Alternative Accommodation Cover i £250.00
Unoccupied period i 60
Claims limit i Unlimited

Direct Line

Select Premier Home Emergency (HNW)

3 stars
Home Security Cover i
Home Emergency Cover limit i £1,500.00
Internal plumbing and drainage i
Primary Heating System i
Boiler breakdown cover i
Annual boiler service i
Internal gas supply pipe cover i
Pest infestation cover i
Domestic Power supply covered? i
Cover Type i Add-On
Alternative Accommodation Cover i £500.00
Unoccupied period i 60
Claims limit i Unlimited

Direct Line

Select Premier Home Emergency

3 stars
Home Security Cover i
Home Emergency Cover limit i £1,500.00
Internal plumbing and drainage i
Primary Heating System i
Boiler breakdown cover i
Annual boiler service i
Internal gas supply pipe cover i
Pest infestation cover i
Domestic Power supply covered? i
Cover Type i Add-On
Alternative Accommodation Cover i £500.00
Unoccupied period i 60
Claims limit i Unlimited

Direct Line

Home Emergency (Home Insurance Plus)

2 stars
Home Security Cover i
Home Emergency Cover limit i £500.00
Internal plumbing and drainage i
Primary Heating System i
Boiler breakdown cover i
Annual boiler service i
Internal gas supply pipe cover i
Pest infestation cover i
Domestic Power supply covered? i
Cover Type i Add-On
Alternative Accommodation Cover i £250.00
Unoccupied period i 60
Claims limit i Unlimited

Home insurance (building and contents)

Direct Line

Home Insurance Plus

4 stars
Theft from outbuildings i £5,000.00
Matching sets (contents) i
Alternative accommodation cover limit for buildings i £50,000.00
Protection against inflation (Buildings)
Contents cover limit i £100,000.00
Money in the home i £1,000.00
Visitor's possessions i £1,000.00
Office equipment i £10,000.00
Buildings cover limit i Unlimited
Trace and access i £10,000.00
Keys/locks if lost or stolen (Buildings) i Sum insured
Alternative accommodation cover limit for contents i £30,000.00
Cancellation fee within 14 days i £0.00
Cancellation fee after 14 days i £24.64
Contents compulsory excess i £100.00
Flood excess i £250.00
Escape of water excess (minimum) i £450.00
Property owner liability i £5,000,000.00
Liability to domestic employees i £10,000,000.00
Liability as a tenant i £10,000.00
Replace belongings new for old i

Direct Line

Select Premier

3 stars
Theft from outbuildings i £2,500.00
Matching sets (contents) i
Alternative accommodation cover limit for buildings i Unlimited
Protection against inflation (Buildings)
Contents cover limit i Unlimited
Money in the home i £2,500.00
Visitor's possessions i £500.00
Office equipment i £15,000.00
Buildings cover limit i Unlimited
Trace and access i £15,000.00
Keys/locks if lost or stolen (Buildings) i Sum insured
Alternative accommodation cover limit for contents i Unlimited
Cancellation fee within 14 days i £0.00
Cancellation fee after 14 days i £40.00
Contents compulsory excess i £100.00
Flood excess i £250.00
Escape of water excess (minimum) i £450.00
Property owner liability i £5,000,000.00
Liability to domestic employees i £10,000,000.00
Liability as a tenant i £2,000,000.00
Replace belongings new for old i

Direct Line

Home Insurance

2 stars
Theft from outbuildings i £2,500.00
Matching sets (contents) i
Alternative accommodation cover limit for buildings i £25,000.00
Protection against inflation (Buildings)
Contents cover limit i £50,000.00
Money in the home i £500.00
Visitor's possessions i £500.00
Office equipment i £5,000.00
Buildings cover limit i £1,000,000.00
Trace and access i £5,000.00
Keys/locks if lost or stolen (Buildings) i Sum insured
Alternative accommodation cover limit for contents i £15,000.00
Cancellation fee within 14 days i £0.00
Cancellation fee after 14 days i £43.68
Contents compulsory excess i £100.00
Flood excess i £250.00
Escape of water excess (minimum) i £450.00
Property owner liability i £2,000,000.00
Liability to domestic employees i £5,000,000.00
Liability as a tenant i £5,000.00
Replace belongings new for old i

