Business insurance · United Kingdom
Direct Line for Business
Aviva-owned direct insurer selling tradesperson cover online and by phone, with covers you choose
Market position
Direct Line for Business is the business insurance brand of Direct Line, whose group has been owned by Aviva since July 2025. It sells tradesperson insurance direct, online and by phone, and says it has over 500,000 business policies. You build a policy from public liability (£1 million to £10 million), employers' liability (up to £10 million as standard), tools, stock, plant and contract works, with add-ons such as overnight tools, personal accident, professional indemnity and legal expenses.
United Kingdom-specific note
Policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited of Leeds, authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA (registration 202810). Direct Line says it is proposing to transfer insurance business from U K Insurance Limited to Aviva Insurance Limited, which may affect its customers, so check which company is your insurer at renewal.
Pros
- + Employers' liability up to £10 million as standard, Direct Line says
- + Choose the covers you need, including tools, stock, plant and contract works
- + No admin fees for policy changes and 0% APR on monthly payments, Direct Line says
- + Offers to beat another insurer's quote on equivalent cover for new policies, with conditions
Cons
- − No published prices; premiums by quote
- − Tools cover has a £1,500 single-item limit and overnight tools cover costs extra
- − Direct Line is proposing to move insurance business from U K Insurance Limited to Aviva Insurance Limited
- − The price-beat offer needs proof of the other quote and excludes some policy types
Typical United Kingdom pricing
Quote-based; no public prices. Direct Line says there are no admin fees for policy changes and 0% APR if you pay monthly
Why this matters for United Kingdom trades
Gas Safe Register is the register approved by HSE: a business must be on it to legally do gas work within the scope of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, and HSE prosecutes unregistered gas fitters. For electrical work in dwellings, NICEIC (Certsure) is one of several authorised competent person schemes, alongside BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, NAPIT and OFTEC, that let installers self-certify instead of getting building regulations approval, and OFTEC is one of six schemes authorised for oil appliances. The payroll tools listed here are on HMRC’s list of recognised payroll software, while CIS returns may need an add-on or a separate product; insurers such as Hiscox and AXA note that employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement once you employ staff.
UK trades vendor selection is shaped by the Gas Safe Register for gas work, competent person schemes such as NICEIC and OFTEC that let installers self-certify building work, payroll duties (HMRC RTI reporting, workplace pension auto enrolment and, in construction, CIS returns), VAT, and lead services such as Checkatrade, MyBuilder and TrustATrader.
Frequently asked
Is Direct Line for Business a good fit for United Kingdom trades?
Direct Line for Business is the business insurance brand of Direct Line, whose group has been owned by Aviva since July 2025. It sells tradesperson insurance direct, online and by phone, and says it has over 500,000 business policies. You build a policy from public liability (£1 million to £10 million), employers' liability (up to £10 million as standard), tools, stock, plant and contract works, with add-ons such as overnight tools, personal accident, professional indemnity and legal expenses. Policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited of Leeds, authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA (registration 202810). Direct Line says it is proposing to transfer insurance business from U K Insurance Limited to Aviva Insurance Limited, which may affect its customers, so check which company is your insurer at renewal.
What does Direct Line for Business cost in United Kingdom?
Quote-based; no public prices. Direct Line says there are no admin fees for policy changes and 0% APR if you pay monthly. Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current United Kingdom pricing on the vendor's site before committing.