Direct Line Insurance Group Ltd. is a British insurance company based in Bromley, England. It was formed in 2012 by the divestment of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group's (RBS) insurance division, through an initial public offering. The company owns a number of insurance subsidiaries, providing various insurance products, including Direct Line and Churchill Insurance, Darwin as well as the roadside assistance and vehicle recovery provider Green Flag.
The group was listed on the London Stock Exchange until it was acquired by Aviva in July 2025.
History
The company was originally established in 1985 by Peter Wood and Martin Long, as the insurance division of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS).[4] It was the first telephone only insurance company in the United Kingdom.[4] In September 2012, the group's then chief executive,