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Direct Line review

Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

Direct Line is a UK insurer for households who want several kinds of personal cover from one provider, and the range here is broad, running from car and home to pet, van, landlord and breakdown. The listed premium starts at £20.07, and it covers short term European breakdown alone.

Key facts

Best for
UK households wanting motor, home, travel, pet or breakdown cover from one insurer.
Premium from
£20.07↗
Insurance types
Auto, Home, Travel, Pet, Van, Landlord, Home-emergency, Breakdown↗
Provider type
Insurer↗
Claims channels
Phone, App, SMS↗
Legal entity
U K Insurance Limited↗
Headquarters
United Kingdom↗
Support channels
Phone, Help-centre↗
Official website
directline.com

Facts checked September 26, 2026, 3 sources

Apps and profiles

Get the app
Google Play
Elsewhere
WikidataXTrustpilot

Pros and cons

Pros

  • One insurer covers auto, home and travel
  • Regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority
  • Claims run on phone, app and sms
  • The listed premium starts at £20.07 for short term European breakdown cover alone

Cons

  • Support runs on phone and help centre only
  • Motor, home, travel and pet premiums are not among the listed figures, which show £20.07 for short term European breakdown cover
  • The book is a single market, with the insurer based in the United Kingdom
Direct Line

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Scored 9.1 / 10 by SumCue.

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Who it suits

  • Households in the UK who need motor, home, travel, pet and breakdown cover together
  • Drivers and van owners who want one insurer for several vehicles and policies
  • Pet owners who want cover from the same provider as their home and motor policies

Who should look elsewhere

  • People wanting cover outside the UK
  • Anyone who needs help by email, chat or in person, since support runs on phone and help centre
  • Readers who want a long-term saving product rather than insurance, so Linxea may suit better

How Direct Line compares

Where Direct Line is available

Available
United Kingdom
Licence in United Kingdom
Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority (202810), checked September 26, 2026

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What does Direct Line cover?+

It is an insurer for personal risks, with cover for auto, home and travel. That range spans motor, home, travel, pet, van, landlord, home emergency and breakdown, all under one UK provider.

What is the cheapest cover shown?+

The lowest premium listed is £20.07, and it applies to short-term European breakdown cover. Motor, home, travel and pet premiums are quoted separately and are not given here.

Who regulates Direct Line?+

In the UK, Direct Line is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. The insurer trades as UK Insurance Limited and is based in the GB.

How do I make a claim?+

Claims can be started on phone, app and sms, so by phone, in the app or by text message. The app route suits anyone who would rather report an incident than ring a call centre.

How do I get help with my policy?+

Support runs on phone and help centre, meaning a phone line and an online help centre. There is no email or live chat route listed for policy queries.

Can I keep several kinds of cover with one provider?+

Yes. The range covers auto, home and travel, so a household can hold motor, home, pet and travel policies with the same insurer instead of shopping each one separately.

Is Direct Line available outside the UK?+

Cover is offered in a single market, the UK, and the company is based in the GB. The one premium listed, £20.07, is for short-term European breakdown cover for UK residents.

Should I choose Direct Line or a savings product instead?+

Direct Line protects against risk rather than building a pot, so a long-term saver such as Linxea suits a different goal. Choose Direct Line where the question is what happens if the car, home or pet is damaged or ill.

Sources

  • register.fca.org.uk/s checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Licences

  • directline.com/breakdown-cover checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Claims channels, Insurance types, Support channels

    “Request a rescue using the Green Flag app. ... In the UK: 0800 590 590 ... For the hard of hearing, send a text message starting with the word RESCUE”

  • directline.com/breakdown-cover/short-term-european-cover checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Premium from

    “Single-trip European breakdown cover ... 3 £20.07 ... Prices shown are for vehicles under 11 years old from the date of first registration.”

  • directline.com/legal/terms checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Provider type, Headquarters, Legal entity

    “The Direct Line insurance products advertised on the Site are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited”

Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Monthly payments.

Direct Line

Direct Line

UK households wanting motor, home, travel, pet or breakdown cover from one insurer.

9.1/10See alternatives