Buildings insurance

Direct Line

Select Premier

3 stars
Matching sets (Buildings) i
Frozen pipes i
Escape of water excess for buildings i £450.00
Underground pipes, cables and tanks i Covered as standard
Selling your home i
Emergency entries i
Accidental damage to drains i
Buildings compulsory excess i £250.00
Unoccupied period i 60 days
Helpline i
Cancellation fee after 14 days (buildings) i £40.00
Amendment fee (telephone) i £0.00
Property owner liability i £5,000,000.00

Direct Line

Home Insurance Plus

3 stars
Matching sets (Buildings) i
Frozen pipes i
Escape of water excess for buildings i £450.00
Underground pipes, cables and tanks i Covered as standard
Selling your home i
Emergency entries i
Accidental damage to drains i
Buildings compulsory excess i £100.00
Unoccupied period i 60 days
Helpline i
Cancellation fee after 14 days (buildings) i £24.64
Amendment fee (telephone) i £0.00
Property owner liability i £5,000,000.00

Direct Line

Home Insurance

2 stars
Matching sets (Buildings) i
Frozen pipes i
Escape of water excess for buildings i £450.00
Underground pipes, cables and tanks i Covered as standard
Selling your home i
Emergency entries i
Accidental damage to drains i
Buildings compulsory excess i £250.00
Unoccupied period i 60 days
Helpline i
Cancellation fee after 14 days (buildings) i £43.68
Amendment fee (telephone) i £0.00
Property owner liability i £2,000,000.00

Contents insurance

Direct Line

Home Insurance Plus

4 stars
Matching sets (contents) i
Theft from outbuildings i £5,000.00
Cover for items away from home i Covered as standard
Property owner liability i £5,000,000.00

Direct Line

Select Premier

3 stars
Matching sets (contents) i
Theft from outbuildings i £2,500.00
Cover for items away from home i Covered as standard
Property owner liability i £5,000,000.00

Direct Line

Home Insurance

3 stars
Matching sets (contents) i
Theft from outbuildings i £2,500.00
Cover for items away from home i Covered as standard
Property owner liability i £2,000,000.00

Life insurance

Over 50s life insurance

Direct Line

Over 50s Life Insurance

3 stars
Age when premiums stop i 90
Cover for accidental death in waiting period i 300%
How long after policy is started can full benefits be claimed? i 24 months
Cover type (level or increasing) i Level
Signing up incentive i £100 gift card
Minimum age i 50
Maximum age i 85
Cover for non-accidental death in waiting period (% of premiums paid) i 150%
Payout for accidental death outside waiting period i 100%
How much for terminal illness benefit? i £0.00
How much will be paid for serious illness? i £0.00
Can you reduce monthly payments? i
If a payment is missed, how long until the policy is cancelled? i 60 days
Does the policy offer the customer a proportionate amount of money back if they choose to cancel after paying 50% or more of the scheduled monthly payments? i
Rate used to calculate increasing cover i
Discount offered with a funeral provider? i
Funeral benefit option provider i

Pet insurance

Cat insurance

Direct Line

Advanced (with all optional covers)

5 stars
Type of cover i Maximum benefit, condition
Medical cover limit i £8,000.00
Medical excess i £80.00
Annual policy limit i
Annual condition limit i
Lifetime policy limit i
Lifetime condition limit i £4,000.00
Dental cover (if due to an accident) i £8,000.00
Cruciate ligament damage i £8,000.00
CT scans i £8,000.00
MRI scans i £8,000.00
Prescribed food i £0.00
Complementary treatment i £8,000.00
Boarding fees limit i £1,000.00
Death benefit (illness) i £1,500.00
Euthanasia cover limit i £100.00
Cremation i £200.00
Holiday cancellation i £5,000.00
Holiday cover i £8,000.00
Quarantine costs cover i £1,500.00
Loss of PETS passport or other travel documents i £250.00
Emergency expenses abroad i £300.00
Maximum number of days abroad i 90 days
Age when compulsory excess rises i
Cancellation fee i £0.00
Amendment fee i £0.00
If renewed, are existing conditions covered? i

