Direct Line news

Darwin motor insurance grows to serve 250,000 customers

  • Direct Line Group’s motor business Darwin1 reaches 250,000 customer milestone.
  • Darwin’s growth aligns to the Group’s broader strategy to restore margins and improve profitability in motor.
  • Customer centricity and tech innovation are the key drivers to success.


Darwin, owned by the Direct Line Group, has reached a key milestone, in line with expectations to welcome its 250,000th customer.

Created in 2019 with the aim of doing motor insurance differently, Darwin has increased its market share to c.2% and aligns with Direct Line Group’s broader strategy to restore margins and improve profitability in motor.

Darwin’s business model uses new technology, data and machine learning models to provide good value Motor Insurance to customers on Price Comparison Websites ("PCWs"). 

Earlier this year the team launched two new products, Darwin Gold2 and Darwin Platinum3 that offer all the benefits of its standard cover, plus added options for greater protection and a little extra peace of mind.  

The company has seen further success with customers leaving positive reviews on Trustpilot4, and is rated ‘Excellent' with 80% of the c.20,000 reviews giving Darwin 5 stars. 

Chris Ray, who leads the Darwin retail business puts the success down to the team’s relentless focus on its customers. He explains:

“I’m extremely proud of everyone who’s made this happen. The secret to Darwin’s success is our relentless focus on customers and how we constantly review customer feedback to understand how we can do things better. We are continually making improvements to processes which enhance the customer journey to make things easier for customers and provide an even more positive experience.”  

Darwin insurance is run by a small end-to-end team of c.50 people who are continuously looking to innovate. The ‘start-up’ culture lends itself to a test, learn and adapt model and allows everyone in the team to contribute.

To find out more about Darwin, click here:  https://www.darwin-insurance.com/

ENDS

Notes for editors:

1 Darwin is underwritten by U K Insurance Limited and administered by IG04 Limited

2&3: 

Darwin

Our standard cover, with all the original features you'd expect

Darwin Gold

All the benefits of our Standard cover, plus added options for greater protection

Darwin Platinum

All the benefits of our Gold cover, with a little extra peace of mind

Windscreen cover
✓
Windscreen cover
✓ 
Windscreen cover
✓
Courtesy car ✓  Courtesy car
✓
Courtesy car
✓ 
Personal belongings cover (max)
£250 Personal belongings cover (max) £500  Personal belongings cover (max)
£750
Legal helpline
X 
Legal helpline
✓
Legal helpline
✓ 
Motor Legal Protection X Motor Legal Protection ✓  Motor Legal Protection ✓
Breakdown Cover X  Breakdown Cover X Breakdown Cover ✓ 

4. Darwin Insurance Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of darwin-insurance.com (trustpilot.com)

For more information please contact: 

Jade Trimbee

Senior Manager 

Direct Line Group

Tel: 01372 839 452

Mobile: 07825 315 931

 Email: jade.trimbee@directlinegroup.co.uk

Notes to editors:

  • We are the UK's only diversified insurer and we operate in the UK, Ireland and Canada. We also have international investments in India and China.
  • We help our 25.3 million customers make the most out of life, plan for the future, and have the confidence that if things go wrong we’ll be there to put it right.
  • We have been taking care of people for more than 325 years, in line with our purpose of being ‘with you today, for a better tomorrow’. In 2025, we paid £31.9 billion in claims and benefits to our customers.
  • Aviva is a Living Wage, Living Pension and Living Hours employer and provides market-leading benefits for our people, including flexible working, paid carers leave and equal parental leave. Find out more at www.aviva.com/about-us/our-people/
  • As at 30 June 2026, total Group assets under management at Aviva Group were £479 billion and our estimated Solvency II shareholder capital surplus was £6.8 billion. Our shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange and we are a member of the FTSE 100 index.
  • For more details on what we do, our business and how we help our customers, visit www.aviva.com/about-us
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