Direct Line travel insurance review

The maximum length of the policy is longer than many of its competitors.

Protection for personal belongings is only available as a paid add-on.

Direct Line launched in 1985, offering car insurance only. It has since expanded to offer more types of insurance policies, including travel insurance. We’ve looked at what Direct Line’s travel insurance policy includes and the pros and cons of the cover.

What types of policies are on offer?

Direct line offers three types of travel insurance cover:

• Single trip cover. A one-off trip lasting up to 90 days.
• Annual multi-trip cover. A year’s worth of cover for unlimited trips, lasting up to 42 days each.
• Backpacker cover. Cover for longer trips between three months and 18 months.

Cover for lost, stolen or damaged belongings, and for winter sports, is only available as a paid add-on.

Cover limits

Among other things, you’ll be covered for the following:

• Emergency medical treatment up to £10,000,000
• Flight cancellations up to £5,000
• Legal expenses up to £50,000
• Personal liability up to £2,000,000
• Protection for your personal belongings, up to £1,500 (or £300 for a single item)

Claims process

You can make general claims via the Direct Line website or by calling 0345 246 8680.

For emergency medical claims, call 01252 740 098.

You’ll initially be asked for your policy number and a brief description of your claim. The claims team will then guide you through the process of completing your claim.

Managing your policy online

To manage your policy online, click the “My Account” at the top of the Direct Line website.

Customer reviews

Direct Line has attracted more than 5,000 reviews on Trustpilot. At the time of writing, its average rating was 4.3 out of 5.

Pros and cons

Our verdict

Direct Line has a reputation for offering good levels of insurance and great customer service. That is certainly the case for its travel insurance.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the age limit for Direct Line travel insurance?

  The maximum age limit is 75 for annual multi-trip insurance or 54 for backpackers insurance.

• Can I get cover if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

  Yes, but you’ll need to declare it while you’re getting a quote.

Written by

Danny Butler

Publisher

Danny is a publisher at Finder specialising in insurance and investing. He previously worked at the global insurer Aon and has appeared in national media giving advice on insurance. Danny holds a BA in International Business from the University of Plymouth and has undying loyalty to his average-poor football team, Portsmouth FC. See full bio

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Danny has written 335 Finder guides across topics including:

• Car, home and business insurance
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