Direct Line

Advanced

4 stars
Type of cover i Maximum benefit, condition
Medical cover limit i £8,000.00
Medical excess i £80.00
Annual policy limit i
Annual condition limit i
Lifetime policy limit i
Lifetime condition limit i £8,000.00
Dental cover (if due to an accident) i £8,000.00
Cruciate ligament damage i £8,000.00
CT scans i £8,000.00
MRI scans i £8,000.00
Prescribed food i £0.00
Complementary treatment i £8,000.00
Boarding fees limit i £0.00
Death benefit (illness) i £0.00
Euthanasia cover limit i £100.00
Cremation i £200.00
Holiday cancellation i £0.00
Holiday cover i £0.00
Quarantine costs cover i £0.00
Loss of PETS passport or other travel documents i £0.00
Emergency expenses abroad i £0.00
Maximum number of days abroad i
Age when compulsory excess rises i
Cancellation fee i £0.00
Amendment fee i £0.00
If renewed, are existing conditions covered? i

Direct Line

Essential (with all optional covers)

3 stars
Type of cover i Time-limited
Medical cover limit i £4,000.00
Medical excess i £80.00
Annual policy limit i
Annual condition limit i
Lifetime policy limit i
Lifetime condition limit i £8,000.00
Dental cover (if due to an accident) i £4,000.00
Cruciate ligament damage i £4,000.00
CT scans i £4,000.00
MRI scans i £4,000.00
Prescribed food i £0.00
Complementary treatment i £4,000.00
Boarding fees limit i £1,000.00
Death benefit (illness) i £1,500.00
Euthanasia cover limit i £0.00
Cremation i £200.00
Holiday cancellation i £5,000.00
Holiday cover i £8,000.00
Quarantine costs cover i £1,500.00
Loss of PETS passport or other travel documents i £250.00
Emergency expenses abroad i £300.00
Maximum number of days abroad i 90 days
Age when compulsory excess rises i
Cancellation fee i £0.00
Amendment fee i £0.00
If renewed, are existing conditions covered? i

Direct Line

Essential

3 stars
Type of cover i Time-limited
Medical cover limit i £4,000.00
Medical excess i £80.00
Annual policy limit i
Annual condition limit i
Lifetime policy limit i
Lifetime condition limit i £4,000.00
Dental cover (if due to an accident) i £4,000.00
Cruciate ligament damage i £4,000.00
CT scans i £4,000.00
MRI scans i £4,000.00
Prescribed food i £0.00
Complementary treatment i £4,000.00
Boarding fees limit i £0.00
Death benefit (illness) i £0.00
Euthanasia cover limit i £0.00
Cremation i £200.00
Holiday cancellation i £0.00
Holiday cover i £0.00
Quarantine costs cover i £0.00
Loss of PETS passport or other travel documents i £0.00
Emergency expenses abroad i £0.00
Maximum number of days abroad i
Age when compulsory excess rises i
Cancellation fee i £0.00
Amendment fee i £0.00
If renewed, are existing conditions covered? i

Dog insurance

Direct Line

Advanced (with all optional covers)

5 stars
Type of cover i Maximum benefit, condition
Medical cover limit i £8,000.00
Medical excess i £95.00
Annual policy limit i
Annual condition limit i
Lifetime policy limit i
Lifetime condition limit i £4,000.00
Dental cover (if due to an accident) i £8,000.00
Cruciate ligament damage i £8,000.00
CT scans i £8,000.00
MRI scans i £8,000.00
Prescribed food i £0.00
Complementary treatment i £8,000.00
Euthanasia cover limit i £100.00
Cremation i £200.00
Age when compulsory excess rises i
Amendment fee i £0.00
Holiday cancellation i £5,000.00
Holiday cover i £8,000.00
If renewed, are existing conditions covered? i

Direct Line

Essential (with all optional covers)

3 stars
Type of cover i Time-limited
Medical cover limit i £4,000.00
Medical excess i £95.00
Annual policy limit i
Annual condition limit i
Lifetime policy limit i
Lifetime condition limit i £8,000.00
Dental cover (if due to an accident) i £4,000.00
Cruciate ligament damage i £4,000.00
CT scans i £4,000.00
MRI scans i £4,000.00
Prescribed food i £0.00
Complementary treatment i £4,000.00
Euthanasia cover limit i £0.00
Cremation i £200.00
Age when compulsory excess rises i
Amendment fee i £0.00
Holiday cancellation i £5,000.00
Holiday cover i £8,000.00
If renewed, are existing conditions covered? i

Direct Line

Advanced

3 stars
Type of cover i Maximum benefit, condition
Medical cover limit i £8,000.00
Medical excess i £95.00
Annual policy limit i
Annual condition limit i
Lifetime policy limit i
Lifetime condition limit i £8,000.00
Dental cover (if due to an accident) i £8,000.00
Cruciate ligament damage i £8,000.00
CT scans i £8,000.00
MRI scans i £8,000.00
Prescribed food i £0.00
Complementary treatment i £8,000.00
Euthanasia cover limit i £100.00
Cremation i £200.00
Age when compulsory excess rises i
Amendment fee i £0.00
Holiday cancellation i £0.00
Holiday cover i £0.00
If renewed, are existing conditions covered? i

Direct Line

Essential

2 stars
Type of cover i Time-limited
Medical cover limit i £4,000.00
Medical excess i £95.00
Annual policy limit i
Annual condition limit i
Lifetime policy limit i
Lifetime condition limit i £4,000.00
Dental cover (if due to an accident) i £4,000.00
Cruciate ligament damage i £4,000.00
CT scans i £4,000.00
MRI scans i £4,000.00
Prescribed food i £0.00
Complementary treatment i £4,000.00
Euthanasia cover limit i £0.00
Cremation i £200.00
Age when compulsory excess rises i
Amendment fee i £0.00
Holiday cancellation i £0.00
Holiday cover i £0.00
If renewed, are existing conditions covered? i

Travel insurance

Annual multi-trip insurance

Direct Line

Travel Insurance (with baggage cover)

4 stars
Medical excess i £75.00
Personal Possessions and Baggage - damaged, lost or stolen - cover limit i £1,500.00
Cancelling before travel cover limit i £5,000.00
Emergency medical cover and repatriation cover limit i £10,000,000.00
Mental health cover i
Personal money i £500.00
Combined passport & travel documents cover limit i £500.00
Cutting trip short (curtailment) cover limit i £5,000.00
Abandoning your trip (abandonment) cover limit i £5,000.00
Natural disaster relocation cover i
Max trip duration i 42 days

Direct Line

Travel Insurance

3 stars
Medical excess i £75.00
Personal Possessions and Baggage - damaged, lost or stolen - cover limit i £0.00
Cancelling before travel cover limit i £5,000.00
Emergency medical cover and repatriation cover limit i £10,000,000.00
Mental health cover i
Personal money i £0.00
Combined passport & travel documents cover limit i £500.00
Cutting trip short (curtailment) cover limit i £5,000.00
Abandoning your trip (abandonment) cover limit i £5,000.00
Natural disaster relocation cover i
Max trip duration i 42 days

Single trip insurance

Direct Line

Travel Insurance (with baggage cover)

4 stars
Cancelling before travel cover limit i £5,000.00
Medical excess i £75.00
Personal Possessions and Baggage - damaged, lost or stolen - cover limit i £1,500.00
Cutting trip short curtailment cover limit i £5,000.00
Missed departure cover limit i £600.00
Abandoning your trip (abandonment) cover limit i £5,000.00
Emergency medical cover and repatriation cover limit i £10,000,000.00
Personal money i £500.00
Combined passport & travel documents limit i £500.00

Direct Line

Travel Insurance

3 stars
Cancelling before travel cover limit i £5,000.00
Medical excess i £75.00
Personal Possessions and Baggage - damaged, lost or stolen - cover limit i £0.00
Cutting trip short curtailment cover limit i £5,000.00
Missed departure cover limit i £600.00
Abandoning your trip (abandonment) cover limit i £5,000.00
Emergency medical cover and repatriation cover limit i £10,000,000.00
Personal money i £0.00
Combined passport & travel documents limit i £500.00

Travel insurance add-on: winter sports

Direct Line

Travel Insurance (with baggage cover)

2 stars
Ski equipment owned cover limit i £500.00
Single owned item cover limit i £250.00
Cover limit for hire of ski equipment due to loss/damage/delay to own equipment i £300.00
Avalanche closure cover limit i £200.00
Piste closure cover limit i £200.00
Ski equipment owned excess i £50.00
Ski equipment hired i £500.00
Single item limit for hired equipment i £250.00
Unused ski pass due to illness or injury i £250.00

Direct Line

Travel Insurance

2 stars
Ski equipment owned cover limit i £500.00
Single owned item cover limit i £250.00
Cover limit for hire of ski equipment due to loss/damage/delay to own equipment i £300.00
Avalanche closure cover limit i £200.00
Piste closure cover limit i £200.00
Ski equipment owned excess i £50.00
Ski equipment hired i £500.00
Single item limit for hired equipment i £250.00
Unused ski pass due to illness or injury i £250.00